Join the UK's Leading Signs & Graphics Franchise
Whether you're an experienced sign maker ready to scale, an independent signage business looking to rebrand and grow, or a business-savvy individual with no industry experience seeking your next opportunity — Signs Express offers the perfect platform to build a successful, sustainable business. Benefit from Monday to Friday working hours, strong earning potential, and full head office support from the Franchise Support Centre.
Why Join Signs Express?
- UK’s #1 signs and graphics franchise
- Earn up to £750,000+ turnover with 20% EBITDA potential
- Monday–Friday working – enjoy work-life balance
- Operate in your own exclusive territory
- Start from scratch, purchase a resale, try our conversion model (by buying an existing signage business and converting to Signs Express), or rebrand your existing signage business under the Signs Express name
- Full training, mentoring and operational support throughout
- Access to national accounts and collective buying power
- Winner of the BFA & HSBC 2024 Business Transformation Award
Choose the Business Model That Suits You
At Signs Express, we now offer four flexible routes to ownership so you can join us in a way that fits your background, goals and investment level:
- Resales: Purchase an established Signs Express centre with an existing customer base, local brand presence, experienced staff and recurring revenue.
- Start-ups: Launch a brand-new Signs Express centre in a prime, available territory. Perfect for ambitious individuals looking to build something from the ground up, with full training and support.
- Rebrands: Already running an independent signage business? Seamlessly rebrand as a Signs Express centre and gain access to our national marketing, operational support, group buying power and scalable growth model.
- Conversions: A hybrid of all three models, a Signs Express conversion sees us work with you to find an independent signage business for sale (in one of our vacant territories) and then help you to purchase it and convert it to a Signs Express in the process.
Creative, Consultative, Commercial
Our franchisees deliver bespoke signage and visual communication solutions to a wide variety of industries, from retail and construction to education, healthcare and manufacturing. Services include:
- Exterior building signage
- Illuminated and digital signs
- Vehicle graphics and wraps
- Exhibitions and displays
- Window graphics and bespoke wallpaper
- Health and safety signage
- Eco-friendly products and more
Setting You Up for Success
From your very first day, you’ll receive extensive training and hands-on support, including:
- Comprehensive onboarding and technical training
- Access to our custom-built Learning Management System (LMS)
- Business coaching, sales mentoring & operational guidance
- Dedicated Franchise Support Centre assistance in marketing, HR, IT, finance and more
- Local marketing campaigns run on your behalf
- Peer-to-peer best practice sharing across the network
- Growth options via our Hub & Spoke model for territory expansion
What Our Franchisees Say
“Nearly 25 years in, and I still love the industry and business. For a creative person who loves building relationships and meeting new people, being able to combine the two is ideal for me. Understanding our customers visions and bringing them to life gives me a huge buzz and seeing the work our team has produced in and around the city, gives me an enormous sense of pride.”
— Richard Howes, Signs Express (Lincoln)
“We’re excited to continue exploring what’s possible with the backing of such a strong and supportive network.”
— Matt Rutlidge, Signs Express (Central Lancashire)
“The business has been heading in a great direction, and joining the Hub & Spoke model was the perfect next step.”
— Kris Bell, Signs Express (Aylesbury)
“Rarely any two days are the same making each day interesting! As cheesy as it sounds, it’s the job satisfaction and being able to make a difference which motivates me still after 20 years ownership.”
— Ian Charles, Signs Express (Grantham)
Who We’re Looking For
You might be:
- A business savvy, hands-on manager with no industry experience but have the desire, drive and ambition to take a business to the next level
- An experienced sign maker or production lead with ambitions to run your own centre
- An independent signage business owner ready to rebrand and grow with the backing of a national network
- Strong relationship-building & sales skills
- Drive, ambition and creativity
- A consultative approach and customer-first mindset
Investment Information
- Franchise Fee: £8,500 (resale or rebrand) or £25,000 (start-up)
- Total Investment: Varies – we work with third-party funders including HSBC
- Liquid Capital Required: Typically, 30% of total investment
Start Your Signs Express Journey Today
Ready to take your business to the next level — or launch something brand new — with the UK’s leading signage franchise?
Click ‘Enquire Now’ to receive our full Franchise Prospectus and learn how we’ll support you every step of the way.
Current Resale Opportunities include:
- Signs Express (South Central England)
- Signs Express (Dartford)
- Signs Express (Harlow)
Current Locations Available for Start-Ups, Rebrands and Conversions include
- Ashford
- Bournemouth
- Brighton
- Canterbury
- Chester
- Crawley
- Croydon
- Dorking
- Eastbourne
- Edinburgh
- Harrogate
- Stoke
- Tunbridge
- Warrington
- Watford
- Worthing
- Franchise Fee: £8,500
- Minimum Investment: £215,000
- Minimum Liquid Capital: £65,000
- Potential Turnover: £750,000+
- Projected EBITDA: 20%
Signs Express Convention 2025: A Celebration of Innovation, Growth and Excellence
The Signs Express Convention 2025 held on Friday 24th January brought together over 150 attendees for a dynamic and inspiring event at the stunning De Vere Wokefield Estate in Reading.
This annual event provided an invaluable platform for networking, learning, sharing of best practice and celebrating the outstanding achievements of the Signs Express network.
