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Invest in a children’s services franchise: BRICKS 4 KIDZ

Sarah Stowe

BRICKS 4 KIDZ offers a range of educational programs to families and schools using LEGO® products. BRICKS 4 KIDS offers educational programs to families and schools using LEGO¨ products. Image: BRICKS 4 KIDS

Steve Bealing, director, believes that all kids learn best through pay and that there are inherent cognitive and physical benefits from children building with their hands.

“We use our programs to inspire children around STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) concepts,” he says.

“Our offerings range from robotics and programming, school incursions and after school programs through to holiday workshops and birthday parties.”

Bealing says franchisees source customers by engaging the local community and establishing relationships with schools and local families

“Our owners have the ability to market directly to their communities through the use of digital channels such as Facebook and Google, as well as through traditional tools such as flyers.

“We trust our owners to find sites for their services based on their local knowledge, which we then screen and approve,” he explains.

Territories are also fundamental to BRICKS 4 KIDZ operations. Multi-unit franchising is also encouraged if candidates succeed in their first territory.

“Our owners start as mobile businesses, because it is lower risk and lets them build their understanding of the business, and then they can move into bricks-and-mortar,” says Bealing.

He also highlights three main challenges to the business: staff retention, building a sales engine, and navigating decision-making structures in schools.

An ideal franchisee is a self-starter, has entrepreneurial spirit, the willingness to learn, strong interpersonal skills, and a view to the long term.

“We look for owners with the ability with manage staff and handle sales rather than deliver our programs – while all owners do that initially, we want owners who are seeking a business rather than a job in children’s services,” he admits.

Bealing says franchisees require an applicable state Working with Children check, and at least one of their staff members will need a valid first aid qualification.

The initial investment for a BRICKS 4 KIDZ is $45,000 to $50,000 for an eight year term with options to renew. The model includes no training fee, use of online support tools, annual conference focusing on local support, quarterly best practice meetings, and professional development support.