Running a franchise business

 

Everything you need to know

Running a franchise business has many advantages over compared with starting up a completely new company from scratch. You’ll have access to a proven business model, a well- known name and reputation to trade from. In addition, the need for publicity work will be reduced and, perhaps most encouragingly of all, franchises actually have a better success rate than independent start-ups.

Still, as with any business, there is an element of risk attached to becoming your own boss, even with the support of a franchise. Moreover, a complete understanding of the franchise opportunity will be key to your success as a business person.

If you’re looking to move into the world of franchising, then the key elements to consider are what you are getting into, who you are working with, if the partnership is a right fit and what you plan to get out of it. Here are some of the most important points you need to consider before running a franchise business.

---

How much will it cost?

Even the richest of people must be aware of how much a new business venture is going to cost them before making such an important investment.

The total investment required to get a franchise business off the ground can vary, but generally you are expected to have the funds to pay franchisor fees, purchase costs, your opening inventory and the amount of working capital necessary before breaking even.

Understanding the costs is vital to the success of the business, as you don’t want to run out of money when you are on the brink of success. It’s important to ask questions and ensure that the franchisor is proactive in supplying you with the full information regarding the franchise opportunity.

Another step regarding the cost of a franchise will be planning the financing of the business. Will you be taking out a business loan and where from? Many franchisors have partnerships with banks and institutions that can help you get funding at better rates. That often means that until an entrepreneur speaks to a franchise, they don’t realise how affordable it can be.

---

How much time will you have to invest?

Some entrepreneurs believe that because they have the support and back up of an established business behind them, they are effectively managers and not business owners. Remember that running a franchise business is not a shortcut to success – although it sure is a fantastic model the franchisee running it will be essential to the success of the business.

Most franchises will ask you to put as much time into your business as if it were your own start up. Investing time into a business is also a form of cost. When you join an industry, you should be passionate and it ought to be an opportunity that excites you.

Understanding exactly how to start the business as a franchisee and what is involved in the daily running of a franchise is a must. If you are unsure of the amount of time that you can contribute to the business, it’s a good idea to ask the franchisor if you can run the business on a part-time or full-time basis or if there are any services that can be outsourced. This can make your life a whole lot easier and save you valuable time.

Take some time to think about the industry you are getting into. If it’s a franchise that is in higher demand at certain times of the year, such as school holidays or weekends, then understanding that you’ll be required to work harder during those peak periods.

Always be clear from the outset of the commitment and time that is necessary to make the franchise a success.

---

What is the franchisor like?

When you join a franchise, you will be bound by a proven business model and specific processes. In order to establish a long and successful relationship, understanding as much as possible regarding the franchisor is essential to ensure they are a good fit for you personally.
Look at how long a company has been in business, their success rates and the existing franchisees network. If there is a remarkably high turnaround rate in franchise owners then ask yourself– why that is?

Talk to the franchisor to get a feel of what they can offer and talk to other franchisee owners if possible. You could even visit a franchise as a customer to learn more from an end-user perspective. Think about the support and service you require based on your skillset and if the franchisor is able to provide it. The more research and information you gather regarding the franchisor and the business opportunity, the easier it can be to make a decision.

---

What kind of support will the franchisor give?

Knowing that you won’t be alone, solely responsible for a business, is one of the biggest allures of being part of a franchise network – but it’s only good if you know the amount of support and service you are going to be receiving from the franchisor.

Asking for help is one of the hardest things that we have to do in general, let alone when it comes to the world of business. But if you know that the franchisor is ready and willing to help and will do everything in their power to help you succeed, it becomes a little easier.

The franchise business model largely depends on the success of each franchisee; the most successful franchises provide excellent support and work to have great relationships with each franchisee, then the business is more likely to succeed. Based on this principle, the more the franchisor invests in the franchise network, the more they will grow as a brand.

---

Ultimately, what is your goal for your franchise business?

