Investing in a coffee franchise can be a smart – and seriously lucrative – move. But which model works best? And what sets the great coffee franchises apart from the not-so-great ones?
Whether you're interested in a brick-and-mortar store, a coffee-bike franchise or a fully mobile van enterprise, join us as we speak to three leaders in the coffee franchise sector and find out the common factors behind their success...
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Once thought of as a fancy European alternative to our beloved British tea, coffee has well and truly taken over as the nation's go-to source of caffeine.
It’s no longer a posh luxury but an everyday essential. In fact, UK consumers love the stuff so much that we consume approximately 98 million cups of coffee a day. We drink it to start the day, power through it, and sometimes even to wind it down. We’re a country that’s hooked.
While a cup of coffee has been a household staple for decades, thanks to the likes of instant brands such as Kenco and Nescafe, modern consumers are increasingly seeking barista-style brews, artisan roasts, and café-quality coffee at home.
The days when a spoonful of instant would cut it are long gone. Thanks to chains like Starbucks, Costa and Caffè Nero – and more recent arrivals to the high street such as Blank Street and Joe & The Juice – we now expect speciality coffee on every corner, often paired with cool, remote-working friendly interiors, a range of dairy-free milks and slick loyalty apps.
Unlike some businesses, the UK coffee shop market has rebounded strongly post-pandemic, with over 9,500 branded coffee outlets and more than 7,000 independent cafés. The UK’s branded coffee shop market grew by 7.9% in 2023 and now boasts over 9,500 outlets.
And we’re not just sipping more coffee – we’re also buying more of the food we consume on the go from coffee shops. According to the Cakes, Shakes & Tea Breaks UK 2024 report, 22% of UK consumers purchase food at least once a week from a coffee shop.
As more and more people return to working in offices, this trend will likely continue to grow year-on-year. That’s right, this is no passing trend – it’s a growing, resilient industry with a loyal customer base.
With a coffee franchise you plug into a polished system – with support, marketing and a team of people who’ve already made the mistakes, so you don’t have to. After all, franchises want to make it as easy as possible for their franchisees to succeed
Callum Ellis is national franchise recruitment manager for Cafe2U, the UK’s largest mobile coffee franchise. Its coffee vans deliver barista-grade drinks directly to offices, business parks and events.
Callum told us more about what it’s like starting out. “We offer a £300-a-day income guarantee during the launch period," he explains. "This means new franchisees can focus on learning the ropes without panicking about sales.”
Fast-growing Dirt Coffee is an ethical brand focused on transparency, sustainability and speciality coffee. It's made its mark in the coffee franchise arena with a strong design aesthetic and a carbon-neutral supply chain.
Dirt Coffee also provides full onboarding, barista training, location sourcing, store design, fit-out and operational support. David Hodgetts, CEO and founder of DMH Brands which owns Dirt Coffee, elaborates on the importance of supporting franchisees with their business: “You need to buy into the people you're going to work with, be excited about the prospect of working with them and buy into their long-term plan.
Farhan Iqbal is marketing manager for Urban Chocolatier – a chain focusing on indulgent handcrafted menu items and luxury hot chocolates as well as coffee. He highlights how the “comprehensive support system – including training, marketing and operational guidance – allows franchisees to focus on delivering excellent service and growing their businesses confidently.”
As well as the practical support, he adds, “The backing of a brand with a proven business model significantly reduces the risks typically associated with independent start-ups.”
If you’re dreaming of a stylish café with slick branding, ethically sourced beans and queues out the door, Dirt might be your match.
Founded by David Hodgetts after selling a previous coffee franchise to a private equity buyer, Dirt is a young brand with experienced leadership. “We learned a lot from our first venture – what works, and more importantly, what doesn’t,” says David. “Dirt is the culmination of that learning, reimagined for today and beyond.”
Franchisees benefit from a ready-made brand with premium interiors, expert sourcing and a streamlined operations playbook. They also get the support of a franchise that’s deliberately growing at a sustainable pace.
“We’re building with quality and longevity in mind,” David says. “We’re looking for people who care about community, sustainability and creating an experience – not just pumping out coffee.”
