About Us

A great example of franchising at its best is Raring2go! magazine. With an operation of some 60 editors throughout the UK, Raring2go! was established in 2006 as a franchise system and was purchased in 2009 by its largest supplier, who had been involved since its inception. Raring2go! is now operated by ethically-motivated franchisor, Mojo Publishing Ltd. Raring2go! is a member of the BFA and EWIF (Encouraging Women into Franchising).

Raring2go! is fast becoming recognised across the UK as the definitive 'local' guide for interesting, educational and fun activities for those who have or are looking after children. Raring2go! has crosses seamlessly across the offline (magazines) to online (local websites).

It provides its editors with stable, fully supported and financially rewarding business solutions, distributing over 750,000 copies quarterly, with lively and interesting content focussed on local areas but with features from well-known contributors such as resident chef Gino D'Acampo and celebrity parents including Sarah Beeny, Carol Vorderman, Sally Gunnell and Emma Bunton. Magazines are distributed free to Early Years Foundation and Key Stage 1 and 2 children in primary schools as well as at local libraries, playgroups, nurseries, leisure centres and supermarkets.

How The Raring2go! Franchise Works

Raring2go! is targeted at the parents, guardians and carers of children up to 11 years old and is available in two very distinct formats:

1. A magazine that is distributed free to Early Years Foundation and Key Stage 1 and 2 children in primary schools, local libraries, playgroups, nurseries, leisure centres etc, on a quarterly basis.
2. A national website – with a local edge. Our new website went live in Spring 2010 and adds its considerable digital weight to Raring2go! All Raring2go! franchise owners access and update their own 'local' areas of the website via our bespoke content management system.

Key Benefits

Here are the six most compelling reasons why people choose to become a Raring2go! franchise owner:

• Low start up cost, proven BFA member, full training and ongoing mentoring/support
• Escape the hum drum of the 9 to 5 and become your own boss in charge of your future
• Flexibility to work hours that suit and still attend to family commitments
• Join an established network of 60 like minded individuals
• Produce a respected, seriously useful publication which adds real value to the community
• National brand with local appeal, focus and relevance

Who Is An Ideal Franchise Owner?

We look for individuals who: -

• are local to the area with lots of local knowledge
• poccess drive, passion and enthusiasm to succeed
• ideally have sales and marketing background
• enjoy talking and meeting with people
• have good PC skills

So if you're considering starting up your own business, maybe you've been made redundant or your children are growing up, leaving you with an urge to rekindle a career, consider joining of Raring2go! and work alongside a talented and committed team of franchise business owners, publishing your own magazine.

What could be better than a commute of less than a minute or two to wherever you've set up your office?! No struggling on crowded buses or trains here. Just a commitment, energy and focus on making your business work.

Of course, nothing comes for free and there is an investment to be made.

The total investment depends on the territory size but starts at £9,995 + VAT, which excludes any overnight expenses incurred during initial training, and working capital. Routes to funding are available subject to status via the franchise departments of two high street banks. Raring2go! has developed a working relationship with NatWest and HSBC, both of which have specialist franchise departments so R2g! recommends consulting them (or any other provider of choice) to get financial advice prior to making a final decision.

Territories are determined by the numbers of primary school age children in the area and peak at a maximum investment of £13,995 + VAT.

Case study

Helen Murray, a 45-year old former primary school teacher originally from New Zealand, joined Raring2go! almost three years ago and is the archetypal example of a Raring2go! franchise owner.

With her two children growing up, Helen really wanted to work as well as 'just being a mum'. She has a son of six and a daughter, 9, who has a lot of ill health so her family have very special requirements. Helen felt employers would hardly be banging at her door to take her on as she could potentially be often absent when her daughter needed her.

She had what she describes as her 'Eureka moment' one day while at the hairdressers. She read an article in a magazine about a mother who published a Raring2go! magazine. "I thought 'I can do this' and it sounded like it could be the right opportunity", Helen remembers.

Before making such an important decision though she spent several months researching and questioning the franchisor, and realised it did tick all her boxes – a flexible, fulfilling business opportunity although one which needed commitment, hard work and dedication.

"One of the great things about running a Raring2go! magazine is that I can do it from anywhere. My laptop comes everywhere with me – I take it on holiday and even into hospital – and I can put in the hours as it suits me" says Helen, "but it's really rewarding, very creative and it means I get the social side that I don't get as a stay at home mum. I actually get to talk to adults on a daily basis!"

Describing running the business as "incredibly hard work", Helen says she gets a buzz each time she sends off a magazine to the printers and can't wait until she gets it back to see how great it looks in print.

"It's certainly a five day a week job" she adds, "especially when there's a deadline looming, but normally I'm at my desk by 9.30am and leave at 2.30pm for the school pick-up. I love the challenge and daily workout my brain gets in the process of pulling a whole magazine together.

"No two days are the same. It depends where in the life-cycle of the magazine I'm at and can involve anything from writing sales letters or emails, phoning prospects or advertisers, chasing artwork, designing the magazine or even driving around delivering. It's quite difficult to switch off as when you work from home, it's tempting to just check emails as you pass the computer, and it's amazing how many I get outside of normal working hours. I do a fair bit of business at weekends, before the kids go off to school and late at night. Most of this is with other working mums also trying to fit in work around their families. My husband and I have been together 25 years and work well as a team. He's great with the kids and gives me lots of space to work on the magazine.

My advice to others looking at franchising as an option is to do lots of research first. Check out the competition and see if there's a place in the local market for you. Talk to other editors, ask lots of questions and be honest with yourself about whether or not you're really happy selling advertising space, which is probably one of the things people feel less confident about".

Helen clearly has a flair because she has already been successful as a Raring2go! editor and has expanded her territory into the neighbouring area. She now runs her original patch of Salisbury where she cut her teeth together as well as the bigger Bournemouth territory and is relishing the fresh challenges that the new area has brought.

Raring2go! franchise owners benefit from full training and support right from the start and are supplied with a computer, IT training and magazine templates as well as the guidance and friendship of fellow editors and neighbouring franchise owners The head office team continue supporting franchise owners with friendly, experienced guidance and care and are always at the end of a phone and often out in the field too.