- Start Up Cost:
- Franchise Type:
- Sector Type:
- Investment Type:
- Market:
- £7,995-£9,995+VAT
- Home Based
- Childcare & Education
- Start-up
- B2C
Razzamataz was created with a simple dream, to make performing arts available to all young people no matter their background or circumstances. We want to give young people aged 6 months to 18 years the chance to attend classes taught by experienced performers, who can give them the perfect introduction to the most wonderful industry in the world! To do this, we have ensured classes are affordable, our curriculum is fun and current whilst combining a fun and exciting mix of commercial and musical theatre content, and attending our classes is made as easy as possible. Over the years we have created a business system that helps keep costs down and class numbers up, bringing our classes to towns and villages as well as the larger cities.
Our business was established in 2000 and was backed in 2007 by BBC’s Dragons’ Den. Today franchising is allowing us to achieve our dream, because it gives the finest talent across the country the opportunity to own and manage a successful business whilst following a tried and tested system. It also means our franchisees can set up their school on their own doorstep, and bring their passion, talent and commitment to the young people of the local area.
Our franchise package provides you with instant access to a high growth business and sector due to an increasing demand from the government and parents alike, for after school activities that develop the fitness, well-being and overall social skills of young people. Our top performing franchisees turn over a six figure sum & choose their own hours of work to fit in with their lifestyle and commitments.
With over 50 franchised schools across the UK and both new and established territories available for sale.
As a Razzamataz franchisee, you will receive our intense virtual training package over 5 days including a number of consultant led seminars featuring:
• Management Skills
• Daily running of the business, school structure, classes, fees, email list and promotions & being a good Principal/
Franchisee
• Franchise agreement
• Business software training
• Microsite and Razources website training
• Child protection and safeguarding
• Accounts and Bookkeeping.
• PR, Advertising and Marketing support
• Health Safety
• Operations manual
• IT support
• GDPR compliance
• Employment law
• Safer recruitment
• Social media
• Customer service
• Lesson planning and street dance overview
• Razzamataz extra’s training
Followed by ongoing support and training via your own dedicated support mentor, regular training opportunities, regular webinars, regular network opportunities, Annual awards & conference, regional meetings and a regional franchise advisory council representative allocated to you.
As a Razzamataz Franchisee you will be the Principal of a vibrant and fun theatre school. You will run classes for children aged 4-18* in singing, dance and drama and be engaged in all the varied activities of successfully managing your school.
(*With options to expand to 6months and 2-18 as your business develops)
Activities involve marketing your schools, recruiting teachers, engaging with customers, the logistics of timetables and maintaining your accounts. All areas of running the business are supported by our simple, effective systems and Head Office or your Support Team member are only ever a phone call or email away to offer advice and guidance.
Success stories;
Winners of the ‘Best Franchise Award’ in 2021 along with the ‘Franchisee 5 Star Satisfaction’ award by Workbuzz & the ‘Continuous Improvement’ award at the Workbuzz Best Franchise Awards in 2020/21 – as voted for by our network of
franchisees.
In 2018, Hayley Limpkin, our franchisee at Razzamataz Medway, won the bfa HSBC Franchisee of the Year Awards in the ‘lifestyle category’. Franchisees nominated in this category are seen to operate a profitable franchise which also offers a good work-life balance and scope for growth. Hayley also took home ‘Best Overall Franchise’ that evening too. Hayley is
just one success story from within our network of 50+ franchisees & growing. We have also been recognised by Workbuzz as ‘Best Franchise’ in the 2-10 million turnover for our commitment to our brand and leadership through a pandemic with a clear understanding of our franchise network’s needs
Five years of successful franchising
Jessica Chandler-Smith’s dream of opening a theatre school came to fruition in 2017 when she opened Razzamataz Brentwood. Within just five years, that dream multiplied and Jessica was able to also open Razzamataz schools in Romford, Hornchurch and Thurrock. This phenomenal growth was made even sweeter as her business partners are her sister and her best friend. This is her story.
