Build an amazing Business from home Your Franchise Information Pack
2 Sally, Raring2go! Kidderminster The Raring2go! walk to school Index P4 Exploring the Raring2go! opportunity P6 The technology behind our brand P7 An interview with one of our franchisees P8 About you and building your business P9 Our Green print partners P10 Training and ongoing support P12 A close look at the financials P14 How we responded to lockdown P16 FAQs and our answers P18 What are the next steps? © Mojo Publishing Limited 2022 All images in this publication are of our existing and quite brilliant Raring2go! franchise owners and other people who make our business great. Front cover models: Emily (Ipswich & Felixstowe) Telie (Bedford) Jenny (Harrogate & York) Jayne (Bury & Bolton) Kiri (Worthing) Anna (Newcastle) Alice (Burton & Ashby) Back cover models: Various gorgeous editions of Raring2go! ‘I have never felt the value of being in a team more than in these last few months. Although I am my own boss, the support of our franchisor during lockdown, has been second to none. That support has seen regular and honest communication; training opportunities; practical advice; forward planning; and pulling together all editors to share ideas on how best to support our customers and motivate each other. Our franchisor has 'galvanized the troops' so we are emerging stronger than ever!’ Sally Walters, Raring2go! Kidderminster & Stourbridge ‘We first worked with Raring2go! in 2011 and from that day we have had great success. Not only with free trial registrations for our programmes, but also in terms of generating a positive return on investment. The initial campaign was so successful we have continued to work with Raring2go! and we will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The Raring2go! audience is well targeted and closely aligned with our own and the HQ team are very easy to deal with and extremely helpful. I thoroughly recommend working with Raring2go!’ Tara King, Reading Eggs, advertiser ‘I love Raring2go! because you can always rely on it on a rainy half term day to come up trumps with a suggestion for a magical family place to visit. It gives me loads of ideas to keep my children entertained no matter what the weather. The information in the magazines and on the websites is invaluable. There is always an exciting event to seek out and discover and it all happens right on our doorstep. If I’m ever short of anything to do with the children, it’s the only place I need to visit in order to be inspired’ Mark Steadman, Raring2go! reader
3 A very warm welcome to Raring2go! By requesting our information pack, you have taken the first exciting step to being your own boss - which of course means taking control of your working life and your work life balance. I hope the information within these pages prompts many questions and encourages you to find out more about this incredible business opportunity. If flexibility is a must then Raring2go! delivers this via our proven business model. If escaping the monotony of the 9 to 5, the daily commute, and saying goodbye to those days when you never feel completely fulfilled are important - again Raring2go! could be just what you need to begin the next exciting chapter in your life. As a Raring2go! franchisee our relationship will be a partnership from day one. You will be joining an incredible network of existing franchisees – vibrant, enthusiastic, and genuinely lovely people who like nothing more than getting stuck in and helping the newcomer. You are most definitely your own boss, making your own decisions and building a business to be proud of but support is always around you. Our magazines and websites are regarded by readers and indeed advertisers as ‘go to’ resources for families with children. Our multi-channel approach brings print, online and social media together to create a compelling package. We are a local publishing powerhouse delivering incredible visibility and a return on investment for customers by keeping our family audience engaged and informed in a unique way. I hope you enjoy reading our information pack and that it inspires you. When you are ready, let’s have a conversation. . Kind regards Freddie St George MBE Managing Director Email: freddie@raring2go.co.uk ‘Our multi-channel approach brings print, online and social media together to create a compelling package.’ Freddie St. George, The Boss
4 The powerful premise of Raring2go! is to connect local family friendly businesses and events with local families. Initially our franchisees accomplished this with our now iconic quarterly produced print magazine. This is looked upon as the go-to-guide for parents and children across the UK. However, over the years our offering has expanded significantly and now encompasses website promotion, email marketing campaigns and social media shout outs for local businesses. This multi-channel marketing offering makes the Raring2go! proposition to local businesses compelling. Not only can they promote their business with adverts and features in our printed magazines, they can also take advantage of everything offered online in all its different yet complementary formats. As a Raring2go! franchisee you benefit because each one of these formats is income generating. And you will find, as our franchisees do now, that most of your customers will be keen to promote themselves online and in print. They will buy packages of promotion and support guided by you as to the best combination and frequency. You will be fully trained and supported by our franchisee network too. Each one of our franchisees is an accomplished editor with a keen sense of what works well and a track record, using our successful sales and marketing blueprint on how to approach local businesses with a package of appealing offers. They just love to help new franchisees. Let’s look at these income streams in more detail. The Raring2go! quarterly magazine Your magazines are distributed free to Early Years Foundation and Key Stage 1 and 2 children in primary schools via bookbags. You can also build your circulation through relationships with local libraries, playgroups, nurseries, leisure centres and more. Whilst you will be using our design templates and streamlined process to create your magazine, as the owner and editor you direct