Start, lead and build a £1m+ management franchise
25% of NIC Local franchisees turnover £1m+ in annual sales. Top performers lead businesses generating £2.5-£4 million per year using the proven NIC Local model
Since launching my business with NIC Local, we have achieved an incredible 240% of our business plan forecast for the first year of trading after just 5 months.
Join NIC Local
NIC Local is a contract cleaning and facilities management franchise that empowers driven, commercially-minded people to lead and scale a management business in one of the UK’s most resilient sectors.
Doing the cleaning is your team’s job, not yours! You’ll be running your company, building a team and managing client relationships.
The Support Behind You
With over 50 years of experience, a team of 10,000+ people, and partnerships with some of the UK’s biggest brands, with NIC Local you’ll benefit from:- 1-to-1 mentoring: every franchisee is supported by a dedicated Business Development Manager (typically working with just 5 franchisees each)
- Training and onboarding: an in-depth, week-long course at our Leeds support office to kickstart your success. Hotels and meals provided by NIC Local.
- Centralised support: administration, invoicing, credit control and compliance handled by the NIC head office team, freeing you to grow
- Marketing and bid support: help winning contracts and setting up new clients
- Access to cutting edge equipment: through NIC Group’s buying power and expertise
A proven, scalable model
This is a management franchise, designed for people who want to lead from the front and build an asset.
Your team provides essential cleaning and facilities management services to local businesses – schools, offices, retail units, healthcare providers and more – creating recurring income month after month.
- No territory limits: build your business as large as your ambition allows
- Recurring contracted income: 80% of revenue is regular, repeat business
- Stable sector: cleaning is a necessity, not a luxury
- Asset creation: successful franchisees often sell for 2-4x earnings
The ongoing support from NIC Local enabled me to build a near-£4m business. I am now able to focus on maintaining my work/life balance.
Your Franchise Journey
| Stage 1: Prep & Launch | Stage 2: Build Your Team | Stage 3: Grow to £1m+ | Stage 4: Expand Without Limits | Stage 5 – Build an Asset for the Future |
| Get going quickly. You can recoup your initial investment within the first 12 month | Recruit and lead your own management and operational team with NIC Local’s full support. Many franchisees scale fast to employ 100+ colleagues within 2-3 years. | 25% of NIC Local franchisees now run businesses turning over £1m+ annually, built on recurring revenue and long-term client relationships. | Unlike most franchises, you’re not restricted by territory. Your potential is unlimited. Our top three franchisees turnover £2.5m–£4m per year. | When you’re ready, you can pass the business to family, sell it, or even arrange a management buyout, with valuations averaging 2–4x profit multiples. |
I had no business experience prior to NIC. The guidance and support given every step of the way has helped me build a multimillion-pound business.
What you need to succeed
This is a leadership and management role, not an operational cleaning job. You’ll thrive if you bring:
- Strong leadership and communication skills
- Commercial acumen and the ability to build relationships
- A strategic mindset and focus on growth
- Experience managing people or projects
- Determination to build a valuable, scalable business
NIC Local helped me develop a successful business and new skills to deliver a great return on my investment.
Investment and returns
- Franchise Fee: £30,000 plus VAT
- Personal capital: £14,000
- Bank funding available: major UK banks lend up to 70%
- Typical payback: regularly achieved within 12 months
- Proven performance: 25% of current franchisees turnover £1m+ per year
Join NIC Local
NIC Services Group proudly remains a family-owned business, combining corporate strength with personal support. With no limits on your growth, a proven business model, and decades of industry experience, you’ll be joining one of the UK’s most respected names in commercial cleaning and facilities management.
Build your management business. Lead your team. Create your future
Where can I get funding to buy a management franchise?
Investing in a franchise is a smart, secure way to start your own business.
This is particularly the case with a management franchise, where the focus is on leading and scaling a business, rather than delivering the service yourself.
But for many aspiring entrepreneurs, the big question when it comes to taking the leap is: “Where do I get the funding to make it happen?”
The good news is securing funding for a franchise is often far more straightforward than for launching your own start-up.
In fact, lenders are drawn to franchising because of its proven systems, strong support, and low failure rates – making it a far lower-risk option than standalone start-ups.
In this guide, we’ll explain the funding options available to you, what lenders typically look for, and how you can maximise your chances of securing the capital you need to get started with a management franchise.
We’ll also introduce you to the NIC Local franchise opportunity and explain why commercial cleaning is a sector that lenders tend to support with confidence.
What is a management franchise?
A management franchise is a business model where the franchisee is responsible for growing and running the business, while a team of employees or subcontractors deliver the actual service.
It is very different from an owner-operator franchise, where the franchisee is typically delivering the product or service themselves.
With a management franchise, your focus is on strategy, team management, and client relationships.
