5 Low Cost Business Opportunities That Are Perfect for Parents

Running a business might sound like an impossible task for parents, but it’s actually more viable than you might think.

Getting back into work is challenging for any parent. The challenges faced can be plentiful, from the struggles of finding practical care whilst you’re at work, to the mission of finding the money to actually manage. Returning to employment is usually the primary choice for parents getting back into work, mainly because either they didn’t think of starting a business, or didn’t think it would be feasible.

Franchising is great for parents. It’s a fact – as with many business ideas, there are opportunities to work flexibly and on a part time basis. There are even children-centered franchises that are actually designed to be perfect for parents.

What is a Franchise?

Franchising is a route to self employment. You become a business owner, self employed, but the brand and business model are already set out by another person, known as the franchisor. The franchisor initially built up a good quality, profitable business and decided to make that brand available for others to run in their own exclusive area. The principle, a straightforward, scalable business model designed to grow with minimal variation. Delivering the same products, the same services, the same friendly welcome.

Franchising for parents means you can become a part of a supportive framework and run a proven business. Minus the risk of entering self employment alone. Becoming a business owner does involve an investment of time and money, whichever way you go about it. But running a business, you should make that money back pretty soon. With franchising, your chances of success are higher (90%) than starting up alone (79%).

Becoming a business owner as a parent, you get access to support, training and everything you need to start the business, whatever it may be. Many franchises can be run on a part time basis. Flexible, you can scale your earnings and input depending on your ambitions.

Here are some of the best franchises and business opportunities that work really well for parents.

1. Children’s Events, Play and Activity Franchises

Younger years children businesses are in incredible demand. Soft play, sensory, postnatal and activity businesses are all popular children related business opportunities. Head on over to any local Facebook gossip group and you’ll see parents often asking for information about local classes.

Franchise opportunities UK have grown considerably, offering a wide array of choice. Mucky Ducks is an edible soft play franchise, the first of its kind in the UK involving play time with food! This experience introduces children to solids and helps through the weaning process. Meanwhile, Glo-Kids and Glo-Babies franchises offer entertainment and music for children of different age groups, as a three in one business maximising earning potential.

Children’s play and entertainment franchises are often low cost, typically requiring less than £10,000 of your own personal funds to get started. In fact, many are available for less than half of that. Why not explore some of the brands listed on Franchise Planet, including Mucky Ducks, Relax Kids and Glo-Group.

Best Children’s Activity, Soft Play and Messy Play Franchises in the UK

• Mucky Ducks Franchise – Messy and edible play sessions run by the business owner, who’s own children can also attend the sessions
• Tinies Franchise – A leading brand that has been established for a few decades
• Tappy Toes Franchise – Music and movement franchise founded by Claire Munday. The Tappy Toes franchise is recognised as a resilient and supportive childrens franchise

Many more of the best children franchises to own can be found in our directory.

2. Oven Cleaning Franchises

Oven cleaning businesses fetch between £60 – £150 per clean, earning figures which make the business model such an attractive idea. It’s also perfect for mums and dads because oven cleaning can be done on a part time basis, with your schedule booked around your personal commitments. Helpful early on, oven cleaning is also a top business for when the kids go to school. Working during school hours, you’ll be able to both take your kids to school and pick them up.

Exploring the sector, you may find that there are already enough oven cleaning businesses to go around, but many franchises find success in competitive markets. The established, recognised brand delivers a greater level of marketing power and the reputation already built up by other franchisees lends better perspective to those looking for a suitable oven cleaner. Compared to your competitors, you’ll likely be able to get hold of cleaning products and equipment through the franchisor at better cost thanks to buying power thereby enabling you to price your services much more competitively.

Best Oven Cleaning Franchises for Sale in the UK

Oven cleaning is a preferred business model for owner operators, individuals looking to run a business by themselves with minimal overheads. The difference between starting a new oven cleaning business and investing in a franchise is the support, brand and time it takes to get up and running. The franchisor will usually supply and fit a dip tank, providing all equipment you need to get up and running.

