At Those Who Can, we hear the same thing from teachers over and over again:

“I’m not ready to leave teaching… but I do want more freedom, options, and something that’s mine.”

That’s exactly why we ran our recent webinar: Side Hustles with Heart – How to Franchise Part-Time as a Teacher. We brought together a panel of franchisors who were either teachers themselves or work closely with teachers, to answer one core question:

Can you build a meaningful franchise around your life, without walking away from the classroom overnight?

The short answer: yes. But it needs to be thoughtful, values-led and supported.

Below, we’ve pulled together the key themes from the session, plus a closer look at each franchise model, all through the lens of teachers who want more freedom and impact.

Why Franchising Can Work Alongside Teaching

Before we dive into the individual stories, it’s worth naming what came up again and again:

• You don’t have to choose “all or nothing.”
  Every franchisor on the panel talked about teachers starting part-time: a class here, a holiday workshop there, an evening or weekend group. Then, only if and when it feels right, gradually reduce classroom hours.
• Your teaching skills are already “business skills.”
  Planning, behaviour management, communication with parents, building rapport, juggling 20 things at once, these are exactly what help franchisees succeed, even if you don’t yet “feel” like a business owner.
• You’re not starting from a blank page.
  The whole point of a franchise is that the systems, resources, curriculum, branding and “what works” are already built. You bring the energy, values and effort, not a 60-page business plan and a new logo.
• It’s about building a life, not just a business.
  The most powerful stories weren’t just about income; they were about teachers getting their evenings back, riding their horse, seeing their own kids more, rediscovering their spark.

With that in mind, here’s how each of our guest speakers is creating space for teachers to thrive.

The Reading Doctor: For Teachers Who Love Literacy and Want Deeper Impact

Deborah still identifies as a teacher, just one who has chosen a different route. The Reading Doctor is exclusively for qualified teachers (often literacy leads, SENCOs, deputies, dyslexia specialists) who want to teach in the way they know children learn best.

Key themes from Deborah’s story:

• A specialist niche with huge need.
  The Reading Doctor focuses on reading, literacy and related needs (including neurodivergence and trauma-informed practice). It attracts children who’ve been “stuck” in the system for years.
• Teaching without the red tape.
  You’re still teaching, but with:
  • No marking piles
  • Resources and programmes already designed
  • Freedom to adapt to each child rather than just delivering a scheme
• True flexibility.
  Many Reading Doctors:
  • Build a timetable around their life (term-time, holiday intensives, evenings, or a one-week “holiday block”)
  • Work in schools, at home, online, as part of EOTAS packages, or with home-educated children
  • Blend 1:1 tuition, group work and parent workshops
• Life-changing results for children and teachers.
  Deborah spoke about husbands and partners saying, “Thank you. I’ve got my wife back.” Teachers moving from 7am–6:30pm days to timetables that allow hobbies, family time and space to breathe.

If you’re the kind of teacher who cares deeply about literacy and feels frustrated by the limitations of the system, this is a model that lets you keep the heart of teaching, but on your terms.

Inventors & Makers: Doing the Fun, Hands-On Bits of Teaching (and Leaving the Marking Behind)

Inventors & Makers runs STEM workshops and clubs in primary schools and nurseries. Like The Reading Doctor, it’s teachers-only, every franchisee is a qualified teacher, and that’s part of the brand.

What stood out from Laura:

• You don’t need to be an engineer.
  Teachers teach maths without being mathematicians and poetry without being poets. The curriculum, session plans, and even “tips and tricks” are all provided.
• You get to do the “aha!” moments.
  You deliver a hands-on, practical workshop building bridges, boats, towers and then leave. No data drops, no reports, no book scrutiny.
• You’re still working with teachers, not “cold leads.”
  Your customers are schools and teachers. You understand their pain points, their timetable, their pressures and can speak their language.
• Support that goes beyond a manual.
  New franchisees can watch lesson videos, join calls with experienced workshop leaders, and get concrete advice like: “If they come in late from break, here’s the bit I’d skip.”

If you miss creativity and curiosity and love the idea of sparking children’s thinking without the rest of the job weighing you down, Inventors & Makers offers a way back to that.

Kidslingo: Languages, Confidence and “You’ve Changed My Life” Moments

Kidslingo teaches French and Spanish to young children across the UK. It’s a well-established franchise with around 82 franchisees and 70 tutors, so roughly 150 people delivering sessions.

Key insights from Anna:

• Not just for teachers, but teachers are a perfect fit.
  Kidslingo doesn’t require QTS, but many franchisees are ex-teachers who appreciate the flexibility and structure.
• Part-time, full-time, or a gradual transition.
  Some start with a few classes around teaching or another job; others grow into full-time franchisees with teams.
• A genuinely life-changing shift.
  One teacher told Anna: “You’ve changed my life.”
  That’s not just about money, it’s about:
  • Reducing burnout
  • Reclaiming time with family
  • Working for yourself, not by yourself
• Working for yourself, not by yourself.
  You’re part of a wider team, with training, support and other franchisees around you – a big theme across all the franchises in the webinar.

