What types of franchise opportunities are currently available?
Unishippers has new product-specific franchise sales territories and existing franchises currently available. Fill out the Franchise Inquiry Form for more information on which opportunity may be right for you.
What is your franchise fee?
The initial franchise fee ranges from $24,000 to $36,000 per sales territory. Additional costs, such as real estate, equipment and computers, business licenses, utility and telephone deposits, insurance, training, and additional operating and living funds for the first six months can vary widely. Fill out the Franchise Inquiry Form for more information on calculating reasonable start-up costs.
Do I have to have shipping experience?
No. Many of our most successful franchise owners had no previous experience in the shipping industry. It’s more important that you have basic business skills, are comfortable in a sales environment and are a self-motivated individual.
How long does it take for most franchises to realize a profit?
Franchises can realize profitability within a year. However, this can vary depending on the market, your willingness to invest the necessary time and effort, and other factors.
Can I do this part-time?
No, not really. To be successful, you need to devote your full attention to building your business. If you are in a partnership, at least one person needs to commit full-time to the Unishippers franchise.
Who are the main competitors to Unishippers?
Most of our customers were going directly to the carriers, such as DHL, UPS® or FedEx® when they switched to Unishippers.
What are the typical work hours for a franchise owner?
It varies, and depends to some extent on the number of employees (if any) a new franchise owner chooses to hire. In general, once you are profitable, the bulk of the work is done during normal business hours, leaving you free to enjoy time in the evenings and on the weekends for family, friends, and outside interests.
How much money can I expect to make with a Unishippers franchise?
That depends on many factors, including your commitment to making your franchise successful. In general, most of our franchisees have a very comfortable lifestyle, and say that their income exceeds their original expectations.
What are the estimated start up costs?
Assuming you purchase a new territory, total start up costs will range from $45,625 - $795,950.* For more detailed information, click here.
Is there a difference in cost between new and existing franchise locations?
Yes. Prices for existing franchise locations are decided solely between the buyer and the seller, and can vary greatly based on territory size, customer base and profitability.
Do I have to live in the city where I’ll be operating my franchise, or can I do this long distance?
We strongly recommend that you live in the city where the franchise is located. Our experience has shown that absentee ownership causes challenges that are hard to overcome. Particularly for your first franchise, it’s necessary to have the daily interaction and oversight that can only come when you are located in the same market.
Can I talk to other franchise owners?
Yes. We believe it is important to talk to other owners and get a realistic idea of what you can expect. We’ll make several owners available to you after you’ve completed the first round of the exploratory process.
What are your royalty payments?
Our royalty payments, unlike some franchise opportunities, are based on Gross Profit Margin instead of revenue. Our royalties also depend on the product sold: 18.5% of Gross Profit Margin on shipments zero to 150 pounds and 15% of Gross Profit Margin on shipments over 150 pounds.
How do you define Gross Profit Margin in your business?
Gross Profit Margin means the Gross Sales Volume less the cost of carrier services that is billed to and paid by you to a carrier (but not less any related costs paid by you, such as royalties, sales commissions, marketing expenses etc.).
What locations are currently available?
We have quite a few new product specific franchises available. In general, availability changes frequently. To find out what new and/or existing locations are currently available, please complete our Franchise Inquiry Form. A Franchise Development Representative will follow up with you to provide specific information.
*This estimate is for a new franchise and does not reflect the cost to purchase an existing franchise.
