Ever venture tells a story
the venture story
Venture is widely recognised as the market leader and the only nationally represented brand within the premium portrait market. Our 90 UK studios provide a truly unique service to our customers and our business model delivers great returns. Venture is quite possibly one of the best franchise opportunities in the market today
in the beginning
Brian Glover-Smith, our founder and CEO, began his career as a photographer in 1976. During that time he gained many professional accolades, including national and international photography awards. Disillusioned with traditional portrait photography he decided to revolutionise the sector. Together with a team of like-minded individuals he launched Venture and transformed ordinary family portraiture into an art form.
a nationwide franchise
From the first pioneering, gallery-style studio that opened in 2000, we’ve achieved our ambition to become a global leader in the contemporary portrait photography market. We now have nearly 100 studios across the UK, as well as several in Ireland, Hong Kong and the USA; a success story that continues to grow and grow.
our brand
There are many independent portrait studios around the country so why wouldn’t you follow their lead and open one yourself? The strength of the Venture brand sets us apart from the rest. As a Venture franchisee you would benefit from a brand that has been built over a number of years and continues to be recognised by more and more people. Venture is now the ‘first choice’ portrait brand recognised by nearly 40% of our target population.
Our brand is much more than just the sign over our door. It represents our entire approach to our business and our customers, our values and our beliefs about our organisation and remains one of the key differentiators between Venture and the rest of the market.
Over 6 years of trading Venture has established itself as the prominent and pre-eminent high street brand within the portraiture market. Global expansion is currently underway with studios now trading in Hong Kong and the USA.
Venture has not just changed consumer perceptions of what a family portrait should be, it has also totally changed the economics of studio ownership.
Training and Support
Franchising is a partnership – both parties contribute to the overall success of the business. Here’s our side of the partnership:
Full support service throughout the process of acquiring or opening a venture franchise
We will initially meet you to discuss our organisation and allow both parties to better understand each other.
We will then invite you to join us for half a day at our head Office. You will see first hand the franchise support functions and we will spend time to build a strong and successful working relationship.
After completing this stage, one of our commercial managers will support you throughout the process of purchasing or opening.
initial induction training
You’re probably already experienced in business, perhaps even within the photography industry. We will however, assume nothing and you will be taken through an 8-10 week training programme that will compliment the skills and knowledge that you already have. The training will predominantly be field based in one or more of our studios and will cover amongst other things:
- Venture photographic experience
- Sales
- Customer contact
- Generating customer leads
- Studio operations
ongoing training & support
All Venture photographers are required to be qualified internally by achieving the Venture Diploma in Photography. This bespoke programme ensures that all of our photographers, whatever their backgrounds, are able to provide a first class customer experience and great Venture photography every time.
The Venture Certificate in Studio Management is a modular programme that our General Managers and franchisees go through. Digital training is centrally provided and our training team provide many other opportunities to learn and develop.
business support
Our field support team visit all our studios regularly. Through them, a studio receives business management and planning assistance, training and development input, lead generation and field sales support as well as the opportunity to simply talk to someone about challenges that are faced by all owners of small businesses.
product development
Our scale allows us to be at the forefront of product development within the industry. Venture's product range is absolutely unique. We lead and others follow…literally.
brand development
We already have the biggest and the most nationally recognised brand within the portrait industry. Our vision is to have a global brand that is recognised as the world leader in its field. The investment in our brand supports all members of the Venture Franchise by providing them with a unique and powerful identity which differentiates them from other portrait studios.
supply of products
You focus on running your business. We take care of developing and then manufacturing and supplying all of the finished products to you as you sell them. Our unique production facility is a ‘one stop shop’ and only supplies Venture studios.
the investment
Whether buying an existing franchise or opening a new one in the UK, you need to be sure that you have adequate financial resources to acquire and open the studio and then have some working capital to cover the first few weeks of opening and the odd ‘rainy day’.
The Initial Franchise Fee for a Venture Franchise is £20,000. This would include all of your initial training and the support throughout the purchase or opening of your business.
The actual purchase price of a business or cost to open a new studio will vary according to the business and the area concerned.
The purchase figures below are indicative; once we are at the point of discussing specific opportunities with you, you should seek professional advice.
Initial Franchise fee - £20,000
Purchase of an existing studio - from £100,000
We have strong relationships with major lending institutions that would be able to support you with the acquisition price and initial working capital requirements, subject to their normal lending criteria.
our ideal partner in the UK
We are looking for enthusiastic and talented people who certainly have a good appreciation of the art of photography but also possess great people skills, a healthy dose of business acumen and a desire to succeed in their own business.
Our ideal franchise partner will possess many of the following qualities:
- Have a strong interest in photography and a desire to move from “interest” to “passion”
- Have a self determination and an inner desire to own and run your own business
- Is comfortable leading, motivating and managing a small team of people
- Possess the discipline to work under a proven method of doing business
- Are commercially aware – we are not looking for “behind a desk” franchisees. A basic group of small business administration would be needed – we can help with the rest.
- Recognises the value of working within a branded business model.
opportunities in the UK
We have a number of franchise opportunities available across the UK, predominantly re-sales of existing established franchise businesses.
international opportunities
As a Venture Master Franchisee, you would have exclusive rights to develop a territory via a combination of your own studios and sub franchised studios.
We are interested in meeting individuals or organisations that share our beliefs about our brand and concept. You need to be equipped and resourced to capitalise on the vast opportunities that developing Venture in a new territory would undoubtedly provide and have a thorough knowledge of your local market.
