Welcome to our guide to baby franchises UK! If you’ve been enjoying attending baby & toddler classes and are thinking about starting your own, then a baby franchise opportunity might be right for you.
Read on to get the inside track on the best baby and toddler franchise opportunities available nationwide throughout the UK. What they are, how to find them, and how they work.
Have you got a baby franchise opportunity to add to this list? Apply here.
Please Note – This blog is a paid partnership sponsored by franchisors.
Best baby franchise opportunities
We’ve brought together some of the best baby and toddler franchise opportunities currently available in the UK and put them in one place.
View the full list of franchises below, read about how to choose a franchise, or jump straight to one of these categories:
- Sensory & Baby Development franchises
- Music, Dance and Drama franchises
- Arts and Crafts franchises
- Language, Literacy and Numeracy franchises
- Sports and fitness franchises
- Massage, Yoga and Wellbeing franchises
- Other franchises
About baby and toddler group franchising
Why choose to franchise?
The juggle of working life can be tricky after having children, so it’s no surprise that many parents decide to set up their own business and ditch the 9 to 5 in favour of flexibility in a rewarding career.
But setting up a new business from scratch is a scary prospect. Developing your class format whilst learning everything there is to know about running a business is a tough process, and this is where a franchise opportunity can really make sense.
By joining an existing franchise, not only has someone else has already tried and tested the business and proved the model works, there is a community of other franchisees to support you. The franchisor has made the initial investments (both in time and money) to establish a brand, design a class curriculum and set up a business infrastructure. In some cases, they may even have a loyal customer base ready and waiting for you.
You can hit the ground running safe in the knowledge that someone will be there to support you along the way.
How does franchising work?
Buying into a franchise usually involves making an upfront investment. This can be anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand pounds and reflects the franchise owner’s hard work in growing the business to date, the training and ongoing support you’ll get and the potential revenue that you are likely to generate as a franchisee. Although it can seem like a large sum, it’s worth comparing this to what you might spend setting up your own business from scratch and the time it takes to create a reliable format that parents love.
You’ll usually be granted exclusive access to a particular geographic area, so that you are the only franchisee operating there. This protects your investment so that no-one else is competing with you for customers with the same format in that area.
Once you’re up and running, it’s up to you to make money from your franchise. You can generally expect the franchisor to help with marketing, training and operational support. You may then pay either a monthly or annual fee, or some other type of commission to the franchisor in return for their ongoing support.
What skills do I need?
You may already have an obvious skill to base your business around – for example, if you are a dancer, artist, actor, musician or teacher. But don’t worry if that’s not you! You’ll likely have lots of other transferable skills from your working life to date, or other interests you can turn into a business.
Are you outgoing and good with people? Can you speak a foreign language or love to cook? Do you have a hobby like crafting, singing or sports? There are baby and toddler businesses operating in all of these areas. And many franchisors will train you up – so you might not think you have any relevant skills, but enthusiasm and a desire to learn can be more than enough to go far.
In some cases, you can even choose to focus solely on the business side of the franchise and hire teachers to deliver the classes for you. This approach may mean you don’t make as much profit in the early days, but it can help you to grow a bigger business in the long run.
Directory of Baby Franchise Opportunities
- Sensory & Baby Development franchises
- Music, Dance and Drama franchises
- Arts and Crafts franchises
- Language, Literacy and Numeracy franchises
- Sports and fitness franchises
- Massage, Yoga and Wellbeing franchises
- Other franchises
Sensory and Baby Development Classes
Baby College
About the business
Baby College offers weekly parent and baby development classes in venue and online to parents with babies or young children from 0 to 3+ years old.
Classes are 45 min and run in three age groups 0-9m, 9-18m & 18m-3y
Classes have been running since 2000. The business was launched as a franchise in 2015. As of 2020 there are 20 UK areas running successfully and 6 international franchisees in Singapore, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Russia, Turkey & China.
Training
Baby College provides well-planned training which covers 6 full days and includes class teaching, insight knowledge, operational training and marketing including social media training.
