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Government ‘Start Up Loans’ Now Available!

by | Mar 31, 2021

Government ‘Start Up Loans’ For Franchise Businesses

When looking at franchising as a business option, raising the appropriate finance can be a barrier to making the next step. In some cases, using your own money might be possible, but it is likely you’ll need some cash injection to get your franchise up and running. The Government’s ‘Start Up Loan’ scheme is now available to those looking to own a franchise business. Great news for prospective franchisees.

The UK Government is supporting individuals who wish to start their own franchise by offering funding under a ‘Start Up Loan’ scheme. Countrywide Signs has teamed up with an expert finance broker who has a 90% success rate in getting franchisees access to sufficient funding to purchase a franchise and start trading.

Rob Dancy at The Franchising Centre commented on the start-up loan option for buying a franchise: “We have found this scheme a real game changer for the people we advise and the franchising sector as a whole. It is a great way to help bridge the gap as what would usually hold people back from investing in a franchise for themselves. Ultimately upfront capital is a limiting factor. With a 90% success rate on applications, it is an option well worth investigating.”

How the Government scheme works:

  • You can apply for any amount from £500 to £25,000 to start your business.
  • If the business has two owners (e.g., business partners or a husband-and-wife team) then both parties can apply. This then doubles borrowings to potentially £50,000.
  • This is a personal loan which you use to get your business up and running however it is ‘unsecured’ meaning that you are not putting your property at risk (as is the case with many loans).
  • The rate of interest on the loan is 6%.
  • You have a period of between 1 year and 5 years to repay the loan with no early payment penalty.

To summarise you now have an opportunity to access funding without having to put any of your own money in initially and without putting your property (or even without owning a property) at risk.

How to Qualify for a Government Start Up Loan

As with any loan, you will need to meet a set criterion.

In the case of a Government Start Up Loan – to qualify for the funding – you must be able to confirm the following:

  • Live in the UK
  • Be 18 or over
  • Have an existing UK-based business that has been trading for less than 24 months, or alternatively plan to start one. This means that even if you are not ready now to buy your franchise you can apply for the loan and use the funding to get started when the time is right.

If you want to find out more about how you can access the funds to help you start your Countrywide Signs franchise, then our experts are ready and waiting to talk to you. Get in Touch today or Schedule a Call with our franchise recruitment specialists.

Northampton Franchise Resale

An established Countrywide Signs territory covering all NN postcodes, with a customer base centred around Northampton.

Price including franchise fee: £49,995
Reported turnover: £48,000
Reported territory size: 287,000 properties
Current Operation: One van

About the business

The current franchisee has serviced the territory for over five years. Based outside the area, they travel into Northampton to manage the business. Currently operating with a single van, the territory offers a new owner the opportunity to explore further development across the area.

Reason for sale and handover

The owner is selling to concentrate on developing their adjacent territory. They will remain within the Countrywide Signs network nearby and will be available to offer guidance and assistance to the purchaser.

Take the Next Step

Get in touch to discuss the business, confirm the territory boundaries and explore the next steps.

Oxford Franchise Resale

An opportunity to take on an existing, company-owned Countrywide Signs territory covering Oxford and all OX postcodes.

Price including franchise fee: £39,995
Reported turnover: £24,000
Reported territory size: 367,000 properties
Estimated growth potential: Four to five vans

About the business

The Oxford territory supplies, installs and manages estate agent signage and has been serviced by Countrywide Signs for over 12 years. With an existing customer base, the territory provides a foundation for a new franchise owner to develop the business across the area.

The opportunity

Currently company-owned, this established territory is now being offered to a new franchise owner.

Take the Next Step

Get in touch to discuss the business, confirm the territory boundaries and explore the next steps.

Harlow Franchise Resale

An established Countrywide Signs business serving West Essex and South Cambridgeshire, with an existing customer base and support during the handover.

Price including franchise fee: £27,995
Reported turnover: £12,500
Reported territory size: 151,000 properties
Estimated growth potential: Two vans

About the territory

Based in Harlow, the territory includes Epping, Bishop’s Stortford, Great Dunmow, Sawbridgeworth, Saffron Walden and Haverhill. The current owner has operated the territory for over 10 years. The resale offers a new franchisee an existing estate agent signage business to develop across the area.

Reason for sale and handover

The owner is selling to focus on expanding another part of their existing business. They will work closely with the purchaser during the handover to help maintain customer relationships and support the transition to new ownership.

Take the Next Step

Get in touch to discuss the business, confirm the territory boundaries and explore the next steps.

Coventry Franchise Resale

Take on an established Countrywide Signs territory operated by the same franchisee for 22 years.

Price including franchise fee: £52,995
Reported turnover: £52,000
Reported territory size: 283,000 properties
Estimated growth potential: Four vans

About the territory

The territory covers Coventry and the surrounding towns of Coleshill, Nuneaton, Lutterworth, Daventry and Royal Leamington Spa. The current franchisee has spent 22 years supplying, installing and managing estate agent signage across the area, giving a new owner an established operation to build on.

Reason for sale

The owner is considering retirement and is open to selling the whole territory or part of it. A partial sale would allow them to reduce their workload, while a full sale would enable them to retire completely.

Take the Next Step

Get in touch to discuss the business, confirm the territory boundaries and explore the next steps.

North Devon Franchise Resale

An opportunity to acquire an established Countrywide Signs territory supplying, installing and managing estate agent signage.

Price including franchise fee: £30,995
Reported turnover: £14,500
Reported territory size: Over 255,000 properties
Estimated growth potential: Two to three vans

About the business

The territory is being offered by a franchisee based in southern Cornwall, who has developed a multi-van business there over the past 10 years. This resale gives a new owner the opportunity to take on the Devon part of that operation and develop its estate agency customer base.

Reason for sale and handover

The current franchisee is selling to consolidate their Cornwall territory. They will be available to assist the new owner during the early stages and are keen to build a longer-term working partnership across the area.

Take the Next Step

Get in touch to discuss the business, confirm the territory boundaries and explore the next steps.

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