In the beginning
I always wanted a theatre school and when the time was right, I looked at all my options. I was already running a dog grooming business and a children’s entertaining business, but my passion was in performing arts. I looked at many different options, including different theatre school franchises. When I met the team at Razzamataz, their ethos really spoke to me and I loved the family atmosphere and the emphasis on giving children confidence through the arts.
Describe the community at the schools
We are like one big extended family and do so much together. What I love is that we build people up and everyone has their own Razz cheerleader. This really helps students feel confident and supported and I love it when I’m out and about as I will pretty much always bump into a student or their family.
Business growth
I started with Brentwood in 2017 and within two years opened Hornchurch in 2019. However, we only opened a term when the pandemic hit and we had to rethink how we were going to run the schools. A part of this restructuring was my sister leaving her corporate role and joining as the joint Principal, which enabled us to also open Dagenham and she took on a role in Romford and Hornchurch as well. One of my team members Kasey also came on board to be the joint Principal of the Thurrock school.
Student achievements
We have three students this year who have gone to performing arts colleges, which is a massive achievement for us because we coached them through their auditions. We have students that are on the TV programme Milkshake most weeks, which they love and is great for our brand exposure. But what is the most special to us is that we’ve helped so many children with their confidence. We had one little student who took a term and a half to even say anything to us and now does three classes a week and the transformation has been outstanding. I say to friends that I feel like I have 800 children because they all mean so much to me.
Staff progression
Kasey started out with us around 2018 as a classroom assistant, progressing to become the singing teacher. We really clicked and I could see how committed she was, so I trained her up to be the assistant Principal before we opened Thurrock together. The Managers Training that Head Office provides has also meant that Paige in my team has been able to move through the ranks and has progressed from teaching assistant through to assistant Principal. It’s a lovely feeling being part of the progression for team members, and it means our Razzamataz family is constantly growing. Another bonus of progressing staff is that we retain that strong personal touch. No matter how big we grow, it is so important that we never lose that.
Stand out experiences
For the first time, our students will be performing at the Shaftesbury Theatre in the West End and the lead up to it has been amazing. It’s been lovely for me because I’ve also choreographed and staged some of the numbers and it’s been lovely to get so involved with the children and unleash my creative side. I can already see how proud the students are, so it is going to be an amazing experience in November. We also took a team to Britain’s Got Talent, and they got to perform for the producers. Every year we take part in the Brentwood Christmas parade, in fact, we were the ones that introduced the parade and each year it gets bigger and better. During the summer, we also put on our first festival, Razz Fest. We hired bouncy castles, trampolines, had stalls and food tents and the children performed on the stage. It was a huge event so took a lot to organise, but we had the full support of Brentwood Council, and its success means that we will be doing it again next year.
Lessons learnt
Previously to Razzamataz, I’ve run businesses before but always by myself or just a few people. I’ve had to learn how to manage a big team and of course all the marketing that constantly needs to be updated to keep up with the changing times.
Building a lifestyle through franchising
Without the support and guidance from Head Office, I don’t believe I could have grown in this way. Being part of a franchise network like Razzamataz means there are always people there to help you take those big leaps, which you need to do in business. All the training from Head Office gives you the confidence to believe that you can do it and all the support from other franchisees gives you conviction that you should go for it.
Advice for others
Life is short so go for it if this is something that you really want to do. Believe in yourself and know that if you have the passion, with the support of Razzamataz, you will achieve. The great thing about a network likes ours is that everyone has different skill sets and we all learn and support each other so you never feel like you are alone.
Future plans
We are looking at further expansion in Essex including opening a school in Billericay. This will take us to seven schools, which is a massive achievement for our whole team. We are also looking at more events that will include all our Essex schools such as workshops with a performing arts celebrity, staff outings and training, Razz Fest and of course performing in the West End.
