Where the wild things are

Go-Kart Party is aimed squarely at the children's market, with the single aim of ensuring they have a fun time. The track and go-karts are quick and easy to set up, and all of the cars are battery powered, removing the health and safety issues associated with vehicles that rely on petrol. Because of this, franchisees can work both indoors and outdoors at anything from fêtes and fairgrounds to birthday parties and indoor shows.

From a franchisee's perspective, this is a crucial aspect of the business model, as it means the business needn't be affected by seasonal variations or weather. And because there's a rapid turnaround from arrival to set up, with the inflatable track perimeters easily dismantled at the end of an event, franchisees can attend a number of events in a single day.

Other bonuses include no stock, no hard selling, and an operation that's as flexible as you want it to be.

Initial investment secures four go-karts, eight batteries, four chargers, an inflatable circuit with powered pump, and a fixed exclusive territory to operate in. Franchisees also get 5000 colour brochures, 1000 business cards plus the all-important first year's insurance cover.

Go-Kart Party is in the process of appointing 120 franchisees nationwide to operate in a protected territory.

Min total investment: £25,000
Website: www.go-kartparty.co.uk
Phone: 0870 116 2000

First Impressions

First Impressions is the original idea of London artist and award-winning designer Judy Wiseman, whose casts and impressions of baby's feet and hands, with their simplicity and visual allure, captured the imagination of parents throughout the UK.

Although Judy set up her business in 1985, and has seen it flourish in North London, she hadn't considered franchising. But in 2004, she made her decision to expand and has accrued nine dedicated franchisees.

Today, First Impressions prides itself on being the most established and high-profile casting company in the UK, making everything from a single cast of a baby's feet to much larger, more complex works.

First Impressions franchisees get to work with a wide range of materials including plaster, bronze, crystal, silver, gold and resins. And, working in conjunction with the main studio, they produce a wide range of artifacts.

The business offers real flexibility for those wanting to mould their working life to their home life, and also has a very modest franchise fee to suit the pocket of almost any serious investor.

New franchisees benefit from full training and support, and get all of the essential marketing and business tools they need to get their business off the ground.

To join the network, you should be outgoing, self-motivated, enjoy working with babies and children and have real creative flair.

Min total investment: £7000
Website: www.firstimpressions.org.uk
Phone: 0208 346 8666

Kumon

Kumon started life in Osaka, Japan, in 1958, and is one of the longest-standing educational franchises in the world, providing individualised after-school study programmes in English and maths for children between the ages of three and 13.

Parents today are becoming more involved in their children's education and are looking beyond school for supplementary assistance. With Kumon, children work at their own pace, enabling them to develop self-confidence and learning skills that will give them the optimum chance of succeeding in life.

Today, Kumon has a huge global network of some 27,000 centres in 45 countries, serving about 3.6 million students, 48,000 of which are in the UK.

As part of their package, franchisees get full training and ongoing professional support with a personal development advisor. Franchisees also benefit from Kumon's generous marketing subsidies.

The financial set up of the franchise is very straightforward, with a low initial fee of just £400 for the licence, followed by an ongoing royalty fee.

Ideally, Kumon candidates should be enthusiastic and thoroughly committed to the educational development of their students on a long-term basis.

Min total investment: £2000 (including £400 licence)
Website: www.kumon.co.uk
Phone: 0800 854714

Jo Jingles

Jo Jingles is a 'sound' opportunity for individuals who want to bring the elements of music and education together under a single banner.

Since 1991, when Jo Jingles started, it has helped many thousands of young children develop their physical coordination, manual dexterity and spatial awareness through the exploration of sound. The children also get to expand on their social capabilities and develop their language and numeracy skills through constructed singing and movement exercises, and by drawing on the power of music as a unifying medium.

Jo Jingles franchised its core business in 1995 and, since then, has built up a network of more than 80 franchisees throughout the UK and Ireland.

One franchisee, Jennifer Mellor, says: 'I am thoroughly enjoying running my own business. The business procedures are not complicated but it is definitely hard work and not really a part-time occupation anymore. It is really satisfying that people enjoy what's on offer and want to come back.'

No experience in franchising or working with children is necessary as comprehensive ongoing training is provided, but you should have the desire to teach, a genuine enjoyment of music and a zest for life that can be relayed to the children you work with.

