Property Franchise Opportunities

Property Franchise Opportunities

What is a property franchise?

In the UK, our fascination with property runs deep. It has long been a lucrative asset and remains so today. And while property itself is, by nature, static and immovable, the industry is anything but. Depending on the discipline, it can be fast-paced, dynamic, and constantly evolving.  

There is a broad range of property franchise opportunities, each representing a different stage or aspect of the property transaction lifecycle.

From researching and sourcing to financing and handing over the keys, these property franchise businesses share common traits: they rely on local knowledge, are service-orientated, and expectations among customers is high. 

Property franchises are typically office-based, with some requiring a visible high street presence. Others can operate from less prominent locations. They generally have relatively low operational costs and offer excellent scalability – making them attractive for growth and high revenue potential. 

However, challenges exist, including a competitive market and fluctuating market conditions. Additionally, recruiting and training staff is crucial for your property franchise; it’s important that your team believes in your values and remains true to your brand. 

Then there’s the issue of compliance. Each category of property franchise involves regulatory requirements to uphold professional standards. This means you and your staff will need to pass exams to earn relevant qualifications and accreditations. 

For example, mortgage brokers must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to ensure fair and ethical practices. Most surveying and valuation firms are regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Meanwhile, estate agents must understand and adhere to Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations. 

Types of property franchise

• Property sales & property lettings franchises: One of the most common property franchise opportunities is an estate agent or letting agent franchise, with well-known brands like Martin & Co operating nationwide with 187 branches. 
• Mortgage brokerage: Lending to first-time buyers reached a record high in 2024, accounting for 29.6% of all mortgage lending. 
• Property investment services: The rise of buy-to-let businesses has been significant, with over 400,000 registered firms. This makes the property investment franchise model an attractive avenue for those looking to enter the sector. 
• Auction services: Auctions have gained traction, especially among sellers seeking quicker sales. In October 2024, auction sales increased by 46.5% compared to the previous year, indicating growing acceptance of this method. 

Is the property franchise market healthy?

As of March 2025, projections indicate that the UK property market (encompassing both residential and commercial real estate) will reach a value of around £14.5 trillion. This staggering figure underscores the sector's importance to the economy. 

Investing in a property service franchise makes for a solid proposition. Indeed, Rightmove anticipates an 8% to 10% revenue growth in 2025 – up from a 7% rise in the previous year. This suggests that sustained market activity is likely.

Determining the precise proportion of the market run on a property franchise model is challenging due to limited data. However, industry insights offer some perspective. 

Ian Wilson is from The Property Franchise Group. This is the UK’s largest multi-brand lettings and estate agency franchisor, overseeing a network of some 910 businesses.

He notes that property franchises represent approximately 5% of the market. For context, among the estimated 20,000 estate and lettings agencies in the UK, around 1,000 are franchised outlets. 

Property franchise case study: Belvoir 

Belvoir is among the leading property letting franchises in the UK. It helps franchisees establish profitable businesses in the residential property rental franchise sector.

Part of the Property Franchise Group’s network, it is one of nine brands with a network of 450 offices across the UK. 

Husband and wife team Ben and Daisy Davies own three Belvoir offices in Swansea, South Wales. They opened their first office in 2010 with an investment of around £70,000. They've since built a thriving business with a £1 million turnover. The multi-award-winning pair are ranked among the top five franchisees in the network. 

We spoke to Ben about why the couple chose Belvoir, what they've learnt from the franchise experience, and what their plans are for the future. 

Taking the leap into property franchising 

"My background was in property lettings. Although I had industry experience, I was 28 and had reached a point where I wanted to be my own boss.

"As a couple, we also wanted the reassurance of being part of a network and the backing of a national brand. 

"Belvoir offered us that. At the time, the group had a network of 166 offices, and we were impressed by the strong branding. The offer of an intensive four-week training course at their HQ, covering all aspects of running a property franchise, was hugely appealing. Plus, they provided access to essential business tools and services at significantly discounted rates. 

"Our first office was in central Swansea, focused purely on lettings. Through hard work and tenacity, we steadily built the business.

"From a market visibility perspective, Belvoir’s branding helped enormously. Having a business development manager by our side also guided us in the right direction – and continues to do so today." 

Expanding the business 

"The Swansea market is extremely competitive and highly localised. We knew that having a presence in different parts of the city would be crucial to our expansion plans. So, in 2015 we opened a second office, followed by a third in 2020. 

"To maximise our investment in offices, support system, and staff, we decided to add sales to our offering and become a full-service estate agency. 