the content, bringing your personality and style to each issue. You can see this in action in the magazines our franchisees produce so be sure to read some. (Don’t worry if designing your magazine does not appeal. You can outsource this to one of our bank of tried and trusted designers). You edit your magazine contributing local information, listings of activities and events, feature pages, local adverts, money off vouchers, competitions, quizzes, and special offers from your advertisers. It is a creative and enjoyable process. And you are never alone, especially when producing your first few magazines when you’ll appreciate the comfort of experienced heads close by. Our franchisees find that many local businesses want an ongoing presence in their magazines. They tend to buy packages. This enables a business to have for example an advert in one magazine, an article in the next, a voucher or a competition in another and so on. Businesses like being featured in a targeted magazine with their content read by more of the people they want to reach. If the experience of our franchisees is anything to go by, we are confident that if Raring2go! appeals to you then you’ll love producing your magazine, talking about it to local businesses and inspiring them with your ideas on how best to promote themselves within its pages. And you will be supported every step of the way. The Raring2go! Digital proposition The beauty of Raring2go! is that you can offer local businesses enhanced advertising opportunities, giving you additional revenues and your customers more opportunities to reach and connect with potential new customers. This includes: Monthly e-newsletters delivered to the inbox of signed up members in your area. These can be exclusive e-Newsletters or shared with other non-competing businesses. An online feature pageThis gives a business the opportunity to have an in-depth feature with images plus their video with links to social channels and their website. Fantastic promotion and a very popular service. Banner advertising opportunities which can be on one page of your local Raring2go! website or many pages. For example, a ballet class advertiser might prefer their banner advert to feature on the clubs and classes features’ home page. But they could also appear on all pages. Listing in our local ‘What’s On’ pages online where again multimedia and interactive content can be included. ‘You will be fully trained and will be supported by our franchisee network too.’ Exploring the Raring2go! opportunity
5 Competitions & Vouchers – by far the most visited and popular section of the website. All families want to save money / enter a free competition so for a business wanting to go all out in the promotion stakes this is a great opportunity. Social Media shout outs – businesses can be promoted on Facebook, twitter, instagram and LinkedIn with links to the online magazine* or the specific pages on your website where they are featuring. *And of course, we bring your printed magazine to life online with an enhanced digital version which is carried as a page turn on your website. Take a look at one of our recent editions online at: https://magazines.raring2go.co.uk/worthing/spring/ Your online magazine can include video links straight to an advertiser’s website too. Our franchisees often use their printed magazines to whet the appetite of readers and drive them to their website. For example, they may feature a short interview of a local business owner and then encourage readers to go online where they can read the rest of the interview, enter a free competition, download a voucher etc. They tend to quote a package deal to a business which consists of adverts in the printed magazines, promotion in the digital space and social media shout outs. You will also benefit from head office content support including a variety of centrally sourced material. We have a huge and ever-growing archive of royalty free photos, articles and features available for all our franchisees to use – free of charge. It all adds up to a winning proposition for local businesses and for you. You are giving businesses the opportunity to promote themselves in several creative formats, online and in print. And you benefit from the ongoing income streams not to mention the delight that comes with knowing that you’re supporting local businesses by offering a service that puts the spotlight on their business. How does that sound to you? . ‘… giving you additional revenues and your customers more opportunities.’ Start conversations and build relationships that last You will thrive by starting meaningful conversations with local businesses and building relationships that stand the test of time. This is because you are offering each business a fantastic shop window for their products or services – online and in print - with a targeted local community of readers keen to find out more. You will gain real satisfaction from helping local businesses to grow. Design & production made easy Set your creativity free and design your gorgeous, glossy magazine using our iconic brand templates or if this is not your strong suit pass this task to a talented designer from our trusted, time served network. From your PC to finished magazine, the process is carefully managed by our dedicated production team. It is smooth and trouble free. Distribution - the heart of our business Getting your magazines into the hands of local families is crucial. We’ll show you how to distribute your content rich magazines through primary schools. They will be carried home by children for parents to read and make their shortlists of what to do and where to go. And we will show you how to expand your distribution network via libraries, sports centres and retail outlets, giving your advertisers even more bang for their buck! Online offers multiple income streams Build an attractive income from your online activity alongside your print revenue. Your visibility online is high, attractive and is based on encouraging repeat visits. This gives your advertisers cost effective, high visibility, high value marketing opportunities to further promote themselves. You will use the full suite of social media platforms (that we have developed and perfected over several years) to strengthen your offering to advertisers even more.