Perhaps the most important thing to consider before running your own franchise business is if it can help you in your general life goals and achievements.

Have you set up the franchise because it is your dream job and you want to run it until retirement age? Will the franchise run alongside your current work as a part-time business opportunity? Does the franchise represent a way for you to get started in an industry that you are passionate about?

The clearer you are about what you aim to achieve in the short-term, medium-term and long-term, the easier it will be to run your franchise business and decide if the opportunity suits you.

---

Join a successful football franchise today

We Make Footballers are a football coaching franchise that are passionate about empowering individuals to work in an industry they love, whilst achieving their financial and personal goals.
Our part-time and full-time franchise opportunities are available for coaches and business people from all backgrounds.

What Qualifications Do You Need To Be A Football Coach?

 

If you love football and think that you would make a good coach then you may be wondering what qualifications you need in order to become a qualified football coach. In this article we are going to look at the structure as it exists in the UK for aspiring football coaches. We will look at the current FA pyramid, and give you some guidance on how to get qualified so that you can enjoy a rewarding career as a football coach.

---

Steps to becoming a Football coach in England

In order to begin coaching, you will need to gain the FA’s initial coaching qualification: the FALevel 1 In Coaching Football.

This qualification is the first step on the FA’s core coaching pathway. The course consists of 8 face-to-face workshops, as well as some guided learning modules that are based online. Once you have passed the qualification, you will be able to work with players from under 7’s all the way up to adults.

The course includes many facets of the modern game, and also gives you insight into the FA’s Plan, Do, Review model. There is also an emphasis on the safeguarding of children and first aid. This emphasis ensures that you are well aware of the intricacies of coaching children, and the specific needs that come along with coaching them.

The course is intended to give you a strong foundation to be able to guide and support the development of players, and give you a basis to further your own learning by continuing on the coaching path. These courses are held by your local FA – click here to find your local FA.

---

Next Steps

Of course the FA Level 1 In Coaching Football is just the beginning of your coaching career. In order to continue in your new career, you will need to continually improve and refine your knowledge of the game. The next step on the coaching pyramid for new coaches is the FA Level 2 In Football Coaching.

A far more in-depth course than Level 1, the FA Level 2 In Coaching Football drills deeper into England DNA’s core components – How We Coach, How We Play, How We Support and The Future Player.  The course is split into 20 guided learning workshops which cover a vast array of subjects that are intended to round out your coaching knowledge. This course is intended to create much more rounded coaches and allow them to begin to develop a coaching philosophy.  It is also the next step on the road to becoming a top level coach.

---

Coaching At A High Level

 For some coaches, the chance of coaching at the highest levels of the game is the ultimate aim. For these coaches, there exist three levels: UEFA B, UEFA A and UEFA Pro. These internationally recognised qualifications are ideal for those who wish to take their coaching career to the next level. Indeed in the case of working at the highest levels (such as the Premier League or UEFA competitions), coaches will need to gain the UEFA Pro licence.

---

Below we are going to look at the three levels in a little more detail:

---

UEFA B

The UEFA B qualification is designed to help ensure that you can develop players holistically, and covers a range of themes including technical, tactical, physical, psychological and social needs. Once you have passed this qualification, you will be able to design practices that help to develop the decision-making ability of players and help them to develop their all-round skills as a player.

The course is made up of 18 guided learning workshops, and you will also receive three visits in between the learning blocks to help you to develop within your own coaching environment.

---

UEFA A

The UEFA A qualification is the highest practical coaching qualification available. The course is all about ensuring that coaches have all the knowledge that they need to be able to develop players, and also have an in-depth technical and tactical knowledge of the 11v11 game. The course will explore current trends in the game (including training techniques and tactics), and will ensure that you have everything that you need to succeed in your coaching career.

The course takes place over 18 days within a one-year period, and is divided into six residential modules (that take place at the FA’s national centre – St George’s Park) and is overseen by an FA coach developer who will help you with your decision making. It is the ideal qualification for those who are looking to work at the senior professional levels (21+) and ensures that you have a strong ability to coach at a high level.