With over 20 key suppliers and industry partners in attendance, the convention offered a packed agenda filled with insightful seminars, product launches and expert discussions on the latest developments shaping the signage industry.
Inspiring Seminars and Industry Insights
Attendees had the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge from industry experts, a strategic update from Signs Express Limited Managing Director Jonathan Bean and Network Development Director Aaron Davis, plus keynote speakers, covering a range of topics designed to help businesses grow and adapt in an evolving market:
- Jonathan Bean (Managing Director) and Aaron Davis (Network Development Director) led us through the market changes impacting our business and the strategic plans to drive growth and innovation throughout 2025 and beyond.
- Grace Appleby from Yawn Marketing delivered an engaging seminar on Building Your Personal Brand online, providing actionable insights on leveraging digital platforms for business success.
- Stuart Coomber, Head of Sales at the Signs Express Franchise Support Centre, presented an in-depth session on Sales Analysis and Understanding Where Your Business Comes From, equipping attendees with valuable strategies to drive sales performance.
- Jack Thompson from Brandfixx introduced an exciting new modular vehicle wrap solution, for Signs Express customers that opens up fresh opportunities in vehicle branding.
- Kevin Aires from Cadenz, the convention’s external keynote speaker, delivered a powerful session on the Impact of Video for social media, highlighting the growing importance of video content in digital marketing.
Adding to the knowledge-sharing experience, Head of Marketing Damien Berry led insightful fireside marketing chats, discussing the key marketing developments for 2025 and providing attendees with a forward-thinking approach to brand growth and visibility.
A Night of Celebration: The Gala Dinner & Awards
The convention concluded with a glitzy black-tie gala dinner and awards ceremony, celebrating the remarkable talent, dedication and achievements within the Signs Express network over the past 12 months. From recognising outstanding customer service to innovation in signage solutions, the awards showcased the best in the business.
Signs Express Awards 2025 – Winners List:
🏆 Training & Development Award – Kim & Dave Nurse, Signs Express (Leeds)
🏆 One to Watch Award – Pat Ginty, Signs Express (Mullingar & Dublin)
🏆 Social Media Champion Award – Matt Rutlidge, Signs Express (Central Lancashire & Southport)
🏆 Sustainability Award (Sponsored by Metamark) – Signs Express (Southampton)
🏆 Best Interior Sign Award (Sponsored by The Printing Charity) – Signs Express (Sheffield & Rotherham)
🏆 Best Exterior Sign Award (Sponsored by The British Signs & Graphics Association) – Signs Express (Manchester)
🏆 Best Sign Project Award (Sponsored by Amari Plastics) – Signs Express (Belfast)
🏆 Most Striking Design Award (Sponsored by Ultima Displays) – Signs Express (Belfast)
🏆 Best Vehicle Graphics Award (Sponsored by Spandex) – Signs Express (Lincoln)
🏆 Supplier of the Year Award – Super-Wide Digital
🏆 Employee of the Year Award (Sponsored by SignElite) – Mark Wheeler, Production & Installation Manager, Signs Express (Southampton & Winchester)
🏆 Network Champion Award (Sponsored by Sedo & Epson) – José Ferreira, Centre Manager, Signs Express (Southampton & Winchester)
🏆 Newcomer of the Year Award (Sponsored by Premier) – Matt Rutlidge, Signs Express (Central Lancashire & Southport)
🏆 Franchisee of the Year Award (Sponsored by ACR Signs) – Matt Rutlidge, Signs Express (Central Lancashire & Southport)
The event was a true celebration reinforcing the strength and community of the Signs Express network. From innovative new services to sustainable initiatives, the convention highlighted the dedication of franchisees and employees in driving the brand forward.
Hearing from Signs Express Managing Director, Jonathan Bean, “The Signs Express 2025 Convention was a true testament to the strength and ambition of our network. From inspirational seminars to engaging conversations that sparked new ideas, the energy and positivity in the room was fantastic. Seeing our franchisees, their senior team members and industry partners, come together to share knowledge, celebrate achievements and drive innovation was truly inspiring.
I could not be prouder of what has been achieved in 2024, and this event really reinforced our ongoing commitment to growth, collaboration and excellence and demonstrates that together, we’re shaping the future of Signs Express. My sincere thanks and appreciation go to our network, my Franchise Support Centre team, our supplier and industry partners and of course our customers. We look forward to seeing what 2025 brings!”
Why Join Signs Express?
As the UK’s leading signage and graphics franchise, Signs Express provides an unparalleled business opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to enter a thriving industry. Franchisees benefit from a proven business model, access to industry-leading suppliers and the support of a well-established brand with 35 years of experience. With comprehensive training, ongoing marketing assistance and a collaborative network of like-minded professionals, Signs Express franchisees are equipped with everything they need to succeed. Whether you're an experienced business owner or looking for a new venture, Signs Express offers a rewarding and profitable opportunity in the ever-growing signage sector. For more information, get in touch today!
I would definitely recommend franchising to those who wish to own a business with large potential. It’s been a fantastic way to grow my opportunities whilst knowing I have all the support, guidance and reassurance just a phone call away.
Signs Express’ dedicated support team ensure I look at the facts and figures giving me advice on the next steps to take. It’s important to keep looking at the bigger picture in order to keep on track with the growth I want for the business. I have a very exciting future ahead of me.