There are regular workshops and oodles of ongoing support from the directors and from the other members of the Baby College franchise team.
We can currently offer full training online using Zoom and the option to start teaching on Baby College at Home initially, plus flexible Covid allowing start dates.
Initial Investment: £4,950. Location: UK Wide – large exclusive territories available. Please contact for details.
Find our more: Baby College Franchising.
Contact Baby College by email or phone 07986 014818.
LullaBaby
About the business
LullaBaby offers a wide variety of activities for babies and toddlers from birth to 2 years old. These activities have been specifically designed and chosen to expose babies experiences that will build connections in the brain and promote their early development, including: Baby Massage, Baby Yoga, Sensory Play, Calming & Relaxation Techniques, Baby Sign Language Music.
Training
The LullaBaby Franchise offers a comprehensive package of practical training and on-going support, directly from founder, Jo, who has 20 years experience in the child development industry
Initial investment: £3,250. Location: UK wide
Find out more: LullaBaby Franchises. Contact by email or phone 07889163938.
Playtimes
About the business
Playtimes Sensory Classes are beautifully designed and built on all round quality, are highly acclaimed by attendees and take propelling learning through play in a purposeful way…to the next level! We love to light up their learning, because our background is from 20+ years experience as an early years educator, we understand how to hand select our resources and activities for boosting baby’s and children’s development forwards effectively and with confident conviction.
Imagine being immersed in your own magical play environment, filled with vibrant colour, sparkly rainbows, glowing effect lighting, original Playtimes songs.. meet your friendly assistant mascot ‘Magic Monkey!’ Nurture and grow your own business with confidence building classes for 0-4yrs, enjoy providing unique and different fun-themed activities for promoting their development and social goals. (Est. 2018)
Training
Playtimes offers a comprehensive package for getting started on your journey, delivering your guidance, a detailed code of working manual, specific scripted class planning for each themed activity, Playtimes marketing blueprint, bank of digital content for social media, makaton sign training and puppet training with reliable, dedicated trustworthy points of contact giving help and support for you.
Awards and Recognition
Luxlife Lifestyle Magazine Award Winners, Best Baby & Preschool Activity Providers 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021.
Initial investment: £5977 Location: UK wide
Find out more: Contact by email or phone Lucy 0114 4492928
Music, Dance and Drama franchises UK
Amanda’s Action Club
About the business
Amanda’s Action Club provides active music sessions to toddlers and children, educating children on the importance of being active and healthy from a young age. As the demand for high quality early years education is at an all time high, there could not be a better time to get involved with Action Club.
Awards and recognition
Member of the Children’s Activities Association and nominated for a What’s on Kids award in 2017.
Training
Providing Action Club franchisees with the highest level of support and a well proven business model, means every franchisee has the very best opportunity to succeed at managing their own branch of Action Club.
Initial Investment: £4,995. Location: UK Wide.
Find our more: Amanda’s Action Club Franchising.
Contact Amanda’s Action Club by email or phone 01895 623999.
Diddi dance
About the business
Diddi dance is award winning and family friendly, with a strong support network. Funky, full of dance sessions enhance children’s endless energy to increase confidence, co-ordination and creativity in children under five years old.
Training
The franchise package provides branding, full training, on going support and much more.
Awards and recognition
With a proven franchise system that has been running for over 10 years, more than 40 franchises running across the UK, accreditations & endorsements from both the Children’s Activities Association (CAA) & Exercise Movement Dance UK (EMDUK) and more than 10 franchise industry awards to date, the diddi dance franchise opportunity works perfectly for individuals who want to be in business for themselves, not by themselves.
Initial investment: Please contact us. Location: Across the UK, ask for details.
Find out more: diddi dance Franchises. Contact by email or phone 07956 558842
Hartbeeps
About the business
Hartbeeps is a multi-award winning magical classes for babies & toddlers, incl. nurseries & parties. Our ground breaking multi-sensory, musically themed classes, fuelled by passion originality, have seen us lead the way in creativity for little people & grown ups!
