Choosing the right franchise investment plan

Here in the UK we have a large – and growing – number of franchise businesses, around 48,000 in fact. This is approximately double the figure from 25 years ago, and these franchises span a wide range of business sectors. From floristry to food, car rental to coffee, there really are franchise opportunities available in every industry.

There are so many benefits to owning a franchise business that it’s not hard to see why they are so popular. Thanks to the ideal balance of independence and long term support, franchises allow people with little or no business experience to own and run their own.

Many people want to work in a more flexible way and the franchise industry certainly allows them to do this, while still ensuring they are operating a successful and profitable company.

So how exactly do you get into the franchise industry? And once you’ve found the right franchise for you, how do you invest? In this article we’re going to look at some common questions about franchising and drill down further on how prospective franchisees can invest in a Premier Education franchise.

How do you get into franchising?

There are a number of ways that you can become a franchisee. Let’s look at some of the most common routes into this popular business model.

You want to combine your passion with business

It’s common for people who have a real interest in a particular sector, and perhaps already work in that sector, to look at becoming a franchisee within that industry.

It’s a natural fit. It means you already share a genuine love for that particular product or service so investing in a franchise means your business will be run with quality at its heart, almost guaranteeing success. Using a franchise directory such as this one is a good way of finding a business in your sector.

Of course, having a passion for an industry still means you need to follow the franchisor’s guidance in terms of best business practice. Fortunately, as part of a franchise, you will likely benefit from ongoing support to keep your business on-track, minimising the risk of failure.

Ultimately, having a strong personal interest in the sector you’re looking to franchise in means you’re more likely to be a passionate business owner who brings in a strong team and who wants to deliver the very best product or service.

You’re an independent business looking for more growth

This is something we experience here at Premier Education. Sometimes, independent businesses – however good – just don’t have the resources or expertise to grow and expand the way the business owners would like.

Becoming part of a franchise business brings greater opportunities to grow. For example, by taking on a Premier Education franchise, you’ll automatically secure your own territory with a minimum of 75 primary schools. We’ve had a number of small competitors who are looking to grow, invest in a franchise with us and see substantial growth. Read one of our success stories here.

Alongside this territory, there will be opportunities to acquire more once you’ve settled in! Of course, one of the key advantages in franchising is the central services provided, including marketing support, meaning you don’t need to worry about getting your brand out there, it’s all done for you.

You have a head for business and are a natural leader

Investing in a franchised business means leading a team, so a determination to succeed is a must, but so is respecting the franchise brand and maintaining its reputation.

Franchisors want their franchisees to be business savvy, and while they don’t necessarily need any previous experience, having a strong interest in the business (as detailed above) is a strong motivator.

If you are confident in managing people and have a can-do attitude, then franchising sounds like a good route for you.

What questions should I ask a potential franchisor?

Franchisors should aim to provide prospective franchisees with as much information as possible, but we’ve included a few important questions that should always be asked before the franchise agreement is signed.

Are you a member of the British Franchise Association?

The BFA is the primary self-regulatory body within the franchise industry and provides reassurance to potential franchisees that BFA-accredited businesses operate ethically.

We are proud to not only be accredited by the British Franchise Association but we have enjoyed success at its industry awards. In 2023 we were a finalist in the Franchisor of the Year category and in 2024 we are a finalist in the Franchisor of the Year – Established category (keep up to date with our progress here).

Can I buy the franchise with someone else?

There’s no reason why you can’t decide to work with a business partner to both share the investment of the franchise and share the workload. It’s important that you both have the same vision for the business but this arrangement can work really well if you complement each other with your strengths and skills.

What sort of training do you offer and how will you support me long term?

This is a crucial point when it comes to researching franchise opportunities. As part of your franchise agreement it’s important to be clear on the level of support you’ll have access to, such as customer service, marketing, sales, finance and recruitment.

Training should encompass all areas of the business so you feel fully prepared to take on your business and be successful.

Here at Premier Education, our onboarding process is thorough and leads franchisees through each area of the business. Not only that, but we provide invaluable strategic support to help you effectively plan for growth, and our network of franchisees are fantastic at providing peer support and guidance whenever needed.

How much are the fees and are there finance options?

There’s no way around it, every franchise comes with fees. Every business will require a different level of investment, but it’s likely that you’ll be asked for an initial investment to secure it and ‘buy’ the right to trade using the franchisor’s brand and products.

