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 Launches Dual Growth Model at The Print & Sign Show to Support Independent Signage Businesses Across the UK
Signs Express, the UK’s largest signage and graphics franchise, has announced two new innovative business models designed to support independent signage companies across the country, and they’re looking forward to officially launching these models at The Print & Sign Show at the NEC in September where you can see them on stand S35.
Complimenting their existing Resale and Start-Up Models, the Rebrand Proposition and Conversion Resale Model both offer flexible, fully supported solutions to help owners grow, transition, or sell their business, while maintaining local legacy and maximising long-term success.
These initiatives are part of Signs Express’ wider expansion strategy and commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for established business owners in an increasingly competitive market.
A Rebrand Model Designed for Growth
Soft launching at the beginning of the year, the new owners of Signs Express (Exeter) rebranded their established local brand KBS Signs and joined the Signs Express network, which saw their orders double almost overnight!
The Rebrand Proposition is aimed at independent signage or print businesses seeking to scale but facing barriers such as limited marketing reach, increasing operational costs, or a lack of structured support. This model allows business owners to rebrand their existing operations as a Signs Express centre, unlocking access to an award-winning brand, a national network, preferential supplier rates, dedicated franchise support, and industry-leading tools and systems, while retaining full ownership and control.
Included in the Rebrand Model:
- Grow your business overnight with customer databases available for certain locations
- Group buying power to reduce cost of materials
- Centralised marketing support including SEO, PPC, and brand campaigns
- Advanced CRM and quoting systems
- Business development, operations, and HR support
- Comprehensive onboarding and continuous training
- Built-in exit strategy planning for future resale
“This model gives business owners the best of both worlds, freedom to run their business, with the support and structure to accelerate growth,” said Aaron Davis, Network Development Director at Signs Express. “Our goal is to empower local signage experts with the tools and backing they need to thrive in today’s market.”
A Hassle-Free Exit Through the Conversion Resale Model
For business owners thinking about stepping back, the Conversion Resale Model offers a fully managed route to sell their signage business, on a no sale, no fee basis. Signs Express acts as a broker, managing the end-to-end sales process and marketing the business under the Signs Express name to attract high quality buyers.
Once sold, the business is rebranded as a Signs Express centre, maintaining continuity for customers and teams, and offering the buyer a ready-to-trade operation with the support of a recognised franchise.
Key Features of the Conversion Model:
- No sale, no fee basis
- Full marketing and buyer vetting handled by Signs Express
- Access to a broader pool of qualified buyers, including non-industry professionals
- Retain business value and protect legacy through a structured sale
- Support for the new owner post-sale via the Signs Express franchise model
“Selling a business can be a stressful and expensive process, especially for owner-operators,” added Aaron Davis. “We aim to remove those barriers, making the transition as smooth and beneficial as possible for all involved.”
Opportunities Available Nationwide
Signs Express is actively looking for rebrand and conversion partners in key locations across the UK, including but not limited to:
Ashford • Bournemouth • Brighton • Canterbury • Chester • Crawley • Croydon • Dorking • Eastbourne • Harrogate • Macclesfield • Stoke • Tunbridge • Warrington • Watford
With over 35 years of industry experience, 60+ locations, and a multi-award-winning franchise network, Signs Express continues to lead innovation and opportunity in the signage and graphics industry.
Interested in Joining the Network?
Business owners interested in learning more about either model are invited to contact Signs Express for a confidential, no-obligation conversation.
Come and see us at The Print & Sign Show!
Signs Express are thrilled to be exhibiting at The Print & Sign Show this year to discuss their new models. The event is being held at the NEC in Birmingham from 23rd to 25th September. Register for your free ticket now and don’t forget to visit Signs Express on stand S35!
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.
