And The Winner Is… The Best 18 Franchises According To The bfa

The best franchise opportunities in the UK have been shortlisted in five categories by the respected British Franchise Association (bfa).

The winner will be announced at the prestigious British Franchise Association and HSBC Franchisor of the Year Awards 2018. The event which takes place at the ICC in Birmingham on 28th June 2018 and will be a celebration of outstanding contributions to the franchising industry.

The shortlist for the awards, which is made up of the top franchises to buy, was chosen by experts from the franchise industry. A judging panel will consider presentations from each of the finalists before a winner is selected.

With a 32% increase in the number of entries compared to last year's awards, the panel has already had a tough job selecting the shortlist. All 18 shortlisted businesses will now be able to proudly display a new bfa HSBC franchise award finalise logo, proving to prospective franchisees that they are one of the best franchise opportunities to invest in.

So, here’s a list of the finalists for each of the five categories:

AWARD: Franchisor of the Year

Agency Express This is the only national estate agency board company in the UK. Now with a network of over 114 franchisees, this van-based franchise is the market leader. Franchisees are given the chance to be part of a recognisable brand with an established reputation, extensive franchise package and proven business system.

Autosmart Autosmart offers more than 200 multi-purpose cleaning products to trade customers delivered to their door. The business was established as a franchise brand in 1999, and since then strong brand recognition and quality service have resulted in 150 franchisees being recruited all over the country.

Costa Coffee With over 3,000 coffee shops in over 29 countries and 2,000 of these in the UK, Costa Coffee is a global franchise opportunity for the most ambitious of franchisees. The coffee giant’s outlets are made up of larger stores and smaller Costa Express franchises, which are located in shops and petrol stations.

Driver Hire Nationwide Driver Hire is an office-based management franchise that has consistently proven that they’re one of the best franchises to buy for more than 30 years. As a franchisee you’ll run a recruitment business, specialising in temporary and permanent drivers and logistics staff.

McDonald's Restaurants Ltd The McDonald’s restaurant concept was first franchised in the UK in 1986. Today more than 70% of restaurants around the country are operated by franchisees. To join this hugely recognisable fast food franchise, you need to have ambition, talent and commitment to making your business a success.

TaxAssist Accountants Dedicated to serving the financial issues of small businesses and the self-employed all over the UK, TaxAssist boasts the most extensive network of accountants in the country. With over 65,000 clients, this is a growing franchise opportunity for any qualified accountant that want to be their own boss.

AWARD: Emerging Franchisor of the Year

Angela's Swim School Angela’s Swim School was founded in 2002 by Angela Wilson, who was an international and Commonwealth swimmer winning medals in both 400 and 800 metres freestyle. As a franchisee, you’ll be trained to teach people to swim the ‘Angela’s way’, young and old. This is one of best franchise opportunities for individuals who are passionate about swimming and want to help others learn this essential life skill.

Fitness Space Fitness Space was established by Tim Benjamin, a former Olympic athlete, in 2010. His dream was to design a gym that stood out from the many other fitness centres emerging. The concept of creating a health club that offers high-quality services at affordable prices has proven to be a success with customers who want to achieve their fitness goals.

We Love Pets We Love Pets offers a range of services including dog walking and pet sitting. Since the business started in 2014, the franchise network has grown to 14 branches throughout the UK. Franchisees can run a successful business while working with other people's pets, which is the perfect opportunity for any animal lover.

AWARD: Brand Awareness

Barking Mad This pet franchise with a difference provides an alternative to kennels for dogs to stay while their owners go on holiday. Over 80 franchisees in the UK now offer this valuable dog sitting service making it one of the best franchises to buy for dog lovers. Barking Mad is an exciting home-based franchise opportunity which provides franchisees both freedom and flexibility.

Riverford Organic Farmers Since 1987, Riverford farmers have been growing and delivering approximately 47,000 boxes of fresh organic produce to UK homes each week. This van-based franchise is perfect for individuals who share Riverford’s values of ‘good food, good farming, good business’.

Stagecoach Performing Arts Stagecoach is a globally recognised performance arts school which has over 600 franchises in the UK and have a presence in 9 other countries around the world. Classes are available for 4 to 18-year-olds, who learn how to sing, dance, and act. Franchisees are appointed to oversee their Stagecoach school, rather than run the classes themselves.

AWARD: Innovation

Home Instead With over 1,200 franchisees operating in 14 countries, Home Instead is the world’s largest and most recognised home care provider. As a franchisee, you'll manage a team of caregivers who visit elderly clients in their homes to provide them with the support they need. This is a valuable service which offers an alternative to residential care homes.

Mac Tools A Mac Tools franchise gives you exclusive rights to sell tools from several world-class brands in your local area from a mobile showroom. This van-based franchise will give you the flexibility to earn as much or as little as you choose by visiting local garages, body shops, dealerships, and manufacturers to build relationships and generate sales.

Tutor Doctor This home tutoring franchise is committed to unlocking the learning potential of all of its students. And with 17,000 tutors operating in 15 countries, this vision is shared by many entrepreneurs who want to make a difference in the world of education.

AWARD: Franchise Support

Bright & Beautiful UK Bright & Beautiful was established in 2007 and has quickly grown with a network of over 50 franchisees. This is a cleaning franchise which encourages franchisees to take an ethical approach to the domestic cleaning market by offering cleaning, tidying, laundry, and ironing services to the highest standards while considering the impact on the environment.

Expense Reduction Analysts With the objective of helping small and medium-sized businesses reduce their costs, this business consultancy started in 1992 by Fred Marfleet now has over 750 franchisees in more than 30 countries. A diverse range of consultancy services is offered so that franchisees can work in their specialised field from the comfort of their own home.

Revive! Auto Innovations (UK) Ltd Revive are the leading provider of minor paint repairs in the UK, with over 70 franchisees operating 130 mobile repair vehicles across the country. Services are offered to both commercial and domestic customers and franchisees making this a profitable business opportunity.