Families Magazine franchise

Min investment
£12,500

Outlets
35

Families Magazine franchise

The leading free magazine for local parents

More than 4 million copies of Families magazine are published and distributed to local parents throughout the UK every year. Families is the go-to guide for parents wanting to get the best out of their local area

Minimum investment
£12,500

Funding support
Yes

Total investment
£12,500

Franchise fees
N/A

Business type
Franchise

Expected revenue after 2 years
N/A


Minimum investment
£12,500

Outlets
35
  • Operating fee:
    N/A
  • Advertising fee:
    N/A
  • Royalty fee:
    8% every two months
  • Average floor space:
    N/A

About Families Magazine
Franchise

Are you a parent looking for a fun and flexible home-based business opportunity? A highly motivated achiever looking to move beyond the corporate world? Then you may be interested in acquiring a Families magazine franchise.

Owning a Families magazine franchise allows you to work flexibly from home. You can juggle your own hours, be your own boss and build an asset to sell in the future. At the same time, you can access full training, back up and support from an experienced team at Head Office.

Families is an established magazine franchise with a proven history and track record dating back 25 years. Families trail-blazed the free parenting magazine model and is a leader in the field. So you don’t need prior publishing experience: you are buying tried and tested business practices and a complete package of resources to run your business. We have 35 existing editions publishing more than 4 million copies a year and are now looking to start new franchises in many areas of the UK including Liverpool, Newcastle, Cardiff, Sheffield, Nottinghamshire, Norwich, Leicestershire and Rutland, Derby, Wiltshire, Kent, Sussex, Bath, Bristol, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and East London. Our existing franchises sometimes come up for sale too, so do enquire if you live outside of these areas.

Families Magazine franchise covers

Families magazines are aimed at parents with children 0-12 years. Well known for our What’s On listings and articles on local things to do – readers tell us we are the best. We are also known for tackling big topics and providing solid advice on parenting, health, childcare and education. Parents trust us.The loyalty of our readers translates into real results for our advertisers and, as a franchisee, you benefit from the history of our success.

If you are sales and target driven, enjoy building relationships and would enjoy the satisfaction of producing a high quality magazine for your community, then a Families franchise could be a welcome addition to your family!

For more information and a Franchise Information Pack, contact us today.

Training and support provided

Successful franchisees will receive inital training:

  • Initial sales training
  • Database software training
  • Magazine production training.

On top of that, franchisees will also get continuous support:

  • Recurrent sales training and workshops.
  • Day to day one-to-one support with franchisor.

 

The ideal Families Magazine franchisee

Highly motivated, target driven, preferably with some sales experience, but not necessarily in media sales. Commercially orientated with drive to build the business. Literate, with good written and verbal communication stills. Attention to detail, excellent at building relationships, interested in publishing and providing essential resource for their local community. Publishing experience not essential but ability to express well in writing is an advantage.

Families Magazine's history

Familes Magazine was first published in 1992, we began franchising in 1995 in London and expanded rapidly to more than 35 franchises around the UK by 2015. Our website was relaunched as Families Online in 2016

Franchise resale

Families magazine sussex coast logo

Families Sussex Coast Franchise

Asking price: £6,500 (no VAT)

The local magazine for parents and carers of children aged 0 - 12 years

Established publication 10 years in print with established distribution and readership. Families Sussex Coast magazine is the go to source for all families looking for things to do in the local area. Publishing 6 issues a year delivering the best, most accurate, up-to date information about what’s on along the Sussex Coast. From fun activities and events to educational and childcare advice, we offer something for every family.

Families Magazine Sussex

Roles of the Business owner/Editor:

  • Run the business from home
  • Sell advertising
  • Manage client relationships
  • Plan and oversee design, layout and editorial
  • Publish the magazine
  • Manage the distribution team
  • Administration
  • Liaise with Head Office
  • Grow the business

Brand and Franchise Network

Families has been trading for 25 years and is highly respected. Work with an experienced franchisor and established group of existing Editor franchisees

Case studies

Families Magazine franchise editor photoAfter my husband and I moved back to the UK from Australia with our 3 year old daughter, Families became my “go-to” guide for everything “for families” in the local area. I was amazed by its breadth of local information about events, activities, classes and clubs for families and children, as well as the intelligent, helpful parenting articles.

When I saw that the magazine was for sale, I immediately knew this was a challenge I couldn’t pass up. A 20 year career on the business side of television meant that I had the skills to develop the magazine by growing the distribution, increasing the revenue and embracing online and social media opportunities it offers. I could see it being the start of my own mini publishing empire! With 32 editions around the UK (and growing), the scope was there to establish a viable business model with one magazine and then replicate it by buying another Families franchise.

Families Upon Thames had been established for 12 years, but the owner, was ready to move on. The magazine was extremely well-known and respected locally and I got great feedback about it from all the parents I spoke to. After 20 years in large corporations, I knew I was done with bureaucracy and politics. I wanted independence, to be in charge of my own destiny and to work flexibly from home so that I could honour the priorities and values of being a parent. My husband was also ready for a career change and we agreed to take on the business together.

After several months of preparation, excitement, and a few sleepless nights, I got to hold the first issue in my hand. It was a proud moment!

Magazine publishing and selling advertising is fast-moving, so it’s necessary to be highly focussed and organised, self-motivated and self-disciplined. It’s all about setting goals and meeting them. But there is lots of support. I couldn’t have been more impressed by the on-going range of training opportunities offered by my franchisor, which kept me up to speed with sales and marketing techniques and publishing trends. Whilst I relished the chance to work for myself without the constant distractions and politics of a work place, my fellow franchisees, who were warm and genuinely helpful, were there when I needed them and could be contacted via in-house “chat” opportunities for advice and support.

In two years, I doubled the revenue of Families Upon Thames, working around my family and from my own home. I loved being entrepreneurial and creative and having something solid to show for it every two months. Even better, I sold my magazine on making a 50% profit after 4.5 years as the owner.

Linda Stone, Editor of Families Upon Thames (2012-2016)

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