Why buy a franchise?

I read 2 great posts about franchising by Pippa Middleton on the Business plus Baby site from Helen Lindop. It made me realise that perhaps people need more information about franchising and why it may be preferable to starting out on your own. In the first of the two posts Pippa looks at her top five reasons to consider buying a franchise. I have looked at them from the Smart Talkers Pre-School Groups franchise perspective:

• Greater financial certainty: We have a tried and tested format of working. Yes we have made mistakes along the way and learned from them. You don't have to make the mistakes because we did. We have tested it out, we know what works and what doesn't. Obviously nothing can be guaranteed 100% but you can see how we have achieved it. We also did a pilot that was separate to the first groups to make sure it was the groups that worked rather  than the personalities involved here. These financial books are available so you can see the necessary outlay and also the income. 

• Business support and training: Starting off on your own is a huge step and not one to be made lightly. There is  so much to learn that this can be very time consuming. We are here to help with that. We work on your business plan together, not just the piece of paper you might need for the bank bur a real action plan with timescales. We then make sure you are keeping to the schedule that you have set yourself to support you all the way.

• A recognised brand and business model: Pippa says 'it takes most companies many years and a big budget to build a reputation. By buying into a franchise you are piggy-backing on a brand that has national backing giving your business kudos and credibility. As well as a brand, you are buying a business model or way of doing business'. We have a detailed manual and session plans so you can get on with things straight away. 

• Easier route to financing your business: We offer a payment plan for successful franchisees  so this is less important with us.

• Franchisee support network: We have a team approach so that you can talk to others in the same position. Annual training days are planned and an on-line forum for franchisees.

I will look at her second post in relation to what we do next time.

See www.smarttalkers.org.uk for more information

 Pippa can be contacted on 01908 583232 or bedford@raring2go.co.uk  If you are starting out in business, you will gain lots of inspiration, information  and sensible ideas from Helen's site http://businessplusbaby.com

Smart Talkers Pre-School Communication Groups: a glimpse into what we do

I was sorting through some of the photos that Sara from Sara Moseley Photography had taken last year of a group at Horn End Nursery Rugeley. I used some for an exhibition in Birmingham but they are far too good to hide away so I've put a few into a slideshow which introduces what we do at Smart Talkers Pre-school groups






The groups are franchised and we have franchisees, so far, in Cambridge, Singapore and India. Smart Talkers Surrey is just starting her training and we are in talks with someone in New York, Japan and Sussex.


No previous experience is necessary as all training and support is given. As you can see from the slideshow, it's a fantastic privilege to be able to work with pre-schoolers in this way!


For more information www.smarttalkers.org.ukwww.smarttalkers.org.uk

Are you looking for a way to earn money, make a difference AND have fun?

There can't be many ways of combining all three plus achieving a work-life balance. Smart Talkers Pre-School Groups are looking for franchisees to run their own business in their own area. We have a training course in starting in September which can be done mostly on-line as we know you are probably busy with children and partners etc.

We run groups which focus on spoken language skills to help children achieve their potential. We do Small Talkers to help prepare for school, Teeny Talkers for 2- 3 year olds, Baby Talk for parents of babies (or ante-natal classes) plus we do signing for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. We also show you how to do other courses such as Stories with Jack and to deliver other related programmes. There is a variety which means you are never bored!

We aren't looking for qualifications (although speech and language therapists might be interested) as we offer full training on communication development, ways to encourage, how to manage groups etc as well as business training. We also support the business development so it's an easier way of starting and running your own  business. We know that it's a scary thought and that could put you off but I have had years of running businesses; experience which will help you.

Have a look at the video or listen to the podcast to see if you might be interested, As a bonus we're offering a discount on the franchise fee to celebrate 2011, the National year of Communication.





See the web site http://www.smarttalkers.org.uk/business_opportunity.php There is a video and another podcast