Become a Franchisee

Join Europes biggest network of hydraulic solutions and on-site repairs providers

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30+ Years of Success

Established in the UK in 1988 and specialising in hydraulic hoses, pipe fittings & couplings, Pirtek has grown to become the number one provider of fluid transfer solutions and on-site repairs in Europe. With over 170 centres and over 700 mobile workshops across the UK, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Sweden, Pirtek offers a rapid response hose service, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Anytime. Anywhere. ETA – one hour.

£75 - 100k

Minimum capital required

£275 - 380k

Typical purchase

£375k-£2m

Typical annual retail sales

A recession-proof business model

Pirtek plays a vital role in supporting numerous productive sectors, many of which tend to be particularly resilient in times of crisis. These include essential services, infrastructure, constructions, farming, military, manufacturing, and more. This ensures that even in the most difficult times (such as the recent Covid-19 pandemic) our franchisees don’t suffer from the same pressure as most other businesses.

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What we look for at Pirtek

Pirtek is a franchise network. All franchisees manage a centre that is open to the public, as well as a team of mobile hydraulics engineers providing emergency repairs services 24/7, 365 days per year. It is an environment where hard work and commitment from the franchisee and the supporting network can achieve very rewarding results.

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Industry leading training

At Pirtek we pride ourselves on providing the highest standards of training and development available in the industry. A good percentage of this country’s hydraulic technicians have come out of our training facilities in Birmingham, where we cover all facets of the business, from engineering to business management.

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We Will Train You In:

  • Hydraulic Systems
  • Hydraulic Safety
  • Centre Management
  • On-site Management Training
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Start your Pirtek journey today

Are you Interested or want to know more?

Download our prospectus for more information, or arrange an initial chat with one of our experts.

FAQs

How long have Pirtek been in franchising?

Pirtek entered the UK in 1988, opened the first Hose Centre in 1990 and expanded into the Republic of Ireland shortly after. The first franchise started in 1992. Our Network extends across Europe into Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Sweden.

Is Pirtek a member of the British Franchising Association?

Yes, Pirtek is a full member of the BFA.

How many franchise businesses are now operational?

There are circa 85 established franchise centres throughout the UK and Ireland.

What support services do you have for the franchisee?

We have a team of Area Operations Managers that support the franchisees on all operational issues. Our training department also provides field support and Health & safety Training.

Does Pirtek have any 'green field' opportunities or only resales?

There are no green field opportunities. All Pirtek franchise sales are resales across the UK and Ireland Network.

How do you select franchisees?

Selection is very much a two-way process with the prospective franchisee selecting Pirtek and Pirtek selecting the franchisee. All prospective franchisees will go through a series of interviews, assessments and profiling to show that they have the required skills, experience and aptitude to run a Pirtek operation.

How much does a Pirtek franchise cost and what does this include?

This will vary depending upon the size of the franchise being acquired and whether equipment such as vans are owned or rented. Cost is likely to be between £200,000 and £500,000.

How much working capital is needed?

This will depend on the size of the business, but you need to base calculations on the business having debtor days of between 50 and 60 days. As part of the business plan you will need to generate detailed and realistic financial projections that will show how much working capital is required.

What financing arrangements are available?

Typically, a Bank will lend up to 70% of the total funding requirement with the franchisee needing to raise the remaining 30%.

What fees do your charge?

Please refer to the draft franchise agreement.

What training do you provide?

All new franchisees will have a customised training programme depending upon experience and skills. We have a dedicated training centre where every Pirtek employee attends the Induction Programme which is City & Guilds accredited. Technical personnel are thoroughly trained on selecting and assembling hoses. There is a very strong emphasis on health & safety. We also place great emphasis on training Centre Managers and that programme is also City & Guilds accredited.

How many staff does a typical franchise employ?

A typical franchisee will consist of; Franchisee principal, Centre Manager, four to six mobile technicians, one back office support person and a Trade Counter assistant. More and more franchisees are bringing on apprentices who can learn the business from the ground up before qualifying to become a mobile technician.

Do I have exclusive rights to the franchise territory?

As is typical with many franchises you do not have exclusive rights to your territory although each territory has been carefully drawn to avoid any overlap. If a franchisee is unable to service customers Pirtek UK reserves the right for another franchisee or a Pirtek UK direct employee to service the customer.

What support does Pirtek offer should I get into financial difficulty?

Pirtek will work with you from the very beginning to help guide you to financial stability. Should any franchisee get into financial difficulty for one reason or another we ask that they contact Pirtek UK as soon as possible so we can work with them to help find a resolution. The sooner you tell Pirtek UK the quicker we will be able to assist.

Do I need relevant experience?

Not necessarily. We have successful franchisees that have come from a wide variety of backgrounds. We are ideally looking for an individual with a business background, that has maybe run their own successful business, or has complimentary skills from a management or leadership background or is equipped with Technical skills from a similar hydraulics, engineering, or other associated industry sectors.