Raring2go! is much more than an amazing multi channel marketing / advertising business. It’s backed up by some heavyweight technology which sits neatly behind our franchisees making their day to day working lives infinitely easier. We’ve invested heavily and created our own bespoke franchise management software; It is the engine behind your business. Our back end business support system helps you flat plan, diary follow up calls to your leads, prospects and clients, manage your proposals to clients from pitch to acceptance, manage your accounts and invoicing, update your website pages including banners, feature pages, events listings, populate and send your eye catching monthly ENewsletters, your competitions vouchers, and offer pages. Our system is a complex and elaborate machine which is totally portable being web-based meaning you can accurately respond to any request for space availability or a last minute ENewsletter inclusion from anywhere. Full training is provided and as it was developed in close collaboration with our network of franchisees, it is intuitive and quickly becomes second nature. This technology is ever evolving and is yet another aspect of Raring2go! which distinguishes us from our competitors and makes us shine as a fully fledged amazing franchise business. ‘it is intuitive and quickly becomes second nature.’ Technology behind the brand and behind our franchisees 6
The ten minute interview with Victoria Withy – franchisee and editor of Raring2go! Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Victoria was interviewed by the international bestselling marketing author, Dee Blick. What do you enjoy the most in your business? I enjoy helping connect families and businesses – that is really good! I also really enjoy helping new businesses and seeing them succeed – especially women. How have you grown your business? I have been running R2G! since 2007 – 13 years in June 2020. It has grown hugely to 33000 copies per quarter over the years with 100,000 readers. I also have a small team of freelancers (all working mothers) who have portfolio careers like mine – currently a salesperson, designer and admin plus a lovely couple who distribute the 33k magazines to over 300 drop points each quarter. What support do you receive from your franchisor? It is a big family. I am a member of the Franchise Council Forum. We work with Freddie and Trish to guide, develop and support our fellow franchisees. We usually have a quarterly FCF meeting and monthly Editor meetings but during the pandemic both have been weekly as things have been so fluid and support has been needed by all. Can you share a few wow moments in your business? Getting to 1 million copies was something of a WOW moment – as was reaching our 10-year anniversary. Our second Awards were also great – (in 2018) and the 2019 ones were fun too (but not as good as the 2018 ones!) What are your plans for the future? With Raring2go! Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire now in its teens and my daughter also in her teens I am looking to pass on the reins to another editor with young children to take it to the next level. ‘I have been running R2G! since 2007 - 13 years in June 2020. It has grown hugely to 33,000 copies per quarter over the years with 100,000 readers.’ An interview with Victoria Withy of Raring2go! Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire 7 Victoria, Raring2go! Aberdeen
About You… At this stage you may be wondering what it takes to be a Raring2go! franchisee and what draws a person to us. Raring2go! franchisees hail from all walks of life with a diverse range of business backgrounds. Some bring experience in marketing and sales, others in administration and organising projects whilst others have spent years working in a customer facing environment. Each one has their own reasons for wanting to strike out on their own with the all important protection and support that the Raring2go! proven business blueprint offers. They all love the flexibility and the freedom that comes with working from home. For some of our franchisees this ties in very nicely with building their business around family commitments - being able to drop their children off at school and collect them later in the day for example. And easing off in the school holidays. Others have simply tired of the 9 to 5 humdrum not to mention the hassle of the daily commute. They have looked at the horizon and found their work life wanting. They have reached that point where they yearn to invest their precious time in building their own business where home is the office and the sky is the limit on their potential. Some of our franchisees tell us they had reached their limit on working for someone else and could see that being their own boss was nowhere near as daunting as previously imagined. It offered a real opportunity to start on the next chapter in their book by taking that leap into the unknown, knowing they have our safety net. If you identify with some or all these reasons, you’re on the right track. The best years of your life are ahead and that’s an exciting thought isn’t it? ‘It offered a real opportunity to start on the next chapter in their book….’ About you and building your business 8 Are we right for one another? This is likely to be top of your mind. You may well love the look and feel of our franchise and can see that it ticks your boxes. But how can you be certain you are right for us? Our franchisees have the following in common. (We look upon these as the building blocks for success) • They love talking to people • They love building relationships with businesses in their local community • They are unafraid of hard work • They are fanatical about delivering an amazing customer service • They are creative • They work well to deadlines • They love setting and beating targets • They love working on their own business but also being part of a bigger collaborative team • They never shrink from going the extra mile If you identify with these ‘building blocks’ it is a sure sign we should talk. Jo, Raring2go! Wolverhampton Jo, Raring2go! Altrincham & Sale Kiri, Raring2go! Worthing Raring2go! boxes ready for delivery