When we asked David what makes Dirt Coffee a unique opportunity for prospective franchisees, he speaks of how they stand out by having the best of both worlds: “We have experience in the franchising sector, but Dirt Coffee itself is a new brand, so there is an opportunity to grow with us as we scale.”
David continues, “As a brand, we focus on speciality quality coffee and great fresh food. Some sites have longer opening hours and also serve alcohol.”
He adds that property is key. "We have a very specific plan for our rollout when it comes to property selection, which I feel sets us apart massively from the other coffee franchise rollouts in the UK right now.”
Do you want the freedom of being your boss without the commitment of a physical space? Then Cafe2U could be for you. “We operate entirely on wheels,” says national franchise recruitment manager, Callum Ellis.
“Our vans are fully kitted-out mobile coffee shops. We go to office parks, industrial estates, schools, sports events – you name it.” What’s more, Cafe2U’s custom-built vans are all-electric, making it a sustainable as well as flexible business option.
To learn more about the business, we asked Callum about how it got started. “We were actually the first mobile café franchise in the UK,” he says. “That was back in 2004. We’ve just celebrated our 20th anniversary. Since then, we’ve grown to over 85 franchisees in the UK and more than 250 worldwide.”
The brand prides itself on offering a high-end product in non-traditional settings. “We serve premium, hand-roasted coffee and snacks, and we do it in a friendly, sustainable and convenient way. Franchisees choose their schedules and routes, and we provide a framework that sets them up for success.”
New franchisees tap into a model that’s been stress-tested over decades. “It’s low overhead – no premises, no staff – and high repeat business. We provide everything from route planning and uniforms to marketing materials and even an award-winning app to help manage operations.”
“There’s real value in being part of a recognised brand,” Callum adds. “Customers trust us, and that trust turns into consistent revenue.”
The company is clear about what makes a good franchise partner: “You don’t need experience in coffee or hospitality. In fact, our best performers come from all backgrounds – IT, sales, retail, you name it. But they all have drive, people skills and a willingness to follow a proven system.”
And there’s room to grow, Callum explains: “Quite a few of our franchisees end up running multiple vans. Once you’ve mastered one, it’s a scalable model.”
Dean Robinson, who runs the Cafe2U van in Wakefield West, echoes that sentiment. “I always knew I wanted to work for myself, but I didn’t want to go it alone. What appealed to me about Cafe2U was the balance: the freedom of being your own boss, but with the backing of a business that’s been refining its model for 20 years.”
“The training was brilliant – I was never thrown in the deep end. And there’s an income guarantee during launch, so you’re not panicking about your first few weeks. For me, it was about the flexibility, the customer contact and the support system behind it all.”
If you’re looking to make a larger investment (options with this coffee franchise start at around the £200k mark) and want something truly unique, Urban Chocolatier could be for you. This franchise boasts luxury food and drinks, Instagrammable interiors and a cult following.
“Urban Chocolatier is all about high-quality handcrafted products and a stylish environment where people come to treat themselves,” marketing manager Farhan Iqbal explains. “We constantly innovate with our menu – creating exclusive desserts and drinks you won’t find anywhere else.”
The brand’s strong visual identity, contemporary store design and ever-evolving menu help it to stand out in a saturated market – and keep customers coming back for more.
Being an Urban Chocolatier franchisee means tapping into this unique selling point whilst leaning on the security of an established, trusted brand. “New franchisees benefit from instant credibility,” Farhan adds.
“Our comprehensive support – from training and marketing to operations – gives franchisees the confidence to focus on customer experience and growth.”
So, what’s the secret to franchise success, in the eyes of Urban Chocolatier's franchise director, Morris Marchetti? “Choose a brand with a distinctive offer and stay obsessive about quality,” Morris advises.
“In a competitive space like this, it’s not enough to just serve coffee. It’s about delivering something memorable, every time. Since the pandemic, people are looking for premium experiences closer to home, which has driven demand for local, high-quality coffee houses.”
With the UK’s coffee culture showing no signs of slowing down and a range of flexible franchise models available, now is a great time to buy a coffee franchise.
You can also browse a wide range of other franchise opportunities, including bakery franchises, cafe franchises, pizza franchises and restaurant franchises.
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