Franchise UK
About the Company
Franchise UK was founded by Joel Bissitt and operates as the largest franchise directory in the UK. Its main goal is to introduce potential franchisees to franchise brands that are looking to expand. Franchise UK offers franchise directory listings, along with other services such as email campaigns, SMS marketing, and social media advertising. These services aim to provide quality leads for franchisors, making it easier for franchise brands to recruit and grow. Over time, Franchise UK has expanded its reach and maintained consistent year-on-year growth, particularly over the past five to six years.
The company operates with a small team but manages to generate around $50,000 in monthly revenue. Bissitt highlights the importance of maintaining high retention rates with advertisers by delivering measurable results, which has been a key factor in the company’s long-term success. Franchise UK is not only known for its directory but also for its additional marketing services that support businesses in the franchise sector.
Idea Behind Company
Joel Bissitt’s entrepreneurial journey began at a young age. Inspired by business figures like Richard Branson and Alan Sugar, he always knew he wanted to run his own business. At 19, he began working in different industries, including consulting, leisure, and IT. His experience franchising one of his businesses led him to the idea of creating a user-friendly franchise directory.
At the time, many franchise websites were either too complex or overloaded with information. Bissitt saw a gap in the market and aimed to build a directory that was accessible, informative, and easy to navigate. His experience with search engine optimization (SEO) in previous ventures gave him the confidence that he could drive leads for advertisers and rank his site high in search engines, all with minimal external investment.
Creating the Company
The initial phase of creating Franchise UK was challenging. With only £1000 in funding and no external investors, Bissitt designed and developed the site himself. Using WordPress, he built the site with user-friendly navigation in mind. He faced difficulty attracting his first advertisers since competitors had already established relationships with franchisors. Despite these early struggles, Bissitt managed to gain a few advertisers, many of whom still work with Franchise UK today.
In terms of design, Bissitt used basic software for mock-ups and simplified the process as much as possible. The company was built on calculated risks, self-taught lessons, and continuous reinvestment of profits back into the business. Over time, the company grew as more advertisers saw value in the quality leads Franchise UK provided.
Launching the Business
Franchise UK had a modest launch with a small budget. Most of its early marketing efforts were concentrated on e-shots and attending business and franchise events like the Business Show at Excel London. At these events, Bissitt promoted the directory using banners, business cards, and leaflets. It took several years to reach a base of over 20 advertisers.
As the business grew, Bissitt invested more into improving the website and expanding its marketing reach. Social media, particularly Facebook, became an integral part of their marketing strategy, helping Franchise UK build a large following. Over time, the company’s reputation solidified, and more franchise brands were willing to advertise on the platform.
Earnings
Franchise UK now generates around $600,000 per year, with steady growth each year since 2017. The company saw a 50% increase in turnover last year, and it continues to work with major franchise brands globally. Bissitt attributes part of this success to the company’s ability to retain advertisers by delivering high-quality leads.
The future looks promising for Franchise UK, with plans to expand internationally and offer similar services to franchise brands worldwide. The business remains a family-run venture, with Bissitt’s son joining the company, and they are well-positioned to continue their growth trajectory in the coming years.