---

UEFA Pro

If you wish to coach at the most senior levels of the game (FA Premier League & UEFA competitions such as The Champions League), you will need to gain the UEFA Pro qualification. The course takes place over an 18-month period and consists of 25 days face-to-face learning that will enhance your management and leadership skills to ensure that you are not only a technically sound coach, you are also a leader who can inspire, motivate and guide teams to elite performance levels.

---

Getting into Coaching without experience

As with most other career paths, “experience” sets your career on its trajectory. Otherwise all you have is “a good knowledge of the game”. Here are some tips on how to get into football coaching without any previous experience:

• Volunteering: Often no experience is required – kick start your coaching career by volunteering at a local school or team. You may also consider volunteering with some of our coaches, click here to find the franchise closest to you. Football is one of those community sports that cannot run fully without volunteers and the dedication of those involved.
• Local and Lower leagues: This works best if you have previously played for a local team. It is probably a good option to contact the coach, asking if you can involved on a voluntary basis. Passion is key to football and coaching; you will need to be able to demonstrate your passion to the coach.
• International Internships in football: Asides the fun of experiencing a different culture, getting involved in football in a different country will not only give you the needed experience with getting into football, it will also help you experience the game from a totally different school of thought (another country’s way of seeing the game).

 

---

An Excellent Opportunity

These days, many people are looking for opportunities to either work for themselves, do a job they enjoy, or just earn a little more money outside of their 9 to 5 career. Whichever one of these appeals to you can be achieved by being a football coach. Whether you intend to work with kids, or you want to try and go all the way to the top, the FA’s coaching pyramid offers continual progression and the ability to create a career that you love. If you want to get started in coaching, our football franchise opportunity allows coaches to get their career off of the ground. So if you are interested in taking on a challenging, rewarding and profitable career as a football coach, get in touch today and speak to us about getting started.

 

Coach Ryan’s WMF Journey

Coach Ryan – We Make Footballers Richmond & Ham Franchise Owner

In the summer of 2018,  Academy Manager Ryan Mitchell decided to take the next step in his coaching journey. After coaching at different levels and building up his experience, he launched his We Make Footballers Franchise in the Richmond and Ham area.

Coach Ryan’s franchise now has over 120 students and runs sessions for children aged 4-12 twice a week alongside his full-time work as a teacher. We’re catching up with Ryan to see how he has got on since starting his football coaching business with We Make Footballers.

 

 

---

Before starting your franchise, you were an Academy Manager with a local WMF center, how has the transition been so far?

Ryan: I found the change quite exciting, challenging and rewarding. Before the franchise, I was a lead coach for other WMF sessions, so that side of things hasn’t changed too much. However, I’ve definitely learned a lot in the transition to running a football coaching business, the training provided and the skill sets required to be successful.

I’m enjoying running my own football coaching business, I’m very proud of taking ownership of the Academies and developing players in my local area. It’s great to be in the Sport industry as allows you to continually develop– I’m always learning on the job and acquiring new skills.

---

We understand that since running the Richmond and Ham Franchise you have grown
your coaching team – how is the team getting on?

Ryan: The coaching team at the franchise are doing extremely well. I’m happy with the progression and improvements they have made to the classes in such a short period of time.

Before starting, I thought hard about the type of coaches, talent and people that were right for We Make Footballers.

Since becoming a franchise owner and Academy Director, part of my role is developing coaches and providing them with training and support in their coaching journey. One of the highlights has been welcoming a couple of my former players to the coaching team. They have both had such a positive experience with WMF and know the WMF playing style, routine and philosophy really well. When they are coaching, they really relate to the children as they’ve been in that position before and focus on delivering a great experience to the players in every session.

---

What are your goals for the next year and are you excited for what’s ahead in your
coaching journey?

