Ready Steady Go Kids CEO Danie O’Connor takes us behind the scenes of a day in the life of a franchisee.

What is a typical day?

“No two days are quite the same, but they usually include running our multi-sport classes and ELC incursions (or overseeing coaches), following up members who have trialled our program to encourage enrolment, and working on local area marketing,” Danie explains. 

Franchisees often spend their mornings in the field delivering fun, structured programs to children aged 18 months to six years.

Afternoons are an opportunity to manage business admin, bookings, coach rosters, and community engagement.

While some franchisees eventually step into a more managerial role and hire coaches to run classes, all franchisees need to start as hands-on operators. This means coaching sessions, local marketing, and customer engagement from day one.

“Being on court, building relationships with families, and actively promoting your classes ensures you understand every facet of the business,” Danie explains.

“Then, when the time comes to bring on staff, you’ll be well-equipped to lead, support, and maintain the high standards RSGK is known for. It’s a short-term investment of your time that pays off with long-term success and sustainability.”

Is this a family business model?

“Absolutely! Many of our franchisees run their RSGK business as a family affair. It’s a values-led, community-focused business that aligns beautifully with family involvement,” Danie says.

The schedule complements school hours, allowing franchisees to do the school drop-off and pick-up while still growing a rewarding business that can make a real impact in their community.

“You can tailor your coaching schedule, choose your locations, and scale at your own pace. Whether you’re looking for a part-time business or planning to grow a full team of coaches, the model flexes to fit your lifestyle and goals,” she says.

Do franchisees need to be qualified?

Danie says franchisees need a love for sport and physical activity as well as strong communication skills, and a genuine passion for early childhood development.

Because every franchisee completes a Level 1 Coaching Course and a Level 1 Child Safety Certificate as part of onboarding, they don’t need prior coaching experience.

“Whether you’re on the court or behind the scenes, what matters most is your commitment to helping children thrive through movement,” she says.

Ready Steady Go Kids designed its sessions for young children, so the movements are age-appropriate and playful. However, coaches can have just as much fun as the kids, Danie says.

How important is customer service?

“Customer service is at the heart of everything we do. Our families are trusting us with their children’s early experiences of sport and physical activity, so building trust, rapport, and a genuine sense of care is absolutely essential,” Danie says.

From the first enquiry to a child’s final term, franchisees need to provide a professional, warm, and responsive experience. This includes prompt communication, welcoming trial class experiences, and ongoing engagement that makes families feel valued. 

“When parents feel heard and supported, and their children are thriving, they stay enrolled longer and tell their friends,” she adds.

“Excellent customer service also fuels our strongest marketing channel: word of mouth. Many of our new enrolments come directly from parent recommendations, which means consistently positive experiences translate directly into business growth.

“A franchisee who prioritises service builds a reputation that sets them apart in the community,” Danie says.

What practical support do you provide franchisees?

New franchisees take part in a comprehensive four-to-five day induction program. This includes hands-on training in key areas like marketing, staffing, KPIs, operations, and on-court delivery. 

After the initial training, franchisees are fully integrated into the franchise support system, with access to ongoing coaching, marketing resources, operational tools, and expert mentoring. 

They can also access a centralised customer service team, program manuals, social media assets, booking systems, and local area marketing templates.

“In short, you’re never alone,” Danie says. “We’ve built a proven support structure to help every franchisee grow a successful, confident business – every step of the way.”

Franchisees are encouraged to run their own local Facebook group and Instagram page (set up and branded by head office), which allows for personalised community engagement.

National campaigns and support are managed centrally, with content, visuals, and ad strategies provided to help franchisees’ local voices shine while staying on-brand.

Do franchisees need to manage their own office admin? 

“Yes, franchisees are responsible for managing their own back-end operations, such as bookkeeping, payroll, and local administration. However, we make it as streamlined as possible with clear guidance, templates, and best-practice recommendations. Many franchisees also choose to outsource these tasks as their business grows and scales,” Danie says.

All franchisees have access to a comprehensive franchisee portal, which acts as a central hub for business management. From this secure online platform, franchisees can access class lists, enrolment and revenue reports, performance KPIs, internal communication tools, and a full library of print-ready and digital marketing assets.

“It’s everything you need to run your business efficiently and professionally – right at your fingertips,” she says.