Ashtons Franchise Consulting
Ashtons Franchise Consulting is a UK-based franchise consulting firm founded in 1981 that provides end-to-end franchise development, recruitment, and network management services to SMEs and existing franchisors across the UK and internationally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersNorwich, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ashtons Franchise Consulting does
Ashtons Franchise Consulting (AFC) is a UK-based boutique franchise consulting firm founded in 1981, headquartered in Norwich with regional offices in Bristol, Edinburgh, Guildford, and London. The firm provides end-to-end franchise consulting services to businesses seeking to franchise their operations and to existing franchisors looking to grow or restructure their networks. Its core offerings span the full franchise lifecycle: Franchise Feasibility Study/Business Assessment Report, Franchise Development Programme (including corporate identity, IP protection, operational manuals, training, and prospectus), Franchise Recruitment Services and the FranMatch lead-handling programme, Franchise Health Check, Network Management and Franchisee Issue Resolution, Training to Improve Network Engagement, Network Performance Improvement, Manual Review and Update, and International Franchising (including master franchise acquisition). Legal franchise agreement services are delivered through a core partnership with Ashtons Legal.
AFC operates a sales-led B2B go-to-market, generating leads via free 'How to Franchise' seminars and masterclasses, online enquiry forms, phone outreach, and presence at UK franchise exhibitions such as the National Franchise Exhibition and British & International Franchise Exhibition. Revenue comes from professional services fees tailored to the scope of each engagement, with no publicly disclosed pricing. The firm is a British Franchise Association affiliate and has supported 'hundreds of franchise businesses' across sectors including Healthcare/Wellness, Fitness, Food & Beverage, Education, and Cleaning Services. Client engagements are project-based and finite, with named clients including Get A Drip, Fitter Body Bootcamp, Cheat Meals, Boost Education, and My Window Cleaner (the last winning BFA Best Emerging Franchisor 2020). The firm has no disclosed funding, no parent company, and operates with a headcount of 1-10, relying on four named consultants with deep practical franchising experience.
Ashtons Franchise Consulting firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ashtons Franchise Consulting
- Legal name
- Ashtons Franchise Consulting
- Website
- https://ashtonsfranchise.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Ashtons Franchise Consulting is a UK-based franchise consulting firm founded in 1981 that provides end-to-end franchise development, recruitment, and network management services to SMEs and existing franchisors across the UK and internationally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ashtons Franchise Consulting industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Franchise Consulting Services
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Strategy Advisory (BPAHADAA)
Keywords
Where Ashtons Franchise Consulting is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Norwich
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Ashtons Franchise Consulting business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Franchise Consulting Services: Professional consulting fees for franchise feasibility studies, development programs, recruitment services, and ongoing support for franchisors. Services are tailored to individual business needs with pricing based on scope of engagement.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Ashtons Franchise Consulting product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ashtons Franchise Consulting (AFC) provides professional franchise consulting services to businesses seeking to franchise their operations and to existing franchisors looking to grow or improve their networks. Services span the full franchise lifecycle including feasibility studies, franchise development programmes, operations manual writing, franchisee recruitment, network management and health checks, training, performance improvement, and international expansion support.
Product overview
Ashtons Franchise Consulting (AFC) is a franchise development specialist offering a comprehensive suite of consulting services to businesses looking to franchise and existing franchisors seeking to grow or improve their networks. The company operates as a single integrated service offering rather than a software platform. Services span the entire franchise lifecycle: initial feasibility assessment and business planning (Franchise Feasibility Study/Business Assessment Report), franchise development and infrastructure setup (Franchise Development Programme, Operations Manuals), recruitment (Franchise Recruitment Services, FranMatch programme), ongoing network management (Franchise Health Check, Network Management, Training Services, Performance Improvement), and international expansion. The company also provides legal agreement services through its partnership with Ashtons Legal, and offers free educational masterclasses. AFC has been operating since 1981 and supports franchisors across the UK and internationally through offices in Norwich, Bristol, Edinburgh, Guildford, and London.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Franchise Feasibility Study / Business Assessment Report
Companies that use Ashtons Franchise Consulting
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ashtons Franchise Consulting technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ashtons Franchise Consulting partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- DoughnottsminorDoughnut maker Doughnotts formalized a partnership with Ashtons Franchise Consulting as part of a six-figure loan from Midlands Engine Investment Fund II to develop their franchise model. Ashtons is providing franchise development expertise to formalize the partnership.
