As news arrives of a delay to the lifting of restrictions in the UK, many of Great Britain’s ailing businesses are down to their last breath. Running your own business always carries an element of risk, but nobody could have predicted the fate that has befallen some of our non-essential industries in the past year and a half. As of this month, some businesses – such as nightclubs – have now been closed for 15 months and, many simply won’t be able to survive.
A safe bet
While there are no winners or losers when it comes to the pandemic, some businesses have fared better than others and, one sector which has weathered the storm admirably is that of the franchise industry. Historically, franchise businesses have proven to be ‘recession proof’ due to the fact that they tend to deal in low cost, everyday products rather than expensive luxury items – and it seems that they may be virtually pandemic proof too.
Although franchises such as Starbucks and McDonalds were unable to accept dine-in customers for several months, they could still sell their products for take-away and delivery which proved to be a vital lifeline. Although there’s no such thing as a risk-free business, it seems that franchises come pretty close.
Every year, many people choose to give up their jobs and go it alone by buying into a franchise and, for every one of them, there are more who would love to do the same but never get past the first hurdle – which franchise to choose. In this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the best franchise businesses that are available to get on board with right now:
Petpals
As a nation of animal lovers, there’ll always be a market for pet food and, wannabe franchisees can join this successful company with an initial outlay of just £12,500.
it’seeze franchise from spoton.net
In 2022, more businesses and individuals than ever are looking to have their own website in order to showcase themselves or their brand. With an It’seeze franchise, you can tap into this lucrative market for a total investment of just £14,000. The company is currently offering UK wide franchise opportunities with funding support.
Access4Lofts
Even as restrictions lift, people are still choosing to spend more time at home than before and, Access4Lofts allows customers to optimise the space in their homes by transforming loft space into living space.
Third-party opportunities are available with funding support. Access4Lofts franchisees tend to see profits of between 35% and 40% after the first six months.
TaxAssist Accountants
The UK’s army of freelancers and contractors will tell you that they dread one time of year more than any other – tax time. Small businesses and the self-employed are always on the lookout for professionals to take this time-consuming task off their hands and, a TaxAssist Accountants franchise is an excellent way of getting your foot in the door of this industry.
Franchisees need a minimum of £39,950 to get started with this one.
Local Eats
Online food orders and deliveries remain extremely popular as we head into the summer and Local Eats puts you in the driver’s seat by allowing you to set up your own online food ordering service (you don’t need much technical know-how or experience to get started here). After two years, the company claims that you can expect to enjoy a revenue of over £70,000 a year and, the company does offer funding support in some cases.
ChipsAway
Now that the UK workers are returning to the workplace, you can help them do just that by driving your own future forward with a ChipsAway franchise. A world leader in SMART car repair, you need just £15,000 to start your engines with this UK wide franchise opportunity.
Fantastic Services
If cleaning property maintenance is your bag and you’ve got a bit of know-how, this award-winning franchise has three different packages to suit different budgets and needs, and these are a Working Franchise, an Area Development Franchise and a Master Franchise. If you fancy getting in with a company that makes £40 million in annual revenue, Fantastic Services is a great choice – and it can be yours for just £15000.
ServiceMaster Clean
Great home and office cleaners are always in demand and, with a ServiceMaster franchise, you have the opportunity to clean up as the clients roll in. Although this franchise can be extremely lucrative, it doesn’t come cheap – you’ll need at least £50,000 for your initial set-up fees.
Wignalls Estate Agents
Although the property industry may have suffered a couple of blips during the pandemic, it’s now come back stronger than ever. A property franchise is usually considered safe as houses. A Wignalls Estate Agents franchise will set you back £15,000 to get started and offers pretty fast returns.
Business Sales Plus
This fantastic franchise opportunity deals in the buying and selling of businesses and can be an excellent opportunity for the ambitious franchisee.
Kitchen Makeovers
A Kitchen Makeovers franchise cooks up a storm for a mere £12,500. Even better, franchisees can apply for government funding for the start-up fee – sometimes up to 100%.
There is no kitchen experience necessary with this business and it can even be run from home with huge earning potential.
Café Lutz
Coffee franchises are always a savvy choice and, while Starbuck’s offering may be beyond a lot of budgets at £500,000, you can grab yourself a Café Lutz franchise for a more manageable £20,000.
Ovenu
Oven cleaning may not be the most glamorous business to own, but you can expect to earn up to £60000 per year with this leading franchise company. To get cooking with Ovenu, you’ll need an initial investment of £9950 plus a monthly management fee of £41.53 plus VAT.
Trugreen
If gardening is your thing, you can do no better than getting on board with a Trugreen lawn care franchise business. Choose between a franchise license for £10000 or a full standard starter pack for £18,000.
Sandler Training
Sandler Training allows you to use your training and coaching skills to make some significant profits.
At £55,000, it’s not the cheapest opportunity available and, the company recommends that you also have at least three months of working capital behind you before setting out.
Right At Home UK
Providing homecare can be incredibly rewarding as well as lucrative and, Right AT Home is a leading light in the UK homecare industry. Right At Home franchises are available across the UK and will cost you £33,500 plus approximately £80,000 in working capital to cover set up costs and expenses.
When choosing your franchise, there are a few things to keep in mind:
Costs
To get started with a franchise business, you’ll usually be expected to pay an upfront franchise fee, set up costs, management fees, purchase of products and equipment, staff wages and sundries such as insurance and legal advice. Franchises that require physical premises will also have extra costs.
In addition to all of this, you’ll need to make sure that you have enough to live on while you get your business up and running. It’s important always to read the fine print of a franchise contract and do your sums to make sure that you can afford it.
Finally, some franchisors will require you to provide some of the fees from your own pocket rather than from funding.
Staying the distance
It’s a good idea to avoid any business that deals in a trend or a fad – before committing, ask yourself if the business is still likely to be successful (or even relevant) in five and ten years.
Follow your passion
Where possible, it makes sense to choose a franchise that deals in a product or service that you’re interested in. Until you become established, you’ll be eating, sleeping and breathing your business, so it’s a good idea to make sure that it’s something that you enjoy!
Conclusion
Choosing a franchise business means examining many factors, including location, longevity and, of course, cost. While this is ultimately a personal decision, your best bet will usually be a well-known brand that offers a great deal in profits and support to keep the risk as low as possible.
