Output can reveal that the licence for the Kall Kwik franchise in the UK has been awarded to the former managing director of Kall Kwik UK, Nigel Toplis, who has offered a low-service, low-fee arrangement to franchisees.

A former franchisee confirmed to Output that Toplis has offered Kall Kwik shop owners a deal which comprises a 1.5 percent licence fee payment in return for use of the brand's name, a website and a forum, with the chance to walk away in the first five years without penalty. Toplis is believed to have negotiated ownership of the UK brand rights from US parent Kwik Kopy comprising one third of what he receives from franchisees.

Toplis, left, has reportedly offered a 1.5 percent royalty fee

deal to current Kall Kwik franchisees

One of 67 who sought legal action against previous Kall Kwik UK owner On Demand Communications in May this year, the franchisee, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that those who had already become independent had set up their own association, and that customers 'didn't care and weren't interested'.

Toplis is the managing director of three franchise networks, Recognition Express, ComputerXplorers and The ZipYard, and held the same position at Kall Kwik UK from 1994 to 2002. He was unavailable to comment at time of publication.