Education Franchise

20hyng11

Hi All,

I am considering to buy an Education Franchise (Clever Tutors) in a Essex/London area.

Does anybody has any experience of this type of business? If so, what are your experiences?

Secondly, would I be able to get any grant to start my business up (approximately £3000).

Though its cost is £995 in the advert but prospectus says "you should be prepared to invest upto £3000."

Your help would be much appreciated.

P.S. I am an unemployed lone parent. (mum of two primary school aged children)
Age : over 30

PlutoinCapricorn

Be very careful with franchises. What would you be getting that you could not get elsewhere at a much lower cost? Opening a branch of Subway or McDonalds under a franchise to get their name and buying power is one thing, but an unknown educational organisation is something else.

In your position, I would spend some time here looking at business start up posts and Search for franchise posts. Here are some examples:

"A good yardstick is whether you knew of, and maybe used, the franchise before you started looking to buy one. You need to be looking at one that is already a household name or has the potential to be one in the near future.

There are a lot of dubious schemes out there which seem to promise the earth but end up with you paying the franchise fees, paying over the odds for training, materials, equipment, etc., and having to do your own marketing. Some are good, some are bad, most are probably in the middle, so you really need to do your homework and not be seduced by their claims."

"Will anyone lend you money for a franchise? Not usually, in fact you have to price to a good franchisor that you have the capital to back their brand and all the shop during/branding etc. Sometimes a good franchisor will come in with the franchisee and provide investment and cashflow - but only when they believe in the franchisee, which means experience and face time."

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4979213

"The only reason I can see for buying a franchise it to be able to use the name and identity of a recognisable brand.Have you heard of the franchise you are intending to buy? Ask your friends, families and people you meet to name the top three brands in this business area. If they don't name the franchise you are thinking of buying then forget it!"

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4743637

People do talk on here about being independent tutors: there is a private totur thread if you are interested. You need to look at the local demand, and what people are paying.

Aquamania

20hyng11 wrote: »

Hi All,

I am considering to buy an Education Franchise (Clever Tutors) in a Essex/London area.

Does anybody has any experience of this type of business? If so, what are your experiences?

Secondly, would I be able to get any grant to start my business up (approximately £3000).

Though its cost is £995 in the advert but prospectus says "you should be prepared to invest upto £3000."

Your help would be much appreciated.

P.S. I am an unemployed lone parent. (mum of two primary school aged children)
Age : over 30

Why not get yourself a job as a teacher/supply teacher/personal tutor first?
Loads of vacancies in the Essex/London area.

Not only will it give you the experience to see if you are cut of for teaching, but will earn you some money to buy the franchise yourself if you do then decide to go ahead.

Better than hoping to rely on handouts. You'll actually have put something into it yourself, so will be more determined to make it work.

PlutoinCapricorn

20hyng11, what is the main goal here? Is it being a tutor, or getting a suitable franchise? Knowing that would help members to give better advice. I really don't see tutoring as suitable for franchising.

20hyng11

Thanks for your replies folks.

Main goal is to be in work by one way or the other (preferably in education as I have some past experience).

Basically, tutoring is done after schools and mostly at pupils' homes. That is the main problem for me as I have my own children and there is nobody to look after them. (No family around)

Though clevertutors.com is not one of the top franchises and personally I am not very confident about it as there are already too many tutoring agencies. But I am just trying to stand on my own feet.

I don't have teaching qualification, so cant teach in schools. But, I am interested to become private tutor.

Do you have any suggestions?

PlutoinCapricorn

Read through this thread:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/577838

Savvy_Sue

You are identifying several major problems here ...

20hyng11 wrote: »

Basically, tutoring is done after schools and mostly at pupils' homes. That is the main problem for me as I have my own children and there is nobody to look after them. (No family around)

So you're thinking of going into a line of work where you'd have major problems with childcare, and no obvious way of fixing them?

If the franchise is to employ other tutors, this is still a problem, because you'll sometimes have to pick up the pieces if someone lets you down, or is unwell, or things like that. At least, you will if you want to make the franchise work.

20hyng11 wrote: »

I don't have teaching qualification, so cant teach in schools. But, I am interested to become private tutor.

I don't know because I never used one, but for me, if I wanted a private tutor I'd probably favour one with relevant qualifications (ie teaching AND in the subject) over one without.

20hyng11 wrote: »

Do you have any suggestions?

Several. Train as a teacher - you'll get a grant while you do so, and probably help with childcare costs. Work as a classroom assistant and gain qualifications as a learning support assistant. Or, think outside the box and do something completely different!