Training
Gold standard Baby Massage and Baby Yoga Teacher Training / 1-1 mentoring in programme content and delivery, business development and marketing
Initial Investment: From £6,000 (suggested additional investment of £3,000 for prop kit). Location: Opportunities UK wide (enquire to find out more)
Find out more: Hartbeeps Franchises. Contact by email
Jittabugs
About the business
Jittabugs offer pre-school activities and dance for ages 0-5yrs . Our sister company Jittabugs Theatre School also offers mixed performing arts for ages 4 upwards.
Training
Four days training including marketing / social media / accounts / programs / policies and more. We have a tutor support forum and on hand six days a week.
Awards and recognition
Winners of Mum’s in the Know Best in Class for 0 to 2 years olds and 2 to 4 years in 2015. They have also been shortlisted for the Mum and Working awards as well as the International Whats’s on for Kid’s awards.
Initial Investment: From £3000. Location: Opportunities UK wide
Find out more: Jittabugs Franchises. Contact by email
Monkey Music
About the business
Monkey Music is widely recognised as the UK’s premium music brand. Monkey Music is an award winning franchise with business owners coming from all walks of life. This franchise could offer you the opportunity to grow your own business with the support of a well known and proven brand that has been running for over 25 years.
Training
Monkey Music has a dedicated support department to provide ongoing training and support. This includes a residential training course and a personalised mentoring schedule including visits and calls. Ongoing support is tailored to individual franchisees and opportunities are provided to meet other franchisees.
Initial investment: £13,975 plus VAT. Location: UK wide
Find out more: Monkey Music Franchises. Contact by email or phone 01582 766464
Moo Music
About the business
Moo Music offer multi award-winning interactive music sessions to children under five alongside their parents, grandparents or carers. The sessions are uplifting, positive, educational and ultimately fun! If you are interested in joining Maggie Moo and the Croo then you could become a Moo Music ‘Farmer’ too.
Training
A full business in a box is provided alongside a full training plan.
Awards and recognition
Winners of Mum’s in the Know Best in Class for 0 to 2 years olds and 2 to 4 years in 2015. They have also been shortlisted for the Mum and Working awards as well as the International Whats’s on for Kid’s awards.
Initial Investment: Enquire for details. Location: Opportunities UK wide
Find out more: Moo Music Franchises. Contact by email
Music Bugs
About the business
Established as a franchise in 2007, Music Bugs provide award-winning classes for ages newborn to 5 years, where the emphasis is on sensory and play-based development through the power of music and singing.
In addition to running weekly classes, our franchisees can enjoy additional income streams by running holiday classes, birthday parties and sessions in early years settings.
Training
Our franchise partners come to us from a variety of different backgrounds, all bringing their own unique experiences and skills to their classes and the network.
Full initial training in all aspects of running classes and becoming business-ready is provided, in addition to ongoing training and support.
Initial Investment: £7000 to £9000 plus VAT Location: Generous territories available UK wide
Find out more: Music Bugs Business Opportunities Contact by email
Tappy Toes
About the business
Award winning dance and movement classes for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. Tappy Toes was established in Hertfordshire in 2005. 30 minutes classes capturing little ones imaginations, improving rhythm and coordination, motor and social skills, grace and poise and so much more!
Training
Full ongoing bespoke training and support, tailored to the individual franchisee.
Tappy Toes Says:
A flexible, family friendly business, perfect for a working parent, or anyone who loves working with children and has the ambition to work for themselves. YOU set your class days and times, YOU set your term dates, YOU decide whether to work in school holidays or weekends, and WE support you every step of the way!
Initial Investment: £8,000(+VAT) Location: Opportunities UK wide
Find out more: Tappy Toes Franchises. Contact by email or phone 01923 218 626
Zip Zap
About the business
Zip Zap provides award-winning weekly drama, music and sensory classes for children under 5. Our Little Zippers is for 10 months up to 5 years old and our Baby Zappers is for babies up until they are walking or 10 months.
