Schmidt

Non-Client of L'Express FranchiseMade-to-measure interiors, factory direct

Financial Plan

Liquid capital

Personal funds required, covering showroom investment, fit-out and working capital

£70,000

Total investment

Total project cost, part-funded by Schmidt and a specialist lender (Not disclosed)

£250,000

Average annual revenue

Turnover a well-run showroom can approach by year two, per the franchisor

£1,000,000

The Concept

Year of creation: 1959
Implantations: 800+ worldwide

A bespoke kitchen and interiors showroom franchise with no franchise fee and no royalties, where the brand co-invests in the fit-out.

A Schmidt franchise is a design-led showroom selling bespoke kitchens, bathrooms, wardrobes and living spaces, and the brand charges neither a franchise fee nor ongoing royalties.

Schmidt is Europe’s leading kitchen and interior design brand, with over 800 showrooms worldwide, more than 700 kitchens supplied daily and over 85 years of brand heritage. Products come from six factories in France and Germany, and the company has been developing its showroom concept since 1989.

Why Choose the Franchise Schmidt?

The fee structure is the headline. Schmidt charges no royalties and no ongoing franchise fees, describing it as a genuinely unique position in the industry, and the agreement renews without additional cost. The company earns when a partner orders products, which is how it frames the alignment of interests.

Funding is shared rather than borrowed alone. Schmidt operates a co-investment structure across three parties: the partner’s personal investment, a contribution from Schmidt towards showroom fit-out, and matched finance from a specialist lender. A minimum of £70,000 in accessible personal funds is required, covering showroom investment, fit-out and working capital, with total project cost typically between £250,000 and £450,000.

Territories are exclusive, with no competing Schmidt showroom in the same area, and the company sets no strict limit on how many showrooms a partner may own provided they can manage them effectively.

The business carries no stock. Orders are manufactured and shipped directly from Schmidt’s factories to the customer, and customers pay on ordering, which the company describes as a cash-flow positive model.

In 2025 Schmidt introduced a City Concept, a smaller-format model starting at the same £70,000 personal investment but designed for faster returns in urban locations.

Franchisees come from varied backgrounds: senior roles in IT, architecture, engineering and marketing, alongside teaching, food and beverage, electrical work and the kitchen industry itself. Design or sales experience is not required.

The Concept Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, and no design or sales experience is required. Existing UK franchisees have come from senior roles in IT, architecture, engineering and marketing, as well as teaching, food and beverage, electrical work and the kitchen industry. Schmidt asks for an entrepreneurial outlook, a genuine interest in interior design and a willingness to build client relationships.

No. Schmidt charges no royalties and no ongoing franchise fees, and the franchise agreement renews without additional cost. The company earns when a partner orders products, which it presents as aligning both parties’ interests.

Through a three-party structure. The partner provides the initial equity from £70,000, Schmidt typically funds around half of the remaining capital expenditure through a Schmidt loan towards the showroom build and fit-out, and a specialist lender provides the balance. Schmidt also introduces partners to high-street lenders familiar with the model.

A smaller-format model introduced in 2025, designed for faster returns in urban locations while carrying the same premium product range. It starts from the same £70,000 personal investment.

Yes. Schmidt sets no strict limit on the number of locations a partner may own, provided they can demonstrate the capability to manage multiple showrooms and maintain service quality across all of them. Territories are exclusive, so no competing Schmidt showroom operates in the same area.

Typically three to six months from signing the franchise agreement to opening, depending on location and individual circumstances. The process runs from requesting a brochure through a discovery call and a showroom visit to opening.