Longer term, you may also need to make monthly payments to cover the ongoing support such as the marketing and sales activity, HR and recruitment.

If you haven’t got ready access to the investment required, find out if there is a franchise finance option that still provides you with some level of ownership while also allowing you to spread payments over a longer period.

What level of return can I expect from my investment?

Understandably, profits will vary depending on the type of business and the market condition. The franchisor should make financial information very clear in terms of the franchisee’s income potential (as long as the business model is followed).

We are very proud that one in three of our franchisees turnover more than £500,000 a year, with 90% turning over more than £100,000 a year.

How long is the franchise agreement?

Again, this will depend on the franchise, some are five year agreements, some are longer-term – 10 or 20 year agreements. It may be possible to terminate the agreement, and this will be made clear by the franchisor. It may also be possible to sell the lease of the franchise to another party, as approved by the franchisor.

Why choose Premier Education to franchise with?

Without wanting to blow our own trumpet too much, we are a great business to franchise with! With over 25 years of experience, we’ve built a business model that is not only successful in impacting children through fun and engaging sport, but is also an attractive franchise opportunity for anyone who is passionate about getting kids active.

We have an expert understanding of primary school PE and sports needs and provide much-needed support to deliver PESSPA. We operate as an extension of school staff resources and are an approved supplier for the PE and sport premium.

Our collaborative and educational induction process ensures that life as a franchisee kicks off the right way, and it doesn’t stop there. Twice-weekly network webinars, an online newsfeed and a monthly e-newsletter all ensure franchisees are kept up to speed on the latest developments affecting their businesses.

We also run regular appraisals with our central support director to identify any areas that need additional support and make sure the business is achieving the franchisee’s expectations.

What are the investment options?

Investing in a franchise – and any business in fact – is a big decision and of course money is a key factor. Accessing the money to make the initial investment may be off-putting for some people, but we’ve developed options to make sure buying a franchise with us is realistic.

Shared Ownership

Our Shared Ownership package has been designed to help you get started as a Premier Education franchisee, but with less investment and less risk.

With this great value option, we equip you with a clear roadmap to success, help you find and train staff and support you at every step. With just a £2,000 investment, you own 51% of the franchise which still gives you an exclusive territory with at least 75 schools. The remaining investment can be provided later in the process, and we can help you find ways to raise the funds.

Benefits of this cost-effective package include:

£10,000 of funded support from us
Major discounts on paid HQ support packages
Options to acquire remaining shares
6 months with zero management fees
Proven business model to adopt
Step-by-step sales and product training

Gold Package

Our Gold programme gives you complete ownership of your Premier Education franchise from day one, with a premium franchise package that supports your journey as you strive for business success. With an investment of £24,995 you’ll get a jump start on your franchising journey with countless exclusive benefits, helping you to build a sustainable and profitable business from day one.

We make sure you’re fully set up to follow our tried-and-tested business model and together we formulate a strategy that aligns with your vision for the business.

Investing in our Gold programme exempts you from paying any commissions for 12 months, meaning you’ll have more to invest in success. Another exclusive benefit is that the first six months of management fees are waived – further helping you to build your business.

With our Gold package you can enjoy the following advantages:

A reserved additional territory for when you’re ready to grow
12 months free company financial control package
An expert team to help with outbound sales
12 hours of sales training to help you get up to speed with the top techniques in the industry
Coach recruitment training
No commission for 12 months
Six months of no management fees.

What’s included in a Premier Education franchise?

As a Premier Education franchisee you’ll be running a business that we know has an engaged customer base. Primary schools love our extracurricular and curricular products and parents love our wraparound childcare and holiday camps.

Here’s a snapshot of what your franchise consists of:

The widest range of products in our sector: sports, performing arts, personal development, Golden Mile, Game of Actual Life and Start Sporty – something for every school!
Business planning support
Support in raising finance (if needed)
A business that isn’t just term-time only thanks to our holiday camp provision
Training on all products and activities
14 month mentor programme with the support of our Trailblazer franchisees to accelerate your growth
Comprehensive competitor and market analysis for your area
Marketing training and a marketing team working on your behalf
Business Management System, with data analysis and a unique school reporting system to support you in running your business
Access to all national partners.

How to make your dream a reality

What are you waiting for? Book a discovery call today to find out more about franchising with Premier Education and why owning a business can indeed be a reality.