real5 Networking

What real5 Networking does

real5 Networking is a UK-based private business networking organization that operates a franchise network of 21 local groups across multiple English regions, including Warrington, Liverpool, Manchester, Bolton, Bristol & Bath, and others. Its core service connects business owners and entrepreneurs through monthly in-person meetings combined with online engagement, with a referral-based profit-sharing system in which members generate business for one another while protected by single-category exclusivity (one business per industry per group). The technology surface is deliberately light: a website-based members portal for managing referrals and communications, a Circular Benefits app offering retail discounts, and Eventbrite for event ticketing. There is no disclosed AI capability, no proprietary platform IP, and no patents or trademarks on file.

The business model has two revenue streams. The first is consumer-side: members pay £495+VAT annually plus £32.99+VAT per month in meeting fees (≈£891/year per member), with the option to split membership across three payments and a 25% pre-launch discount. The second is operator-side: the company sells franchises at a £5,995+VAT initial fee, with franchisees able to own multiple territories and earn recurring profit through membership growth in their groups. Franchising is the primary go-to-market motion, supplemented by direct website sales, word-of-mouth referrals, content marketing via the company blog, and event-based marketing through Eventbrite. Approximately 200 members are currently active across 15 active groups, with named member-customer logos drawn from insurance, HR consultancy, energy, and health and safety verticals, all at the SMB level.

real5 Networking was founded in 2015 by Andrew Hibbert, who remains Managing Director and Warrington Central Director. The central team includes Emma Clarke (Group Support) and Ethan Hibbert (Commercial Assistant), with regional leadership held by figures such as Ste Waygood and Christopher Murray (Bolton Group Directors). The company has no disclosed institutional investors, no funding rounds, and no parent entity, indicating a bootstrapped operating profile. Charitable activity is a notable brand pillar: in 2024 the network raised over £70,000 for charities including DKMS, the Firefighters Charity, Halton Haven Hospice, and Cash for Kids, with named partnerships such as Bolton Wanderers FC used to reinforce local community positioning. The strategic position is that of a small, founder-led, organically scaled UK networking franchise with a defensible category-exclusivity model but limited technology differentiation.

Name

real5 Networking

Legal name

real5 Networking

Website

https://real5networking.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

real5 Networking is a UK private business networking organization operating 21 franchise-based local groups across England, serving SMB owners and entrepreneurs through monthly in-person meetings, a referral profit-sharing system, and single-category exclusivity within each group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Networking Services

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional & Business Networking Communities (MPACAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Professional & Business Services Marketplaces (Freelancers, SMB Services) (BPAMAHAG)

Keywords

• Business networking groups
• Referral networking
• Networking franchise
• Membership networking
• Referral profit sharing

Headquarters

HQ city

Warrington

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Franchise Fees: Initial franchise fee of £3000 plus £2995 from initial seat sales, totaling £5995 plus VAT. Franchisees earn recurring profit through membership growth.
2. Annual Membership: Members pay £495+VAT annually with flexible payment plan split across three payments, plus £32.99+VAT per month meeting fee taken via direct debit
3. Referral Profit Sharing: Members share a small percentage of profits for successful referrals, generating passive income for the business owner

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

real5 Networking operates a UK-wide business networking franchise built around local in-person groups that meet monthly. Members pay an annual subscription plus a monthly meeting fee to participate in a referral profit-sharing system, where businesses within the same group share referrals and split a small percentage of resulting profits. A franchise opportunity allows individuals to own and run their own local real5 Networking group under the brand.

Product overview

Real5 Networking operates as a single unified product: a business networking franchise and membership platform. The core offering consists of local networking groups across 21 UK locations, where members pay an annual fee (£495+VAT) plus monthly meeting fees (£32.99+VAT) to participate in referral-based networking events. The platform includes an associated franchise opportunity for entrepreneurs to launch their own local groups, and members receive access to the Circular Benefits app for retail discounts and savings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• real5 Networking Membership Annual membership to the real5 Networking collaborative business networking platform. Members pay £495+VAT annually plus a £32.99+VAT monthly meeting fee, attend monthly in-person meetings, share referrals with other members via the Members Portal, and earn a small percentage of profits from successful referrals. Category exclusivity (one business per industry per group) is included.
• real5 Networking Franchise

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £70,000 raised for charities in 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bolton Wanderers FCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2024real5 Networking Bolton partnered with Bolton Wanderers FC. Managing Director Andy Hibbert invited BWFC to be part of the newest group. Partnership aligns with real5's core value of partnering with local sports clubs.
• Firefighters CharityminorOthers · 10 October 2024Firefighters Charity chosen as Bolton group's charity partner, close to Group Director Ste Waygood's heart. Charity helps injured firefighters and those suffering from physical or mental ailments.
• Halton Haven HospiceminorOthersMersey Gateway group's chosen charity. Matt Kehoe organized Charity Golf Day raising significant funds for the hospice.
• Bar Hutte WarringtonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBar Hutte offers 20% discount on karaoke hutte bookings to real5 members (excluding Saturdays), demonstrating member benefits program partnerships.
• DKMS (Bone Marrow Register)minorOthersOver 70 new potential lifesavers joined the DKMS register through real5 networking community efforts in 2024.
• Hits Radio Cash for KidsminorOthersKnutsford and Manchester groups raised £13,266.30 for Cash for Kids from various fundraising activities including Survive The Wild, Glitter Ball, 10K Run, Fire & Ice Walk, and Charity Golf Day.
• Warrington & Halton Hospital CharityminorOthersAnnual Charity Football Tournament raised £1,685 for the hospital charity. Supporting additional equipment and refurbishments beyond NHS provision.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• 4Networking: 4Networking operates informal breakfast and lunchtime business networking meetings across the UK, targeting SMB owners and professionals with a similar paid-membership, face-to-face GTM motion to real5.
• Business Networking International (UK variants): BNI's UK chapter operates the dominant UK franchise of structured business referral groups and is the head-to-head competitor for members and franchisees in the same geographies as real5.
• BNI (Business Network International): BNI is the largest and most established structured business referral networking organisation globally, operating weekly in-person groups with strict one-category-per-group exclusivity and a referral-tracking culture very similar to real5's model.
• Beacon Networking: Beacon runs structured referral-driven local business networks in the UK with category exclusivity and weekly meetings, competing directly for the same SMB founder and freelancer member base.
• Networking in Business: A UK membership-based business networking organisation running paid group meetings with referral focuses, directly comparable to real5's monthly groups.

Emerging players

• LinkedIn Local: LinkedIn Local and similar online/offline hybrid networking meetups represent emerging alternatives to traditional paid groups like real5, especially for SMBs seeking lower-cost referrals.
• YENA (Young Entrepreneurs Network Association): YENA is an emerging UK-based paid business networking community targeting founders and SMBs with monthly events and member benefits, overlapping with real5's younger entrepreneur segment.

Broad incumbents

• Local Chambers of Commerce: British Chambers of Commerce is the broader incumbent local-business membership network in the UK, offering broader but less referral-focused networking and business support to SMBs.
• Federation of Small Businesses (FSB): FSB is the UK-wide SMB membership body providing networking, advice and representation; it is broader than real5 but competes for the same SMB member wallet share.

Others

• Eventbrite (for B2B networking events): Eventbrite is a key infrastructure partner (real5 lists events there) and a competing discovery channel where SMBs can find alternative paid and free networking groups.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/real5networking
• Facebookfacebook.com/real5networking
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/real5networking

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about real5 Networking