Ryan: Our goals at the franchise for next year are to give more children that engaging, positive experience at our venues. Hopefully, as we progress and build our presence in the local area, we will continue filling up the classes and providing top football coaching to children of all abilities. It’s also great to be a part of the local community, getting the chance to develop players from different backgrounds and using sport positively.

As a short-term goal, I’ll be looking into adding a third class to our Saturday morning sessions as we currently coach almost 60 children! I’m excited to see how our Saturday sessions grow. But most of all, I’m excited to continue helping players become the best they can be.

 

---

How Ryan began football coaching

Ryan is a fantastic role model for our players and coaches at WMF, he always receives fantastic feedback and reviews. He started coaching in his late teens with We Make Footballers as a volunteer coach, progressed through the ranks and finally decided that football should be his lifestyle by running his football coaching business on a part-time basis. We wish Ryan the best of luck in his coaching and franchise journey!

We believe in empowering individuals to work in an industry that they are passionate about whilst achieving their personal goals and positively impacting their local communities. We Make Footballers work to create pathways for both coaches and players in football.

FRANCHISE SALES POSITION AVAILABLE

 

Franchise Sales Job role

We Make Footballers are the fastest growing football coaching franchise in the UK with the desire to create viable careers in football for driven individuals using our franchise model and affect real change in communities to create a better football experience for everyone. With over 25 venues in the UK, 2000 children attending our weekly training and 18 franchises, we work every day to help players become the best they can be and contribute to England becoming the best footballing Nation.

The Franchise Sales Manager will be responsible for the business development of the We Make Footballers brand by recruiting new franchisees. They will be relied upon to source and develop strong relationships with potential franchisees and take them through the sales process. Our target is to reach 50 franchises in the UK alone by 2022, we also have the goal of setting up a We Make Footballers Franchise in every football playing country in the world!

The role will focus on the two core areas:

• Sourcing potential candidates through social media, marketing initiatives and strategies who have the desire to own a football coaching business. These candidates will be individuals looking to create a viable career in football with a successful company and lifestyle.
• Nurturing leads through the multi-stage sales process, progressing candidates through the decision-making process to join and closing on franchise sales.

A large part of the role will be generating new leads and for this reason, researching and sourcing the best talent to sell the franchise opportunity to (backgrounds of these individuals are not limited to people within the travel industry).

Generating new creative ideas to reach out to potential applicants and building franchise marketing campaigns driving leads and sales to targeted levels will be a large part of the role. You will be working with the Operations and Marketing Departments to deliver comprehensive franchise recruitment strategies throughout all touchpoints in our omnichannel marketing mix. As a forward thinking company, you will also be working with a number of influencers and partners to promote the franchise opportunity. You will need to understand the principles and use relevant social media channels to liaise with influencers and communicate with our audience.

The Franchise Sales Manager will build and maintain relationships with our existing network and work closely with them to add more franchises via our referral programme. They will also need to communicate with current franchise owners to organise viewings of the end service and operating franchises. You will need exceptional skills in building relationships and finding common ground with individuals from all walks of life.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• Collaborate with current franchise owners and internal teams
• Experience, network and understanding of the football industry
• Strong public speaking skills and ability to present to potential franchisees
• Knowledge in franchising and experience in business planning
• Strong communication and negotiation skills
• Ability to educate candidates about the franchise opportunity and lead them through the multi-stage sales process
• Meeting potential franchisees face to face or online, understanding their motivation and potential ability to run a franchise business, reviewing their business plan and managing their expectations
• Deliver the business values and franchise opportunity clearly, outlining the features and benefits of owning a football coaching business
• Knowledge of the sales industry and the art of selling

QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Strong proficiency in writing
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Strong coordination or project management skills
• A love of football

To apply please email a copy of your CV and covering letter to [email protected]

The Benefits of buying into a franchise

 

When considering the advantages and disadvantages of investing in a franchise, it’s important to recognize the various business contexts which franchising can relate to–from the day to day running of professional sports clubs, to popular high-street companies with a strong brand identity.