"Sales and lettings are two completely different beasts, so there was a lot to learn. Belvoir supported us by providing access to top-level training. Today, our service split is 65% lettings, 35% sales." 

The power of a property franchise support system 

"We have an excellent management team, which allows us to comfortably oversee all three property franchise offices. 

"Looking after our employees is extremely important to us, especially considering the challenging economic and political periods we’ve worked through – including COVID-19. We feel proud to have weathered these storms well. 

"Support during difficult times is a major benefit of being part of a larger property franchise group. Market forces and external factors can’t be controlled, so having the ability to navigate them is crucial. 

"I often think back to COVID and other challenging times, such as when regulatory changes impacted our bottom line. If we had been an independent business, we would have struggled – possibly even failed – like so many others did. 

"Not having anyone to turn to for guidance and support must have been incredibly isolating. Being part of Belvoir’s property franchise network meant we always had someone to talk to.

"Over the years, we’ve built strong relationships with other franchisees, many of whom I now consider good friends. This peer network is a real strength of the property franchise model."

Property franchising and family life 

"Hard work and tenacity have meant we have never failed to make a profit. As a couple, we’ve also been able to make our property franchise business work around our lifestyle, giving us the flexibility to balance work and family life. 

"I love what I do, and I love what we’ve built together. Being part of Belvoir has provided us with a multi-layered support system. This makes us feel less exposed and more confident in navigating change. 

"Although we worked six to seven days a week in the early years, it has paid off in the long run. We feel positive about the future and are about to expand our office space to improve our back-office operations. This will free up more client-facing areas.

"We also plan to acquire more lettings businesses, further strengthening our market position.” 

Property franchise case study: The Mortgage Store 

For mortgage advisors seeking independence with the support of an established brand, The Mortgage Store (TMS) provides a structured yet flexible alternative to traditional property franchise models. 

Founded in 2003, this 70-strong brokerage launched its Associate Partner Programme in 2021. This is based on a revenue-sharing model offering different options when it comes to the commission split. 

With 20 Associate Partners (APs) already on board and ambitious growth plans underway, TMS provides exclusive territories and a generous and nurturing support system. This helps ensure every partner has the tools to succeed. 

A smarter way to grow 

In an episode of the Advisers Assemble podcast, director Mark Deane shared the vision behind the AP Programme: 

"Our 20 years as The Mortgage Store taught us what has worked when building our business.  

"We thought that with all the resources we can provide a brand-new start up business. and given all the challenges we faced when setting up, why don’t we create a proposition that can support start-ups and expedite their success by giving them a brand from day one? And so the AP programme was born." 

Stronger together 

TMS positions itself as a long-term partner rather than just a business provider. Deane emphasises that Associate Partners are not left to navigate the challenges of running a mortgage brokerage alone. 

"Every resource we have is as much theirs as it is ours. We want this to be their final move in the industry – not a stepping stone," says Deane. 

"Our commitment is long-term, ensuring our partners succeed. We help them, they help us and together we are stronger."

New Associate Partners joining TMS gain access to an extensive support package of:  

• A full marketing resource, complete with a website, localised digital marketing campaigns and SEO strategies 
• Lead generation support to help attract new clients 
• Software, updates, and ongoing training to keep advisors ahead of industry changes plus access to key portals 
• A dedicated admin and HR team, available to assist with, for example, mortgage applications, updating clients, chasing lenders, onboarding staff and recruitment. 
• Specialists in place to support and develop new opportunities and regular meetings with business development managers. 

Partner perspective 

In another podcast episode, Paul McClean, owner of The Mortgage Store Cheltenham and Gloucester, and an Associate Partner since day one, shares his experience: 

"When looking to set up my own business, I had quite a long list of requirements, including commission splits and service to clients. 

"The reason I chose TMS out of many different networks and propositions is because they had the best service, the best support, and the best package in the market.

"I love every single minute because I get pure autonomy over my property franchise business. I’ve stayed here because this is now my team, and I know that TMS has the best proposition – so why would I want to change?” 

Rachel Davidson, who opened The Mortgage Store Grimsby in June 2023, shares a similar sentiment: 

"I was previously working as a mortgage advisor but wanted to go self-employed and join somewhere that didn’t just leave you on your own. 

"What I love about being an AP is all the help you get – the free training, the SEO support, and everything you need to set up, maintain and progress if you want to.

"I also love that we are like a family of APs. We all get on well and, although we work independently, we are part of a bigger group, so we can bounce ideas off each other."

Browse our wide range of property franchises for sale, or check out more franchise opportunities, including property management franchises.