We’ve shared plenty of great news from the Optic-Kleer franchise this year, from new partnerships to new franchisees, but this month’s a little different: we’re celebrating 3 franchisees who have decided to renew their agreements for another 5 years!

Franchise owners from Cambridge, Buckinghamshire, and the Isle of Wight have all reached the end of their initial commitment and were all offered the chance to extend. This only happens when both parties are genuinely happy with how it’s going, that they’re making enough money, and that they’re making the most of their lives as business owners.

However, there’s also more to it than that. Renewing an agreement like this isn’t just about being happy with everything that’s come so far in the past, it’s about being confident that the future holds great things, too.

We spoke with two of them to learn more about their decision and journey so far:

Carl Seals, Optic-Kleer Cambridge

Joining Optic-Kleer was a big career shift for Carl. Working for many years as a consultant for Amazon, helping vendors launch their new products online. A pretty serious job with some equally serious rewards but, over time, he began to feel the need for a change. He wanted to run his own business, but also completely change how his work life felt. Optic-Kleer gave him a way to enjoy interacting more with people rather than being stuck behind a screen all day, and also allowed him to create a better work-life balance.

We caught up with him for a quick chat as he was just setting up for the day in his local Morrisons car park, a great spot where he knows customers can always find him easily.

“I got fed up with just sitting at home never really interacting with people.” Carl told us. “I wanted to do something which got me out and about and felt more rewarding. It wasn’t just about making a living, but having the kind of life I wanted to lead.”

Carl’s initial 5-year agreement came round a lot sooner than he expected and he began to weigh up his options for the future. However, there was one big development in early 2025 which really clinched the deal.

“The new partnership with Auto Windscreens has made a massive difference. It made the decision a no brainer because I could see the direction the franchise was going in, and that was just to get better, and better, and better.

“Also, for some reason, I had it in my head that there would be a massive fee to pay to renew my agreement, but I was very happy to discover there was nothing to pay at all!”

Julian Rolfe, Buckinghamshire

As you’ve probably gathered, Optic-Kleer franchisees come from all walks of life, and all kinds of backgrounds. For many, joining the franchise is their first time working in this industry, and often their first time in self-employment. Julian is one of only a handful who have actually run their own business before.

As the MD of a packaging firm, Julian suffered a heart attack in 2017 and was forced to sell the business and take some time off. Rather than seeing this as a setback, he took the opportunity to reassess his life and rethink his career.

“Once I started to feel better, I realised I needed to get back earning some money again.“ said Julian. “This time, however, I was looking for something where I could still be my own boss but without the same stress. I came across Optic-Kleer, had a chat with David (Overton), and the rest is history!”

Talking between customers at his favourite spot outside the nearby Sainsbury’s Julian explained how he had persevered through all the ups and downs of the last few years with the help of the Optic-Kleer team. However, it was the last 9 months which really made his mind up about continuing for another 5 years.

“Teaming up with Auto Windscreens was a total game-changer. First off, I immediately saw a 30% increase in average job values, but I’m also getting a lot more work than I have in previous years. It was a double whammy, and it really made my mind up that I wanted to stick with this for another 5 years. I was even happier when I found out I wouldn’t even have to pay any fees to renew!”

Knowing you can rely on a strong bottom line is absolutely essential in any business, of course, but, for Julian, it was also about how positively he felt about his relationship with Optic-Kleer as a partner.

“It’s one thing being happy with the numbers, but if I wasn’t as happy as I am with everyone at head office, I might still have some reservations about whether or not this was the future I wanted. I get on well with everyone and, most importantly, I can see that they are continually working hard to take this business in the right direction.

“I feel confident that they will be going strong for at least the next 5 years, and so I know I will, too.”

There’s one more huge thing which Carl and Julian have in common…

Track back 5 years and you get to 2020, meaning they both decided to make a huge career change and launch a new business right when COVID was still raging! A very bold move which might have been considered pretty crazy if it was any other kind of business than this one.

It was a slower start than they might have hoped for, of course, as the country was still largely under lockdown, but fortunately they were offering a service which never goes out of demand. With the new relationship with Auto Windscreens, the future is very bright indeed for everyone at Optic-Kleer.

So, the question is: where do you fit into all of this?

If you’re looking for a new career which is more than just another job, one that puts you at the head of your own business and gives you independence, excellent returns and the support of a team who are always pushing things forward, then maybe it’s time to explore the Optic-Kleer franchise for yourself.

Who knows? Just like Carl and Julian, you could be looking back in five years from now and realising this was the moment you took control of your future.