It’s ideal for individuals who boast leadership qualities, commercial acumen, and a desire to build a scalable, high-value asset.
- For more information, read our dedicated guide: What is a management franchise?
Why lenders like franchising
Banks and other lenders are often far more comfortable lending to franchisees than to independent start-ups and SMEs.
That’s because:
- Franchises have access to a proven business model
- There are support structures in place to reduce risk
- Franchise failure rates are significantly lower than independent businesses
- Lenders can review historic network performance to assess potential
Research in the 2024 British Franchise Journal, published by the British Franchise Association (BFA), shows a remarkable 99.5% of franchises succeed. This is in stark contrast to the 50% failure rate of independent start-ups.
NIC Local is a proud member of the BFA, giving added confidence to both lenders and prospective franchisees that we operate to the highest ethical and professional standards.
In short, lenders view franchising as lower-risk lending, especially when dealing with long-established brands like NIC Local.
Management franchise funding options: What are my choices?
1. High street bank loans
Most of the major high street banks have dedicated franchise departments that understand the franchise model and can offer tailored lending options to support you.
Lenders typically offer between 50%–70% of the total startup cost, depending on a number of factors, including:
- The strength of the brand
- Your personal financial profile
- Network success rates
- Your business plan
Make sure you always apply through the bank’s dedicated franchise department – not your local branch or bank manager.
Franchisors like NIC Local can help facilitate introductions to these franchise-friendly high street lending teams.
Banks will usually want to see:
- A detailed business plan
- Personal cash flow forecasts
- Evidence of any personal investment or savings
- A clean personal credit history
2. Franchise finance brokers
Working with a specialist franchise finance broker can be a smart move, especially if this is your first time securing business funding.
These brokers can:
- Help you structure your finance deal
- Provide guidance on business plans and financials
- Approach multiple lenders on your behalf
- Secure more favourable rates and terms
- Improve your chances of approval
NIC Local works with trusted finance partners who understand our model and can help tailor a funding package that works for you.
3. Asset funding
If your franchise requires vehicles, or specialist equipment and machinery, you might consider using asset finance to cover these costs separately.
Asset finance allows you to:
- Spread the cost over time
- Keep working capital in reserve
- Maintain cash flow in the early stages
It’s important to note that this is usually done in addition to your franchise loan, and terms will vary based on the asset and provider.
What is the timeframe for getting funding for a management franchise?
The timeline for securing finance varies depending on:
- The lender
- The complexity of your application
- Whether security is required
As a typical average of what to expect:
- Unsecured loans can often be approved in 2–4 weeks
- Secured loans (requiring assets like property) may take 6–12 weeks
Working with a respected franchisor like NIC Local can help streamline the process, as we are able to quickly provide the supporting documents and projections the lender will need to progress the application.
What makes the NIC Local franchise opportunity stand out?
NIC Local is one of the UK’s leading commercial cleaning and facilities management franchises.
We offer a proven management franchise model designed for individuals who want to build a sustainable and profitable business in an essential, recession-resilient sector.
With over 50 years of industry expertise and an extensive track record of successful franchisees, NIC Local provides:
- Recurring revenue through long-term B2B contracts
- No territory restrictions – meaning you can grow nationally
- 1:1 support from a dedicated business development manager
- Centralised admin – including payroll, invoicing, and credit control
- Comprehensive training, mentoring, and business planning
You do not need any previous experience in the sector to be a success, either.
What investment is required to start?
The initial franchise fee for NIC Local is £30,000 +VAT, plus working capital.
We typically recommend franchisees have access to around £45,000 in total funding.
This investment covers:
- Franchise licence
- Initial training and induction
- Business launch support
- 1:1 business mentoring
- Marketing and lead generation setup
- Access to industry-leading systems and suppliers
You can find more detail on our NIC Local franchise financials page.
In summary: Management franchise funding is achievable with the right brand and support
Getting funding for a management franchise is very achievable, especially when you choose a trusted, established brand and prepare thoroughly.
At NIC Local, we’ve helped franchisees from all backgrounds access the funding they need, even if they’ve never applied for business finance before.
Commercial cleaning is often viewed favourably by lenders because:
- It’s a recurring revenue business
- Services provided are essential
- There’s strong market demand across multiple sectors
- The margins are healthy, supporting profitability
- The model is proven to scale well
With NIC Local, these benefits are backed up by more than five decades of senior management experience and one of the most comprehensive support systems in franchising.
With our connections to franchise-friendly lenders, guidance on business planning, and access to expert brokers, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Ready to explore the NIC Local opportunity?
If you’re ambitious, organised, and ready to lead a team, NIC Local could be the franchise opportunity that helps you take control of your future – and we’ll help you secure funding for it if required.
Whether you’re exploring your options or actively planning your investment, we’re here to help you access the right support and funding:
