Signs Express
Financial Plan
Liquid capital
The amount you need to secure the necessary loans.
Total investment
Total Investment to launch the business, including initial fees (Not disclosed)
The Concept
- Implantations
- 60+ locations in the UK
A business-to-business signs and graphics centre, opened as a start-up, resale, rebrand or conversion
Signs Express designs, makes and installs signs and graphics for businesses: exterior fascia and illuminated signs, interior window graphics, wallpaper and wayfinding, full and partial vehicle wraps, and exhibition and display products from pop-up banners to building wraps. It also handles multi-site signage for larger clients. The company has been established for more than 35 years and describes itself as UK owned and run.
Its network covers more than 60 locations across the UK, each a local Signs Express centre serving businesses in its area. Because the customer base is business-to-business, centres trade Monday to Friday.
Four routes into the franchise
Signs Express offers four ways in. A start-up opens a new centre in a vacant territory. A resale takes over an established Signs Express business, with centres currently for sale in Wolverhampton, York, Cardiff and Portsmouth. A conversion helps a candidate buy an independent signage business in a vacant territory and convert it, while a rebrand lets an existing sign company join the network directly.
No signage experience is required. New franchisees complete a three-week intensive training course, combining classroom training with time in working centres, followed by ongoing training and support. The company looks for business-minded candidates who are confident building customer relationships and comfortable managing a team.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Signs Express franchise cost?
Signs Express says a start-up centre requires an initial investment of £65,000. Resales, rebrands and conversions are priced individually, and the company does not publish its franchise fee or ongoing fees separately.
How much can a Signs Express franchise make?
Signs Express does not publish an average. It describes a turnover potential of £750,000 or more and EBITDA potential of 20% or more, figures that indicate what a centre can reach rather than what a typical centre achieves.
Do you need signage experience to open a Signs Express franchise?
No. Signs Express says no industry experience is needed, and provides full training and ongoing support.
What training does Signs Express provide?
A three-week intensive training course for all new franchisees, combining classroom training with immersive time in working Signs Express centres, followed by ongoing training and support.
What are the ways to join Signs Express?
Four: a start-up in a vacant territory, a resale of an existing Signs Express centre, a conversion where Signs Express helps you buy an independent signage business and convert it, or a rebrand of a sign company you already own.
What does a Signs Express centre sell?
Exterior and illuminated signs, interior graphics and wayfinding, vehicle wraps and decals, and exhibition and display products, mainly to business customers. Centres trade Monday to Friday.
How many Signs Express centres are there?
More than 60 across the UK, according to Signs Express, which says it has been established for over 35 years.