Our green credentials make us really stand out 9 Raring2go! magazines are printed by our long term print partners Gemini Print Group. They are the top scoring European winners of the prestigious GREEN LEAF Award. Your Raring2go! magazine gains from Gemini’s commitment and unique focus on environmental standards including: • International accreditations • supporting sustainable forests • sourcing carbon neutral or positive paper • vegan certified printing inks • immaculate records of zero ethical violations • strct energy control processes • water usage reduction programmes • process free printing plates and 100% recycling Raring2go! works closely with Gemini Print and we are delighted to underline our combined commitment to the environment. Print and Paper have a great environmental story to tell! The paper industry depends on, and promotes, sustainable forest management to provide a reliable supply of wood fibre, the key raw material for its products. Well-managed forests bring multiple benefits for society, such as livelihoods, ecosystem services and biodiversity. European forests, from where the region’s paper mills source over 90% of their wood fibre, have been growing by an area equivalent to 1,500 football pitches every day. Over 70% of this forest area is certified to FSC or PEFC standards, thanks in part to the support of the print and paper industry. Forest products such as paper create an incentive for sustainable forest management. Cellulose fibre is the primary raw material for papermaking. Of the fibre used by the European pulp and paper industry, 46% comes from wood pulp and 54% from paper for recycling. Wood is the dominant source because of its renewable and recyclable nature, technical properties, relative low cost and all-year-round availability. Forest stewardship, which is motivated by a commercial interest in maintaining wood supply, can really help protect vulnerable forests from illegal logging, encroachment or conversion to large scale commercial farmland. Well managed forests bring multiple benefits for society. Forests directly affect the livelihoods of 20% of the global population and often have recreational and cultural importance too. They provide products and renewable energy as well as natural carbon capture and storage and other ecosystem services such as controlling floods and droughts, reducing erosion risks and protecting watersheds that are a source of our water. Forests are also home to 80% of terrestrial biodiversity. As part of well-planned landscapes, managed forests play a key role in reducing pressures on natural forests and make a meaningful contribution to conserving biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being. European Forests have been growing by over 1,500 football pitches every day. Between 2005 and 2015, European forests grew by 44,160km2 - that’s an area larger than Switzerland and equivalent to over 1,500 football pitches of forest growth every day. This has been due to afforestation (e.g. planting and seedling of trees on land that was not previously forested) and through natural expansion of forests such as on abandoned land. Forest area amounts to 215 million hectares in Europe, accounting for 33% of total land area, and other wooded lands cover an additional area of 36 million hectares. In comparison to other regions in the world, only South America has a higher percentage of forest cover (49%) than Europe. Steve Cropper, MD of Gemini Print ‘They are the top scoring European winners of the prestigious GREEN LEAF Award.’
We provide practical and business relevant ongoing training and support in all aspects of your Raring2go! business. The only thing you need to bring is an appetite to learn and unbridled enthusiasm to progress. And with unlimited support from the hands-on team at head office plus our genuinely close-knit network of brilliantly collaborative franchisees you will have the best of both worlds – your own business with support on tap. Raring2go! united – a collaborative network Since our formation in 2006 Raring2go! has enjoyed a real spirit of camaraderie amongst our franchisees. You will be joining a highly motivated and engaged network that works closely together as part of a regional team. We are a community of independent business owners. You will fit in from the moment you join us. Your success is important to us and our core belief that we are stronger when united is now more important than ever. You will be joining a network where we encourage everyone to play a part in our development as a brand. We share ideas and experiences in several different ways. This includes: Our franchisee council – the voice of the network, and central to our development. The council plays a vital role in most aspects of the business. Peer-to-peer support – this takes place across various private groups and forums, online and on social platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp. Face-to-face regional meetings - these take place throughout the year and provide a relaxed, informal environment for each franchisee to exchange ideas and best practice. Weekly Zoom calls - these provide a relaxed online meeting space where we all come together to talk, share ideas and swap success stories and the occasional setbacks too. Our annual network conference- which brings all franchisees together for a series of training workshops, keynote speakers, innovation announcements and face to face socialising of course. Induction training and ongoing support ‘You will be joining a highly motivated and engaged network.’ 10 • We will train you in advertising sales for your magazine and online • We will equip you with the skills to effectively promote your business in your territory • We will walk you through all aspects of the design and print production process of your magazine • We will introduce you to powerful back office systems designed to make your day to day operation easy • We will show you how to get to grips with the website content management system • We will train you in producing eye catching, revenue generating monthly E-newsletters • We will provide advice, guidance, and support on the best way to run and grow your business Raring2go! Aberdeen Awards
What other people say about Raring2go! At Raring2go! we work with a number of organisations and individuals in various business sectors. We thought you might find it useful to hear what they think about Raring2go! 11 As a marketer and a business author with decades of experience in franchising, I am always interested in talking to franchisors and looking at what they offer from the perspective of the franchisee. The Raring2go! business opportunity is nothing short of incredible; a testament to the passion, commitment and vision of Freddie St George and his team. I can’t speak highly enough of what franchisees are offered and the ongoing support they receive. The package is so all encompassing that a franchisee can open the doors for business after their induction training with everything they need at their fingertips – and joy of joys - working from home. Of equal importance, the respect shown to Raring2go! franchisees from Freddie (which I have witnessed in abundance from the earliest days), demonstrates his character and leadership style - generous, spirited, and collaborative. This was on show during the coronavirus pandemic when he went all out to support every franchisee. I encourage any person interested in this business opportunity to explore it without hesitation. It really is that fantastic! Dee Blick, No1 international bestselling business author The more I learn about Raring2go! the more impressed I become. And there’s always a positive buzz around the network of franchisees. We have supported several editors with our services to date and without fail everyone of them has nothing but good things to say about Freddie and his Head Office team and it’s clear they genuinely love what they do.’ Ian Jenkinson, Direct Route and AccountAssyst The phrase “businesses only exist to make money” may have to be rewritten? Raring2go! have something special…. No…. I mean REALLY special! From roots to branches, this team have got something that we can all learn from. In so many teams you get one or two of "support, collaboration and accountability” taking place, but rarely all three. Strong and passionate leadership has empowered their team to be open to learning and applying new ideas in their businesses. Franchisees who care not only about their business, but also their clients and suppliers, work together and fight to retain the spirit of fun and engagement that few teams retain for long. Working with so many teams you can be lucky to have some clients that you call a friend, but with Raring2go!, it is deeper than this. It is like working with, and being part of a family whom, once engaged with, invite you into their world. One day the franchise model will be based upon Raring2go!’ David Hyner, Professional goal setting speaker/trainer. Istarted my business career as part of two franchises and my experience wasn't a good one. I can only look back and wonder how different life might have been if my franchisor, the mentor that will help you start your business and then help you make it grow had been a man such as Freddie St George. I have known Freddie over ten years now as a supplier, a customer and now as a friend. In three words: Passion, Energy, Integrity. I could add more but as a prospective franchisee it's what I would be looking for. Your own research will tell you that Raring2go! is a brilliant set-up, it's not a get rich quick scheme, you must be committed and confident in your own ability, but alongside you is a mentor that will save you time and money on business set-up, and will match your dedication and commitment to your business with Passion, Energy, Integrity. I wish you the best of luck. Andrew Nash, Managing Director, Sussex Promotions Limited. Ihave had the pleasure of knowing the Raring2go! business for a number of years and can confidently say that they are one of the most supportive, collaborative and genuinely caring franchise businesses that I have come across. Raring2go! were early adopters in the UK of the ‘franchise council’ approach where a representative group of franchisees meet regularly with the franchisor to discuss and agree the approach and direction of the business. This has been invaluable in creating a collaborative franchise network where franchisees really feel part of the brand. At no time has the franchisor's supportive qualities been more evident than during the Covid-19 pandemic. During this stressful period Raring2go! showed it was: • Innovative, by rapidly switching to a "digital only" offering, allowing its franchisees to continue trading; • Financially supportive, by reducing monthly fees and negotiating great terms with suppliers; • Emotionally supportive, by hosting a weekly drop-in Zoom call to allow all franchisees to get together to discuss whatever troubles were on their minds; • Practical, by using the slow-down in activity levels to help franchisees better themselves and their businesses via online workshops hosted in collaboration with an array of business advisors, experts, gurus and even a bestselling author! Most franchisors will say that buying a franchise enables you to be in business ‘for yourself but not by yourself’, however with Raring2go! the evidence is certainly there to support that claim! Andy Fraser QFP, Albany Fraser Solicitors.
When we say ‘comprehensive’ we really do mean it. The approach we take to business is one of genuine transparency. So when we say we offer an all inclsuve and comprehensive start up package, that is exactly what it is. All training, guidance and support are included. We employ an independent sales training specialist to help develop your sales skills 1 on 1 and we deliver the practical hands on day to day training ourselves. It is in our best interests to offer you a fully inclusive start up package with no hidden costs. Our task is to equip you with the tools you will need so that you hit the ground running from the very start of your Raring2go! journey. Our start up package includes the following: • Exclusive Raring2go! territory • BFA approved franchise agreement • Operating Manual • No print costs for 12 months • No licence fees for 12 months • Branded stationery, business cards and merchandise • Comprehensive training on all systems and business operations • Bespoke Magazine Management System • Client Relationship Management System (CRM) • Ongoing training including social media training • Your own local Raring2go! website • Sales development training • Template letters and emails created by a world class writer • Practical on-going business support to keep you motivated and on track • Collaborative support from our amazing network of franchisees • Business development support via our experienced field-based team • Local area meetings and refresher training • Annual conference The real appeal of our start up package is that it gives you the option of starting your new business safe in the knowledge that you will receive no invoices from us in the first 12 months. This will make a significant difference to you, as every penny you generate in your first year in business is yours to do with what you will. Funding Depending on your circumstances you may choose to finance the entire purchase from personal funds. Alternatively, as an established and proven franchise, funding for new franchisees is available from various high street banks. Typically, they offer around 70% loan to value, subject to terms and conditions. We will happily make the connection if you are interested in securing bank funding. Let’s take a close look at the financials 12 How much does it cost to purchase a Raring2go! territory? It costs £21,995.00 + VAT to purchase a new Raring2go! territory. Our start up package is fully comprehensive and all inclusive. There are no hidden costs. The package removes virtually all operatings costs for the first 12 months of your new Raring2go! business. This innovative approach means you can focus, without distraction on building your Rarin2go! business in the most important period of your new business, the first full financial year.