If you’re a French or Spanish speaker who loves the idea of bringing languages to life for children (without being tied to a school timetable), this model might feel very natural.

diddi dance: Movement, Music and the Emotional Rewards of Early Years

diddi dance delivers fun, energetic movement classes for under-5s. It’s been running for over 20 years, with multiple franchise formats including a smaller “diddi diddi” option for part-time work.

From Anne-Marie’s perspective:

• You don’t need to be a trained dancer.
  Coordination and a love of working with little ones are more important. Many franchisees are ex-secondary dance/PE teachers who’ve fallen in love with early years.
• Daytime-friendly.
  Most sessions run in the day, meaning you can keep evenings and weekends free if that’s what you want.
• Multiple income streams.
  Community classes, nurseries, birthday parties, baby classes, SEND/ParaDance UK partnerships and even intergenerational sessions in care homes.
• Recognition and reward.
  One of Anne-Marie’s ex-teacher franchisees has gone on to win national awards in the children’s activity sector. She talked about how powerful it is for teachers to finally be recognised and celebrated for their work.

If you want something joyful, physical and community-based, with a strong brand and network behind you, diddi dance offers both structure and scope to grow.

MiniMe Mindfulness: Wellbeing, Mindset and the Toolkit for Life

MiniMe Mindfulness teaches children (and increasingly adults) “superpowers” of calm, confidence and resilience through mindfulness, mindset and neuroscience. There’s a curriculum of 25 “superpowers” tailored to pre-school, primary, and now secondary ages.

From Tessa’s contribution:

• Mental health is the context we can’t ignore.
  Teachers are seeing dysregulation, anxiety and emotional overwhelm in classrooms every day and they’re feeling it themselves too.
• Children and adults need the tools.
  MiniMe Mindfulness now supports:
  • Children in schools and communities
  • Staff wellbeing
  • Parents via digital courses
• Teachers as ideal deliverers — with a missing piece.
  Teachers pick up lesson plans and facilitation easily. The gap is often in business confidence, which is exactly where Tessa’s corporate/business background comes in.
• Being “coachable” is a superpower too.
  Tessa spoke about teachers who arrive saying “I’m not a business person” and a year later are quietly proud of the business they’ve built by following the system step by step.

If you’re drawn to mental health, emotional learning and want your work to feel deeply meaningful in the current climate, this is a powerful way to stay in education while shifting your role.

Choice Home Tutoring: A Flexible Management Model for Ex-Teachers

Colin taught for 21 years and grew Choice Home Tutoring alongside his classroom and senior leadership role until it was big enough to step into full-time.

Key takeaways:

• Management-focused, with scope to tutor too.
  Franchisees recruit and manage teams of tutors, and can also tutor themselves, especially in the early stages.
• Wide range of delivery.
  1:1, groups, holiday workshops, online and in-person, working with:
  • Private families
  • Schools
  • Local authorities
  • Even football clubs
• No one has to jump off a cliff.
  Colin was very clear: none of their franchisees have quit their previous job cold. They keep some income coming in and grow the franchise to a point where the transition feels sustainable, not terrifying.
• Values fit is everything.
  He encourages teachers to:
  • Do their research
  • Spend time with the franchisor
  • Talk to existing franchisees
  • Take a few months to really check it’s the right relationship
    This came up repeatedly across the panel and is crucial for any teacher considering franchising.

If you like the idea of building something scalable, working across subjects and ages, and you’re comfortable with a more “managerial” role, this kind of tutoring franchise can be a strong fit.

So… Is Franchising a Side Hustle with Heart for You?

Listening across all the stories, a few common themes emerged that go beyond any single brand:

• You can start small and stay safe.
  Most teachers begin with 1–2 sessions a week or a holiday block while keeping their job. It’s a test, not a leap off a cliff.
• You are more “business-ready” than you think.
  Organisation, communication, empathy, resilience and problem-solving are the backbone of both teaching and business.
• Support matters.
  A good franchise feels like: “Working for yourself, not by yourself.”
  You’re running your own show, but with training, a network and people who’ve made all the early mistakes so you don’t have to.
• You’re allowed to do something for you.
  Over and over, we heard variations of “I’ve got my life back.”
  That doesn’t make you less committed to children, it makes you more sustainable as a person.
• Nothing is forever.
  As Laura reminded everyone: you’re still a qualified teacher.
  You can try something, grow, learn about yourself, and if it’s not right, you can pivot again. This is not a one-way door.

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At Those Who Can, we only work with values-led franchises that put teaching, learning and community at their heart. To help you explore what might fit your lifestyle and interests, we’ve created our Franchise Selector Tool, designed specifically for teachers.

Visit our Franchise Page to see which UK-based franchises value teachers’ skills.