Franchising can ultimately give passionate individuals the opportunity to start their own business but what exactly does this process entail? What are the advantages of franchising and is buying a franchise a good investment?

 

---

What is a franchise?

A company (the franchisor) will license a smaller party (the franchisee) the right to use its brand, marketing and business strategy, software, consultancy and network in exchange for royalty fees. By becoming a franchisee, the individual buys into a successful and proven business model.

---

How does it work?

Globally renowned companies which operate on a franchise model basis include Mc. Donald’s, Subway, Domino’s Pizza, Hilton Hotels and Costa Coffee–to name a few.

When investing into a franchise, you own the store premises, receive the right to use the franchise brand, and already have a formula in place for how to run a successful company– whether it be a shop, café or restaurant. In exchange, you pay the franchise a share of your profits, because they provided the brand name, strategies, formula, support and business plan.

You will then need to comply with the standards and protocols which they have proven are key to running a successful franchise. If any of your business practices violate any laws or codes of conduct put in place by the franchise, the company has the right to step in a rectify the situation. This may sound threatening but it’s in order to ensure consistency across all stores and practices, so that the franchisee stays true to the successful model or product.

---

Franchising Advantages over Sole Trading

Why would someone have an incentive to buy into a franchise, rather than start their own company, separate from any restrictions? What are the exact advantages of a franchise and are they worth-while? After all, many people have a hard time adjusting to company guidelines. Fortunately, there are several answers to this question:

Success as a Unit

Ray Kroc (the Founder of McDonald’s) designed a model in which: “you’re in business for yourself but not by yourself’! A successful franchisor will indeed seek to provide the best support, consultancy and resources to help the franchisee run a successful operation − “if you’re not successful, then we’re not successful.” Put simply, a good franchisor will care about you reaching your targets and will support you along the way.

Less Time and Less Money

Becoming a part of a franchise can be financially beneficial. Purchasing franchising rights from a company will be less costly in comparison to establishing an operating space to build your own business from the ground up.

When operating a franchise, you will be given the marketing collateral, software rights, business management consultancy, website access and online presence from starting day one. On top of this, time will be saved as you won’t need to worry about creating a separate business plan, researching the legalities of a new company, building a brand or writing the company ethos and so forth. These services are all provided by the franchisor, which saves the franchisee lots of time, work, investment and stress! The idea is that you can hit the ground running with a proven business model.

Business Plan and Financial Consultancy

A key benefit of being provided a business plan from the franchisor is that not as much business experience is required. It is much easier to have a parent company guide the development of financial growth and the franchise as a whole.

In addition to this, business plans provided by franchisors are generally based on proven success rates across the existing franchise network. Depending on the franchisor and your discussions, it can be possible to work together to tailor the business plan in order for it to match the pace at which you feel comfortable growing the franchise.

You will benefit from the financial consultancy that you will receive as part of your training and personal development. Many franchisees enjoy having the option this additional and ongoing support. Rather than risk it all, the franchisee adopts practices with a successful track record.

Higher Success Rates, Less Risk

The established franchisor model of business is notably more successful than starting a new business. Statistics show that roughly 25% of startup businesses fail within their first year of operation.

Franchise figures are far more optimistic with some franchises failing at low rates as small as 1% – although this does depend on the specific company.

Whilst starting a franchise with a flourishing company can almost guarantee success, a startup contains significantly more risk.   

Network and Support

The franchisee can use the network of the franchisor and work with established business connections, partnerships and suppliers. Joining a franchise network means joining a group of individuals who believe in the same business as you, the same mission and who are all driving towards the same goals.

In other words, adopting the brand identity of an established company means the franchisee has the relative independence of a small business with the connections of a corporate business.

---

Check out franchise opportunities 

Being responsible and starting your own business can seem like a daunting venture. However, if you are driven and work in an industry that you are passionate about, you will give yourself the best chances of being successful.

