Tell us about your business. What do you do, who do you work with, and what makes your company unique?
Signs Express is the UK’s largest signs and graphics franchise, with over 35 years of industry experience and a thriving network of more than 60 locations across the UK and Ireland. Combining the strength of a nationally recognised brand with local expertise, Signs Express delivers innovative, bespoke signage and graphics solutions to businesses of all sizes.
As an established, award-winning franchisor, Signs Express offers ambitious individuals and existing business owners the opportunity to invest in a creative, diverse and dynamic industry, supported by a proven business model and decades of experience.
Recognising that every franchisee’s ambitions and circumstances are different, Signs Express offers four flexible routes into business ownership. These include acquiring an established Signs Express centre with an existing customer base and proven trading history, launching a new centre in an available territory, rebranding an existing independent signage business, or acquiring an established signage company and converting it into a Signs Express centre. Each route offers the opportunity to benefit from the strength of the Signs Express brand, with comprehensive training and ongoing support tailored to the needs of the franchisee, their team, and their business.
What truly sets Signs Express apart is its people-focused approach, collaborative network and commitment to franchisee and business success. Franchisees benefit from a dedicated Franchise Support Centre, providing expertise and ongoing guidance across operations, sales, marketing and business development, alongside the collective knowledge and experience of the wider network.
This unique combination enables franchisees to enjoy the independence of owning and developing their own business, whilst benefiting from the infrastructure, resources and reassurance of an established national brand.
With a strong heritage, flexible investment opportunities and a forward-thinking approach to franchising, Signs Express offers an exciting platform for entrepreneurs and established business owners looking to build, develop and grow a successful business.
Why did you become a BSGA member, and what has membership meant to your business?
As the UK’s largest signs and graphics franchise, our longstanding membership of the British Sign & Graphics Association (BSGA) reflects our commitment to excellence, professionalism and continuous improvement within the industry.
Being part of the BSGA is incredibly important to us, providing independent recognition of our commitment to quality and industry best practice, whilst giving our customers confidence in the products and services we deliver.
As a franchisor, membership also provides valuable access to industry expertise, technical guidance, regulatory updates and networking opportunities, helping us support our franchisees in maintaining consistently high standards across the network.
Beyond the benefits to our own business, we’re passionate about supporting the wider signage industry, championing innovation and contributing to its continued development. Being part of the BSGA enables us to collaborate with like-minded businesses, share knowledge and play an active role in promoting the professionalism and future success of our sector.
Which project, achievement or milestone are you most proud of, and why does it stand out?
As a franchise network, we’re incredibly proud of the creativity, expertise and passion demonstrated by our talented franchisees and their teams, who deliver outstanding signage and graphics solutions to customers every single day. However, as a franchisor, one of our greatest achievements is the strength, longevity and continued evolution of the Signs Express business and brand.
With 37 years of trading history and a growing network of over 60 locations across the UK and Ireland, we’re proud to have built an established, trusted and resilient franchise model that continues to adapt, innovate and create new opportunities for business ownership.
One of the achievements we’re particularly proud of is our franchisee longevity, with an average franchisee tenure of 17 years across the network. In fact, our very first franchisee, based in Ipswich, is still part of Signs Express today. For us, this speaks volumes about the strength of our business model, the relationships we’ve built and the collaborative, supportive culture that sits at the heart of our network. It’s incredibly rewarding to see franchisees build long-term, successful businesses with us, and we believe their continued commitment is one of the strongest endorsements of our franchise proposition.
Winning the BFA HSBC UK Business Transformation Award in 2024 was an incredibly proud moment for us, recognising the significant work undertaken to evolve and strengthen our franchise proposition. To then be named a finalist for Established Franchisor of the Year in 2026 is another fantastic milestone and a testament to our ongoing commitment to improvement, innovation and franchisee success.
For us, these achievements are particularly meaningful because they demonstrate that, even after nearly four decades in business, we’re not standing still. We’re continuously challenging ourselves to develop, diversify and ensure our franchise model remains relevant, competitive and attractive to the next generation of business owners.
The introduction of new and flexible routes into franchise ownership, including our business rebrand and conversion propositions, is a great example of this. Having already welcomed two established independent signage businesses into our network through our rebrand model, we’re incredibly proud to be creating opportunities that not only support our own growth but also help existing business owners with succession planning, future expansion and long-term business sustainability.
Above all, we’re proud of the people behind Signs Express. From our dedicated Franchise Support Centre to our ambitious franchisees and their teams, it’s the collective passion, collaboration and commitment across the network that continues to drive our success.
Our heritage provides us with strong foundations, but it’s our ambition to keep evolving, embracing new opportunities and supporting our franchisees that makes us most excited about the future. After 37 years, we’re proud of how far we’ve come, but even more excited about where we’re going.