Dacre, Son and Hartley, one of Yorkshire’s best known agents, is to expand via franchising and acquisitions.

The firm, which is nearly 200 years old, is already Yorkshire’s largest independent agent. It currently has 20 offices and 120 staff, with a £7m turnover.

It is now looking to expand throughout the north of England, with franchising territories immediately in its sights in Wakefield, Selby, Northallerton, Thirsk and Easingwold, Clitheroe, Halifax and Huddersfield.

It has not ruled out other territories, depending on approaches that individuals interested in franchising might make to it.

It is charging from £12,500 plus VAT, with a management charge of 10% of monthly turnover, plus an unspecified monthly contribution to a central marketing fund.

Franchise licences last five years and are renewable, without renewal fees.

In return, franchisees get the Dacre, Son & Hartley brand, training, IT, marketing, accounting services, and business support.

The project is being handled by Patrick McCutcheon, pictured below, head of residential sales.

He said: “We are renowned in the industry for going the extra mile for our clients and living up to our promises, and we will make sure any franchisee subscribes to the same winning ethos.”

The company recently acquired a firm in Settle, and McCutcheon says the firm is still in acquisition mode.

He said: “The acquisition of Graveson Estate Agents in Settle saw the successful merger of a local business into the Dacre Son & Hartley family, and as well as the franchising offer, we are still very much on the acquisition trail, looking for established estate agencies that would complement our existing geographical footprint.”

In going into franchising, Dacre, Son and Hartley is following in the footsteps of York-based Hunters which launched into franchising in 2005 and subsequently acquired Countrywide’s Bairstow Eves’ franchise businesses.

Hunters aims to have 500 branches nationwide within five years.

It is thought that Dacre, Son and Hartley may also consider rolling out its brand nationally.