“Without doubt my Raring2go! business has delivered on both a personal and professional level”

Being your own boss is no walk in the park but the Raring2go! team is there every step of the way for its franchisees

Kiri St. George had spent many years in the insurance industry before having children. She spent six glorious years at home with them but when the time came for her youngest daughter to start primary school, it was time to look for a new challenge that would provide flexibility around her family.

The opportunity came along in the form of Raring2go! and it certainly ticked all the boxes she needed ticking.

Although Kiri had many years of experience dealing with the public and speaking to people, she had reservations with regard to being her own boss and making the business work. She knew that with anything new and especially starting up a business, it wouldn’t be a walk in the park, but the one thing that kept her spirits up was the backing and support of the Raring2go! team.

The process from the start with Raring2go! was thought out and broken down into stages, so everything was covered, from picking up the phone to prospects, to maintaining the database and everything else that is involved in putting the magazine together. The induction training, ongoing support and brilliant camaraderie amongst the franchise network was a real help.

She says: “I’ve simply got to put a message out on our Facebook group and within minutes I’ve had dozens of replies. My fellow franchisees really are incredible.

“I work from home, which of course brings positives and negatives, but the positives really do outweigh the negatives. I’ve grown to love the freedom my business gives me and I’ve become disciplined about how I work and when I work. When I occasionally need that extra motivation, the head office and my fellow franchisees provide it in spades.”

Kiri is now in her ninth year with Raring2go! and fast approaching her tenth anniversary. Her daughters are now teenagers and while she misses the halcyon days of taking them to farms and parks in the holidays, she still has the flexibility in her personal and business life to be there whenever she is needed. After so many years of working for herself as a Raring2go! franchisee, she can’t imagine living any other way.

Kiri look’s back on her journey into the franchise business and doesn’t regret a single second of it. “Without doubt my Raring2go! business has delivered on both a personal and professional level,” says the franchisee.

She often thinks about what she would be doing if she hadn’t bought the business – quite possibly back in insurance and not enjoying it half as much as she enjoys Raring2go! and the lifestyle it has given her.

Perhaps more tellingly, she often thinks about how much of her daughter’s childhood she would have missed out on had she not taken that first step and enquired about the Raring2go! franchise all those years ago.

At a glance

Established: 2006
Number of franchised outlets: 50
Location of units: Across the UK
Investment range: £15,995+VAT
Minimum required capital: £4,800+VAT
Contact: 01273 447101, franchise@raring2go.co.uk