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Signs Express Franchise

Signs Express is the UK's largest sign and graphic franchise. Franchisees - Consult, Design,Create & Deliver. Est. over 30 years. We offer 2 franchise models: Resale & Start-Ups

Emma Wakefield Signs Express

Interested in Signs Express?

Contact Emma Wakefield

Franchise Recruitment Manager

or connect with Emma :

At a Glance

Established: 1989

UK Presence: Over 60 centres

Average start up cost: £215,000

Min personal contribution: £65,000

Development type: single-unit franchises; multi-unit franchises; management

Franchise Membership: bfa Established




Franchise Info

Signs Express franchisee banner

Established for more than 30 years, Signs Express is the UK’s largest signs and graphics business, with a network of over 60 centres around the UK, providing bespoke, quality solutions and unparalleled customer service.

Signs Express offers the perfect franchise opportunity in a lucrative and high profit sector, providing room for creativity and innovation. With options to join our trusted franchise network via our prime location start-up sites, or via a number of established resale opportunities, we offer you the freedom to start your own business and become your own boss, along with support, training and advice in all areas of the business.

If you are looking for a business opportunity with regular repeat business, high value orders, a stable marketplace and an established brand then Signs Express could be the right franchise for you.

Extensive Marketplace

Signage is required across every single industry sector, both private and public, and provides that vital first impression of a business. Very simply, a sign or graphic can be the difference between gaining a customer or losing a customer.

Whether producing fascia signs for retailers, wayfinding for hospitals, window graphics for offices, or vehicle graphics for tradespeople, Signs Express offers the complete solution with a reputation for quality and craftsmanship.

The UK signage industry was worth approx. £508m in 2021 and should be worth approximately £33bn by 2024 globally,* producing high profit margins and an ever-increasing customer base, with over 500,000 new limited companies alone incorporated into the UK each year**.

In a survey of over 1,000 businesses, 98% believed good quality signs and graphics gave a positive impression of a business with 97% saying that scruffy and unprofessional signs would make them less likely to do business.

*Source: Mordor Intelligence report, **Companies House Blog

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Why Signs Express

We are passionate about giving franchisees the opportunity to thrive, and have developed a model that strikes the perfect balance between the freedom of owning your own business and having guidance, support, and training from our dedicated Franchise Support Centre.

Known for quality and our customer-centric approach to business, we take great pride in everything we do which is reflected in how our customers see us.

As a new business owner, you can take advantage of our excellent reputation and use it to hit the ground running from day one. You can also call upon all the experience and projects from across the network to support you in winning new business opportunities.

Benefits include:

  • Established, trusted brand
  • Proven franchise model
  • Start-up accelerator investment
  • Dedicated UK Franchise Support Centre
  • Comprehensive business planning
  • Training and on-going support
  • Access to thousands of sales leads
  • Monday-Friday working hours

YOUR role as business owner

The most successful franchisees are great communicators, creative and passionate about design, and enjoy the reward of transforming the appearance of businesses and organisations in their local area.

The process starts with a consultation to get a clear brief, allowing your team to design a solution, then create the signage and organise delivery and installation for the client. Typically, our franchisees are not just business owners, they are brand ambassadors, problem solvers, customer service perfectionists and motivators of people…sound like you?

signs express example of work

What we look for in a franchise partner

You don’t need any sign industry experience to join Signs Express. Our most successful franchisees are driven, ambitious individuals, with a natural sales flair and a personable yet entrepreneurial approach who are excited about joining our award-winning network and driving our business forwards.

As an investor and owner, this industry offers you unlimited opportunities to be creative and inventive each and every day, whilst making an impressive return, as well as building a dynamic and diverse career.

We offer extensive training and on-going support to ensure our Franchisees are confident and well versed in all elements of the business, understanding the roles of each of the support staff, so that going forward, Franchisees are in the best possible position to make a success of their business.

Franchise opportunities

At Signs Express, we offer two franchise models: Resale and Start-Ups, both following our proven franchise model.

Our Resale opportunities offer the advantages of being an established business, with a loyal customer base, a solid team and the ability to hit the ground running from day one.  Our current resales are:

Whereas our Start-Ups allow you to launch your own business from scratch and shape it with the support of our dedicated Franchise Support Centre. We have a number of key areas we are focusing on:

  • Croydon & Dorking
  • Crawley & Tunbridge
  • Eastbourne & Brighton
  • Ashford & Canterbury

Not sure which is the right option for you? Then contact Emma Wakefield our Franchise Recruitment Manager or call on 01603 598455.

signs express example of work

Emma Wakefield Signs Express

Interested in Signs Express?

Contact Emma Wakefield

Franchise Recruitment Manager


Click on the link below to receive further information on our franchise opportunity. You can also connect directly with us to ask any questions.

This is FREE and non-obligatory; we never share or sell your personal information.

Signs Express Franchise Resales

Success Stories

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Success Story
Established Resale Opportunity, Signs Express Huddersfield: All You Need to Know

Trading for over 15 years, Signs Express (Huddersfield) presents a new owner with an established, well-respected business, with a loyal customer base, thriving territory and an impressive client portfolio, with the opportunity to achieve £400k+ turnover in the next 24-month period. We caught up with current centre owner Martin Davis about the benefits of buying a resale business and what you can expect from your investment.

