Starting a new Just Shutters franchise is the start of a new adventure, but the real journey begins the moment you step into your first home design visit or complete your very first installation. You’ve had the training, met the Business Support team, connected with some of the franchisees and you’re ready to go. Naturally, the next question is:
“How do I turn this into a thriving, long-term business?”
Launching is only the beginning. The real success comes from growing your business steadily and with intention, building confidence as you go. This guide shares some of the simple, practical steps that help our new Just Shutters franchisees build momentum from day one, supported every step of the way by the Just Shutters Business Support team.
Build a Strong Foundation
Create Good Habits Early
The early months of any franchise are all about building strong foundations. This is when you establish the habits, processes and standards that will shape the way your business grows. Getting this part right sets a steady pace and gives you the confidence to move forward.
Set Short-Term, Achievable Goals
Your onboarding gives you all the tools, training and operational support you need, but setting a few simple short-term goals can really help you stay focused.
This might include tracking how your early enquiries are progressing, monitoring your conversion rate from quotation to installation, or keeping an eye on the value of your upcoming pipeline. These small, steady benchmarks build naturally over time and they’re often the first signs of real momentum.
Understand the Just Shutters Way
Getting to grips with our systems and the Just Shutters way of working and ethos early on, from using our Pi CRM system to managing customer communication and taking the sale, makes everything run far more smoothly.
And just as important is the personal side of the role. Being someone customers feel at ease with, someone they trust in their home and genuinely want to buy from, makes a huge difference to your early success. When these elements work together, you free up more time to focus on growing your business rather than getting bogged down in day-to-day administration.
Our founder, Chris Rocker, established Just Shutters with a simple belief — that great businesses are built on trust, craftsmanship and care.
That same philosophy runs through everything we do today, from the way we support our franchisees to the way we treat our customers.
Support from Nick and the Business Support Team
You’re never on your own.
Nick Sumbler, our Head of Franchise Growth and Support, works closely with every franchisee, guiding, supporting and helping you turn your goals into action.
Whether it’s Nick, the wider Business Support team, or fellow franchisees, there’s always someone on hand to help.
This collaborative culture is what defines Just Shutters, a network built on shared values, open communication and genuine care for each other’s success. It means you can move from launch to momentum with confidence.
Learn more about the Just Shutters franchise opportunity and what makes our approach so unique.
Grow Your Enquiries and Local Presence
Build Local Visibility
We generate a strong flow of leads nationally, giving every franchisee a solid starting point. But it’s the activity you build within your own territory that really unlocks the next stage of growth and helps your business go from steady to thriving.
Digital Marketing Done for You
A strong local digital presence makes a real difference, and much of this is supported for you. Livia Gusman, our Marketing Manager sets up your Google My Business profile and creates your local SEO pages on the Just Shutters website, giving you visibility from day one.
During launch, we also fund your local PPC campaign to help you build early momentum, and this then continues as part of your ongoing local marketing to ensure a steady, reliable flow of leads.
Anna Racaza, our Digital Marketing Executive, manages your social media platforms for you, keeping your local presence active and engaging without adding to your workload.
Reviews on Google and Checkatrade will build naturally as you complete installations, each one helping new customers choose you with confidence.
Form Local Partnerships
Local relationships can be incredibly valuable. Interior designers, carpenters, builders, blind shops and curtain specialists often come across customers who need exactly what we offer. When you build genuine connections with people in these fields, they can become a steady source of referrals, especially when you’re able to help solve the design, privacy or light-control challenges they can’t.
Even one good local relationship can make a real difference. These conversations tend to happen naturally as your confidence grows and, over time, they can become a steady source of referrals. The key is simply being open, approachable and willing to build those genuine connections in your community.
Keep Local Marketing Consistent
While we support you with national PPC campaigns, social media, print advertising in leading publications, regular customer emails and all your design, creative and brand assets, local marketing remains an essential part of building your business.
Simple, consistent actions can make a significant difference over time. These include things like leaflet drops around recent installations, partnering with local businesses, keeping your Google My Business profile up-to-date with fresh photos, attending local exhibitions and events, joining networking meetings or community groups and exploring local affiliations. These small steps help build awareness and trust within your territory, and when combined with our broader marketing support, they create a strong local presence that drives significant growth.
Deliver a Great Customer Experience
Turn Every Installation into a Relationship
Delivering a genuinely great customer experience is one of the most powerful ways to grow your business.
Every installation isn’t just a job completed; it’s the start of a relationship.
