frequently asked questions
Do I have to be a teacher?
No. You do need to be interested in helping children and teenagers in your local area to improve their maths and English skills, but you don’t need to be a qualified teacher. Whether you are a teacher or not, you employ people to deliver the tutoring in your Tuition Centre. These people have suitable qualifications (not necessarily teachers) to work with the age and subject they are supporting. MagiKats provides all the teaching materials, lessons plans, resources and training courses. If you are a teacher, then you can teach some groups yourself in the early days, but the ultimate goal is to manage workshops with a small team of tutors working for you. If you have never employed anyone before – we can help with that!
Can I still keep working in my current job?
Absolutely – if that’s what you want. Bear in mind that you get out what you put in – so if you are working as well as building your new MagiKats business then it may take longer to establish. However, many new Principals (what we call the MagiKats franchised business owners) do continue to work part time whilst their MagiKats Tuition Centre builds enough enrolments to bring in enough of an income to allow them to give notice on their job. The business model has very few fixed costs, so even though no business makes money from Day One, you don’t need to have a large number of enrolments to cover costs and begin to make a profit. Some MagiKats Principals plan to keep their part time job long term and that’s ok too – MagiKats works with each new recruit to support their individual goals.
Isn't starting your own business very risky?
Launching any business is not without risk, but buying a franchise reduces many of those risks. When you buy a franchise, you are buying the know-how of a successful business model that has been replicated many times and in many different locations and circumstances. As a result, lots of the mistakes you might otherwise make can be avoided. MagiKats provides proven marketing tactics, an efficient business model and backup to support you. And, your break-even point is very low.
(If you want to learn more about the basics of what franchising is and how it facilitates building a successful business, then this link is a useful source of information: The Ultimate Guide to Franchising – Everything You Need to Know to Start a Franchise | Franchise Direct)
Can you guarantee I will be successful?
I wish we could! What I can guarantee is that the MagiKats materials and programme have been used by thousands of students over the last twenty years and more. There are families who are so satisfied with progress made that they stay enrolled for several years. I have already explained how streamlined the business is to maximise profit. The two main factors that we can’t directly control are you and your area. What we can do is provide you with demographic heat maps that show you where your local families live, and which of these is likely to want to get tutoring for their kids. What MagiKats can also do is give you all the tools you need. What we can’t do is govern how much time and energy you invest. Let’s be clear – establishing any new business is hard work – but put that work in and MagiKats can (almost) guarantee it will pay off.
How much money do I really need to invest?
In addition to the initial franchise fee, we recommend that you have around £5,000 in extra working capital. But why is it so much? Well, you do get at least £1,000 back in equipment for your Tuition Centre and marketing materials. The rest of the upfront fee is taken up with providing you with a protected territory in which you operate, and the training and initial support you will need. There is also VAT (20%) included, which you can potentially claim back in the future. The extra working capital covers the cost of a laptop or desktop computer (any standard machine with reasonable processing speed will do), a laser printer (a small business machine – again nothing too extravagant), plus some travel expenses, professional advice, and a buffer in case of a rainy day. By the time this money runs out, you should be open and with some students enrolled which will hopefully cover your running costs. If you don’t have the money saved, then there are lots of low cost loan options, which include the government’s Start Up Loan scheme. We can help you find the right finance for your individual circumstances.
what support do i get?
When starting your own business, it’s hard to know who to turn to for help. Although the help is usually out there, it will often be general advice and often only partly relevant to your particular business. That’s why investing into a franchise is a great idea!
Franchisors (the people who own and run the franchise network) are responsible for supporting their franchisees (you) as they work to set up and build their new business. MagiKats has helped people from all walks of life make the change into running their own Tuition Centre. When you consider that they have supported tens of people over the last 18 years, that represents centuries of experience! OK - not quite – but the fact remains that buying a franchise is a unique way in which you can get targeted support to ensure your business is successful.
is magikats for me?
There’s only one person who can answer that! But let us help you get to the answer. People come to MagiKats from all walks of life: some are teachers who want a change; some have already run a business and want a new challenge; others simply want to work with children and give something back to their community.
So, basically, if your prime interest is a child’s education, MagiKats could be perfect for you.
how can i find out more about the magikats programme?
Everything you need to know about the MagiKats programme can be found on our main website, www.magikats.co.uk.
i have more questions!
No problem! Send us an enquiry form or email us and we will be happy to fill you in.