Free tool
Franchise vs independent calculator
Compare a weekly franchise fee against going it alone.
A franchise takes a fixed weekly fee and usually finds you pupils. Independent means no fee, but you cover the car, insurance and advertising yourself. Enter your numbers to see which leaves you better off — and what the franchise fee costs as a share of your lesson income.
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The franchise fee is — of your lesson income.
- Franchise fee, per year
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- Independent costs, per year
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- Difference
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- Lesson income, per year
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How this is worked out
Franchise fee per year = weekly fee × 52. Most franchises charge every week, holidays included.
Independent costs per year = the sum of the weekly costs you’d take on × 52 — the car, insurance, advertising and anything else the franchise currently covers.
Difference is franchise minus independent. A positive number is what the franchise costs you above running alone — the price you pay for the pupils and support it provides.
Franchise fee as a share of income = annual fee ÷ (lessons per week × working weeks × average fee).
Extra lessons to break even = the difference ÷ (average fee × working weeks) — how much more work a week the franchise must supply to be worth the extra cost.
Common questions
- Should I include fuel in the independent costs?
- No. You pay for fuel either way, so it does not change the franchise-versus-independent decision. Only enter costs the franchise currently covers that you would have to pay yourself — typically the car, insurance and advertising.
- What does “extra lessons to break even” mean?
- If the franchise costs more per year than running independently, it only pays off if it brings you more work than you would find yourself. That figure is how many extra lessons a week the franchise needs to supply just to cover the difference.
- Does the franchise fee include diary software?
- Some do, some do not — check. Lesson Diary is a flat £9.99 a month whether you are on a franchise or independent, and it never takes a percentage of your lesson money.
Estimate only. Franchise terms vary widely — some include the car, insurance, a website or software, some don’t. Check exactly what your fee covers before comparing.
Do the maths once a year, not every lesson
Lesson Diary keeps your lesson income and expenses logged all year and exports them ready for your Self Assessment. It never takes a cut of your lesson money — a flat £9.99 a month, free for 7 days.