Training
Zip Zap provide all the training you will need to start your own Zip Zap business. This will be tailored to your specific needs and skill set with ongoing support.
Initial Investment: £4,995 Location: UK wide
Find out more: Zip Zap Kids Franchise. Contact by email or phone 07572 940731
Arts and Crafts baby franchises UK
ARTventurers
About the business
ARTventurers run award-winning, colourful, creative art classes for babies, toddlers and children throughout the UK – they’re all about learning and development through art and creative play, often getting quite messy in the process! ARTventurers offer fun, flexible franchise opportunities where you could run your own ARTventurers business in your local area.
Training
ARTventurers offer a comprehensive training programme for all new franchisees together with ongoing training, mentoring and support for all ARTventurers franchisees throughout their franchise lifetime. There’s very much a team approach at ARTventurers and there’s a fab, supportive and creative franchise network!
Awards and recognition
ARTventurers won Overall Top Franchise and Most Supportive Franchise in the Working Mums Top Franchise Awards 2017.
Initial investment: £4,995. Location: Across the UK, ask for details.
Find out more: Artventurers Franchise. Contact by email
Popolo Ceramico
About the business
Popolo Ceramico is a mobile ceramics business that specialises in capturing baby and children’s hand and footprints in paint, clay and plaster. Established for 8 years with franchises right across the North East of England, it has now launched family friendly flexible franchises within the rest of the UK. Age range is mainly 0-5, but pottery painting parties are available for any age.
Training
A 4-day training course includes a full operations manual, followed by ongoing support from the popolo team, online training refresher videos and an online forum where tips and ideas are exchanged with the franchise network.
Initial investment: £6,995 including a Top 100 Nabertherm kiln (worth £2,288), 4 days training (worth £1,000), enough stock and marketing materials to get started (worth over £1,000), full support from the Popolo team, your own page on the website and much more. Location: Franchises available throughout the UK. Contact Popolo Ceramico for details.
Visit: Popolo Franchises or watch a video about franchise opportunities or video meeting a franchisee. Contact by email or phone 07412682588.
Language, Literacy and Numeracy franchises in the UK
Debutots
About the business
Debutots is the UK’s multi award-winning children’s franchise opportunity. Our unique interactive storytelling and dramatic play classes are for children aged 6 months – 7 years. With a new and original story each week our classes equally promote skilful communication, develop cognitive skills and grow a child’s positive sense of themselves and of others. Debutots is a wonderful opportunity to take a life changing step into a rewarding career that you can build around your lifestyle.
Training
Franchisees benefit from the security of a carefully crafted product and are able to grow their business with award-winning personal support from the diligent Head Office team. Support starts at the application stage and is ongoing for the lifetime of this baby franchise in the UK.
Initial investment: £7920 +VAT. Location: UK.
Find our more: Debutots Franchises. Contact: fra[email protected]. or phone: 03333 449780.
Little Learners
About the business
Little Learners is a multi award-winning preschool company which offers educational messy play for babies to preschoolers aged 5 months to 5 years. It was created in 2015 by a qualified early years teacher. She designed an innovative mark making programme following the journey of four fun characters which is followed in class. Messy play, painting, play dough, scribbling, dance and more are used to encourage children to mark make and learn early writing skills through play.
Training
Training is flexible and family friendly just like the franchise opportunity! Franchisees have access to online training videos via google team drive, an operations manual and a huge library of online resources. Support is 24/7 which inlcudes a private franchisee Facebook group, help from head office when needed and a dedicated franchisee mentor on hand to support whenever needed.
Awards and recognition
Little Learners is a nationally recognised brand. In 2016 Little Learners was a finalist in six national awards, including achieving “Highly Commended” for Franchisor of the Year in the mumandworking Awards and Best New Children’s Activity in the What’s on 4 Junior Awards in June 2016. In 2017 it won Business Growth of the Year in the Networking Mummies Awards, New Woman Franchisor in the EWIF Awards, Best Newcomer in the Top Franchise Awards and three franchisees were nominated for Franchisee of the Year in the workingmums awards.