Financials Your Raring2go! business is incredibly versatile and as such your earning potential depends entirely on you. Raring2go! can deliver a six figure income which some of our franchisees enjoy. Equally some choose to operate their business flexibly, around their families for example and so naturally earn less. It really is your choice. You can aim for the sun, moon, and stars from day one or build a business around your family or personal circumstances, pressing the take off button at a later stage. Being in business is not the same as having a job because ultimately your success is down to you. All your effort and experience will be required especially in the first year of trading. This is the ‘elbow grease’ stage where you are using your skills and your ethos of hard work to ‘get out’ there and create a foundation for Raring2go! in your local business community. You are never alone as you will find our head office team and network of amazing franchisees ready, willing, and able to guide you through this early stage and beyond. Once you have established your business you could potentially work around 24 hours a week and generate an income of between £25,000 to £35,000 from your print and online revenues. And our business model enables franchisees who are parents of young children to enjoy 13 weeks off for school holidays every year. Some franchisees choose to acquire second and third Raring2go! territories. This is when things get really interesting. More work of course but more rewards. And every day you are building an appreciating asset. ‘As an established and proven franchise, funding for new franchisees is available from various high street banks.’ ‘We support every franchisee in reaching for the stars with their Raring2go! business.’ 13 Versatile and flexible Change your working life and your life/work balance. Create a mini publishing empire or choose to work around your family 24-30 hours per week. Say goodbye to the costly daily commute and enjoy up to 13 weeks of school holiday every year. All inclusive start up packages offering a fast return on investment There are no hidden charges. Our start up package is designed specifically to ensure that you make profit from day one of your business. Up to 70% funding is available from High Street banks who know and understand our business model (subject to status). Your business will increase in value When the time comes for you to sell your business, we help you at every stage of the process. You will have done all the hard work so what you are selling is a proven asset. From experience our re-sale territories can command upwards of £30,000. Seriously low, manageable overheads Being home based enables you to control your overheads and work on a shoestring. Our fixed monthly management fee also enables you to forecast comfortably. You’ll save money on commuting costs and childcare costs. Your quality of life will also be enhanced, with a reduction in stress levels pretty much guaranteed!
When you’re considering a franchise, it’s important to see a natural fit between the business and your skills and talents. But you must also feel confident that you’re joining a network where the franchisor has your interests at heart and, that when the going gets tough, they’re on your side. Therefore, we want to share some of the actions we took to support our franchisees during the coronavirus pandemic. The problem facing us We distribute printed magazines through school book bags. The pandemic saw all schools closed within days. We decided that our summer editions would be digital E-Zines instead. We have been a multichannel business for many years so this was not a challenge. Usually our franchisees print one summer edition of Raring2go! but thanks to their vision, it became clear we could produce two summer digital magazines. This meant we could keep our audience on board and our advertisers. Because our magazines are unique in that they are truly local to our readers – families with young children – they would be up to date with what was happening (and what was not happening) in their local area. Collaboration – the heart of our franchisee network We work in a collaborative manner with our franchisees and have excellent channels of communication. In conjunction with our franchisee council - a group of franchisees who sit with us on a consultative panel making strategic decisions together - we set about producing our ‘plan’. Within four days of lockdown we had an action plan we were all agreed upon. Monthly Licence Fees We reduced our monthly licence fee by just under 40% of the usual fixed amount, from April 2020 to March 2021. Suppliers’ Costs We reduced the cost of print by reinstating pricing from 2017. This made a significant difference to our franchisees and was a real testament to the relationships we have built with suppliers. Communications with our franchisee network We established a weekly ‘drop in’ Zoom call for all franchisees. We had been using Zoom for some time but during this crisis it became a lifeline. We were mindful that some franchisees now had young children at home. So, we recorded Zoom calls and uploaded them to our franchisee system backing up each one with a detailed email, so no-one missed out. Franchisee council Weekly franchisee council Zoom meetings became a must so we could discuss any issues arising from our weekly network Zoom call. Many inspired decisions have been taken at these lively and positive sessions. It became evident during this time that our franchisee network respected the fact that everything planned was discussed and agreed by a representation of their peers before being implemented. Supporting advertisers and schools We issued guidance at the beginning of the lockdown on how our franchisees should work with their advertisers many of whom had been badly impacted by the lockdown. We decided to offer spring advertisers free space in our summer online editions. We knew how important this small gesture would be to the businesses that had supported our print magazines with regular advertisements. We provided guidance to franchisees on how best to support advertisers feeling the financial pinch of lockdown. We provided guidance to franchisees on how they could support the primary schools in their areas. We work closely with these schools and have built great relationships with them. We offered to promote the schools’ messaging to families. The positive reactions from advertisers, schools, and parents alike to these initiatives has been tremendously rewarding. When the chips were down, we all pulled in the same direction for the greater good. ‘Within days of lockdown we had an action plan we were all agreed upon.’ How we supported our franchisees during the Coronavirus pandemic 14
