Top 10 Franchises in the UK You Need To Invest In

In the UK, franchisees are spoilt for choice when choosing a franchisor.

You have some that are experience-dependent, some that are “plug-and-play”, some that don’t require a big initial investment, and some from huge, global brands. 

All the opportunities are different. Some are good, while others, well, not so good. And we’re here to show the top 10 franchises in the UK so you can pick the good ones, ensuring a beneficial franchisee future. 

Subway

• Initial Investment: From £180,000
• Average Gross Turnover: £300,000
• Funding Support: No
• Number of Outlets in the UK: Over 2,000

Starting the list of top 10 franchises in the UK is Subway, one of the largest fast food chains in the UK with over 2,000 locations in 2023. 

We believe this is because of their proven business model. The company has been around for over 50 years and is considered one of the world's largest fast-food chains. 

To become a Subway Franchise in the UK, you’ll pay close to £200,000 or more. £8,500 of this is the franchise fee. They’ll also need 8% of gross sales for a royalty fee and 4.5% of gross sales for an advertising fee. 

You don’t only get a Subway restaurant with this franchise, but included in these costs is also a two-week training course, assistance and mentorship from 20 different regional development offices, and a ton more support options. 

ActionCOACH UK

• Initial Investment: £29,000
• Average Gross Turnover: £10,000 to £14,000 in the first 6-7 months, guaranteed 
• Funding Support: 70% finance available
• Number of Outlets in the UK: 200

ActionCOACH has been in operation since 1993, and it’s a global business coaching company. 

The company has over 3,500 proven strategies and tactics to guarantee results not only for their customers but also for ActionCOACH franchisees. They’re so confident in their strategies that they actually offer their franchise a money-back guarantee if they don’t start generating £10,000 to £14,000 in gross monthly income in the first 6 to 7 months. 

To join ActionCOACH, investors are expected to invest a minimum amount of £69,000. In return, you’ll get your own exclusive territory, receive world-class training, and gain access to a driven community of coaches. 

Costa Coffee

• Initial Investment: £250,000 - £800,000
• Average Gross Turnover: Not Available (N/A)
• Funding Support: No
• Number of Outlets in the UK: Over 2,000

Costa Coffee is one of the most popular coffee chains in the UK, and they’re seen in a variety of settings—for example, convenience stores, retail settings, travel hubs, and forecourts. 

Because of this, they offer various ways to become a Costa franchisee. You can open a full storefront or just serve Costa Coffee at your establishment via service or self-service. 

We put Costa Coffee number 3, however, for its retail stores. It’ll cost a franchisee around £250,000 to £800,000, and that’ll include help with everything from store design all the way to operations of Costa Coffee. 

Please note, however, that to open up a retail store with Costa Coffee, the franchisor will need a minimum net worth of £250,000. 

The Travel Franchise

• Initial Investment: From £2,995
• Average Gross Turnover: N/A
• Funding Support: No
• Number of Outlets in the UK: Not Available (N/A)

For 20 years, The Travel Franchise has given people the tools required to build a business from anywhere in the world. 

As a The Travel Franchises franchisor, you’ll be required to only pay an investment starting from £2,995, making it one of the best franchises in the UK regarding start-up costs. With this, you’ll get a personal website, custom IT software, around £3 million in buying power, ongoing mentorship, and much, much more. 

Though the average gross turnover isn’t publicly displayed, some of their most successful partners have turned over £100k in 8 weeks, £1m in 3 months, and £76k in one booking. 

TaxAssist Accountants

• Initial Investment: From £19,950
• Average Gross Turnover: £300,000+
• Funding Support: 3rd-party financing
• Number of Outlets in the UK: Over 245

TaxAssist accounts provide services like business accounting and taxation, tax planning, personal tax returns, etc. 

To become a franchisee, packages start from £19,950, and there are three ways you can become a partner.  You can build a new Tax Assist business, buy a Tax Assist business, or convert a current accountancy to Tax Assis.

At these prices, you’ll get a lead generation service and already-build technology, systems, and processes to ensure success. 

Fantastic Services

• Initial Investment: £1,500 
• Average Gross Turnover: £260,000+
• Funding Support: Yes
• Number of Outlets in the UK: Over 530

Fantastic Services offers over 100 different services, ranging from cleaning all the way to pest control and general handyman solutions. 

The company itself has over a decade of franchising experience and is considered one of the largest in its industry. 

Packages for franchisees start at £1,500, and funding options are available. Included with the partnership, the franchisee will also gain access to state-of-the-art systems, 500+ experts, and lead generation. 

Red Driving School

• Initial Investment: From £99 per week
• Average Gross Turnover: Average hourly rate is £34 (Gross)
• Funding Support: Exclusive Car Deals 
• Number of Outlets in the UK: Nearly 400

Red Driving School has almost 400 instructors (which are franchisees) across the nation. 

On average, instructors working underneath Red Driving School earn an average of £34 an hour. 97% of them are also satisfied with their job, and 80% would recommend the Red franchise to others. 

Not only this, but the initial investment is affordable, and you can even use your own car (if approved by Red). If your car isn’t approved, they have exclusive car deals available to help you purchase an approved car. 

Plus, the franchise cost is extremely low. This is, however, if you have an approved car. It also has a low barrier to entry, as they don’t perform credit checks. 

Snap-On

• Initial Investment: £11,854 - £100,000
• Average Gross Turnover: £803,000
• Funding Support: No
• Number of Outlets in the UK: Not specified

Snap-on is considered the #1 tool franchise and has won various rewards, such as the winner of the Elitefrachnise top 100 list. 

The company offers various franchisee packages. The most affordable package is the Jump Start Package. This starts at £11,854. The other types of packages range from £24,143 to £100,000. 

Included in these packages is in-depth training and support from both their US and UK teams. You’ll also have 5 months of support from a personal sales developer and business manager. Plus, they’ll give you around 20 leads a day to help kick off the partnership. 

One Stop Stores

• Initial Investment: £50,000
• Average Gross Turnover: £1 million average turnover
• Funding Support: Franchisor invests up to £50,000
• Number of Outlets in the UK: 400+

One Stop is actually a subsidiary of Tesco, the biggest UK supermarket, and they’re a convenience store. 

The initial investment required to become a One-Stop franchise is £50,000. However, you’ll need to have retail space suited to their requirements. To lower the remodelling cost, they’ll also support you by investing up to £50,000 in the refit. You’ll also get ongoing training and support 7 days a week. 

Alongside this, it has a high average gross turnover of £1 million annually and a small 5% royalty fee. 

Domino's

• Initial Investment: Approximately £280,000
• Average Gross Turnover: £14,000/week average sales
• Funding Support: No
• Number of Outlets in the UK: Over 1,200

Domino’s is one of the biggest pizza delivery brands in the UK. They have over 1,200 franchises, averaging around £14,000 a week in sales. 

The initial investment of a Domino's franchise is around £280,000. This includes everything from the equipment, franchise fee, and inventory. You’ll also be able to take orders in-store, via delivery apps, via phone, etc. 

Though the initial investment is quite large, the reputation Domino’s holds already sets you up for success. 

Comparing the Top 10 Franchises in the UK 

The above information comes from various different sources. 

Become an ActionCOACH Franchisee Today 

As an ActionCOACH franchisee, you’ll have access to proven strategies, a supportive community, and a guaranteed income in the first 6 months. 

Join one of the best franchises in the UK and see what it truly means to be a business owner. Click here to watch our overview video and see whether this is the right opportunity for you.

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