Initial investment: £4,995. Location: Across the UK.
Find our more: Little Learners Franchises. Contact by email or phone 07917 738 779.
Sports franchises
The Little Gym
About the business
The Little Gym owners come from various backgrounds, but they all share the same
goal: to become successful business owners while at the same time making
a difference in the lives of children.
With more than 400 locations across the globe, The Little Gym offers the world’s premier experiential learning and physical development experience for kids ages 4 months to 12 years. Progressively structured classes and a positive learning environment create opportunities for children to try new things and build self-confidence, all with a grin that stretches from ear to ear. The Little Gym uses gymnastics as a conduit to promote these learnings and skills, all in a non-competitive environment.
Training
The Little Gym Europe provides comprehensive support in all aspects of the business throughout your journey with us. Our Training Department and Business Consultants are there for you every step of the way, from site selection, pre-opening, launch day and regular training events for all gyms throughout the year.
The training is not just about the curriculum, The Little Gym Europe’s Head Office team and our owner’s support team provide support to help fast-track your business growth.
Awards and recognition
The Little Gym is a proud member of the British Franchise Association and has received numerous awards as a brand and our owners in their communities.
- #1 Children’s Fitness Franchise – 2020 & 2019 Entrepreneur Magazine
- Top 500 Franchises – 2019, 2018, 2017 & 2016 Entrepreneur
- Top 50 Franchise Satisfaction Award – 2019, 2018 & 2017 Franchise Business Review
- Top 200 Franchises Around the World – 2018 Entrepreneur Magazine
Initial Investment: Please contact to discuss the various opportunities. Location: Multiple (please see website for more information)
Find out more: The Little Gym Franchises. Apply through This Form. Or contact by phone 07719109274
Little Kickers
About the business
Little Kickers strives to provide every pre-school child with a positive introduction to sport and become the market leader in the pre-school football sector worldwide. Established in 2002 the business now operates across 6 continents. An ever-expanding network of successful franchisees, who have regular input into the way the business is run, and operate as part of a large team of like-minded individual is one of the reasons Little Kickers is so successful.
Training
Excellent initial and ongoing training and support. The initial training provides franchisees with a thorough understanding of all aspects of running a Little Kickers business. Ongoing training includes regular training masterclasses and coaching assessments as well business health checks.
Awards and recognition
Little Kickers have been awarded membership of the British Franchise Association, Canadian Franchise Association and the Franchise Council of Australia.
Initial Investment: Please contact for info. Location: Limited availability due to success, but do contact for more details.
Find out more: Little Kickers Franchising. Contact Little Kickers by email
Nemo Swimming
About the business
Nemo Swimming provides swimming lessons for babies, toddlers, and young children. It has experienced incredible growth over the last nine years, and had a lot of fun along the way. As the demand for children’s swimming lessons continues to increase, Nemo Swimming is now looking for enthusiastic franchisees to help take the Nemo Swimming brand UK-wide.
Training
An in-depth induction programme is provided to help run a successful franchise. This includes: a detailed learning programme for the delivery of children’s swimming lessons; on-site support during business set-up and launch; local marketing and PR support; on-going support and access to in-depth knowledge and expertise; detailed operations manual; your own personalised section on the Nemo Swimming website; and an initial stationery pack.
Initial investment: From £6,000 + VAT. Location: Multiple.
Find out more: Nemo Swimming. Contact by email or phone 0191 281 7678.
Playball
About the business
Playball provides sports coaching and strives to encourage children to engage confidently in a wide range of sports skills, preparing them for years of positive and competent sports participation. With over 400 franchises worldwide and after running for 30 years, you can confidently say that the Playball franchise is a hugely successful business opportunity. Moreover, if you are a mother, a father or just someone looking to do something meaningful in life, the Playball Franchise will fit your lifestyle. You are able to run your Playball franchise part-time or full-time, it completely depends on you.