Min total investment: £8000
Website: www.jojingles.com
Phone: 01494 778989

Oscar pet foods

In the 1990s, Oscar pet foods predicted an explosion in the home delivery market, and decided to move from supermarket to domestic supply.

Today, Oscar franchisees offer a reliable service, delivering pet food to their customers. In addition, they sell health care products, training aids, toys and micro-chipping as well as pet insurance and veterinary support, all of which add attractive revenue streams to the core setup.

It's a flexible business, and existing franchisees range from those who have taken Oscar on as a supplementary interest to increase their income, to those who work part- or full-time, depending on their personal requirements.

Comprehensive training, both in-house and with an Oscar trainer, is included in the package and new franchisees get to learn about animal nutrition, pet behaviour and important veterinary issues.

Also included in the Oscar package is opening stock, a fully liveried van, branded uniform and essential marketing materials. And to help new recruits get their business up and running quickly they are given 100 telesales appointments when they start.

Candidates should enjoy travelling and enjoy working with both people and animals.

Min total investment: £12,000 plus vehicle lease
Website: www.oscars.co.uk
Phone: 0800 068 1106

Trophy Pet Foods

Set up in 1990, Trophy Pet Foods was the first mobile pet food franchise in the UK. Franchisees sell a range of high-quality branded pet foods to domestic customers and trade, directly from a fully liveried vehicle. Effectively, the franchisee is both supplier and mobile pet store, wrapped in an impressively kitted out vehicle, working their own exclusive and protected territory.

Franchisees are highly trained and remain competitive by providing an excellent range of products, and by delivering exemplary customer service. Franchisees also offer free delivery, and a comprehensive food range with a try-before-you-buy policy to encourage customer retention. In fact, this strategy has proved so effective that Trophy assures its franchisees a new territory should see a 50-60 percent uptake rate of its services from prospective clients and customers. Also included in franchisee offerings are information and advice to pet owners, and skin and coat management for the pets.

As part of the Trophy package, franchisees get full uniform, leaflets, name badges, food bags, samples, advertising and promotional literature and show equipment. There's also nine-day training programme, and a sizeable territory with a customer base of around 100,000 with an estimated 60,000 pets.

Min total investment: £18,000
Website: www.trophypetfoods.co.uk
Phone: 01367 243434

Bark Busters

Bark Busters involves a bit of animal psychology and a lot of patience and determination. Using various specialist methods, dedicated therapists work on a one-to-one basis with animals to help combat negative, embarrassing or potentially damaging dog behaviours.

These can range from inappropriate toileting and hyperactivity to pulling on the lead. Bark Busters franchisees also offer counselling to beleaguered pet owners to help them come to terms with the stress of, for example, a relentlessly barking dog. And they equip the owners with essential tools needed to maintain good behaviour in a newly trained pet.

Bark Busters prides itself on its unique dog-training techniques, and promises remarkable results in less than three hours and, with its Gold Class training, owners get a written lifetime guarantee for non-repeat behaviour.

Set up in 1989, Bark Busters now operates globally as leaders in the domestic dog-training and therapy market.

Candidates need to care about dogs a great deal, but also need to be very good at working with people affected by their pet's behaviour. Previous experience isn't essential, and full training in all aspects of running the business is provided by the franchisor.

Min total investment: £25,000
Website: www.barkbusters.co.uk
Phone: 01270 522456

Computer Xplorers

With computers and internet communications playing a vital role in the development of communities on a global scale, it's as critical for children to have a grasp of computer technology as it is for them to have English and maths skills.

As with reading and writing, having well-developed computer abilities provides children with a future competitive edge in the workplace, and there is an increasing demand for early additional teaching in the area.

The administrative side of ComputerXplorers is easily run from home, keeping overheads to a minimum. Classes are then taught in local community venues including nursery schools, playgroups, schools, and after-school clubs to children aged between three and 13.

As a franchisee you will teach the ComputerXplorers set curriculum, following a tried-and-tested US format that has been refined over more than 20 years.

For a modest investment, franchisees invest in a business that promises personal fulfilment and real flexibility.
Franchisees benefit from three weeks' intensive training, three laptops, a full package of marketing tools, and ongoing support from head office including business planning and marketing strategies.

Min total investment: £24,500
Website: www.computerxplorers.co.uk
Phone: 01530 513308