Franchise vs Independent

Driving Instructor Franchise
vs Going Independent

Franchise fees of £150-250/week add up to £8,000-13,000 a year. Here's what you get - and what you give up - with the franchise model vs going independent with Orbit.

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£10,000-13,000

Estimated annual franchise fee (£200-250/week)

£0

Orbit: free for instructors

No contract

No subscription, no card needed

Estimates based on publicly available franchise fee ranges. Actual costs vary by franchise, region, and individual contract terms. Independent costs exclude car lease and insurance which you arrange separately.

Franchise model vs independent with Orbit

What you get and what you give up with each approach.

Feature
Franchise
Independent
Monthly cost
£650-1,080/mo
£0/mo
Your own brand
Choose your car
Set your own rates
Full holiday flexibility
No contract lock-in
Car & insurance provided
Guaranteed initial pupils
Making Tax Digital records
With Orbit
Pay-at-booking
With Orbit

Franchise fee comparison

Weekly fees for the major UK driving school franchises - AA and BSM from their published price lists, the rest estimated.

AA Driving School

Branded car, insurance, uniform, pupil supply

~£181-201/week

~£9,400-10,450/year

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BSM

Branded car, insurance, uniform, pupil supply

~£181-201/week

~£9,400-10,450/year

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RED Driving School

Branded car, training, pupil supply

~£150-200/week

~£7,800-10,400/year

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Bill Plant

Branded car, pupil supply, national advertising

~£200-250/week

~£10,400-13,000/year

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DriveJohnsons

Car with insurance, pupil supply, training

~£150-200/week

~£7,800-10,400/year

Compare

Orbit (Independent)

Full diary management, payments, tax records, marketplace, AI debriefs

£0/mo

Free for instructors

Get started free

Franchise fees are estimates based on publicly available information and may vary by region, contract terms, and individual agreements.

Why instructors leave franchises

The franchise model works well for some. But for many experienced ADIs, the costs outweigh the benefits.

The maths don't add up

At £200/week, you're paying ~£10,400/year before you earn a penny. A car lease and insurance cost a fraction of that, and Orbit is free.

You're building someone else's brand

Every 5-star review, every word-of-mouth recommendation grows the franchise brand - not yours. When you leave, that reputation stays behind.

No freedom over your business

Franchise dictates your car, your branding, often your pricing, and sometimes your hours. Going independent means running your business your way.

Contract lock-in

Long contracts with lengthy notice periods keep you tied in even when you want to leave. Orbit has no contracts - stay because it works.

Pupil supply decreases over time

Franchises front-load pupil supply to justify the fees. As you build your own reputation, you're paying franchise prices for pupils you'd get anyway.

Tax is still on you

Franchise fees don't do your books. As a self-employed instructor you keep your own records and, over the threshold, send Making Tax Digital updates. Orbit keeps those records for you, free.

When a franchise might make sense

You're newly qualified

If you've just passed Part 3 and don't have a dual-control car, insurance, or any pupils, a franchise provides everything in one package. It gets you earning from day one.

You don't want to manage a business

Some instructors prefer to just teach and let the franchise handle the business side. If running your own brand, sourcing your car, and finding pupils sounds stressful, a franchise simplifies things.

You need the brand in your area

In some areas, the franchise brand genuinely generates more pupil enquiries than an independent can. This advantage typically decreases as you build your own reputation.

Further reading

Franchise Cost Calculator

Enter your franchise fee and see the real annual cost vs going independent

Franchise vs Independent: The Full Breakdown

In-depth guide covering costs, pros, cons, and when to make the switch

Hidden Costs of a Driving School Franchise

Beyond the weekly fee: costs franchises don't tell you about upfront

How to Leave a Driving Instructor Franchise

Step-by-step guide to checking your contract, serving notice, and transitioning

Frequently asked questions

How much does a driving instructor franchise cost?
Most UK driving instructor franchises charge between £150-250 per week, which works out to approximately £7,800-13,000 per year. This typically includes a branded car, insurance, and pupil supply. The exact cost varies by franchise and region.
What is included in a driving school franchise fee?
Franchise fees typically cover a branded car lease, car insurance, uniform, some marketing/advertising, and pupil supply through the franchise's website and call centre. Some also include initial ADI training. You generally cannot use your own car or branding.
Is it better to be an independent driving instructor or join a franchise?
It depends on your situation. Franchises provide a car, brand, and pupils from day one - which helps newly qualified ADIs who haven't built a reputation yet. However, franchise fees of £150-250 a week are a significant fixed cost that never goes away, and most franchise contracts run for 12-24 months with cancellation terms. Experienced instructors who already have pupils often prefer going independent with software like Orbit (free for instructors) — no weekly franchise fee, no long-term contract, and you choose your own car and insurance.
What are the main differences between a franchise and going independent?
A franchise bundles a branded car, a weekly fee, a multi-year contract, some pupil supply, and basic software into one package. Going independent with Orbit replaces the software and pupil marketplace side with a free platform: no subscription, no contract. You arrange your own car, your own insurance, and your own brand. The trade-off is control and flexibility vs having everything handled for you.
How do I get pupils as an independent driving instructor?
Independent instructors find pupils through word of mouth, their own website, social media, Google Business Profile, and instructor directories. Orbit includes an instructor marketplace where learners search by postcode and book directly. Many ex-franchise instructors find their existing pupils follow them when they go independent.
Can I leave my driving school franchise?
Yes, but check your contract first. Most franchise agreements have a minimum term (typically 1-2 years) and require written notice (usually 3-6 months). Once your notice period is served, you're free to go independent. Plan ahead by setting up Orbit during your notice period.
What software do independent driving instructors use?
Independent driving instructors use diary management software like Orbit to handle bookings, payments, pupil progress tracking, and tax records. Orbit is free for instructors and includes Making Tax Digital records built on HMRC's API (live submissions open once HMRC approves Orbit), pay-at-booking, AI lesson debriefs, and an instructor marketplace.
Do I need to provide my own car as an independent instructor?
Yes. Independent instructors arrange their own dual-control car and ADI insurance. While this is an additional cost, many instructors find the total cost is still significantly less than a franchise fee, and they get to choose their preferred vehicle.

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