From work experience to theatre school owner: Matty Aitchison-Rayson’s story
Matty’s sister was a student at Razzamataz Carlisle and after going to see her perform in the annual show, Matty fell in love with Razzamataz and desperately wanted to be a part of it. Knowing if he joined as a student, he wouldn’t have long at the school as he was about to turn 17, he contacted Denise who was the Principal at the time to see if he could do some work experience.
Skills and experience: I learnt skills such as teamwork, problem solving, organisation, planning and delivery and supporting teachers with their classes and preparing resources. I gained key administration skills as I was lucky enough to also support the Head Office team. I honestly believe that without this experience I would have never managed to secure a job I love, that combines everything I am passionate about. Performing arts and working with and supporting young people.
Career progression: After my work experience, I was lucky enough to secure a permanent position within the Razzamataz Carlisle team as a Classroom Assistant. From this I then went on to support Denise front of house working with current and new parents and guardians and handling new students for tasters and payments. This led on to roles as Assistant Manager/Principal. I worked for Razzamataz Carlisle for eight years and supported at other schools in the North such as West Cumbria, Penrith, Dumfries, and Newcastle during this time as well as working for Head Office. In 2018 there was the opportunity to take over the West Cumbria school and in August I became the new Principal.
Dreams come true: Anyone who knew me as a teenager would say that I never stopped mentioning how one day I wanted my own Razzamataz School, and my dreams came true in August 2018. I still have that same buzz, drive and passion I had back then for the work we do at Razzamataz and how we support children and young people through fun, exciting and top-quality performing arts classes. I love being able to help young people build and develop their confidence, learn new key life skills, make friends and practice the performing arts all in a safe and secure environment. I truly mean it when I say this isn’t a job to me it is so much more than that! I love it! I’m proud to be part of Razzamataz, I’m proud of my team, students, and my amazing Razz Family at West Cumbria. It’s the best thing I have ever done.
Words of wisdom: Grasp every opportunity you get, make the most of the experience you are given. Never ever stop learning and growing and be a student for life. I have learnt so much about running a business that I never knew before, and I always take on board the support and advice from other franchisees and Head Office to help develop as a Principal and grow my school. Never stop being curious, be bold, be brave and be you and just love what you do!
Join our team
We are looking for dynamic and passionate partners to own a Razzamataz Theatre School. All training is done remotely from the comfort of your own home!
Meet founding member of the All Stars Academy
“Support is always available, even when we don’t know we need it. We are given everything we need to be successful.”
Profile: Debbi Ledwith opened Razzamataz Newbury in 2015, alongside her work as a teacher. Debbi is a mum to three children and was invited to be a founding member of the All Stars Academy. This is an exciting initiative to grow the network further and give franchisees exclusive access to high-profile coaches and special events and incentives.
Razzamataz highlights: There have been so many but if I were to narrow it down then I would have to include all the times I’ve watched students perform, especially on big stages such as Her Majesty’s Theatre in the West End. One of my best memories was welcoming all the students and families back after lockdown, that really felt very special. I also love summer schools, which I find exciting and fun because I also teach at them too and the everyday highlights of seeing the children grow and develop each week. On a business level, I look forward to the Razzamataz Conference every year, this is an event that gives me so much inspiration.
Skills needed to be a theatre school owner: The most important one as a business owner is organisation and understanding how to be on top of all tasks. You also need patience and to not get frustrated when things don’t happen as quickly as you want them too. Theatre school owners must be enthusiastic and have a passion for what they are doing too. You must also have self-belief and be willing to learn and take on new challenges.
Franchise journey: When I opened, we were a small school with three classes and 45 children. I was also working as a teacher and I’m a parent to three children, so this did fit in to what I wanted at the time. Over the years, I wanted to expand so I moved venue to give me more scope to open additional classes such as Tots (parent/caregiver assisted classes for toddlers) and Razz Project Intense, which focusses on the technical skills of dance. I now have 11 classes and 193 students, which has given me the financial security to give up my teaching job and focus full time on my Razzamataz business. Investing in the Razzamataz franchise has allowed me to progress at the rate it suited my lifestyle.