15 Talk us through your day… My day generally starts at 8am when I skim through emails over breakfast. This gives me the freedom to pop to the gym/walk the dog/meet a friend first thing to get my brain working. As my children are now grown up, I have the whole day to work if I choose to – I generally don’t – that’s one of the things I love about this job! No day is the same. It may comprise a heady mix of social media, website updates, meeting advertisers, walking up the high street to check out new businesses… networking, researching events to keep our What’s on section up to date or... even chatting with local mums to find out what they need to know. What do youmost like about your business? I absolutely love the variety! What has given me the most pleasure over the last 13 years is meeting someone with a brilliant new business idea, helping them to grow and knowing Raring2go! has been instrumental in that growth. I also love networking and meeting people who have given me ideas to help build my business; ideas I can pass on to others. How have you grown your business? Networking in all sorts of ways has been helpful to me. By asking to be introduced to specific people I have managed to adopt a less official approach which I feel is more beneficial. I love the fun aspect of the business and enjoy relaxed meetings. How did your franchisor react to the Covid-19 pandemic? Our franchisor has been amazingly supportive. Annual, national, and regular regional meetings have kept us formally updated and supported in the past. The Covid-19 situation was a potential disaster for us as a business, as we need the support of schools. Throughout this time, we have had weekly zoom meetings and as franchisees, we have been very much involved in decisions about how we adapt the business. We all have the same passion that the magazine must work for our customers and so going digital during this time was a no brainer. The flexibility of our contract was a great relief during this time too. From a financial perspective our franchisor has also been very generous in terms of our monthly fees and very fair in terms of payments. AnyWOWmoments for your business? Last year I held some advertiser awards with 13 categories. Over 4000 readers voted. This was a wow moment on its own but the ceremony itself sold out with nominees and winners attending with the most amazing evening full of praise for Raring2go! Another wow moment was when I met a lady for the first time and when she heard what I did she was so excited and said she “absolutely loved” Raring2go! Also, being told: “Raring2go is the only place we advertise now” from one of the biggest theatre schools in town who used to advertise literally everywhere - was special. How do you stay ‘fresh’ with your marketing? Even though my children are 21 and 24, I still love the challenge of each new issue and creating new ideas for features. My daughter is teaching me the wonders of Instagram stories and how I can use social media to help market my business. I love learning new skills. Any advice you would give to a person considering Raring2go! The most important prerequisite for this job is a passion for your local area. I’m a mum of two grown up girls but when I started out, they were little, and we loved attending local events and activities. I have a background in sales which really helped, and this was originally a career move I chose to fit around the family. Now the girls have flown the nest, I still seem to be loving it! An interview with Claire Healy of Raring2go! St.Albans and Harpenden ‘That’s one of the things I love about this job.’ Claire, Raring2go! St. Albans
How much does it cost to buy a Raring2go! franchise? A brand new Raring2go! franchise territory costs £21,995 + VAT. Our new areas are all mapped by franchise software and are all quite similar in size & revenue potential. As previously mentioned, our start up package removes all print costs for your first four printed editions as well as all licence fees for the first 12 months of your operation. This means you can focus 100% on building your business and that all revenue from your first year of trading is yours to do with what you will. Do I need working capital? You will need a small amount of working capital when you start to see you through the first quarter of your first year of operation. But you will generate ongoing working capital as you develop your Raring2go! business. Your regular overheads are low, in fact even lower in your first year of trading because of our innovative start up packages. So, the amount you need to allocate to working capital depends on which of our packages - Platinum, Gold or Silver – that you choose. Raring2go! is a fully fledged proven business that can be successfully run from your home on extremely low overheads. Ask us to show you real time forecasts of revenues from previous franchisees. How much money can I make? After the hard work of setting your business up we would envisage you earning £20,000 to £30,000 in year one and growing your income each subsequent year. Remember that your overheads are very low. Many of our franchisees work around 24 hours a week on average, so the potential to earn more is entirely in your hands. Additionally, if you exploit all the online advertising revenue streams from the outset you can expect to earn more. You can generate a six figure income if you are serious about growing your business and investing the effort that this entails. Do I have to learn how to design a magazine? The choice is yours. Some of our franchisees design their own magazine using industry standard packages such as InDesign to reflect their own personality and creativity - using our proven design templates which have made our magazines iconic. Other franchisees choose to outsource design to a professional designer freeing up more time to focus on advertising sales and growing their business. We can connect you with a bank of tried and tested designers that we use. Each designer knows our model and operates within a specified pricing structure. How do I find clients to advertise with me? We