Baby/toddler group franchises

[Buglife]

I’ve been a SAHP for DS for 6 months, he starts Reception in September, and I’m 23 weeks pregnant with DS2 so I’m looking at being at home until next summer. I want to look at going back to work/finding something to earn money from home so DS 2 can go to Nursery a couple of days a week. My background is in working with children (preschool age) and promoting literacy/Bookstart etc and running children’s events. I’ve worked with Sure Start before (and would love to but they are so chronically underfunded and many centres have closed).

There are lots of baby/toddler groups in my large town, and I’ll be going to a lot in the next year! I’ve looked and there are numerous franchises for baby groups. I’ve seen one that is based around sensory stories and is suitable for babies and toddlers but can also be suitable for children with SEN. I have in my previous job done sensory story times and they are great.

My worry is that these franchises aren’t very profitable, or how do you work out if they are very well conceived/supported. Also if I was only doing it 3 days a week could I make enough money to make it worthwhile... I’d be looking at paid childcare for DS2 to do the groups and that could easily cost more than I earn! Also there is a huge appetite for these groups where I live (very high birth rate, loads of families, fairly affluent, lots of schools etc) but there are a lot out there which are movement, music or phonics based etc and I wonder if a story based one would be a draw. I currently volunteer and do free events at the library and having spent years and years providing these things for free I feel a bit weird for charging and would worry it was worth people’s hard earned money!

Has anyone set up and run and of these groups and have any advice/tips?

[TrollTheRespawnJeremy]

Can you not just set up your own one that isn't franchised?

Most people with small babies take them with them to these rhyme time type things- or have a family member to help out.

If you have to pay childcare I don't know that it would be worth doing.

[DrunkOnCalpol]

I go to a franchised baby group where the leader takes her baby, I think that's normal.

[Storythefrog]

I run The Story Frog which is a lovely franchise - we are low cost and an amazing team of teachers you can google us to find out more and get in touch :)

[spinabifidamom]

I’m a freelance tutor and childcare provider. Go for it. I go to a local mom and baby group for advice and adult conversation too. Ask about the going rate for the area. Our local sure start centre hosts a lot of activities for families in the area. I’ve tried them in the past with my two children before I went back to work.