Footlights Theatre Schools Franchise

£5,000Minimum investment

-Expected revenue after 2 years

Act, Sing, Dance!

Footlights is a one stop shop for ALL of your performing arts needs. Footlights is a multi-award winning youth theatre company with a catalogue of professional, social issue-led performances for schools, a leading talent agency and its own theatre space.

Franchise Concept & Key Figures

Franchising details

Footlights Theatre School was founded by Jo Fisher in 2005, and the first franchise was issued in 2009. The company provides affordable stage school learning and training for young people aged from three to 18, alongside producing plays for theatres and schools.

The business also operates its own casting agency.

The first Footlights Theatre School franchise was owned and operated by Lindsey Berry, a former mature student at the school. And, the franchising side of the business then grew from strength to strength.

By 2012 there were three extremely successful Footlights Theatre Schools in operation.

Jo then took a step back for a while, halting all new franchise operations while she consolidated and expanded her brand and further enhanced the instruction/operational manual for franchisees.

This work was completed by 2016 and a further four franchises were launched.

Footlights is based in a purpose-built building in central Media City, Manchester and is currently in the process of building its own theatre.

This will become a hub for ongoing training, while also being an excellent venue for hosting events and staging shows.

Franchisees from any area of the UK will have the ability to access this hub.

Typical total start up costs for this franchise are £13,250.

Franchise costs and details

Upfront fee : Nil

Operating fee : Nil

Advertising fee : ZERO for the first 6 months then 1% after the first six months

Minimum Households per Territory : 5000

Royalties : 20% for 3 years, reduced to 10% after 3 years

Total investment : Nil

Franchise premises required : No

Funding support : No

Business type : Franchise

Training and support

Footlights has a strong mission to provide education via performing arts. As such, all franchisees benefit from a ten-day intensive training programme which runs from the Media City HQ.

Franchisees learn all about business operations and the core business structure, as detailed in the comprehensive operations manual.

Customer service, business, IT learning, and marketing techniques are also taught.

An additional and optional training package is also available to gain first aid and safeguarding certifications.

Franchisees can also benefit from on-the-job training at an existing Footlights stage school.

If training is required for exams, like Lamda and Arts Awards, this can also be provided.

Brand's history

2005

Launch of the concept

Last opening date

Outlets

Join us

Become a franchisee in 3 easy steps

01.

Step 01: Request for documentation

I fill out the form on Point Franchise to connect with the franchise.

02.

Step 02: Initial contact interview

The franchise reaches out to me for an initial conversation, usually by phone.

03.

Step 03: Becoming a franchisee

I receive full support from the franchise to bring my project to life (securing funds, selecting a location, etc.). If everything goes smoothly, I proudly join the brand as a franchisee.

Is our franchise right for you?

Discover the strengths of the ideal candidate to join our franchise:

All potential franchisees need to have great people skills and the ability to run their own stage school. Daily operations also involve a good deal of administration, so prior experience of office work of some kind is also beneficial.

Footlights doesn't just provide stage school training, although this is the primary investment made by franchisees. The business also produces plays and theatrical productions for schools and visits hundreds of schools throughout the year. This has increased brand awareness significantly and pupils from all franchised schools participate in this arena and can also enrol with the Footlights casting agency.

It's important that any Footlights franchisee shares the vision of the organisation and is committed to providing learning via theatrical productions.

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