are skilled at building databases of local businesses that are a good fit for advertising in Raring2go! At your induction training we will show you how to do this for your area so that you can build a database of businesses and target them with a strong and appealing proposition. You will use our in-house customer relationship management system to manage all your data including diarising and making notes so your contacts are safely stored in one place and accessible from your desktop, tablet, or mobile device. How do I distribute my magazine? Our main distribution channel is through primary schools. During your induction training, we will walk you through our tried, tested, and proven formula to getting schools on board. You will also distribute your magazines in sports centres, bookshops, libraries, retailers, nursery schools and other venues that attract parents. We provide you with eye catching fully branded magazine dispensers to leave at these venues. What support / training will I receive? Our induction training is comprehensive and designed to ensure you are confident in all aspects of running your Raring2go! business. You will receive training and guidance in using all our backroom systems including our client relationship management system and our franchise management system. You will learn new skills using our content management system for the website and will learn about using social media platforms as part of the full suite of marketing products that you offer to potential advertisers. You will receive ongoing support from our head office team from day one. We are on hand between 9 to 5pm five days a week to respond to your needs and offer support guidance and advice. ‘We cover sales and marketing in our induction training.’ Some frequently asked questions and answers 16
17 Do Raring2go! franchisees work together? Yes. You are undoubtedly the boss of your own company but are still part of a wider regional team working alongside one another. We are a collaborative network. In fact, many of our franchisees sell advertising on behalf of other franchisees. Franchisees meet regularly and in between they communicate on Zoom, WhatsApp, and other channels. Do I have to live in the area in which my magazines are distributed? Not necessarily but you must know the area and your territory inside out. Most of our franchisees operate from the areas they live in. This naturally gives them a detailed knowledge of their territory and an edge as our magazines and 0websites are hyper local. Do I need a driving licence? Not for the day to day running of your business, but it is important that you can drive to magazine distribution and meeting your advertising clients. Do I need sales and marketing experience? Not necessarily, but you will benefit if you have a grasp of the basics of sales and marketing. However, we cover sales and marketing in our induction training, and it is an ongoing focus for training and mentoring. Having the right can do attitude, being willing to work hard and recognising the importance of delivering fantastic customer service are the three most important assets we look for. Can I purchase additional territories? Yes. A number of our existing franchisees currently operate more than one territory successfully. We offer incentives on purchase prices for second and third territories which make the transition to a multi site operator even more attractive. We will want to make sure though that you’re ready before you take the leap. Can I renew my franchise agreement after 5 years? Yes. We normally just levy the small legal cost that we face when we issue a new franchise agreement. Can I sell my business? Yes. At any time during the term of your agreement, you can sell your Raring2go! business. We will need to be involved in this process from the very early stages as we will need to make sure the person you are selling to is right for our business and that we are right for them. With the back end systems we have in Raring2go! the transition of ownership is very much turn key and the new franchisee will be ready to start operating quickly after they have completed our training. Got any questions you’d like to ask us? Ask away. That’s what we’re here for. Call us on01273 447101 or email our head office team at: franchise@raring2go.co.uk ‘You will generate ongoing working capital as you develop your Raring2go! business.’ Trish, Raring2go! General Manager Jenny, Raring2go! Harrogate
18 So what are the next steps? Let’s have a conversation It all starts with a conversation. So, get in touch and let’s talk. We will answer your initial questions, send you examples of our magazines and an application form. We call this the ‘getting to know you better’ stage. Let’s meet The next stage is arranging to meet at our offices in Sutton Coldfield. Come alone or bring your partner. At this meeting we will drill into the nuts and bolts of the Raring2go! business proposition. Before meeting you will have been asked to complete a non-disclosure agreement. This offers us a level of protection and safeguards any sensitive information we share with you. Speaking with Raring2go! franchisees It is time now for you to do your research. We will give you the contact details of some Raring2go! franchisees, leaving you to choose who to speak to and the questions to ask. This is important because it enables you to find out more from franchisees that are doing what you will hopefully be doing soon! We will also begin working on the fundamentals of your business plan. Legals and Financials Time to meet again. At this meeting we will decide together if we are right for one another. Both of us must be certain that all the pieces of the puzzle are on the table and fit snugly together. If the answer is an unequivocal yes, we will provide a copy of our standard franchise agreement for you to have reviewed by a solicitor experienced in franchising. We will also introduce you to the specialist franchise banks if appropriate. Time to kick start your Raring2go! business Now you will be asked to sign the franchise agreement, pay the franchisee fee and book onto your induction training. Of course, this marks the exciting point at which you begin a brand-new chapter in your life, hopefully your best one yet as a brand new Raring2go! business owner. ‘This marks the exciting point at which you begin a brand-new chapter in your life.’
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