Comparison
Orbit vs BSM
BSM (British School of Motoring) is one of the UK's oldest driving school brands. But BSM's own franchise page lists £201/week plus a £180 joining fee - over £10,400 a year on a 24-month contract. Instructors manage their diary through Hubcapp, the AA-operated app used across AA and BSM franchises. Here's how going independent with Orbit compares.
At a glance
Free for instructors, no franchise contract
BSM's advertised franchise fee is £201 a week plus a £180 joining fee on a 24-month contract (bsm.co.uk, July 2026). Orbit is free for driving instructors: no subscription, no contract, no card needed.
Choose your own car
No mandatory BSM-branded vehicle. Drive what suits you, negotiate your own lease or buy outright, and choose your own insurance provider.
Build your own brand
BSM owns the brand - you're building their reputation, not yours. Go independent and every recommendation, every review, and every referral builds YOUR business.
No contract lock-in
BSM franchise agreements typically run 1-2 years. Orbit has no contract and no minimum commitment.
HMRC Making Tax Digital built in
Orbit totals your lesson income and expenses into your quarterly Making Tax Digital updates, built on HMRC's MTD for Income Tax API. Live submissions open once HMRC approves Orbit.
Total control of your business
Set your own rates, choose your hours, take holidays when you want. No franchise rules about minimum hours or pricing.
26 features compared, side by side
Based on publicly available information as of March 2026.
Information sourced from public websites. We update this page regularly but cannot guarantee third-party accuracy.
Pricing at a glance
Freefor instructors
No subscription, no trial, no card needed. Every feature included.
- Free for instructors, no card needed
- Full diary & booking management
- Pay-at-booking & cancellation fees
- Making Tax Digital records (HMRC approval in progress)
- AI lesson debriefs
- Marketplace pupil acquisition
- Business health dashboard
- Your own Stripe merchant account
BSM
£201/week
Advertised franchise fee plus £180 joining fee (bsm.co.uk, July 2026). Car & insurance included; fuel is not.
- Branded BSM car provided
- BSM uniform and materials
- Initial ADI training included
- Pupil supply through BSM brand
- BSM brand recognition (est. 1910)
- Part of AA plc group
- 24-month contract term
- No tax or financial tools
Which should you choose?
Choose Orbit if
- You want to keep £10,400+ per year in franchise fees
- You want to build a business under your own name
- You want to choose your own car and insurance
- You want total control over rates, hours, and holidays
- You want Making Tax Digital records built into your diary app
- You want pay-at-booking so pupils pay upfront
- You don't want a long-term contract commitment
- You want a marketplace that brings pupils on your terms
Choose BSM if
- You're newly qualified and want everything provided from day one
- You value the BSM brand name - one of the UK's oldest driving schools (est. 1910)
- You prefer not to arrange your own car, insurance, and branding
- You want guaranteed initial pupil supply while building experience
- You'd rather pay a single weekly fee that covers everything
Frequently asked questions
How much does a BSM franchise cost?
BSM's own franchise page lists the Partner package from £201 per week on a 24-month contract, plus a £180 admin fee and £170 deposit (bsm.co.uk, August 2026) - over £10,400 a year before fuel. The fee includes a branded dual-control car with insurance and maintenance, pupil introduction at no extra fee, and the pupil and diary management app.
What is the BSM Solo franchise and how much does it cost?
BSM Solo is the car-only option: from £181 per week on a 24-month contract, plus the same £180 admin fee and £170 deposit (bsm.co.uk, August 2026). You get a maintained, insured dual-control car with breakdown cover - but no pupil supply, no BSM branding, no professional indemnity and no diary app. You find your own pupils and run your own diary.
What is the difference between BSM Partner and BSM Solo?
Partner (from £201/week) includes pupil introduction, BSM-branded livery, professional indemnity, customer service support and the pupil and diary management app. Solo (from £181/week) is essentially a dual-control car lease - vehicle, insurance, maintenance and breakdown cover only. Both run on 24-month contracts with a 12-week notice period before the end of term.
Is a BSM franchise worth it compared with going independent?
At £201 a week the Partner franchise costs over £10,400 a year regardless of how many lessons you teach. Independent instructors pay for their own car and insurance but keep the rest, using software like Orbit (free for instructors) for diary, bookings, payments and tax. Once you have a full diary and local reputation, the maths usually favours independence.
How do I leave a BSM franchise?
BSM contracts run for 24 months with notice due 12 weeks before the end of term (bsm.co.uk, August 2026), so check your agreement for your term end date and car return terms first. Give written notice, then use the notice period to line up your own car, insurance and booking system. Most instructors complete the switch within their notice period without losing pupils.
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