• Ovenu Franchise – One of the largest domestic oven cleaning franchises in the UK
• OvenClean – Part of Franchise Brands plc, owners of other leading franchise businesses including ChipsAway and Barking Mad
• Oven Wizards Franchise – Founders Mark and John run a professional oven cleaning franchise opportunity with all you need to get started.

3. Coffee Van Franchises

Coffee vans differ from coffee shop franchises in a number of ways. The most obvious, you’re bringing the coffee to the customer. Positioning your coffee van (or bike) in a location of prominence (train stations, community events) this is an owner operated business which caters for coffee loving entrepreneurs. If you’ve got a child that loves sleeping in their car seat, you’ve both met your match! The business model is perfect either as an owner operator, or as a partnership / married couple operated business.

Running a mobile coffee business boasts flexibility, just like many other owner operator franchise businesses.

Best Coffee Franchises to Own in the UK

Some of the best coffee franchises to own in the UK can be found below. Often run by a team of staff, the franchisor can take a hands-off, management approach to running the business. While coffee franchises usually expect capital of six figures and a premises,

• Coffee Blue Franchise – A van conversion coffee business
• Really Awesome Coffee franchise – Similar to Coffee Blue
• Jamaica Blue Franchise – Currently trending shop based coffee franchise
• Coffee Republic Franchise – Another top performer, a trending coffee business opportunity

4. Home Based Franchises

Obviously any home based franchise will be perfect for parents. Running a part time, home based business gives you the flexibility to attend to your children’s needs. Whether it’s picking up from school, or balancing work and care during term breaks, owning a home based business has its perks. Especially when you’re a parent. Home based franchises are great for parents not just because of the flexibility, but because of the costs as well. Running a franchise from home usually costs less, with fewer overheads. Despite being low cost, home based franchises remain profitable, because of their proven system.

Looking to run a business from home? Why not consider a home based franchise. Investing in a home based franchise is perfect for parents because you get access to an already-established, proven business model and brand. Therefore, less time is spent developing a brand that works. Obviously working from home isn’t for everyone, distractions are inevitable, but being the owner is different from employment, self discipline will kick in and your motivation to run a successful business will drive you forward.

Best Home Based Franchises in the UK

Some of the best home working franchises UK perfect for parents can be found below.

• Live Like Loyalty Franchise – A new home based business perfect for anyone with a sales background. The flexibility makes this a perfect choice for parent entrepreneurs looking to work from home.
• Certax Accountants Franchise – You don’t need an accounting background to run a Certax franchise, because you’ll receive full training and guidance.

5. Pet Franchises

It is a commonly quoted statistic that more than half of UK homes have a pet. Be it a dog, cat or any other type of animal, there are business opportunities catering for client’s specific needs. Many of which are available as pet franchises. Why are pet businesses perfect for parent business owners? Well just like the above, pet businesses are not only flexible, they’re low cost and in high demand as well. Given that half of homes have a pet, half of your franchise territory are already prospective customers. Whether you’re looking to run a van based pet food delivery business such as OSCAR, Husse or Trophy Pet Foods, or a cat sitting business like The Cat Butler franchise, flexibility and profitability are main motivators alongside the obvious love for pets.

Pet businesses work well for parents, because they can be booked in around the business owner’s diary. Walks or sitting might be aligned between school runs. Or the flexibility of the business means parents only need to work a few hours a day. Some fantastic pet franchises perfect for parents include:

Best Pet Food Franchises for Sale UK

Some of the best pet food franchises for sale in the UK perfect for parents, can be found below.

• The Cat Butler Franchise
• Dial a Dog Wash Franchise
• Husse UK Franchise
• Leading the Way Pet Care Franchise / OSCAR Pet Foods

Are You Thinking About Becoming a “Parentpreneur”?

For many business owners, franchising is a move forward that they haven’t looked back from. With a range of support available – from the franchisor, the British Franchise Association and many resources such as the FSB – franchising offers a supportive framework to get into business ownership. Whether you’re looking to get back into earning money or you’re a parent looking to eliminate employment once and for all, franchising is a great choice. It’s not for everyone, as you still have to meet the requirements set out in the franchise agreement and operations manual, but there are many benefits to owning a business through franchising.

Why not explore the franchises for sale at Franchise Planet and take your first steps to business ownership as a parent?