Starting a franchise business involves a lot of choices, hard work, commitment and sometimes even sacrifice.
A new entrepreneur, after carefully assessing the project he or she is about to embark on, needs to do a kind of “soul-searching” to understand whether he or she wants to, and feels capable of, setting up his or her own business.
But to help you in this exercise, which is both subjective and imbued with economic reality, we’ve chosen to present you with 6 European franchise networks which, in 2024, guarantee certain financial success and an easy application.
Open a Dreams Donuts
Dreams Donuts is a Belgian donut store chain offering personalized donuts and a wide range of modern pastries (popcakes, muffins, brownies) and drinks (milkshakes, bubble tea, latte macchiato, iced coffee).
The brand was created by Ilyass, the son of Belgian pastry chefs, and now has over 50 stores in France and Belgium. The secrets of its success are product quality and customer satisfaction, the highly recognizable and familiar concept and, of course, the highly attractive franchise formula for project owners.
The investment required to open a store is 34,999 euros (without work or stock). The operating commission is 5% of sales excluding VAT, and the marketing commission is 1% on the same basis.
Become a Prêt à manger franchisee
Since 1986, with the opening of the first store in London, Pret a Manger has always had one mission: to offer fresh, healthy and natural products, free from the chemical additives and preservatives so common in fast food and ready meals.
Pret a Manger, or Prêt for short, stands out for its fresh, organic products prepared daily in the kitchens adjacent to or in the immediate vicinity of each restaurant.
Over the past 30 years, Pret a Manger has developed an extensive, high-performance network, which currently boasts over 350 Pret stores worldwide (UK, USA, Paris, Hong Kong and Shanghai), serving over 300,000 customers a day.
If you want to join the Pret a Manger network and open a point of sale, you’ll have to pay an entry fee of 50,000 euros, with an average initial contribution of between 100,000 and 200,000 euros for a minimum 10-year contract.
Open a Koker store
Koker, a clothing brand, was born in 2014 in Toledo, a city in south-central Spain, from an idea by entrepreneur Priscilla Ramírez. It’s aimed at consumers with a “comfortable” budget, who can’t find what they’re looking for in the supermarkets and prefer to spend directly in-store, avoiding online purchases”.
In all, it has forty stores in Portugal, the United States, Mexico, Luxembourg, Puerto Rico and, since 2020, in France thanks to its franchise system.
Depending on the size of the outlet, a minimum initial contribution of 30,000 euros is required, with sales expected to reach 800,000 euros over a two-year contract.
Buy a Calzedonia
Would you like to open an underwear and clothing store with a strong brand in this sector? The best solution is undoubtedly to opt for brands that have been around for years and already have a large customer base, such as Calzedonia, a successful European franchise network.
The Calzedonia group, founded in Verona in 1987 by Sandro Veronesi, a former Golden Lady employee, has a long history. Mr. Veronesi’s project was originally focused on the sale of socks for men and women. Although the first boutique wasn’t an immediate success, the company was able to expand rapidly and, in 1994, became a manufacturer of its own garments.
Today, thanks to the franchise model, the brand has stores not only in France, but also abroad and throughout Europe.
As for the costs involved in opening a Calzedonia outlet, it’s worth knowing that the average initial investment required is around 90,000 euros. However, the sales potential is quite high. In fact, it’s possible to earn between 500 and 600,000 euros every year from one of the brand’s boutiques. The Calzedonia franchise agreement provides for an entry fee of 5,200 euros.
Become a Spar franchisee
Founded in 1932 in the Netherlands, Spar, with some 13,000 stores in 48 countries and over 900 in France, is one of the world’s largest food retailers, and its distinctive feature is that it is always nearby. In 1997, Spar was acquired by the Casino group, which became the exclusive franchisor.
On average, a Spar store generates annual sales of between €800,000 and €5 million, the volatility of which is of course explained by its location in rural or tourist areas.
Prospective SPAR franchisees must have a minimum investment of €40,000. They will commit to a seven-year contract and will have to find a retail space of between 150 and 1,000 m².
Open a Vallée Office
In 1990, the very first Bureau Vallée store opened its doors in the Yvelines department in Maurepas, under the management of Bruno Peyroles.
The franchise network, specializing in office equipment and supplies, now has over 290 outlets in France and over 370 worldwide, with total sales of 600 million euros.
The entry fee to become a Bureau Vallée franchisee is between €15,000 and €25,000, depending on the formula, with an initial investment of €280,000 to €380,000.
Our 5-point summary by L’Express Connect IA
(vérifié par notre rédaction)
Here’s a five-point summary of the article on our selection of European franchises that work in 2024.
Dreams Donuts: Dreams Donuts is a Belgian brand specializing in personalized donuts, modern pastries and drinks like bubble tea. Founded by Ilyass, the son of Belgian pastry chefs, the brand has over 50 stores in France and Belgium. To open a franchise, the initial investment is €34,999, with an operating commission of 5% and a marketing commission of 1% on sales excluding VAT.
Pret a Manger: Pret a Manger, founded in London in 1986, stands out for its fresh, organic products prepared daily. With over 350 stores worldwide, the franchise offers healthy, natural dishes. To join the network, an entry fee of €50,000 is required, with an average initial investment of between €100,000 and €200,000 for a minimum 10-year contract.
Koker: Koker, founded in 2014 in Toledo by Priscilla Ramírez, offers clothing for consumers on a comfortable budget. The brand has forty stores in several countries, including France. A minimum initial investment of €30,000 is required, with estimated sales of €800,000 over a two-year contract.
Calzedonia: Founded in 1987 in Verona by Sandro Veronesi, Calzedonia offers a solid opportunity in underwear and clothing. With stores across Europe, an initial investment of around €90,000 is required to open a franchise. Annual sales can reach €500,000 to €600,000, with an entry fee of €5,200.
Spar: Founded in 1932 in the Netherlands, Spar has 13,000 stores in 48 countries, including over 900 in France. The franchise, acquired by the Casino group in 1997, requires a minimum investment of €40,000. Stores generate annual sales of between €800,000 and €5 million, depending on location. Applicants commit to a seven-year contract with retail space ranging from 150 to 1,000 m².
