Tots Play
Sectors
Initial Investment
£3,995
Training provided
Yes
Flexible jobs for older workers
What kinds of flexible jobs are out there for older workers? We take a look.
The Award Winning Tots Play franchise programme offers the opportunity to use our proven business model and systems to run your own Tots Play business in your local area at times that suit you.
The programme allows them to spend focused, quality time with their child, while learning a whole range of ways to play, interact and communicate with their baby or toddler that provide not just one, but many benefits for their development
Instead of having to choose between a massage class, a music class, a yoga class, a movement class, a signing class, etc, for their little one, they can give their child all these experiences and more in one programme. It is also designed so that the classes are as fun for mum or dad as they are for their baby or toddler.
Tots Play is also one of the few programmes that offers classes for very young babies, and for new mums ready to get out and meet new people and wanting to make the most of their (often short) maternity leave from work, while doing something fun with their baby, this is invaluable.
They are then able to continue through the different stages of the programme as their baby grows, meaning parents often stay with you for many months or years –and then bring their next child along.
Parents are also encouraged to continue to play with their child at home using the ideas and resources that Tots Play provides, and the sale of these resources offers an additional stream of revenue for your business.
As a franchisee you will be able to offer our comprehensive range of classes and services, suitable for babies and toddlers from birth to 4 years.
About the Franchise Programme
The Tots Play franchise programme has been carefully designed with the following aims in mind:
- For it to be flexible – It is designed so that it can work for you whether you want to run just a couple of classes a week around your little ones or to top up the family finances, or build it into a bigger business bringing in a full time income. It can also grow and change as your family and circumstances do.
- For it to be affordable – This is a business designed to suit both your lifestyle and your budget, a complete business for much less than you might think.
- For it to reward the effort you put into it – A low flat rate monthly franchise fee means that the more you earn, the more you get to keep. We do not take a percentage of your profits.
- For it to be easy to operate – I don’t believe that business needs to be complicated. We provide step by step training to help you feel confident in running Tots Play sessions and to get your business up and running. We then help you to set up simple systems to ensure your business continues to run smoothly.
- For it to be fun! – Well it is in the job description to play all day!
Joining a franchise means that although you are in business for yourself, you are never by yourself, as full training and ongoing support are all part of the package.
About You
As a franchisee your role would include leading our high quality, interactive, play sessions and parties for local families, making lots of friends in your community as you spread the word about the fantastic developmental benefits that the Tots Play programme provides, creating new sensory experiences to share with your customers and helping to build the Tots Play brand so even more families can enjoy what we do.
When choosing our franchisees we are looking for people who not only share our commitment to providing the best possible experience for the families who attend our sessions but also have the enthusiasm and drive to share that passion with families in their area, and a willingness to work hard to achieve their goals. The personal qualities you bring are therefore far more important than experience running a business or working with children.
While you therefore don’t need to have any specific qualifications or experience to run Tots Play classes, you must enjoy working with young children and their parents, and be able to make them feel welcome and at ease.
You will also need plenty of energy and enthusiasm to get everyone involved, and the confidence to lead a group in various play activities including singing simple songs. Good organisational skills are also important as a small amount of administration will be required.
Our franchisees come from a wide variety of backgrounds but all are achieving success on their own terms, around their family and other commitments, with no boss to answer to, and enjoying the support and encouragement of an experienced head office team and wider network of existing franchisees who know exactly what you going through at every step and are able to give you that helping hand just when you need it.
Running a Tots Play business is great fun, very rewarding, and let’s you choose when and where you work. Help and support will be available to ensure that you are able to run your sessions successfully and profitably.
What Our Franchisees Say…
I started with Tots Play in September and now run classes two mornings a week. I am able to take my son to school and pick him up every day, my daughter only does two mornings a week in nursery and I don’t work during the school holidays which was my biggest worry about returning to my previous job.
I can of course schedule more classes if I want to and will look to expand my business once my daughter is a little older.
Outside of classes much of what I need to do to run the business, such as admin and marketing can be done around my children, either during nap times or in the evening, and a lot of it fits in with what I do already such as taking my daughter along to playgroups to meet other mums and class leaders which is often the best way to drum up business.
It’s all about being a member of the community and making connections.
I would definitely recommend the Tots Play franchise as I love being able to fit my job around my home life and to do something that’s fun and worthwhile.
You meet such lovely mums doing this job and of course you get to enjoy their babies too. My son started school last year and I’ve been able to be there for him during this huge adjustment to his life and I’m so grateful for that and I get more time with my daughter who is still very young.
Kaye Price, Franchisee for Newport and Cwmbran. Mum to Isaac 4 ½ and Laura 1 ½.
“Running my own business allows me to arrange my schedule around the needs of my family. I run my business around the school day and am there for my daughter to drop her off and pick her up each day, plus be there for her ongoing health needs. Something I thought I would never be able to do. I have chosen to run classes during term time only so I can enjoy the holidays with her too. I have received a wealth of support and guidance since joining Tots Play, this far exceeded my expectations when I first purchased the franchise. We have regular phone calls, social media network, annual conference, regional meet ups, plus a comprehensive online training programme that can be accessed at any time.
There is a huge amount of job satisfaction from receiving positive comments about your classes and you as class leader after working so hard to build the business up. I love building relationships with the children (just as I did in Teaching) but also the parents/carers too. I enjoy the flexibility the business can provide and planning my own working week.”
Tracey, franchisee for Chesterfield
“Life has changed a lot since I’ve started running Tots Play. I love that it’s me who gets to take and collect my daughter from school every day. Before work was becoming a chore, but now I really enjoy my job, every week is different. I enjoy meeting new people and I feel really privileged that I get to watch mums and babies grow in confidence, learn new things and generally have a great time just being together.”
Lynn, franchisee for Lichfield and Cannock
“I’ve been running Tots Play in the Scottish Borders since August 2017 and I love it!!! I used to be a Biology teacher but during my maternity leave I decided that going back to work full time wasn’t going to work for our new family. Running my own business allows me to work the hours and days that suit us, I still get to teach but get the added bonus of working with babies and toddlers all day. What’s not to love?!! The support you get from HQ is amazing and I’m really impressed with the materials and continued help that you get. It’s like I’ve inherited a whole new family.”
Katrina, franchisee for Scottish Borders
“Leaving my job, although a hard decision, was the best decision I made… I run my Tots Play business to fit around my wee boy and I get to see him every morning and every night without time restraints, rushing about or guilt from not seeing him enough… I didn’t get to do this when I was working full time with unsociable hours and shift work … the support from Tots Play from the very start, and every month since, is invaluable and I’m excited as each month goes on and it’s so great when you see babies, toddlers and parents grow, develop and have fun each week in class.”
Clare, franchisee for Kirkintilloch to Falkirk
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Financial information
The initial investment, which includes an exclusive area to run your classes, full training, online booking system, equipment and marketing pack, starts from £3995.
How much you earn will depend on how many classes you decide to run per week, but you can expect to bring in between £40 and £70 per class, with extra revenue possible from running parties and from the sale of Tots Play resources and merchandise.
Training and support
You will receive full training on how to run the classes, with personal coaching, practical training, written and online training manual plus ongoing help and support to establish and grow your business.
You will also be part of an extremely supportive network of franchisees so you will always be in control of your business, but never on your own.
