Starting a franchise in Ipswich

According to research by the government backed Start Up Loans Company, six out of ten adults in the UK dream of starting their own business - looking for flexibility and better work life balance. So, franchising, with proven business structures, lower failure rate and ongoing support, could be the ideal option.

Ipswich franchise opportunities


Why choose Ipswich to run your franchise operation?

Ipswich was named the best location to start a small business in the UK, according to new research compiled by the advice and guidance website, Informi.

Ipswich is situated in a prime location, close to the A14 and the A12; it also a stop on the Great Eastern Main Line from London to Norwich, with London only 70 minutes away. The town is easily accessible from most areas in East Anglia, as well as being relatively close to the capital. Ipswich is the fourth-largest urban area in the East of England region and the 38th largest urban area in England and Wales. The entrepreneurial benefits of being situated in a prime location are obvious, particularly in terms of convenience for your clients or customers.

Are there suitable areas to run my franchise opportunity?

Ipswich is a fantastic franchise territory as it hosts several business parks and shopping districts capable of hosting a vast array of franchise operations from. 

These include within Ipswich;

  • Buttermarket Shopping Centre - The Buttermarket is a four-level, £65 million shopping mall, located in the middle of Ipswich. The Buttermarket was opened in October 1992, comprising 270,000 square feet over four levels. There is also a 430 space underground car park
  • Sailmakers Shopping Centre - Sailmakers Shopping Centre is a small multi-story mall. Opened in November 1986
  • Ipswich Market - Ipswich has had a town centre Farmers Market for over 700 years, with the first market on the Cornhill, trading from 1986
  • Food Quarter Market - Started in 2017 Giles Circus and Queens Street is now home to a vibrant group of street food vendors with exciting and delicious flavours
  • Claydon Business Park, Adastral Park, Innovation Martlesham - Are just some of the many business parks offering flexible and professional office space for you and your businesses

Ipswich's retail offering is changing and developing rapidly. Exploring its many attractive streets will reward you with some retail gems, from beautiful blooms to scented candles, womenswear to Italian menswear, painted furniture to original art. 

Ipswich has a population just over 133,000 but if you add in the surrounding areas the population is just under 180,000. Ipswich is enjoying a boom in tourism with more than 3.5 million people taking trips to Suffolk’s county town last year alone, and with annual tourism rises of 2% for the last 2 years, there is no signs of slowing down.

Ipswich’s MP Sandy Martin said, “The fact Ipswich now feels more attractive will make it more likely for businesses to come here. If people are thinking of starting a business they want somewhere they will have space to start, that is affordable but also somewhere that feels attractive.”

Will I receive any support through franchising in Ipswich?

Naturally you will receive franchise support and training from your franchisor, there is an added benefit of choosing Ipswich as your franchise territory. 

There are several local business networks and organisations looking to help businesses achieve success:

  • Suffolk Chamber of Commerce: Offers “small grants” to local businesses to assist with the start-up process. Additionally — with the help of Ipswich Borough Council — retail start-ups with a town centre ‘test trader’ shop are available to potential entrepreneurs who want to trial their business plan for six weeks at minimal cost.
  • IP City Centre Business Innovation Centre: offers start-up businesses small serviced office suites with shared meeting and conference facilities or, as an alternative, virtual office hosting.
  • Ipswich and Suffolk Small Business Association: provides a forum for small businesses to guide and support each other. ISSBA also regularly holds meetings, events and exhibitions.