Becoming part of the All Stars Academy: I’m excited to be part of something that is new and help it grow from the ground up. I have a real love of learning and there has already been lots of training to help us achieve our goals. I also like the idea of giving something back to the Razzamataz franchise community and showing other people in similar situations to mine what they can achieve.
Building the business: One of the biggest advantages of being part of the Razzamataz franchise and All Stars Academy is the training. In business, things evolve all the time, so it is good to keep up and ensure we are using platforms correctly. For example, although I’m already on LinkedIn, I haven’t been using it as efficiently as I could be, which I have learnt through our recent workshop. We are also using the buddy system, where we are partnered with another franchisee. This has been great for accountability and goal setting.
Razzamataz opportunities: The Head Office provide lots of different opportunities, but they are presented in a way that you can take on as many or as few as you like. There is no pressure to take on everything, which is great because everyone can then work to their own level and build their business at their own pace.
Why be part of a franchise: Being part of a successful franchise gives us the knowledge and peace of mind that we are being supported in every aspect of our business. I have friends who run independent schools who were hit very hard during lockdown, where we were given so much information and training so we could easily transition online. Support is always available, even when we don’t know we need it. We are given everything we need to be successful.
Future plans: I’m looking to expand my school and open additional classes in the afternoon. Now we can, I’m researching more opportunities for the students to perform and get out and about in the community more. I’m also looking to take on an assistant part time in the office, which will free me up to get more creative and take the business to the next level. In terms of the All Stars, I’m looking forward to progressing with the opportunities that are being presented and I would like to use my experience and skills as a teacher to work more closely with our Head Office.
Top tips: When considering investing in a franchise, there are a few key things to ask the franchisor. There is so much support and training at Razzamataz, and I believe this is crucial to success.
“Investing in the Razzamataz franchise has allowed me to progress at the rate it suited my lifestyle.”
Join our team
We are looking for dynamic partners to own a Razzamataz Theatre School. If you are looking to make a difference in your local community to the lives of young people and you have a passion for performing arts, we would love to hear from you.
Meet founding member of the All Stars Academy
“Razzamataz is about providing performing arts training for young people to develop their confidence, health, and fitness. I want to be a positive influence in their life and that is my driver on why I want to be successful.”
Profile: Matty Aitchison-Rayson took over Razzamataz West Cumbria in August 2018 and combines his position as a theatre school owner with a part time role within the marketing and recruitment department at the University of Cumbria. Matty was invited to be a founding member of the All Stars Academy. This is an exciting initiative to grow the network further and give franchisees exclusive access to high-profile coaches and special events and incentives.
Razzamataz highlights: Wow there’s been so many. When we took students to perform at Her Majesty’s theatre in London’s West End, the whole experience was amazing. I had been involved with the event before, helping our Head Office, but this was the first time that I was there as the Principal of a school. This was very special for me, my students and team. I can’t really describe the feeling and atmosphere and how amazing it felt to be able to give our students this incredible opportunity. Another stand-out moment was the first day I became the new Principal. I had worked for Razzamataz since 2010, so the moment that I took over and became Principal of my own school was an amazing feeling.
Skills needed to be a theatre school owner: Being a good communicator is very important. You must be able to listen and communicate with students, teams, parents, Head Office, fellow franchisees and other suppliers, all of whom have a different set of needs. One of the many benefits of being part of the Razzamataz network is being able to run your business to suit your lifestyle. That said, you will need to have good organisational skills and structure your day so you can focus on the core requirements of your business. You also need to have the mindset that you are happy to be a student for the rest of your life because there is always something new to learn. Being a business owner, especially in the children’s sector, you should be approachable, friendly, and very visible within your set up.
