Courier Franchise Opportunities

Courier Franchise Opportunities

What's the state of the courier franchise market?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, courier delivery options exploded. Package deliveries increased by a sizeable amount and courier franchises expanded to accommodate demand. Data reflects this, with approximately 3.9 billion parcels sent during 2023/2024 period.

Data from The British Franchise Association demonstrates that franchise operations as a whole are in a growth phase, with twice as many franchise systems in operation today compared to 1995 (source: British Franchise Journal 2024, The BFA). 

Courier franchise trends 

Courier franchises are shaped by technology and consumer choice. Many factors are driving change, including: 

E-commerce influences 

With more people than ever shopping online, the number of parcels being delivered has reached unprecedented levels. This provides real opportunities for courier franchises to secure their position in the market.  

Contactless delivery preferences 

Compared to ten years ago, courier franchises are reporting that their customers are more likely to choose contactless delivery options, such as leaving a parcel in a designated safe place, with a neighbour, or using locker collection.  

Same-day delivery demand 

People are busy and want their parcels as soon as possible. Same-day delivery or next-day delivery is extremely popular, with consumers selecting these delivery options more often than five years ago.  

Opportunities in a courier franchise 

In today’s fast delivery environment, there are so many opportunities to begin, grow and scale a delivery franchise business.

“The opportunities are huge,” says Howard McCormick, franchise recruitment director at World Options. “We offer solutions for domestic, international and export shipping. We focus on the SME market and in the UK alone, this comprises around 6.5 million businesses.” 

Even though there are challenges in courier franchising, Howard is confident that with commitment and consistency, franchisees can address and resolve them. He says that with a clear working routine, enthusiasm and dedication, you can succeed in building a successful operation.  

How do you buy a courier franchise? 

Getting into courier franchising takes some thought, planning and preparation, but choosing the right franchisor makes all the difference.

Hugh Furness, director at Post & Packing explains courier franchise costs, “A Post & Packing franchise is £20,000 to get started. Your kit-out and launch is £20,000. You’ll need some working capital of £10,000.” 

At World Options, buying a courier franchise is also relatively straightforward. “Our franchise fee is £35,000 plus VAT. Once you’ve made the decision to join, the first practical step is to register a limited company in the UK,” says Howard.

“You’ll take part in a comprehensive training programme, including four days of in-person induction training with our franchise development director.” 

Elsewhere, the initial investment at Pack & Send starts at around £80-90,000. Richard Cage, network development manager, describes how this includes a 10-year (renewable) franchise licence, full training and support, premises refit and launch marketing.  

“You’ll require some working capital to get you through the initial couple of months of the franchise,” add Richard. “We’ve built our model to be asset-light. There’s no need for fleets of vans or warehousing – so overheads are relatively low compared to traditional logistics businesses.” 

What support is on offer? 

Starting a new career can seem daunting, but with the right training and support, new courier franchisees will quickly get up to speed.

There’s dedicated training at Post & Packing, as director Hugh explains, “We help you find your retail site and negotiate with the agent. The head office team train you and kit out your shop with signage, phone lines and broadband. We supply your stock and launch you in your local area.” 

At World Options, new franchisees go through full training and a 12-week development programme to get them up to speed. On top of that, there's a 12-month mentorship and access to a peer community through WhatsApp groups.  

“We’ve also invested heavily in our sales coaching,” says franchise recruitment director Howard. “Our coaches are experienced franchisees themselves, so they know exactly what it takes to succeed.

"You’ll have a dedicated coach for your first 12 months, and then another focused on scalability for years two and three. They act as mentors, working alongside you to support your growth.” 

World Options’ full back office support covers IT, accounts and customer service. There’s also free access to a lead generation tool for the first six months, plus ongoing marketing support.  

Support is key at Pack & Send too. Every new franchisee goes through an intensive training programme that covers everything from operational systems to sales, marketing and customer service.  

“Once your service centre is open, you’ll have ongoing mentoring, field support, and access to our network of expert suppliers and logistics partners, adds network development manager Richard.

“You’re never on your own. We also offer marketing support, business reviews, and development workshops to keep you on track and help you grow.” 

Courier franchise success stories 

Jack Fisher has grown his business with World Options and hit over one million in revenue in his first year.  

Speaking about his experience and what’s changed for him since becoming a World Options franchisee, Jack says, “We grew a lot quicker than I thought we would. The first few months were far better than I think we could have expected them to be.

"We could afford staff and were able to move into an office. Reinvesting the money that we've made into growth has been the biggest highlight for me.” 

Richard from Pack & Send also has other successful franchisee stories to share. "Our Reading franchise partner came from a completely different industry background but quickly built a successful business by tapping into the local SME market and offering tailored shipping services," he explains. 

Multi-unit growth is also on the agenda at Pack & Send. “One of our franchisees recently opened a second service centre after building a strong customer base and consistently growing revenue over a few years,” says Richard.

“These success stories show that with the right support, anyone with drive and commitment can thrive in our courier franchise model.” 

Best courier franchise advice 

Accreditation by the British Franchise Association (BFA) is a good sign that a franchisor is committed to ethical franchising. Doing your homework and getting to know the sector helps, as well as checking what sets top-performing franchises apart.  

“We always encourage potential franchisees to dive into our market-leading shipping platform,” says Howard at World Options.

“There you can see the global discounted rates we offer through our partnerships with major couriers. It’s one of the things that makes us stand out, alongside our comprehensive support.” 

World Options franchise specialist, Charlotte Headington, walks people interested in courier franchise opportunities through their structured onboarding process and answers any questions to support next steps.  

Getting to know your chosen franchisor is top of Hugh at Post & Packing’s advice. “Are they someone you want to work with? We get people from all walks of life. In fact, about 90% of our franchisees haven’t been in the courier business before so it’s new to them. With our training and support, they’re able to grow their business and thrive in the market.” 

Focusing on customer experience is vital as word-of-mouth marketing and repeat business boost achievement in courier franchising.  

 “If you can be the kind of person who solves problems, says yes when others say no, and delivers a service that’s above and beyond, success will follow,” explains Richard at Pack & Send.

“Lean on the network. Your fellow franchisees and the head office team have a wealth of knowledge. Collaboration, consistency and a passion for service really do go a long way in this sector.” 

Richard also believes that what matters most is a commercial mindset, good communication skills and a willingness to follow a proven system.

“At Pack & Send, we look for people who are solution-driven and customer-focused,” says Richard. “If you’re someone who thrives on variety, enjoys helping people, and wants to build a business with scalable potential, the courier franchise sector has a lot to offer.” 

If you're interested in buying a courier franchise, browse our wide range of franchise opportunities. You can also browse auto franchises, business franchises and van franchises.