APS Legal & Associates

About APS Legal & Associates

APS Legal & Associates is one of the largest estate planning and will writing companies in the UK and has minimum start-up costs with no previous experience necessary. A professional, time flexible and lucrative legal services business, its franchise offering can be run from home or a suitable office.

APS Legal & Associates is one of the most widely recognised and trusted brands in the will writing and estate planning profession. Since being acquired by Simply Biz in 2014, a large company offering support to over 10,000 financial advisers, it has more resources than ever for both in-house staff and associates. As well as being able to offer more training and mentoring, it also gives associates peace of mind that it is a company with a solid foundation.

As one of the largest members of the IPW (Institute of Professional Will Writers), and with circa 570 qualified associates across the country, its approach in a traditionally fragmented industry has allowed APS Legal & Associates to build a strong brand name with rapidly increasing recognition. All of its in house staff are full IPW members, with the senior staff also being STEP qualified, and its associates are Associate IPW members and follow the Trading Standards Institute approved code of practice. The need for APS Legal & Associates’ services in protecting its clients’ estates is becoming more important as it provides peace of mind, particularly at a time when this sector is often discussed in the media.

How does the APS Legal & Associates franchise model work?

Franchisees - or associates - offer will writing, estate planning and probate services directly to clients, either as part of an existing financial services company or as a standalone financial adviser.

There is no cost for training as it is embedded in the monthly licence and support fee of £79 per month for the first year (contracted for the first 12 months), which drops to £35 per month from month 13 onwards.

APS Legal & Associates currently serves and supports over 500 associates and provides all the ongoing support required for an adviser to provide a complete estate planning service to their clients.

There is a one-off licence and training fee to become an associate, which includes the knowledge, skills and confidence to provide comprehensive advice and take client instructions; full training (see below); the professional production of wills, trusts and other associated legal documents; a complete ‘back office’ function, including reception, secretarial and administration support; use of the company’s corporate identity; and comprehensive ongoing legal, technical and mentor support.

In addition, the licence and training fee includes membership and accreditation to both APS Legal & Associates membership bodies and the provision of a practising
certificate with the right to use the appropriate logos on all stationery and marketing material. Full lifetime professional indemnity insurance (to £2.5m) and public liability insurance (to £1m) are also included, provided that associates operate within the conditions of the associate agreement.

How much does an APS Legel & Associates franchise cost?

APS Legal & Associates is now able to take a lower initial fee from prospective associates, as this is something it can make up in documentation fees, and for the first time, APS Legal & Associates is introducing the option of a monthly payment plan.

As before, you will be able to pay the new cost of £2,900-plus VAT upfront prior to attending the course, or you would now be able to pay £500-plus VAT before the course, and then £200-plus VAT a month for 12 months thereafter, totalling £2,900-plus VAT, if this is a more suitable option for you.

What locations or territories is APS Legal & Associates looking to operate in?

APS is interested to hear from business-minded individuals aged between 25-65 from all around the UK.
 

Why is APS Legal & Associates a good investment?

APS Legal & Associates offers a ready-made business, which is simple and cost-effective to run. All types of financial advisers who need or would like more work and income can add another string to their bow by becoming trained in how to write wills and advise on estate planning.

As an associate, you’ll be joining one of the largest estate planning and will writing companies in the UK. Currently over half of the population do not have wills in place and, of those that do, often further support is needed in other areas, such as lasting powers of attorney. By becoming an APS Legal & Associates adviser, individuals also benefit from further access to new clients for their financial services business including executors, witnesses, trustees and guardians named in clients’ wills and other associated legal documents.

Did you know?

APS Legal & Associates has outlets available across the UK

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APS Legal & Associates differs from other companies in that it has the full support of the Simply Biz group, its training is ongoing and although this sector is not regulated, APS Legal & Associates opts to follow a code of practice recognised by trading standards to act in a regulated way.

Where in the UK is the APS Legal & Associates franchise based?

The company’s head office is in Worksop, Nottinghamshire.
 

What support and training do APS Legal & Associates franchisees receive?

You’ll benefit from having full back office support and APS Legal & Associates will personally draft each document for you. This will enable you to focus your attention on the growth of your client bank and, consequently, you will see the return as your business thrives. Although APS Legal & Associates is here to assist, you will have the freedom of running your very own business built around wills, trusts and lasting powers of attorney.

APS Legal & Associates’ dedicated training and marketing departments are on hand to advise you on the marketing and development of your business and an APS Legal & Associates training manager will share their vast knowledge of how to gain leads, who to approach in the sector and will demonstrate the most effective ways to grow your client bank. APS Legal & Associates has ready-made marketing materials available to purchase through its online associate shop, however, you will find that most of your clients will be gained through networking. As well as having access to APS Legal & Associates’ technical hub, all of its associates have complimentary 24/7 access to an online platform holding a wealth of information for personal and business development, including networking skills, problem-solving and management expertise.

APS Legal & Associates is now able to offer extended referral opportunities, a loose referral system has always been in place for its associate partners, however, after reviewing this it is now able to offer further support to enable you to grow your business through its referral opportunities. Although these leads are not guaranteed APS Legal & Associates is working as a company to ensure these increase into the business, to pass onto our associates.
 

How in demand are will writing services right now?

Research from insurance company Royal London found that 54 per cent of adults don’t have a valid will - meaning they either don’t have one at all or what documentation they do have is out of date.

A will is the only legal way for people to specify what they want to happen to their possessions (and their children if a parent dies before the children are 18). When people are informed of the consequences of not making plans after death, they often want to get on with drawing up a will as soon as they can.

During the next decade in the UK, the percentage of older people compared to young and middle-aged is going to rise exponentially, creating a significant market for will writing services. Globally, it is projected that the combined senior and geriatric population will reach 2.1 billion by 2050.

Every year, the charity Dying Matters aims to help people talk more openly about dying, death, bereavement and to make plans for the end of life, whether that’s how they would like to be remembered or the practical matter of making a will. As this charity becomes more high profile, more people will be requiring professional assistance with estate planning and will writing.

How can I get started on setting up my own will writing business?

Complete the enquiry form on this page and a member of the APS Legal & Associates recruitment team will be in touch to talk to you about the franchise and answer any questions you may have about the opportunity.