Q&A: Does BT Local Franchise in the UK?

If you’re interested in joining the telecommunications sector, you may have looked into BT Local Business as a possible investment opportunity. Here, we delve deeper into the company and how you can get involved.

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But first, what exactly does BT Local Business do? Well, it helps companies of all sizes find the right communication solutions for them and improve the way they interact with colleagues, clients and customers. By combining local knowledge with national resources, it can offer an unbeatable service.

If you need help with your broadband, mobile or network systems, BT has a range of products that can boost the performance of your business, such as conferencing technology and ISDN for international voice and video calls. In fact, BT Local Business works with thousands of UK-based companies. Whether you’re an antiques dealer in Shropshire or an electrician in Cornwall, BT can help you streamline your business to make sure it’s running as efficiently as possible.

Customers love BT Local Business for its expansive public Wi-Fi network, which is larger than any other provider’s. When you become a BT member, you’ll be able to use every BT Wi-Fi hotspot in the UK – and there are more than five million to choose from! This is particularly useful for small businesses, as employees can connect with the company while they’re travelling.

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• Franchising 101: 7 Steps to Take After Attending a Franchise Show
• When to consider starting your own business
• Basic guide to franchising
• Conquer your fears and start a franchise
• Reasons not to start a franchise

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Does BT Local Business franchise?

Yes. BT Local Business has a franchise network of 34 units operating across the country, covering major cities and rural territories alike. Each branch is run by a team of 20+ employees, which help local businesses boost their productivity by bringing their communication systems into the 21st century.

History of BT Local Business

BT (formerly known as British Telecom) can trace its history all the way back to 1846. It was born out of The Electric Telegraph Company, the first business to develop a nationwide communications network.

The telecommunications company we know today was set up in 1969, but it wasn’t known as British Telecom until it became a public limited company, as telecoms up until this point had been a state-run service. This happened in 2002.

Over the years, BT Local Business has increased its offering by introducing new services into its business model. In 2006, it diversified by expanding into television with BT TV and, in 2013, it launched BT Sport TV channels.

Today, BT Local Business has more than 35 offices spanning the UK and is one of the biggest telecom companies in the UK. It caters to over a million businesses – a market worth £20 billion. Each individual BT Local Business branch has an average customer base of around 25,000, so there’s potential to make between £1 and £2 million in turnover.

The franchise’s success and far-reaching coverage has not gone unnoticed. It’s held the title of the most highly rated worldwide network provider for the last 11 years in a row by review site Gartner. This places BT above the competition, which is led by huge telecommunications corporations like AT&T and Orange.

Because the accolade comes directly from customer reviews, consumers can be confident BT really does stand out as the best telecommunications company there is. This is good news for franchisees, as they have the backing of a business with a great reputation and credibility, which helps attract and retain customers.

Starting a BT Local Business franchise unit

• Becoming a BT Local Business franchisee: You don’t need to have worked in the technology sector to set up your own BT Local Business unit. However, you should have experience running your own company and know how to maximise profitability. Once you’re onboard, BT will provide you with all the telecoms training you need to become an expert in the field.
• How much you need to invest: It takes a minimum investment of £150,000 to get a BT Local Business up and running.
• What you get for your investment: BT Local Business franchisees use the company’s range of cutting-edge products and get their own exclusive territory, so the franchisor can’t introduce any competing BT branches into the area. With the support of the franchise team, you should expect to generate annual revenues of £1 million after two years. And you can also benefit from BT Local Business’ annual incentive programme. The schemes allow franchisees to earn up to £250,000 and significantly improve their business’ performance.

Become a BT Local Business franchisee

If you like what you’ve read and are interested in becoming a franchisee yourself, you can find out more about launching your very own BT Local Business branch here. The company has plenty of information about becoming a partner on its website, so start by familiarising yourself with the brand and the obligations you’d have as a franchisee.

If you decide you’d like to go ahead and apply to start your own BT business, the first step is to complete the company’s Declaration of Interest, which you’ll find here. Once you’ve done this, the franchise will get in touch to organise a one-hour interview, during which you’ll find out more about each other.

If this goes well, you’ll need to get cracking on your business plan, before presenting it to BT’s interview team. After this, the next step is to collaborate with the franchise to find the perfect spot for your unit. Then, it’s down to BT Local Business to grant you your licence to operate.

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>> Read more:

• Telecom Companies - What Franchises Are There?
• Telecommunications Industry in the UK- What’s Changing?

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Learn more

You can find out more about joining a telecommunications franchise by reading our other articles:

• Telecom Companies - What Franchises Are There?
• Telecommunications Industry in the UK- What’s Changing?

Alternatively, if this franchise opportunity isn’t quite right for you, there are lots of other ones out there. Why not browse our portfolio of franchise brands in the technology sector? You’ll be able to compare investment requirements, franchisee criteria and other key factors to find the perfect business for you.