The Property Signage Experts

Countrywide Signs impressively has over 25 years of expertise in the property signage business, and opportunities within the network are still available. The team is still on the search for more dynamic, driven, and enthusiastic entrepreneurs looking for a new venture.

Franchisees erect, manage, and take down For Sale and To Let boards, working closely with estate agents to deliver a vital service to property buyers and sellers, as well as landlords, commercial agents and tenants. Countrywide Signs has a strong presence nationwide, being established in 1998. There are also additional revenue streams available with franchisees also being able to offer a design and print service to all kinds to businesses.

Why Choose Countrywide Signs?

Impressive earning potential. Choose a one van operation or grow to a multi-van business with turnover potential of £250,000 per annum.
Massive customer-base. Over 30,000 estate & letting agents in the UK and a growing commercial signage market.
Opportunities nationwide. Including new greenfield territory areas and established resale opportunities.
Established & trusted brand. 25 years’ industry success. Recommended by 98% of our agents.
Low investment. Partnerships with leading franchise lenders. Up to 70% of investment available
Training & support from franchise experts. Over 80 years combined franchise industry expertise.
BFA & QFA Full Member. Accredited as an ethical franchisor.
ISO 9001 quality assured. Operational systems are regularly audited. Scoring 4.7 out of 5 for service.

About the Countrywide Signs’ Franchise Package

Impressive Earning Potential

The Countrywide Signs business model is designed to generate a quick return on investment (ROI) operating as a one van operation, as well as impressive earnings as a multi-van business providing a lucrative asset to sell in the future.

Single Van Business

On average franchise owners enjoy 60-65% profit on their turnover with a single van operation averaging between £5-6k sales per month.

Multi-van Operation

Choose to expand! Countrywide Signs has several franchise owners operating multi-van businesses who enjoy turnover of more than £250k per annum! With top performers running multiple territories who continue to increase turnover year-on-year!

Proven Business Model with Large Customer-Base

Established since 1998, the business model is proven, lucrative, and holds vast customer potential throughout the UK.
There are upwards of 30,000 estate & letting agents across the nation and a growing commercial signage market to match.
The scope is huge! Just look around your own local area and you’ll see numerous ‘for sale’ and ‘to let’ sign boards, many of which will have been installed by the Countrywide Signs network.
As a ‘van-based’ business investment is low. You simply run your business from your home and conduct your daily property signage erecting throughout your territory area on the road.
Overheads are minimal, and if you follow the proven-franchise business model, as well as take full advantage of the support available; profit, business growth and your future retirement will be secured.

Low Investment Franchise Package

Our franchise fee is £19,995 +VAT, and the package provides you with everything you need to get your business up and running. Franchisees can aspire to earn an impressive £250k+ in the future as a multi-van operation.

Thanks to strong relationships with reputable lenders who are familiar with the business model, up to 70% funding is available subject to individual circumstances - meaning you could get started with just £10,000 of your own money.

Your investment Includes everything you could possibly require to make a success of your business; from complete business planning and loan applications (if required) to your first year’s public liability insurance and ongoing support in accounts, operations, business development, sales and marketing and so much more.

Training & Support Provided

Becoming a Countrywide Signs franchisee means you will receive advice, guidance, and support from day one. This includes extensive training to adopt the Countrywide Signs business model, as well as operations, financial, business development and sales and marketing support.

All to help you on your journey to become a ‘Property Signage Expert’ in your local area.

Training

Marketing and sales to win business
Our unique Print. Manage. Promote service offering
Health and safety
Practical board installation and management skills, to meet our high-quality standards
Managing and growing your business and income
Online systems and simple accounting procedures
In fact, everything you need to become one of our Property Signage Experts!

Ongoing Support

Training and operations; maintaining high standards including best practice and safety.
Business development expertise; identifying opportunities, implementing growth strategies, and maintaining customer relations.
Marketing guidance and support; promoting services on a national, regional and local level.
National accounts; managing and overseeing our multi-location clients.
Online business management software; to manage orders, data, credit control and invoicing.

The Ideal Countrywide Signs Franchisee

Countrywide Signs is looking for candidates who are proactive, practical, motivated, and determined to succeed. Business owners will need ambition as the business model is much more than erecting property signs, it’s about business management, marketing, and sales to grow your client-base.

Countrywide Signs History

Founder and managing director, Tony Williams QFP, started out as a property sign installer himself. Honing and developing the brand and business structure to become a leader in the sector. The group’s location coverage has grown exponentially. Ranging from one-van businesses to multi-van regional operations. As a result, the network has the capacity to fulfil orders the length and breadth of the UK for independent estate, letting and commercial agents, as well as regional and national clients.