We Make Footballers have been helping individuals achieve financial and emotional fulfillment by providing many franchising opportunities across the UK. We firmly believe in supporting individuals to work in an industry that they love, whilst reaching their personal financial goals and affecting positive change in communities.

How much coaching experience do you need to start your own Football Coaching Business?

Starting your own business can be both scary and exciting. However, the prospect of going full- or part-time in the football industry is well worth the journey!

Running a business does require some skill, but, the core ingredients to success are:

• a willingness to learn
• the drive to succeed
• passion for what you are doing.

Many coaches work ad-hoc hours, part-time or as subcontractors for a number of years. During this time they will be gathering experience and building a network in the football community, before setting up their own businesses.

Others decide to create a main of income by starting their own coaching business at an earlier stage. This allows them to choose when and where to coach in their future years.

The We Make Footballers franchise network is made up of people with a range of coaching experiences – from non-coaching franchisees to RTC and Academy Level Coaches.

---

We recently caught up with one of the franchisees:  24-year-old Coach Amir, owner of the WMF Beckenham franchise.

When and how did you start coaching?

Coach Amir: I have been coaching for eight years since the age of 16. I started at Lewisham Youth. At this point I had no qualifications or experience, so I volunteered and became the U8s team assistant coach whilst gaining my FA Level 1 Football Coaching Badge.

As the months went by, I started to learn how to deal with the children’s energy and improved my child management skills.

---

What qualifications have you gained?

Over the years I have built up my coaching badges. I gained my FA Level 1 at 16 years old, my FA Level 2 and Youth modules before turning 20. Every year I attended a range of on and offline football coaching courses, read coaching articles and subscribed to blogs to stay relevant.

After college, I got to complete a degree in coaching science. It was a great addition to my qualifications, but, I would always say that qualifications paired with experience is the best way forward.

---

What levels have you coached at?

I’ve been very fortunate with all the different opportunities I’ve had in football. I’ve been able to coach at different levels, age groups and teams throughout my career.

I spent two years at my local grassroots club working with U8s team, before joining Little Foxes as a Head Coach. The role taught me the importance of fun and individual development.

Next, I joined Croydon FC as Manager of the U15s, where I was able to make coaching my lifestyle. I stayed with the team until they reached the U21s group.

Arsenal FC development centre then offered me a ten-week contract with the U10s team, which took my coaching journey to the next level. At the end of my contract I was offered a role as the U8s advanced centre coach (Pre-Academy).

I spent the next two years at Arsenal, coaching in their Italian Development Centre. One of the biggest moments of my career followed, when I was offered the position of Head Coach at the Arsenal Academy in Morocco. I coached there for six months!

---

Why start your own coaching business?

After my experience in Morocco, I felt like I was ready for something different. I always wanted to start a business of my own and knew I had to pursue my passion.

I feel very lucky to be working in an industry I’m passionate about and which has so much potential.

I’ve started my franchise on a part-time basis. My goal is to go full-time in football with my business by the end of my first year!

---

Why did you choose to start a franchise with We Make Footballers?

I came across We Make Footballers when I was researching how to start my own football coaching business. Their franchise offered weekly training, camps, school training and other services for children aged 4-12 of all abilities with the goal of helping them become the best they can be.

After speaking with CEO Sean Conlon, I was very impressed with their structure and loved their philosophy. The franchise opportunity meant I would get support from the Head Office to help me run the business side of things.

In June 2018 I signed up to WMF and launched my own franchise. I now have over 60 children attending my weekly training!

So far it has been an amazing journey. I am extremely excited to see what the future holds for my business! One thing I am sure of is that children will create fun and unforgettable memories at our training sessions. I’m making a positive impact on football in my area everyday and help children and families enjoy football!

---

A Franchise For Passionate Individuals

Everyone has a different coaching journey. We have seen individuals with varied amounts of experience from FA Level 1s to UEFA A Licence become successful with our franchise model.

