Overview of Little Kickers

Established in the UK in 2002, in response to a lack of good quality sports coaching for pre-schoolers, Little Kickers is approaching its 16th year of operation. An obsessive quest for excellence, both in terms of the classes we operate and the infrastructure we offer to our franchisees, has resulted in the business expanding so that we now operate across 6 continents. Much of the success we have experienced to date comes as a direct result of listening to our amazing network of franchisees, who have acted as a rich source of new ideas and innovations.

With a firm emphasis on teamwork, and sustained investment, we have built a world-class operational infrastructure which provides our network of franchisees with a solid platform from which to grow their businesses. Our experienced Head Office team recognize that ongoing success requires continuous support, and are always available to provide advice and encouragement. The results? An ever-expanding network of successful franchisees, who have regular input into the way the business is run, and operate as part of a large team of like-minded individuals.

We feel that this, coupled with Head Office’s focus on constant enhancement to the franchising infrastructure and programme, will assure the success of the Little Kickers business for many years to come.

Are you a good fit?

Our franchisees come from a wide range of different backgrounds – ranging from marketing professionals, accountants, professional sportspeople, teachers, engineers, graphic designers, veterinary nurses, call centre operatives, general managers, small business owners, IT consultants etc. We’re lucky to have a wide range of skills to draw from!

A background in football is obviously not essential, but a love of kids, and an interest in sport is of benefit.

The main characteristics our most successful franchisees share are:

Enthusiasm: without exception, our franchisees have a real passion for what they do.

Perseverance: running your own business is not easy, and working from home can be lonely. Successful franchisees have the strength to keep going when faced with challenges and to show determination.

Strong communication skills: franchisees have to train and manage coaches, build working relationships with other franchisees and work with members of the Head Office team. The ability to communicate well is critical to the success of their business.

Good administrative skills: whilst the bespoke Little Kickers IT system has been designed to minimize the day-to-day administration involved in running the business, attention to detail and strong IT skills are very useful in running a franchise.

Fit and active: franchisees need to be able to train their coaches, and, whilst it is possible for a franchisee to take a backseat from the day-to-day coaching, they need to be able to step in at short notice in an emergency.