If you feel that Countrywide Signs is the perfect franchise for you, request further details. A team of franchising experts are ready to talk and answer your questions when you’re ready.

Countrywide Signs News

Countrywide Signs | Lee Rathbone - Norfolk & East Suffolk Franchisee

January 16, 2023

Why did Lee choose Countrywide Signs?

Lee Rathbone was a qualified carpenter for 12 years prior to joining the Countrywide Signs franchise family in 2015. He originally started out as Countrywide Signs Norfolk and quickly expanded his territory area across parts of Suffolk. Lee now operates as Countrywide Signs Norfolk & East Suffolk, with an impressive 85+ agents on the books and he has no plan to stop there!

Back in 2015 when Lee was working as a carpenter, the company he worked for unfortunately went into administration. Sad news for the business Lee was working for but for Lee, the redundancy opened up a whole new set of opportunities including the chance to become his own boss some two years later.

Lee changed his career and became a driver for Countrywide Signs working for the then franchise owner. Two years operating as a property sign installer, Lee found himself in a position to buy the franchise. The existing franchise owner had decided to retire, so Lee stepped in.

“The opportunity presented itself at the perfect time,” commented Lee. “I really wanted to take the leap to work for myself. As I was already working for the company, I felt it was the perfect opportunity to own my own business.”

Lee had been erecting property signs and managing his own workload already and understood the inner workings of the business. His hands-on experience and communication with the customers meant he had already built some great relationships within the sector as well as built an outstanding reputation for himself.

Becoming a Franchise Owner

Lee became the franchisee in 2017 and over the past few years has grown his business at an impressive rate. Growing from a franchise with 42 agents to 88 separate offices has been an impressive achievement. Especially since the best part of two years has been during a pandemic.

In the early days, Lee operated with one full time driver (which was himself) and also a part time driver two to three days per week. He now manages the Norfolk and East Suffolk territory area with one full time driver and two part time drivers. Lee added: “We work for some of the biggest agents in the area. These include some well-known names in the estate and lettings sector. Such as Sowerbys, Minors and Brady, Abbot Fox, Starking & Watson, Watsons, and Ange & Co. The list goes on. The team does a great job, and we receive some even better feedback.”

Joining a Franchise with a Great Work-Life Balance

Lee is naturally business minded. He has ambition, a great work ethic and the foresight to see the bigger picture through application and hard graft. Despite sounding like Lee has had to work long hours to achieve his goals, in fact he’s been able to achieve an important aspect of his plan to own his own business; the perfect work-life balance.

“Being my own boss and working the hours that suit me and my family has definitely paid off. said. The work-life balance of owning a Countrywide Signs franchise has definitely been a big contributor,” he said.

“Owning a franchise has given me the chance to see more of my family than my previous job. It’s given me the opportunity to do the morning drop-offs at school and even the evening pickups when needed. If we need a day off, we do more work in the lead up and after. It works well for me and my family.”

Joining a franchise network is a great way to tick so many boxes when it comes to ensuring a balance of financial reward and family time. The franchise model offers a flexibility and luxury that many business-owners are unable to enjoy.

Countrywide Signs franchisees work as a mixture of being home-based and on the road. As long as the service-level agreement (SLA) with the agents is met it’s really up to the franchisee to pick and choose the hours he or she works. For example, if there’s a special event for a child, or an appointment you can’t miss, there’s no reason not to work your job commitments around it.

Franchisees either work the classic nine to five workday or mix it up by working early mornings or later evenings. Some even opt to fulfil their SLAs by working a Saturday or Sunday, so they can take a weekday as holiday.

What’s next for Lee and Countrywide Signs Norfolk & East Suffolk?

“Long-term I would like to have even more estate agents on my books and more vans on the road. The aim is to grow, so we are not just the best at what we do in the whole of Norfolk and Suffolk but also the biggest. Most importantly, however, is to maintain our high standards. What satisfies me the most is knowing that our agents are happy with the service they receive. There’s no point in growing too quickly at the cost of risking a detrimental impact on our existing agents. We’re really proud of our 5 star-rating. We have always gone the extra mile to ensure our agents receive an efficient and quality service every time and we plan to keep this up.”

Lee is just one example of a franchisee who has achieved his goals for both business and family. What are your most important goals when you think of owning your own business? Could a Countrywide Signs franchise tick those all-important boxes?