Happy customers come back, recommend you to friends and family and often end up returning for additional rooms later on. In time, many of your appointments will come from repeat customers and personal recommendations, a true reflection of the quality and trust you’ve built.
The franchisees who grow the fastest are those who treat every visit as an opportunity to build trust, not just take an order.
Stay Organised and Confident
As your enquiry levels begin to build, the next step is creating a business that runs smoothly and profitably. This is where good organisation, clear processes and confidence in your products really start to make a difference day to day.
Know Your Products Inside Out
The more familiar you become with our products, ranges and design solutions the easier it is to provide a clear, confident quotation. This knowledge grows naturally with every appointment and before long, you’ll find you can guide customers through their options with ease.
Focus on Quality
Quality installations make a real difference. Not only do they protect your reputation, they also protect your time and your margins. When everything is completed to a high standard the first time, you avoid unnecessary return visits and free yourself up to take on new customers.
Spot Opportunities Naturally
As you grow in confidence, you’ll naturally start spotting opportunities that help customers get the very best from their home. Sometimes this might mean suggesting additional rooms, shaped shutters, or even introducing our security shutter range. These aren’t hard sells; they’re thoughtful recommendations that often give the customer a more complete finish while also supporting the profitability of your business.
The Importance of Following Up
It’s often the small habits that make the most significant difference. Following up after the quotation stage is vitally important; it’s a simple step that many people overlook. You’ve already invested the time in the design visit and prepared the quotation, so reaching out to the customer afterwards can make all the difference. A friendly check-in not only demonstrates excellent service, but it also often gives customers the confidence to move forward.
Look Ahead and Grow with Confidence
Build at Your Own Pace
As your business finds its rhythm, this is when you really start to see what’s possible. With the foundations in place and your confidence growing, you’ll naturally begin to look ahead and think about the next steps for developing your franchise.
Bring in the Right Support
As your workload increases, you may find it helpful to bring in a little extra support, whether that’s on the installation side or with admin tasks. Freeing up even a small amount of your time can make a big difference, allowing you to focus more on growing your business rather than getting caught up in the day-to-day.
Expand with New Opportunities
Shutters will always be at the heart of what you do, and they’re a strong, high-quality product in their own right. However, one of the real strengths of joining Just Shutters is the ability to grow as our offerings expand. With new additions like Just SunShades Awnings, franchisees have the opportunity to expand their services over time and tap into a broader home-improvement market when the moment is right for them.
Explore Partnerships and Developments
Our franchisees go on to build relationships with local showhomes and new-build developments. These partnerships can be a great way to showcase your work to a wider audience and often lead to larger projects, whether that’s multi-room installations or whole-house fittings.
Scale Steadily
As your business becomes more established, you’ll naturally start thinking about how to scale. This might include bringing in a small team, exploring neighbouring areas when the time is right, or diversifying your services as new product ranges become available. There’s no rush, growth happens steadily, but it’s something many franchisees look forward to as their confidence and experience build.
Lean on the Network Around You
A Supportive Franchise Community
One of the real advantages of joining a franchise rather than starting from scratch is the community you become part of. You’re surrounded by people who’ve walked the same path, understand the challenges and are always happy to share advice, ideas and support.
Shared Knowledge and Experience
Our franchisees are incredibly supportive of one another. They openly share what works for them, from design and installation tips to customer service approaches and local marketing ideas, creating a network where everyone benefits from shared experience.
You can read more about our franchisees’ journeys and success stories on our Just Shutters Blog.
Guidance from Nick Sumbler
Regional meet-ups with Nick are another cornerstone of this support. As Head of Franchise Growth & Support, Nick takes time to understand each business individually, offering tailored guidance, motivation and practical advice that helps franchisees keep moving forward. His hands-on approach ensures that every owner feels supported, heard and connected to the wider Just Shutters family.
Always Supported
And of course, the Business Support team is always here to help. Whether you’ve got a question about a product, want advice on your local marketing, or simply need a second pair of eyes on your numbers, you’ll always have someone to turn to.
Growing a business is so much easier when you’re not doing it alone.
Ready to Explore What Your Future Could Look Like?
Building a successful franchise doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen and it happens steadily, with the right support around you. When you combine your own commitment with the guidance of the Just Shutters network, you give yourself every opportunity to grow with confidence.
If you’re starting to picture what your own Just Shutters business could look like, we’re always here to talk it through. Whether you’ve got a few questions or you’re ready to explore the next step, we’d be delighted to help.
Call Nick today on 01202 233 744 or book a discovery call with Nick and take the first step towards building a business designed for the long term.