Read more
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Success Story
13 Years Later...

After 13 years ownership of Signs Express (Aylesbury), we talk to exiting franchisee Philip Harris about his time with Signs Express, the benefits of franchising and his plans for retirement.

Read more
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Success Story
From initial enquiry to business owner in less than six months!

Signs Express speaks to Kris Bell, the new owner of Signs Express Aylesbury to find out all about his journey from initial enquiry to signing on the dotted line and what advice he’d pass on to our next would-be franchisees looking for a new challenge for 2023.

Read more
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Success Story
Val and Martin take on a Signs Express Greenfield site, impressed by the level of support!

Val and I have often talked about working together in the B2B sector, as we both have a commercial background. A Signs Express franchise stood out from the start. From the Discovery Day onwards, we have only been impressed with the level of expertise, support and training from the Signs Express Support Centre. We benefit daily from their 30 years' experience, knowledge, support team and most importantly, their reputation.

Read more
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Success Story
Exclusive Interview: "I chose a resale as they were already trading and had a proven track record."

Paul Glover previously owned a waste management company before deciding the sell the business and try something new. He still wanted to run his own business in a growing market with a support network in place. A local franchise resale opportunity with Signs Express caught his interest. With his knowledge of the local area and the chance to enter an already established business it made sense for Paul. Learn about Paul's journey into franchising with his Signs Express resale opportunity!

Read more
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Success Story
Exclusive Interview: "Signs Express has a dedicated Franchise Support Centre"

Established in 2002, Signs Express (Lancaster) has a diverse selection of customers and highly-skilled team in place. The wide-ranging territory this centre covers means there is access to thousands of businesses and is perfectly placed to service the needs of organisations large and small.

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Interview

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Franchisor Interview
Exclusive interview: "Franchising; Building upon a solid foundation"

Tony Marsh has had many years experience in franchising and, in particular, within the signs and graphics industry. As a director and shareholder of Signs Express and on the board of Directors of the British Franchise Association, Tony offers an unique insight into the industry. To benefit from Tony's experience...

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News

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News
Signs Express franchisees sell their business in Exeter after 28 successful years

Newly for sale and successfully operating for 28 years under the current ownership of Nick and Marion Baxter-Sibley, Signs Express (Exeter) presents a solid business opportunity for a new business owner with EBITDA and turnover in an upward trajectory. Set in a beautiful part of the world, this centre presents a fantastic business development opportunity with room for territory expansion, an experienced team, extensive customer database and the opportunity to see a return from day one.

Read more
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News
Business Transformation, Outstanding Award Accolades and Territory Expansion!

After a transformational few years of business, we’re excited to see Paul Glover, experienced owner of Signs Express (Nottingham), extend his reach within the Signs Express network and take on his neighbouring territory of Derby. Taking on Signs Express (Derby), will see Paul now serving customers across areas such as Sinfin, Chaddesden, Spondon, Alvaston, Ilkeston, Somercotes and Derby City Centre along with the whole of the Nottingham area.

Read more
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News
Signs Express franchise for sale in Liverpool & Wirral - book an open day

Opening in 1998, Signs Express (Liverpool & Wirral) is an established business based on the Wirral within the Merseyside area. After operating for 25 years, Signs Express (Liverpool & Wirral) owners Roy and John are moving into retirement and are in the process of looking for a new entrepreneurial owner to take on this creative business and take it to the next level with sales opportunities of £750,000 turnover and beyond. We are pleased to announce we will be holding a business open day on Saturday 25th November 2023 at our Signs Express (Liverpool & Wirral) centre for prospective buyers.

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News
Signs Express Franchisee Expands into Fifth Territory!

We’re thrilled to see yet another Signs Express franchisee, Daniel Pickersgill expand his portfolio within our award-winning network and officially become the new owner of our Signs Express (Scarborough) centre, alongside his other territories spanning Gateshead, Wearside, South Durham and Teesside!

Read more
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News
New Signs Express Franchisee Expands After Just 12 Months Ownership!

Taking over ownership in August last year, we were delighted to welcome new owner of Signs Express (Aylesbury), Kris Bell, to our Signs Express network.12 months on and we’re over the moon to announce that Kris has now developed his business reach further and has now expanded into the neighbouring territory of High Wycombe, allowing him to support local businesses in areas such as Chesham, Amersham, Beaconsfield, Wallingford, Thatcham as well as High Wycombe town centre.

Read more
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News
Signs Express (Central Lancashire) take silver at the UK Graphic Awards!

What an evening! We’re thrilled to announce that Signs Express (Central Lancashire) proudly took home silver in the Leisure & Hospitality category at last night's UK Graphic Awards! A fantastic evening spent with a brilliant group of people and a massive congratulations to Matt and the team. We’re thrilled to see their amazing talents recognised amongst some fantastic competition; we couldn’t be prouder! Thanks to the UK Graphic Awards for a fun filled evening and well done to all the winners and finalists.

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