Applying to become a franchisee
Our franchising programme offers you the opportunity to undergo training to establish a Sea Ranger Service, obtain the necessary licensing to train Sea Rangers, operate Sea Ranger ships and carry out offshore services. Ongoing business support is available to all franchisees to grow their commercial results and impact.
Through the Sea Ranger Academy training you are guided in all aspects of establishing and running a Sea Ranger Service franchise. Upon successful completion of the Sea Ranger Academy, participants are offered a franchising agreements which licenses the use of the Sea Ranger training and offshore services standards. Ongoing business support includes advice in meeting the legal and fiscal requirements to run a Sea Ranger Service franchise and network meetings to share best practices with other franchisees. For more information, please see the programme page.
We are seeking experienced entrepreneurs as establishing and operating a Sea Ranger Service franchise requires business experience. For the full description, please see the criteria page.
The most important criteria before you can apply:
✓ You are an experienced entrepreneur open to a new challenge
✓ You are aligned with the mission and core values of the Sea Ranger Service
✓ You reside in France, Spain or the UK and are interested in the franchising opportunity
✓ You are aware that establishing a franchise requires substantial investment
✓ You have carefully read the selection criteria and these FAQs
For the full criteria, please see the criteria page.
Yes, if you wish to start a Sea Ranger Service, use the Sea Ranger branding or the training and operating standards in any way, participation in our franchising programme is necessary.
The term ‘experienced’ entrepreneur is relative so yes, we also accept applications from younger entrepreneurs but it is important to be aware that establishing and operating a Sea Ranger Service franchise is not suitable for someone just starting out. It is possible to apply with more than two people.
The application process consists of three stages:
1. First interview round – Once you apply, we will check your application against the criteria. If you meet them, we will invite you to a first interview round in which we get to know each other better and you can ask any questions. We will also ask questions regarding the information given in the application. If we wish to proceed, professional references and additional documents will be requested and can also be provided.
2. Feasibility study – After the initial interview round, the applicant will draft their own feasibility study based on the Sea Ranger Service business case, in order to make the case for how a Sea Ranger Service franchise can be run in their proposed territory. If the feasibility study looks promising, a location visit will be scheduled, for the franchising team at the Sea Ranger Service to meet in the franchisee candidate in the location where they propose the establishment of the new franchise.
3. Approval – The Sea Ranger Service franchising team then reviews the application, feasibility study and location visit. If it approves the candidate, the application is put through to the Sea Ranger Service board. The board has the final say in approving or declining the application. When the board approves the application the Sea Ranger Service and the applicant sign an MOU (memorandum of understanding) detailing the forthcoming collaboration. At this stage the applicant will need to raise €10.000 to attend the Sea Ranger Academy training programme.
4. Establishment – After completing the Sea Ranger Academy successfully and the final approvals in place, licensing will be issued that enables the franchisee to establish their Sea Ranger Service franchise.
Franchising programme
The use of franchising as a commercial business model has achieved effective scaling results for companies such as Starbucks and McDonald’s. Such firms have been very successful at growing their brands and impact internationally. The Sea Ranger Service has set out to learn from such tested business approaches in order to scale positive impact for the planet. With pro bono support from IKEA, PwC and Ashoka in 2019, it was able to develop its franchising programme. It is believed that the Sea Ranger Service is the first to replicate a conservation solution using franchising.
Some of the key programme areas in the Sea Ranger Academy training:
Mission alignment – The vision and mission of the Sea Ranger Service. Core values of the Sea Ranger Service and how to implement them in the day-to-day operation.
Establishment – How to set up a Sea Ranger Service meeting all governance and financial management requirements, as well as internal reporting requirements as a franchisee
External affairs – Devising an effective external affairs strategy towards government partners, including establishing a partnership with your national navy to assist in training Sea Rangers. How to work with government agencies to set up pilots.
