Q&A: Does Bairstow Eves Franchise in the UK?

Lily Sweeney, writer

Published at 02/01/2022, Updated on 04/05/2022 , Reading time: 5 min

Q&A: Does Bairstow Eves Franchise in the UK? — Photo © QA-Does-Bairstow-Eves-Franchise-in-the-UK.jpg

If you’re passionate about all things property and real estate, turn your passion into a profitable business and a thriving career with a Bairstow Eves franchise. What could beat joining an incredibly lucrative sector, doing work you’re passionate about every single day?

Bairstow Eves franchise opportunities are highly sought after in the UK, and if you choose to enter the hugely competitive estate agency and property industry, you’ll likely look into starting your own Bairstow Eves franchise as a potential avenue. Read on, and find out whether this is a possibility right now.

Does Bairstow Eves franchise in the UK?

Yes and no. Bairstow Eves doesn’t franchise in the UK, but Hunters - which purchased Bairstow Eves’ 90 franchised locations and rebranded it back in 2011 - does. If you’re interested in making a career change with an estate agency franchise, you won’t be able to do it with Bairstow, but you very much will with Hunters.

The history of Bairstow Eves estate agency (and Hunters’ acquisition)

With an extensive and vibrant history, Bairstow Eves has been an established name in the residential property market for over 120 years, working successfully as both sales and lettings agents since 1899. Originally starting life in North London, Essex and Hertfordshire we now have branches across the country. - Bairstow Eves

Bairstow Eves has been around, in one form or another, since the end of the 1890s. The company’s incredible history spans many decades, and in that time, Bairstow has become one of the most respected, recognisable names in the estate agency world and the UK property market, with over 200 awards to its name (most recently two different 2020 ESTAS Awards for Best Large National Estate Agency Group and Best National Lettings Agency respectively).

Back in 2011, however, Bairstow sold its 90 franchised locations to Hunters in favour of focusing on the stores it owned in-house. Hunters was founded in York in 1992 by Kevin Hollinrake and John Waterhouse. Over time, and despite the difficult housing market backdrop, Hunters kept growing, opening new branches and offering new services. In 2006, the first franchise location of Hunters opened in Knaresborough.

Since then, there have been many “cold start openings, acquisitions and [independent conversions]”, and Hunters is now the 5th largest national brand in the UK, with over 200 branches. In the words of the franchise, “We have led the way in many ways, for example, being one of the first to advertise on national TV, ensuring customer service is at the heart of our business and raising thousands of pounds for great causes around the country.”

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Start a franchise in the real estate industry - not with a Bairstow Eves business, but with a Hunters franchise!

With a better understanding of Bairstow Eves, and the concrete knowledge that yes, you can launch a similar franchise of your own with Hunters, it’s time to dive into the specifics. The following three questions contain everything you need to know before taking the plunge and beginning the process towards investment with Hunters Estate Agents...

1. How do you go about becoming a Hunters franchisee?

Our experience in the industry, combined with your local area knowledge, will make for a successful partnership. We’d be delighted to welcome you to the Hunters team and begin or continue delivering a high quality of service to customers. - Hunters

To determine exactly what Hunters is searching for in its franchisees, you’ll need to read up on the company’s dedicated franchising website - which is also how you can get the ball rolling in a more general sense. Note that even without specific experience in the property sector, you might still be well-suited to an investment, provided that you have alternative management experience and plenty of business/financial acumen. You’ll also benefit from the following skills, helpful to all franchisees in the property industry:

Customer service
Sales, communication and negotiation
Leadership, independence and teamwork
Attentiveness to detail
Determination
Patience
Level-headedness
Management (of people, of time, of the business and so on)

2. How much do you need to invest?

The cost associated with launching a franchise unit can vary substantially. As of 2018, the average cost of starting a franchise was £42,200 [British Franchise Association], but this is a figure that can be greatly altered by numerous factors, from the reputation and recognisability of the brand all the way to the type of franchise it is. (A restaurant chain, for instance, will often cost far more to invest in than a home-based franchise.)

To invest with Hunters, a franchise that provides huge amounts of tried and tested support to its franchisees, you’ll only have to make a minimum initial investment of around £20,000. Funding support is available if required, and most will go through UK banks to source it. The majority of said banks are willing to lend up to 70% of startup costs, provided you can prove that the franchise is reputable, and that you have a good credit history.

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3. What do you get for your investment?

There’s really no limit to what we can achieve together. It’s more than just putting our name on your sign – you’ll be welcomed into the Hunters network and given everything you need to be the standout agency in your area. - Hunters

Hunters provides franchisees with support in four key areas: marketing, technology, ongoing development and training. In terms of marketing, you’ll be provided with an award-winning website, mobile solutions, SMM training, PR support and more. In terms of technological needs, you’ll gain access to Hunters’ bespoke software.

In terms of ongoing development, you’ll work extremely closely with your franchisor, and you’ll have access to a professional support desk, specialist support management, annual business reviews, e-learning and more. Finally, in terms of training, you’ll attend the extremely-well-reviewed Hunters Training Academy, which was first founded in 2003, and you’ll follow interactive, participative programmes endorsed by NAEA and ARLA.