- Ashtons LegalcoreAshtons Franchise Consulting is partnered with Ashtons Legal to provide franchise agreements. This partnership ensures legal protection for brands, consistency across franchise locations, and safeguarding of intellectual property.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ashtons Franchise Consulting competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Peach Franchising: UK franchise consultancy providing end-to-end franchise development, recruitment, and network support services, competing head-to-head with AFC in the same SME franchise advisory niche.
- The Franchising Centre: Boutique UK franchise consultancy offering feasibility studies, franchise development, and ongoing support for franchisors — direct competitor in the same sub-segment.
- Loxwood Franchise Consultancy: UK-based franchise development consultancy offering feasibility, manuals, recruitment, and international expansion services — directly comparable niche specialist targeting UK SMEs looking to franchise.
- Macdonald Associates: UK firm specialising in franchise recruitment and development support, overlapping with AFC's FranMatch franchisee-recruitment and recruitment-programme offerings.
- Chatterton & Co: Franchise consultancy and brokerage offering franchise-resale, development, and recruitment services across the UK franchise market.
- Business Franchise Centre: UK-based franchise advisory firm providing consultancy and brokerage services to prospective franchisors and franchisees.
Others
- Ashtons Legal: Partner law firm delivering franchise agreement, IP, and commercial-law services to AFC's clients — ecosystem counterparty rather than competitor, but the closest adjacent service line.
- British Franchise Association: UK industry body whose affiliate and accreditation status is leveraged by AFC; not a direct competitor but a critical ecosystem participant shaping buyer expectations.
Broad incumbents
- FranChoice: Large established US franchise-consulting network offering franchisee-matching and advisory at scale; relevant as a broader incumbent in the same franchise-advisory category.
Emerging players
- Franchise Resales Ltd: UK franchise-resale marketplace with adjacent consulting support; partial overlap with AFC's franchise-selection advisory work for prospective franchisees.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ashtons Franchise Consulting social profiles
Digital presenceAshtons Franchise Consulting financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ashtons Franchise Consulting leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Ashtons Franchise Consulting funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ashtons Franchise Consulting M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ashtons Franchise Consulting
What does Ashtons Franchise Consulting do?
Ashtons Franchise Consulting (AFC) provides professional franchise consulting services to businesses seeking to franchise their operations and to existing franchisors looking to grow or improve their networks. Services span the full franchise lifecycle including feasibility studies, franchise development programmes, operations manual writing, franchisee recruitment, network management and health checks, training, performance improvement, and international expansion support.
Is Ashtons Franchise Consulting a public or private company?
Ashtons Franchise Consulting is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Ashtons Franchise Consulting founded?
Ashtons Franchise Consulting was founded in 1981. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ashtons Franchise Consulting based?
Ashtons Franchise Consulting is headquartered in Norwich, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Ashtons Franchise Consulting make money?
One revenue line is on record: franchise Consulting Services.
Who are Ashtons Franchise Consulting's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Peach Franchising, The Franchising Centre, Loxwood Franchise Consultancy, Macdonald Associates, Chatterton & Co and Business Franchise Centre. Others are Ashtons Legal and British Franchise Association. FranChoice is listed as a broad incumbent. Franchise Resales Ltd is listed as an emerging player.
Does Ashtons Franchise Consulting have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ashtons Franchise Consulting.
What industry is Ashtons Franchise Consulting in?
Ashtons Franchise Consulting's product category is Franchise Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHADAA, Corporate Strategy Advisory. Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.