Starting your own business can be exciting, rewarding and, at times, a little daunting. For Caitlin, her first year running Boogie Beat Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Evesham has been all of those things – but it has also been a year of growth, learning and discovering just what she is capable of.
One year ago, Caitlin, at just 21 years old, took the leap and became a Boogie Beat franchisee. Fast forward twelve months and she is running her business full time, building relationships with families, growing her classes and already looking ahead to what the future could hold.
Watching children grow in confidence
For Caitlin, one of the most rewarding parts of running Boogie Beat is seeing the difference the sessions can make to children.
“I love seeing children come out of their shell and become more confident each week.”
She has seen children go from being unsure about joining in to dancing, singing and getting involved with the activities around them.
That transformation is one of the things that makes working with children so special. It isn’t just about having fun for an hour – it is about creating an environment where children feel comfortable, encouraged and able to be themselves.
And that is something Caitlin gets to experience week after week.
Fun, energy and being yourself
Another huge part of what Caitlin loves about Boogie Beat is the energy!
Boogie Beat gives her the opportunity to be loud, silly, energetic and completely herself while creating a fun experience for children and their grown-ups.
“Boogie Beat is so energetic and fun. I love being able to be loud, silly and myself while creating a class where children and their grown-ups can have a really good time together.”
And then there are the families.
Over the past year, Caitlin has built relationships with families in her local area and has loved watching little ones return week after week, seeing them grow and develop along the way.
“I’ve loved getting to know so many families and watching little ones grow and develop. It’s so lovely creating a community where everyone feels welcome.”
That sense of community is such an important part of Boogie Beat. Our franchisees aren’t simply delivering sessions – they are becoming part of the communities they work in.
The reality of the first year
Of course, running your own business isn’t without its challenges.
Caitlin runs her business full time and currently delivers the sessions herself, without teachers. During her first year, one of the biggest challenges has been learning how to manage all the different sides of running a business.
From marketing and finances to administration and planning, there is a lot to learn when you become your own boss.
But for Caitlin, perhaps the biggest challenge wasn’t learning the practical side of business – it was learning to believe in herself.
“There have definitely been moments where I’ve questioned whether I was doing things right, especially being so young and new to running a business.”
That feeling is something many new business owners can relate to.
When you are responsible for making the decisions, it can be easy to question yourself. But Caitlin has learned that mistakes are part of the journey.
She has had to learn to trust herself, learn from what hasn’t gone perfectly and, most importantly, keep going.
And look at how far she has come in just one year.
“Do it!!!!!”
So, what would Caitlin say to someone thinking about joining Boogie Beat?
Her answer is wonderfully enthusiastic:
“Do it!!!!!”
For Caitlin, Boogie Beat has given her the opportunity to build something of her own around something she genuinely enjoys.
She says that if you are passionate about working with children and want to build your own business, it can be an incredibly rewarding opportunity.
She is also honest that it can be hard work, particularly at the beginning.
But that is part of the journey of building something that is yours.
You get to create a business that combines your passion for working with children with the opportunity to build a flexible career and make a difference to children and their families.
What comes next for Caitlin?
After an exciting first year, Caitlin already has big plans for the future.
Growing her classes
Her first focus is continuing to grow Boogie Beat across Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Evesham, reaching even more local families and growing the classes she already has.
Growing the events side of the business
Caitlin also wants to explore the many different ways Boogie Beat can be brought into the community.
She would love to grow the party side of the business, deliver more nursery and school workshops, run library sessions and become involved in even more special events.
One of the fantastic things about the Boogie Beat model is that there isn’t just one way to run your business. You can develop the areas that you enjoy and respond to the demand within your local community.
Building a team
And eventually, Caitlin wants to build a team around her.
Her vision is to be able to reach even more children and families while continuing to develop and grow the business.
It is exciting to think that this is just the beginning of Caitlin’s Boogie Beat journey.
The importance of having support
Starting a business can feel very different when you know you aren’t doing it alone.
Caitlin has found the support from Boogie Beat Head Office invaluable throughout her first year.
“Hannah is amazing! She is always there to help and I am so grateful for Hannah.”
She says she has always felt able to message Hannah when she is unsure about something and knows that there is someone there who is happy to help.
That support has played a big part in helping Caitlin develop her confidence during her first year.
“She’s been a really big support throughout my first year, I honestly don’t think I would have felt as confident as I do now without her.”
And it isn’t just Head Office support. Caitlin has also found the wider Boogie Beat franchise network a valuable source of encouragement, ideas and experience.
Being part of a franchise means you are building your own business, but you also have other franchisees around you who understand what it is like to run a Boogie Beat business.
You can share ideas, ask questions, celebrate successes and learn from each other’s experiences.
Looking towards the future
So where does Caitlin see herself in the future?
Her vision is to continue growing Boogie Beat across Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Evesham, with more classes, more parties and more workshops across different settings.
She would also love to expand her territory and build a small team around her, allowing her to reach even more children and families.
And perhaps the most exciting thing about Caitlin’s story is that she is only one year in.
She has already learned how to run the different sides of a business, overcome moments of self-doubt, built relationships with families and developed her confidence as a business owner.
Now she gets to take everything she has learned in year one and use it to build the next stage of her Boogie Beat journey.
Could your first year look like Caitlin’s?
There is no one-size-fits-all Boogie Beat journey.
Some franchisees start part time, some go full time, some build a team quickly and others choose to run sessions themselves. Some focus heavily on classes, while others grow workshops, parties, events or a combination of different revenue streams.
What they all have in common is the opportunity to build something of their own, with the support of an established brand and a network of people around them.
Caitlin took the leap one year ago.
Now, she’s looking ahead and asking herself not “Can I do this?” but “How much more can I build?”
And we can’t wait to see where her Boogie Beat journey takes her next.#
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