MANILA, Philippines - When overseas contract worker Ronald Operana decided to invest in an LPG store franchise, he not only reaped the benefits of running an established business but also the opportunity to spend more time with his family.
Ronald, an electrical engineer, left the country in 2001 to try his luck abroad. He was a freelance contractor at a multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. His over 10-year stint as an OFW brought him from Taiwan to Indonesia, then Kosovo to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and even to South Africa and Uganda — away from his wife and two children most of the time.
Although his job provided a good means to support his family, Ronald still believed that investing in business is important. In fact, in 2003, he bought a parcel of land in his province Pangasinan and converted this to a fish pond to raise tilapia. He also tried investing in the food cart business.
When he returned to the country in 2012, he decided to put up another business — he got a PR Gaz LPG convenience store franchise. He was already studying the potential of this business since 2009, checking the company’s website for information. When he learned that a PR Gaz Haus outlet in Mangaldan in Pangasinan, which is a company-operated store, was available for conversion to a franchise, he readily grabbed the opportunity and applied.
Several months later, satisfied with the turnout of his franchise and other businesses, Ronald says he has no plans yet of going abroad again and has decided to stay in the country for now.
“Being in business gave me the opportunity to have an alternative source of income, stay in the country, and more importantly, be with my family,†he said.
Like what Ronald did, putting up an LPG store business is now made easier through the PR Gaz franchise program. PR Gaz offers several investment options. A franchisee can opt for a unit franchise wherein he sets up a new store (single outlet, turnkey), or acquires an existing company-operated outlet available for conversion to franchise. Another option is the multi-unit, which is a combination of a start-up store and acquisition of a company-operated outlet; option is available to existing or new franchisee who wants to operate at least 2-3 branches within a designated territory.
For those who want to maximize their investment, PR Gaz now offers a special business opportunity as part of its franchise offerings. Called ConverSure, this package gives franchise applicants the advantage of acquiring multiple PR Gaz Haus stores under a cluster arrangement. A cluster of at least four existing company-owned outlets in contiguous area-locations is readily available for conversion to franchisee-operated branches.
PR Gaz’ network of stores spans currently the National Capital Region and key provinces of Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Bicol, Pangasinan, Tarlac, La Union, Nueva Ecija, Pamapanga and Bataan. For more information on the PR Gaz franchise visit www.prgaz.com.ph.