Have you got the drive to get up and go for it alone?
WHEN marketing and events consultant Victoria Withy wanted to return to work after having her daughter, Natasha, she decided self-employment would offer the flexibility she needed.
‘My then-husband was a busy farm manager and I didn’t have any family nearby to help with childcare, so I decided to set up my own business,’ says Victoria from Inverurie, Aberdeenshire.
She invested in a Raring2Go! franchise, editing and publishing a local magazine for families, distributed through primary schools.
‘I could have set up this type of business alone but, with a franchise, you get a ready-made infrastructure, support from the franchiser and a strong online presence from day one,’ she says.
‘Raring2Go! also offers economy of scale because one printer handles all the editions.’
Victoria, 46, whose daughter is now 11, has an office with a team of six freelancers, and has just launched her second Raring2Go! franchise area in Glasgow.
Freddie St George, managing director of Mojo Publishing, the franchiser of Raring2go! says: ‘We look for new franchisees seeking a flexible, fully- supported, homebased franchise opportunity to ease them back into the “workplace” without compromising their desire to fulfil their caring role.
‘To succeed, you need drive, good local knowledge and, ideally, to be a user of the kinds of services we feature.’ The cost is £11,995.
Many franchises that involve working with children offer a way back into work after having a family.
Former nanny Charlotte Hollands, 30, is a franchisee with child swimming franchise Turtle Tots, running water-based sessions for babies and children and aquanatal classes for pregnant women. She says: ‘ Franchising suits many women because you get support from the franchiser, but also from other franchisees.’
Turtle Tots co-founder Caroline Sparks says: ‘ Our franchise offers the flexibility to work around family life.’ Initial investment is £13,000. raring2go! 01273 447101, Turtle Tots 01275 857621.