Acquisition – Attracting your first commercial offshore contracts. How to carry out certain assignments such as collecting data at sea. An analysis on what work the growing blue economy may offer Sea Rangers is also included. Public tendering procedures for larger governments contracts.
Training Sea Rangers – Recruiting Sea Ranger candidates. How to run a Sea Ranger Bootcamp safely and impactful.
Offshore operations – Industry compliance in ship operations and legal requirements for seafaring crews. Coordination of vessel deployment in the franchise network.
Conservation methodologies – The Sea Ranger Service works with trusted partners to provide training in validated conservation and nature restoration methodologies.
Social impact – How to recruit young people with a focus on those in unemployment. How to diversify your team, ensuring inclusivity. What’s involved in reintegrating Sea Rangers into maritime jobs. Measuring and publishing impacts. How to attract veterans to train Sea Rangers.
All future franchisees play a central role in the development and improvement of the Sea Ranger Service model going forward. Working together as part of the franchise network, representatives of the franchisees will meet periodically to discuss specific topics such as aspects of operating Sea Ranger ships or running a Sea Ranger Bootcamp.
However, the Sea Ranger Service is a closed franchising model. This means that the Sea Ranger Service as franchisor guards the developed standards and have a final say in how they develop. Franchisees are also to adhere to reporting and compliance requirements. In turn, such a set up benefits all the franchisees with the standards aligned between the whole network. A high level of standardisation and compliance will ensure safety and efficiency in how Sea Ranger Services are run and impact is achieved.
The territory is the geographical area which is determined for a specific Sea Ranger Service franchise to be established in. It can be set up and given licensing rights to cover an entire country but it also likely that in a large country, a franchisee is given the opportunity to serve the market in a specific area, for example a certain coastline or a specific body of ocean. The exact territory for each franchisee is determined together with the franchisee.
Starting a Sea Ranger Service
There are number of different things involved in establishing a franchise once the candidate has successfully completed the Sea Ranger Academy training.
As part of the application process, all franchisee candidates draft their own feasibility study, essentially a business case detailing how a franchise will be run in the proposed territory. Based on this plan, the first focus in on acquisition of the first (government) contracts. Key partners such as the national navy to assist in training new Sea Rangers, will also have to be established.
Once key partners are engaged and (pilot) contracts obtained, a first Sea Ranger Bootcamp can be organised to train the first Sea Rangers. from then on, more assignments and collaborations will be sought to deploy the Sea Rangers and investment can be attracted to further establish and scale the franchise activities.
The Sea Ranger Service determines where franchisees can be established. In 2022 only applications from France, Spain and the UK will be considered. Initial applications from other countries can be submitted but will only act as a way to register your interest in case your country is opened up to franchising at a later date.
Yes absolutely. If you meet the criteria, we look forward to your application.
We ask for a minimum 5 year time commitment from the entrepreneur establishing a new Sea Ranger Service.
The biggest obstacle is to successfully negotiate the required contracts with your national government and establish working relationships with your national navy, maritime industry partners and local municipalities to get a Sea Ranger Service franchise off the ground. During the Sea Ranger Academy training, franchisee candidates will be guided through the processes to overcome these obstacles but it will still require a good doses of grit, determination and persuasion from the entrepreneur to get a franchise set up.
It costs 10.000 euro to join the Sea Ranger Academy training. Upon successful completion of the training the franchising rights are licensed to the new franchisee for a one-off start fee of 50.000 euro. Once the franchise entity is set up, the franchisee pays the franchisor (Sea Ranger Service) a set percentage of its annual incoming funds. Franchisees are also required to charter a dedicated Sea Ranger ship as constructed and managed by Sea Ranger Ships. The franchisee is responsible for raising its own start-up and growth financing.
Our definition of success is a franchise that delivers on sustained social and environmental impact. A franchise that shows commercial results to guarantee these impact goals. And a franchise that actively contributes to the wider franchise network to improve the overall Sea Ranger Service model.