When I launched my first Monkey Music classes more than 30 years ago, I realised I had created my ideal career – a business where I could share my passion for music with young children through singing, dancing, and play.

Those early years taught me many lessons, but one stood out above all others: the success of any franchise depends on its people.

The people behind a business shape its culture, personality, and values. Without the right individuals, even the strongest business will struggle to grow.

Finding those people is not always easy. Running a franchise comes with challenges – demanding customers, technical problems, constant admin, and never quite enough time in the day. Franchise owners need resilience, flexibility, and the confidence to ask for support when needed. At Monkey Music classes, they also need to keep smiling through it all.

When you find the right people, however, everything changes. Businesses become stronger through individuals who genuinely care about what they do, support one another, and who bring together their local communities.

Recently, at a social event, I met a parent whose child had attended Monkey Music classes as a baby and is now performing in a leading children’s role in a London West End musical. She spoke warmly about her child’s Monkey Music teacher, who had come to watch the opening night of the show. She explained how important those early classes and relationships had been in developing her child’s love of music and how most of their friends are from those early days at Monkey Music.

Stories like this are a powerful reminder of the lasting impact our teachers and franchisees have on the lives of young children and their families every day.

by Angie Coates, Founder of Monkey Music