Child's play

Some of the old sayings that are thrown up in everyday use really don't make much sense. It's not as if you have a whole batch of eggs to count before chickens are hatched. You're not going to cross a bridge every time you're faced with a potential problem. And as for flying pigs...

Another odd adage is that old maxim, "Never work with children or animals." Nevertheless, two of the most popular sectors in franchising are children and animals. As the population grows each year, that means more children to look after, who in turn, look after more pets. How many times have you taken your kids to the local pet shop, enter empty handed, and yet miraculously emerge with a hamster, guinea pig, rabbit or cat?

The children's sector is certainly more popular today than at any other time in the past. That's the view held by ComputerXplorers managing director Nigel Toplis. "There has been huge investment both privately and publicly in children's support services and education over the last 10 to 15 years, and this is set to continue over the foreseeable future," he says. "The children's market remains exceedingly buoyant and offers a number of opportunities for service orientated businesses."

By the time you read this, the summer holidays will be in full swing, and many franchisors will be battling through one of their busiest times of the year. Gerry Ussher of Go-Kart Party says that the children's franchise sector is becoming more popular all the time. "Most families have both parents working and are pushed for time so will outsource their children's entertainment to professional providers," he says. "This is particularly evident as the party/entertainment business for children is currently worth £220 million with families spending more on birthday parties for younger children, and today's modern child expecting more from a party than just pass the parcel!"

Go-Kart Party combines fun with children's first real taste of getting behind the steering wheel. Safety aspects and driving skills are part of the experience, which children can take on board and learn from.

From the franchisee's point of view, a Go-Kart Party franchise is beneficial because it doesn't rely on seasonal climates. A Go-Kart Party event can operate either indoors or outdoors with low overheads and no stock requirement. This means work all the year round, which means that you can operate your business from home, and initially, on a part time basis if you wish. You can build the business at your own pace, keeping your existing income stream while at the same time earning an extra income.

"As part of your franchise package, you will own the equipment outright and are given your own large protected territory with ample scope for expansion, providing fun Parties, attending fete's carnivals and corporate events," says Mr Ussher. "You also get a centralised booking system, nationwide number and website, help and advice on venue selection, marketing and advertising, operational assistance and teaching you all you need to know to become part of an ever growing team that is fully supported enjoying a high potential earning opportunity that is fun to operate."

The fun factor plays a big part in this franchise, as well as the recruitment process. Successful franchisees must enjoy working with children, and pulling out all the stops to make the Go-Kart Part experience an enjoyable one. "We are looking for families and individual operators both male and female prepared to work weekends, who are looking for a change of lifestyle or starting a new business, and can work on their own initiative and also as part of a nationwide growing brand," says Mr Ussher. Candidates must also have successful CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) clearance, although no specific skills or qualifications are required, since full training and support is provided by Go-Kart Party.

While Go-Kart Party instructs youngsters about driving skills and safety, ComputerXplorers takes this combination of entertaining and educating one step further. Owned and managed by parent franchise Recognition Express, ComputerXplorers takes kids into the realm of ICT education. Because computers are more prominent than ever, parents acknowledge that their children need to be well up to speed on learning ICT skills.

"ComputerXplorers offers prospective franchise owners an opportunity in the business world," says the company's managing director, Nigel Toplis. "The opportunity to work in the high growth education market in a sector that is growing year on year and currently number 12 million children. ComputerXplorers is a 'work from home' franchise that offers flexible working hours, a low operating cost base and high net margins. It is also a business that provides a service that is hugely in demand and a product that is fun to deliver and educational in value."

ComputerXplorers is another franchise that isn't just confined to school term times. Although it works in conjunction with schools to teach both ICT and social skills, it is based in a number of different markets including summer schools, playgroups and holiday clubs. And as the government strives for increased tutoring in computer skills, the possibilities for potential franchisees are endless.

"Our franchise owners need to be articulate, good communicators," says Mr Toplis. "They should be interested in education and or/children, and should not be afraid of technology. They need to be serious about running a business but keen to have a life/work balance that enables them to work at home and take advantage of the flexible working hours.

"Successful franchisees will almost certainly have high energy and ambition who take pride in their involvement in education and are keen to deliver a high value product to the marketplace."

Personal skills are more important in the ComputerXplorers franchise, as again, full training is provided by the franchisor's head office and its counterparts in the US. "We provide an intense and extensive training course to bring all of our franchise owners to the level required in business skills and provide ongoing assistance, advice, tools, programmes and guidance to ensure that our business is supported as it grows and develops."

"Franchisees do not need any formal qualifications or specific skills to be a successful ComputerXplorers franchise owner. More important are the soft skills by way of communication, building relationships, organisation and administration."

It isn't just the children's sector that's doing business at the moment; it's also the pets sector. Janet Walmsley of Oscar Pet Foods says that the pets/animals department is also more popular than ever before this year. "As Oscar continues to build its reputation on the strength of a growing network of 90 franchisees, the facts provided by the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association confirm that pet food in the UK is currently a £1.5 billion growth industry."

Oscar produces its own comprehensive range of quality pet food combined with a varied selection of pet accessories and health care products. "With help to build a viable customer base, this low mileage, low cost franchise, operated in your own exclusive area with your own exclusive brand, offers a great opportunity to build a successful business," says Ms Walmsley.

"Although there has generally been a change in attitude towards pet care, some pet owners are still buying pet food with little knowledge of a balanced diet - in some cases causing serious nutritional problems. Having said that, Oscar franchisees are not let loose until they have been through an intensive training course, which gives them confidence, as nutritional advisors, to meet their customers with the Oscar own range of quality, healthy pet foods."

For that reason, anyone can apply to be an Oscar Pet Foods franchisee - from bank managers, accountants, teachers and manual workers to farmers wishing to diversify. What is needed, however, is a high degree of ambition, self-motivation and enthusiasm. The franchisor offers an effective training programme that encourages a positive and determined attitude, which helps each franchisee attain profitability and personal success. The training is divided into modules, starting at head office, and then followed by ongoing support in the franchisee's purchased area. The backup from the support team allows franchisees to manage their commitment professionally, while extending the facility direct to its customers with experts in behaviour and nutrition.

There are also actual pet care franchises that have become great successes. Barking Mad, for example, provides an alternative to dog kennelling by accommodating dogs with a selected host, while their owner(s) go on holiday.

Lee Southern, managing director of Barking Mad, says that her franchise is growing in popularity, both in the UK and overseas. "We now have 60 franchisees in the UK and a branch in Cyprus," she says. "By providing a much needed alternative to kennelling, our business is growing by referral and as a direct result of customer demand."

Ms Southern explains that being a Barking Mad franchisee is about setting up, developing and managing a successful business while improving your lifestyle. "Activities are very sociable and involve getting out and about, interviewing host families, meeting customers and their pets, arranging pet holidays, and providing collection and delivery services.

"With regard to financial reward, a significant advantage of the franchise is its cash flow positive trading position. Customers make payments in advance and debt problems are thus completely avoided. Barking Mad is not a seasonally driven business and the market is not price sensitive," she says.

Training takes place at head office, prior to the franchisee launching his or her own business. In addition, Barking Mad also allows franchisees to participate in their online training programmes that have been created in conjunction with Myerscough College. While potential candidates must have a fondness of pets, they must also enjoy working with people and should be commercially minded, with market leader ambition.

Ms Southern sums up the whole ethos of Barking Mad, and also of the children's/pets franchise sector, as a whole. "We believe our franchise opportunity offers a fantastic work/home life balance - and what better way to make a living?" she says.