Franchise journey: I started doing work experience in June 2010 after watching my sister in a show at Razzamataz Carlisle. I instantly had a vision that I wanted to be involved with Razzamataz for the long term and when I approached the owner Denise, she really supported me with this. I was involved with everything from voluntary work experience, through to a classroom assistant, teacher, manager and occasional work for Head Office. When the opportunity came to take over the West Cumbria school, I didn’t give it a second thought. From the age of 16, it was my dream to run my own theatre school business but without Razzamataz, I wouldn’t know where to start.
Becoming part of the All Stars Academy: I’m passionate about Razzamataz so when the All Stars Academy was launched, I wanted to jump on it and help support more people to become Razzamataz franchisees. I’ve seen how Razzamataz allows people to run their own business and create a good work life balance. The flexibility of the business has really worked for my family so I’m keen to spread the word to others.
Building the business: Being part of the All Stars has already given us access to lots of fantastic training that will help recruit new students and staff. The sessions have been inspirational and left me feeling so much more confident. I’ve also learnt so many tips that I can pass on to my students and staff to help with their own progression and life skills.
Razzamataz opportunities: The great thing about Razzamataz is that Denise, Charlotte and Head Office are always looking for new opportunities for our students and our teams with exclusive events that really set us apart from the competition and create an amazing buzz within the schools. Head Office work incredibly hard to make it as easy as possible for Principals to be successful.
Why be part of a franchise: The Razzamataz model is a reputable brand offering amazing support from all at Head Office as well as the network of franchisees. There is always someone to speak to and you never feel like you are in business alone.
Future plans: We are gaining new students all the time and the school is constantly growing. We have recently moved into a new venue, which has made us more accessible for the local community and has enabled us to work with one of the largest primary schools in the area. I’m looking at expanding our classes into the afternoon and introducing Project Intense sessions for our Senior students. I’m also researching areas to expand into our territory and launch more Tots and Minis classes for our youngest students.
Top tips: It is vital to do your research and know exactly what you are getting and if the franchise is right for you. Understand what it is that you want to get out of running a franchise and consider your exit strategy at the start of the process. For me, Razzamataz is about providing performing arts training for young people to develop their confidence, health and fitness. I want to be a positive influence in their life and that is my driver on why I want to be successful. Whatever business you run, you must be committed, dedicated and passionate and if you don’t you simple won’t be successful. You must choose a sector that can provide you with what you are looking for, whether that is financial or to fulfil your purpose.
“I’ve seen how Razzamataz allows people to run their own business and create a good work-life balance.”
Occasionally franchise territories come up for re-sale due to a change in the franchisees’ personal circumstances or simply because they have decided to sell their asset and reap the rewards of their hard work. These re-sale schools very rarely stay on the market for long, so if you are interested, don’t delay in contacting us. Re-sale schools in:
If you would like to find out more about our ambitious growth plans and be part of multi-award-winning Razzamataz Theatre Schools network, drop Charlotte a line from our friendly Head Office team to book on to one of our virtual Discovery Dens.
PAISLEY – £10k + VAT
• Active school, established 2013
• Average class size 10
• Current staff of 4
• Up to date customer database
• 1200+ followers on Facebook!
• Fab Scottish territory within easy reach of Glasgow and surrounding areas
HIGH WYCOMBE – £10K + VAT
• Active school, established 2015
• Average class size 15
• Current staff of 4
• Up to date customer database
• 250+ followers on Facebook!
• Fab Buckinghamshire territory within reach of London and surrounding areas
HORSHAM – £7,995 +VAT
• Active school, established 2019
• Average class size 10/15
• 60 Students enrolled – Minis, Juniors, Inters & Seniors classes already established!
• Up to date customer database
• 290+ followers on Facebook!
• Fab territory 18 miles from Brighton, 6 from Crawley & just 5 from Slaugham
Contact us for more information on our resale opportunities.
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