Training
A franchisee is offered training (Consisting of theory training, practical training, buddy coaching and business training), support workshops (16-week workshops), support trainers (franchise owners with at least 10 years of coaching experience in our business), and business support (a business package which includes established business advice, IT support, coaching systems and marketing materials).
Initial investment: Please Contact for info. Location: World Wide
Find out more: Playball. Contact by email or phone 073 429 02451
Tumble Tots
About the business
Tumble Tots has been Britain’s leading physical play programme for young children for the last 25 years. This franchise believes that every child should have the opportunity to experience the joys of growing up, the challenges of developing new skills and the satisfaction of success. We are totally committed to building a healthier future.
Training
Full training and ongoing support is provided
Awards and recognition
Tumble Tots’ mission is to develop children’s essential ‘Skills for Life’ and to create a positive association with physical activity in children from an early age, we are passionate about helping little ones grow up healthy and happy.
There is no better time to become a part of the Tumble Tots family, throughout 2024, Tumble Tots will be celebrating their 45th anniversary, so what better year for you to not only build your skills for life, but to build them for the early years children in your local area.
Initial Investment: Please contact us Location: UK wide
Find out more: Tumble Tots Franchises. Contact Tumble Tots by email or call 0121 585 7003.
Massage, Yoga and Wellbeing franchises in the UK
Kalma Baby
About the business
Kalma Baby teaches children’s yoga from 6 weeks to around 18 years in a fun and innovative way. Promoting children’s health and well-being, it aims to make yoga much more easily accessible to children in the UK. Launched in 2014, it has 15 franchises delivering classes privately and in schools and nurseries in the North East of England. Following their current success, they are now looking for passionate people wanting to run their own children’s yoga business, in their own area of the UK.
Training
All training is accredited through the IICT and CPD standards agency. Kalma Baby holds a good accreditation with the Children’s Activities Association. Training is provided to cover all aspects of teaching children’s yoga and running your business in-house. A year long mentoring program and marketing support is available all the way.
Awards and recognition
Kalma Baby was nominated as supportive Franchisor of 2018.
Initial investment: £5,995. Location: Across the UK except North East England.
Find out more: Kalma Baby Franchises. Contact Kalma Baby by email or call 07951 490 757.
Tots Play
About the business
Tots Play provides unique, multi-activity developmental play classes for babies and toddlers from birth to 4 years. Combining the benefits of massage, yoga, music, signing, sensory and physical play with even more fun, Tots Play is every class a child needs in one! Tots Play classes run across the UK.
If you would like to work around your family, earn a great income, be part of a successful, growing team AND love what you do – then a Tots Play franchise could be just what you are looking for. Take the first step to making the change that your life needs and get in touch today.
Training
Full training and ongoing support are provided.
Initial investment: £3,995. Location: Across the UK, ask for details.
Find out more: Tots Play Franchises. Contact by email or phone 01633 897841.
See Also
Other baby franchises in the UK
Kiddy Cook
About the business
Kiddy Cook offers fun and inspirational cookery workshops to young children. Kids have fun with hands-on gastronomic experiments and everyone takes home their delicious dish together with a wipe clean recipe card to cook again at home. If you would like to have fun whilst making a real difference then we could be the franchise for you.
Full training and support offered including team meetings twice a year, bank of recipes, ongoing phone and email support, dedicated Facebook group as well as marketing material.
Initial investment: contact for info. Location: opportunities UK wide
Find out more: Kiddy Cook Franchises. Contact Kiddy Cook by email or phone 07976 619 648.
Would you like your baby franchise opportunity to be featured in this guide? Apply here.
Happity is powered by a team of remote- and flexibly-working parents. Visit Happity to find baby groups and toddler activities near you.
Find out more about the Happity story or join our Happity Facebook group catered to providers of classes for 0-5 year olds.
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