Q&A: Does Howe and Co Franchise in the UK?

If you’ve always dreamed of becoming a business owner and you also have a deep love for the classic British dish that is fish and chips, a franchise investment with Howe and Co might be right up your street. This beloved traditional chip van business has been around since the 1930s, and you could join the Howe and Co family in 2022. Read on, and find out everything you need to know about a potential Howe and Co franchise investment.

A franchise investment has long been a popular way to start your own business without all the risks associated with going it alone, and what better industry to invest in right now than fast food? The fast food sector is booming in 2022, forecast to reach a total market size of over £20 billion this year [Statista], and there are few investment options as solid as a food truck serving classically British fish and chips.

Does Howe and Co franchise in the UK?

If you love the idea of running your own fish and chips franchise, operating a Howe and Co food truck in an exclusive operational area and providing your customers with tasty fish and chip van staples, you’ll be thrilled to learn that, yes, Howe and Co does franchise in the UK. The brand gleefully welcomes prospective franchisees, offering, in particular, an impressive package of launch support to get your Howe and Co franchise on its feet in no time.

Do you want to be your own boss? Run a successful business? Avoid the pitfalls of starting a new business venture? Why don’t you start your own Howe and Co franchise?
- Howe and Co

The history of Howe and Co

Howe and Co was first established in 1930 by William J Howe. In 1939, when war broke out, the van cab and chassis of William’s fish and chips van were commissioned and used as ambulances. In time, new cars had to be purchased (the old ones never returned), and now the brand is on its 9th generation of uniquely styled and branded food vans. In 2022, many loyal Howe and Co customers happily flock to these recognisably ‘Howe’ vans for freshly cooked, piping hot fish and chips. As a franchisee, you could provide this experience within your local community.

Howe & Co. have been serving up some of the finest fish and chips since 1930. One of our many vans can also cater for your event. Whether a party, wedding, outdoor event, sports club or business meeting we can provide quality, fun, filling food for all your guests.
- Howe and Co

Start a franchise in the fast food sector with a Howe and Co business 

If everything you’ve learned so far about this van based fast food franchise that sells loyal customers delicious fish and chips up and down the UK has you keen to invest, keep reading. The three questions answered below will equip you with all the information and knowledge you need in order to make a fully informed franchise investment with Howe and Co...

1. How do you go about starting your own Howe and Co fish and chips van? 

To find out more about Howe and Co/register your interest with the company, you should visit the franchise’s website and head to the ‘Franchise Opportunities’ tab. Note, before you do, that you don’t necessarily need previous experience with fast food/fast food trucks in order to make a career change with a fast food franchise like Howe and Co and thrive. Instead, Howe and Co is on the hunt for franchisees who:

• Have always wanted to work for themselves
• Are driven to succeed and ambitious
• Have a good work ethic
• Want to choose their “hours and rounds to maximise earning potential in [their] designated territory” [Howe and Co]

2. How much do you need to invest?

To become a Howe and Co franchisee, you’ll need to make a minimum initial investment of around £20,000. To contextualise, the average cost of an initial franchise investment was £42,200 in 2018 [British Franchise Association]. This average changes a lot based on multiple factors, such as industry of investment and associated brand name. Choosing to start your own van based franchise will often put you below the average in the world of franchising, though, as vans come with lower overheads than restaurants/offices/retail spaces. Here are a few more van based franchise investment cost examples to further place Howe and Co in the market:

• Cafe2U - In order to become a Cafe2U franchisee, you’ll need to make a minimum initial investment of £12,000, with franchise fees of £20,950 and a total investment cost of £70,900.
• Coffee Blue - In order to become a Coffee Blue franchisee, you’ll need to make a minimum initial investment of £44,995, with franchise fees of £4,995.
• Screen Rescue - In order to become a Screen Rescue franchisee, you’ll need to make a minimum initial investment of £19,750, with a total investment cost of £35,000.

3. What do you get for your investment?

In return for your investment with Howe and Co, you’ll receive everything you need in order to get up and running in just three months (which is also about the time it takes for your custom van to be created). This set-up phase includes training at HQ and a range of different support provisions, like fit-out and design of your custom Howe and Co food van, mentioned a moment ago, and access to quality food supplies and advice on running your own Howe and Co food truck business. 

The Howe & Co Fish and Chip franchise is a business designed as a start-up package to enable self-employed associates to enter the fast food market without having expensive shop fits, rents and rates that come with a stand-alone business. The initial package comes with everything you need to get up and running within as little as 12 weeks.
- Howe and Co

Howe and Co franchise opportunities are an excellent way to start running your own business 

Hopefully, you’re leaving this article with a strong sense of whether or not running a van based franchise selling fish and chips under the Howe and Co brand name appeals. If you’re interested in the lower overheads associated with a van based business but you’re not necessarily sold on starting a Howe and Co franchise, stick around on Point Franchise. Discover how to choose the van based franchise that’s right for you and browse the wide range of available van based franchise investment opportunities, in and out of the food service industry.