Starting your own coaching business as a franchise provides you with a proven business model, marketing strategies, booking and sales software, and ongoing support to help you achieve your goals. Take a look at the We Make Footballers Franchise Opportunity to see if starting a business is the next step for you in your coaching journey!

 

Why Coach for a Living

 

Acceptance, respect, fulfillment and working in a sport that you are passionate about – what more could you ask for from a job? Becoming a football coach is an intensely fulfilling job which will present new challenges and have life-enhancing benefits, impacting you on a daily basis. Whether you are at the start or accomplished in your coaching journey, it is always beneficial to confirm why coaching is the right fit for you.

---

Start with the Why

Passion, fulfillment and purpose have been identified by hundreds of entrepreneurs and experts as the key ingredient to a successful career. Simon Sinek, the best-selling author of ‘Start with Why ’reminds us that we must start with the “why” when it comes to what we do, this short video provides a short master class on the “why”. As humans, we are programmed to become more engaged when we are involved in something we actually enjoy, care about or have an interest in. This impacts our work and how we communicate with the world. 

---

Find your Why in Football

Football is a very fortunate industry in which there are so many enthusiastic people that make the “beautiful game” their lifetime passion and interest. Amongst the hundreds of playing styles, coaching philosophies, teams, club missions – it can be hard to determine where exactly you stand as an individual and how you want to contribute to football.

Here is an example from We Make Footballers, showing our “whys” – it’s what makes us get out of bed each morning with the same passion and enthusiasm for football:

1 – To contribute to England becoming the best footballing nation, creating a better football experience for all and resulting in a world-cup win.

2 – To enable individuals to work in an industry that they love whilst achieving financial fulfillment and creating positive change in their communities.

---

The Capital Gain of Coaching

Now that we’ve worked on the “why”, we are able to pinpoint our purpose and passion for a career in coaching and the beautiful game! Sinek stressed finding our passion and purpose results in more effective communication which has a critical impact in selling your product or service. Knowing your “why” makes you stand out from the crowd and will develop you as a businessperson.

When you see the word capital, your initial reaction may be to question the financial reward in coaching compared to other jobs. Indeed, a vast number of coaching roles in the UK are voluntary and this plays a vital role in our football culture, game and identity. However, although football is a “passion” or “interest” for most, it should also be able to provide viable careers and jobs for individuals that are committed to the game.

Many coaches that get paid for their work are self-employed which means that the number of working hours they complete directly impacts their pay and results in a variable income or stability in the job.

Becoming a reputable 1-2-1 coach can lead to making a good living and this can be achieved through experience, qualifications, courses, hard-work and determination. Another option is starting your own football coaching business which also has the benefit of allowing you to become your own boss. Although this is a competitive industry, developing a business would give you a better chance at generating more financial security and having more of a say in the amount/type of work that you do each day.

---

Guaranteed development

Strong connections, care for the well-being and motivation of the players or team that you coach become part of your everyday life. As you impact players, teams, parents and communities with your work – you will gain personal development and fulfillment in exchange. In guiding the players or team that you coach towards developing their physical capacity, technical ability, social skills and psychological process you will see your personal skills climb in the same positive trajectory. This elements that make up the job of being a coach assist you towards greater personal growth.

The beauty of coaching and the game is that if you are driven then there is always room for personal development and growth. Some of this comes down to your daily activities through exposure to new challenges, age groups, different communities, teams, courses, coaching environments, events…

Another element which guarantees you the opportunity to continually work and improve on your craft is the ever-changing landscape of football and the game. With new players, managers, coaching methods, technologies, qualifications and studies – there is always more to learn in football!

---

You will feel IMPORTANT

When you see positive results in the players that you coach or when parents convey thankfulness to you, it is near impossible to not feel self-fulfillment and happiness. A goal for many coaches is to help develop a positive relationship between the player and football which hopefully sees them being involved in the game for as long as possible.

Whether you are coaching park footballers, grassroots footballers or professional footballers your job is important and critical in helping players become the best that they can be.

