Van Franchise Opportunities

Van Franchise Opportunities

Is a van franchise right for you? 

In an uncertain market, there are few things more valuable to a business owner than having the ability to set up shop wherever there is demand.

Enter the van franchise. Numerous types of businesses can operate out of a van, from burger trucks to locksmiths, making it easy for entrepreneurs to find exactly the right business for them. 

The benefits of a van franchise are many, and their appeal appears to be evident, with UK demand for light commercial vehicles growing by 3% in 2024. That's according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

What is a van franchise? 

Quite simply, a van franchise is any mobile business where franchisees use a van to deliver a product or service. They operate in numerous sectors, from plumbing and food service to car repairs and cleaners. 

Without a retail shop as a base, the franchisee has the option to serve customers at their homes, workplaces or designated service areas, offering lots of flexibility.

Examples of van franchises

• Car detailing  
• Locksmiths  
• Carpet cleaning  
• Pest control  
• Windscreen repair  
• Drain unblocking  
• Food service  

Why choose a van franchise? 

For potential franchisees who are considering what type of business they want to invest their time and money into, there are several benefits of a van franchise compared to a shop located at a permanent premises. The most obvious of these is cost.  

While van-based franchise opportunities will certainly have van costs to consider, they’re often far less than those of a brick-and-mortar business.

Alongside the rent or building purchase costs, shop-based businesses need to pay business rates, gas and electricity, premises maintenance costs, and more.  

For most van franchises, all you need to get started is a suitable van and a driving license. “You get a lot of bang for your buck,” says Phil Wells, director at Specialist Glass Repair (SGR).

With an SGR ten-year franchise licence, alongside training and equipment, franchisees benefit from access to the brand’s software and a national phone forwarding service, which means all they need to get started is a van and a mobile. 

Chris Davison, co-owner of LockRite Locksmiths, says their reactive, van-based approach appeals to franchisees because it’s a business they can run from home. This reduces overheads and maximises profits.

“Being mobile allows our franchisees to serve a wider range of customers, including residential, commercial and auto clients, directly at their location, at a time that suits,” he says. 

Another benefit of this franchise model is the USP that van franchises offer to customers. “It’s convenient for our customers as well as us,” Phil says.

“They're not waiting around while their car is being repaired, doing nothing. They could be sitting at home enjoying a coffee while we're outside carrying out the service.” 

Van franchise pros

• Lower overheads 
• Flexible hours 
• Flexible location 

Challenges

• Possibility of limited service area 
• Van and fuel costs  
• Impact of weather 
• Managing your route/territory 

The above list is a summary of some of the potential challenges to consider when thinking about becoming a van-based franchisee. Keeping your mobile shopfront moving requires spending on fuel. Working on location from your van can also leave you at the mercy of the weather.  

But Phil says bad weather isn’t a huge factor, even for SGR franchisees who pride themselves on their motto: ‘We come to you.’

"There's not that many days that we get where it's a complete no-no, and we generally just reschedule the business to a different day,” he says, explaining that franchisees will typically have other work to keep them busy. 

Workload and territory

Managing that workload efficiently and covering territory effectively can be another possible challenge, Chris says. “With some of our national clients, we typically have response times and individual client requirements which we need to adhere to. However, we give full training and support to ensure franchisees are well prepared.

"We manage these jobs centrally and regularly remind our franchisees of client requirements and expectations.” 

Another factor to consider is whether your franchisor will provide effective marketing for your business. “Without a physical brick and mortar presence, mobile businesses tend to rely more heavily on digital marketing, SEO and word-of-mouth to attract customers,” Chris says. 

For example, LockRite has in-house digital marketing to support franchisees to generate leads and create a visible online presence. “By taking care of these areas we enable our franchise network to focus on service delivery. They're not worrying about dealing with complex areas of marketing themselves.” 

They also have a framework in place to support van franchisees, as Chris explains. “This generates domestic call-outs direct to our franchisees who then diarise the work using our bespoke app-based job system.

"If they are unable to take the calls, they bounce back to our 24/7 help desk team who then book the work for the franchisee.” 

Ongoing van costs also need to be considered. For example, the average price of van insurance in the UK increased by more than a third between 2022 and 2023, representing the largest annual rise since 2017, according to the Van Insurance Price Index. But even with this in mind, overheads will be lower than in a bricks and mortar shop. 

How to become a successful van franchisee 

Running a successful van franchise suits certain personalities better than others. If you always like to be on the move and have an outgoing personality, it could be a great fit.

“Generally, the people that we take on have worked out for themselves that they don't want to be in a single environment,” Phil says.

“They want to be out and about, meeting people, talking to people, travelling under their own steam. That's part of what they want out of their next business.” 

SGR and LockRite both told What Franchise that they carefully select franchisees to ensure they fit into their operations well and can represent the brand and ethos, ensuring the long-term security of their franchise networks. 

“Many potential new franchisees have never run their own business before. Consequently, their choices or decisions will have been formed by their own personal set of values, experiences and opinions,” Chris says.  He sums up what franchisees need as the following:

• the full support of their family and friends
• a belief in their own ability to adapt and overcome the problems inherent in running a business
• a willingness to take responsibility for their own decisions

Phil says the biggest criteria for joining SGR as a franchisee is simply to be a nice person. “The most successful thing about SGR is we’ve got a really good bunch of people. It's not hard work working with our franchisees.” 

Do you need prior experience?

Those who succeed in a van franchise will be motivated and keen to see their business grow. And, for many franchisors, no prior experience in the industry is necessary. 

“In many cases, the ‘instant’ advantage that a franchisee gets from their business package is that of an experienced mentor who can guide them around the expensive and dangerous mistakes and show them the successful path,” Chris says.

"This actually results in the new franchisee saving money. Due to this mentorship and guidance they'll be able to sidestep the common pitfalls or mistakes that a new business owner is prone to making." 

This is a boon to franchisees with no prior locksmith experience, like Wesley Davidson, who covers Lockrite's Cornwall territory. He has quickly built a reliable customer base and says his earning potential has “exceeded expectations”.

He now hopes to expand his business to employ other locksmiths in the furthest reaches of his patch. 

Training

There's a big emphasis on training at SGR too. “If they’ve got experience in glass that’s OK. But, believe it or not, it's not always preferable,” says Phil, due to the franchisor’s unique equipment.

And, as a former business coach himself, mentoring is a big part of being a van franchisee. “A little bit of business experience is good but not essential. We teach people how to build a business and start a company from the ground up,” Phil says. 

When it comes to costs, Chris from Lockrite advises that potential franchisees need sufficient funding. This is not only to purchase the franchise, but also to allow for working capital during the early ‘build up’ phase.

“The ability to make sensible financial decisions, curb spending where appropriate and allocate sufficient funds to promote their new business are all essential,” Chris says. 

The bottom line? With the right personality, a bit of business know-how and the necessary funding – and your own van – you can be driving your way to success as a van franchise owner. 

If you're interested in your own van franchise, browse our wide range of franchise opportunities. You can also browse courier franchises and auto franchises.