Becoming a franchise owner is an exciting entrepreneurial journey, and a great way to secure your financial freedom. If you’re thinking about making your move and investing in a franchise – read on. In this article we speak to some entrepreneurs who’ve made the same leap of faith, whose stories can help guide you in the right direction.
What is a Franchise?
Before we get into our franchise success stories, let’s remind ourselves - how do franchises work? It’s a business model that involves someone (the franchisee) purchasing the rights to use the name, equipment, marketing and operations systems of an existing brand (the franchisor). They’ll then work together to find a promising location for a new store, or purchase an existing one (this is called a franchise resale).
Franchisees can help finance their purchase by borrowing money from banks and other lenders. These lenders often look favourably on franchise investments over other kinds, because they come with the added stability and market base of an existing brand, as well as in-depth training and support to set the franchisee up for success.
Tip: For more information about franchise financing, read our detailed guide How to Finance a Franchise.
The Journey to Becoming a Franchise Owner
There are thousands of different franchise brands you could get involved with, from low cost franchises to work from home franchises and much more. So how do you decide where to invest your time and money?
For entrepreneur Natalie Elliott, it was the flexibility of a work from home franchise that convinced her to leave her corporate job and build something for herself. “After I had my second child,” says Natalie, “I was weighing up job security versus work life balance, and I felt like – this is the moment to do it. If you don’t do it now, when will you?”
Natalie signed up with The Seasons Art Class, which lets franchisees run their own art classes while working from home four days a week. That flexibility allowed Natalie to juggle a career change with her two young boys: “Its been intense, especially because we did all this through the summer holidays, but being able to work to a more flexible schedule, like after the kids have gone to bed, really helps.”
What advice would Natalie give to other investors thinking about making a move into franchising? “It’s all about discovery – don’t rush, and make sure you find the right opportunity for you. Look through every single option, because you never know what you’ll find, and you need to do your due diligence properly.”
Three months into her journey of becoming a franchise owner, Natalie’s class has a full house of 29 students, and she hasn’t looked back. “I feel like I’m doing this for me,” she says. “Not for some bloke who doesn’t really know my name and has never asked about my kids!”
Exploring Franchise Ownership at the National Franchise Exhibition
Jed Wortmann’s journey to becoming a franchise owner began nearly a decade before he took the leap. Back in 2015, while running a roofing business, Jed attended The National Franchise Exhibition for the first time. He was drawn to the idea of franchising as a more secure alternative to starting a business entirely from scratch. “The success rate is just so much higher when there’s a brand and support structure behind you,” he says.
At the time, Jed explored opportunities in estate agency franchises but decided to wait - ultimately taking up an apprenticeship with OpenReach. Over the next nine years, he progressed to become an advanced engineer. “I enjoyed it for a while,” he says. “But I’d hit a bit of a ceiling and didn’t want to move into management. When they offered a severance package, it gave me the push I needed to look for something new.”
That decision proved to be a turning point. With several months to plan his next move, Jed returned to The National Franchise Exhibition in October 2024 - this time with real intent. Initially, he was drawn to a window shutter business but a conversation with the team from More Than Loft Ladders changed everything.
By January 2025, Jed officially launched his More Than Loft Ladders franchise while also welcoming a newborn into the family. “It was a whirlwind,” he laughs. “New baby, new business, but an incredibly exciting time.”
For those considering a franchise, Jed’s advice is clear: “Do your research. Look for something that fits your background or interests. If you’re going to spend every day working on it, you want to enjoy it.” He also encourages anyone attending The National Franchise Exhibition to go in prepared: “Take a notebook, ask loads of questions, and don’t be afraid to follow up after the show. It can feel overwhelming on the day, but if something stands out — trust your gut and explore it.”
The National Franchise Exhibition is a great place to start exploring the options available in the world of franchising. You can find work from home franchises, low cost franchises, and visit the Multi-Unit Franchise Conference if you’ve got big ambitions for a wider portfolio. The event takes place from 3-4 October 2025 at the NEC, Birmingham.
FAQs
What is a franchisee?
A franchisee is someone who signs up with an existing brand, paying for the legal right to use their name and brand. Franchisees don’t own their businesses in the same way a startup would, but they take a cut of the profits and benefit from the recognizability of a franchised brand.
How do franchises work?
You pay a franchisor a series of fees to use their name, equipment, marketing, operations, systems and more – then you pocket a percentage of the profit. In return, the franchisor will usually offer you support to help you drive the brand forwards. There are a wide variety of franchises out there to explore, from low cost franchises to work from home franchises.
How to become a franchisee?
You need to have the available capital to get started with your chosen brand, then pass a series of eligibility criteria with them. A good place to get started is to have conversations at franchise exhibitions such as the National Franchise Exhibition.
What makes a good franchisee?
Being aware of the risks, committed long-term, and able to balance independence with following orders. It helps to be passionate, adaptable, curious, and have some experience running a business, especially in sales/marketing.