---

Find the right fit for you

We Make Footballers offer a number of coaching and franchise opportunities across the UK that guarantee development and personal growth as well as becoming part of a footballing movement impacting meaningful change.

If you are looking for a different opportunity in football, then we’d recommend heading to your local FA website to search for jobs and courses in your area.

It is fair to say that the majority of people in football aim to improve the football experience for everyone involved. This is why it is a fantastic job and career path as it provides fulfillment, network, growth, development and passion in your work.

Our coaching roles vary in responsibility and locations with We Make Footballers, we wish you the best of luck in your coaching journey!

---

 

Q&A WITH COACH DAVID | OUR 12th FRANCHISE OWNER

 

In November 2018, Coach David launched the We Make Footballers Essex Franchise with a successful Talent ID event. Over 100 players were in attendance, as well as scouts from professional clubs such as Chelsea, Tottenham, Millwall, West Ham and more!

Coach David has been running weekly training sessions focused on individual player development and helping players become the best they can be. We recently caught up with him to talk about the launch of his football coaching business, how he runs it alongside his other work, and making it fit his lifestyle.

When did you start to coach?

Coach David: I started coaching a U6s side of players at the age of 15. My dad (a UEFA B qualified coach) used to coach me and my brother, so football has always been a family sport for us.

I took the next step into Grassroots football by jointly running a team with my brother. (He now also works in the professional game at a Premier League club.) The team won three league and cup doubles in a row, as well as getting to county cup finals! We focused on achieving top results for the team and helping each player develop individually to enable them to push forward with their football journey.

At this point I started to gain my football coaching badges and build my professional coaching CV whilst coaching in Grassroots football for the next 10 years.

---

How did you get into Academy Coaching?

I decided to move forward with Coaching and gained my UEFA B football coaching badge, which allowed me to start volunteering with Millwall FC Academy! I was then offered a paid role as a part-time Academy Coach working predominantly with their U9s and U10s.

Working in a professional Academy was a great learning curve. It enabled me to learn from excellent coaches and ex-professionals, working with top quality young players and teams in a great environment. This had a major impact on my coaching philosophy, as I learnt what Academies are looking for in players and how to develop those skill sets.

---

Where are you coaching now? What does your football lifestyle look like?

I’m always busy with football since deciding to go full-time in the industry! Running my We Make Footballers Franchise allows me to also continue with my other coaching roles.

I currently coach at Colchester United Academy and run the Barking & Dagenham College Elite football team, in conjunction with Dagenham & Redbridge FC where this season I managed the U18s in the FA Youth Cup.

I am fortunate enough to also have weekly access to the first-team training, working with professional players and, more importantly for me, being able to watch and learn from top coaches such as ex-England and England U21 manager Peter Taylor.

The mix of age groups and coaching environments is fantastic and has helped me become the best coach I can be!

---

Why We Make Footballers Essex?

In the summer of 2018 I decided to leave my full-time job in the TV advertising industry and go full-time in football!

I first heard about WMF through their partnership with the International London Cup and decided to look into what they were about and the franchising opportunity. Having an impact on football and player development has always been my goal and with We Make Footballers it was clear that our ideas on player development and coaching style were a match.

With We Make Footballers, I can help players of all abilities become the best they can be whilst running my own football coaching business enabling me to work full-time in football.

I strongly believe that Essex and East London is home to so much footballing talent. That’s why I’m passionate about trying to help every player in the area reach their potential, whatever that may be! I can’t wait to see where my franchise journey takes me and how the players develop at WMF Essex over the next few months!

---

Launching a football coaching business

We Make Footballers are dedicated to creating viable careers in football for passionate and driven individuals. By launching your own football coaching business with our franchise model you will become part of a movement which is contributing positively to football.

You can choose to run your franchise on a full- or part-time basis, while working from home and around your lifestyle. Contact us today to find out how to launch your own football coaching business.