Home based publishing opportunities

We have done our best to provide up to date information, but naturally you should check our facts and make your own investigations.
Please let us know if you know if you can update any of this information or if you know of any other groups we could feature.

  Type of publication Number of active territories Date Established First pilot franchise or group member Frequency Territory Promotion of your publication Software supplied Extra software needed Training provided Templates provided Content provided Support Termination Policy Resale or transfer policy Printing Company Branding for your publication Package or franchise cost Ongoing fees
ABC An A4 full colour information magazine, for parents with young children 6 areas in print 1996 2003 Three times a year A county Full contact details on the website and directory of advertisers for each edition TBC TBC Training mentioned but no further information on the website TBC TBC Support mentioned but no further information on the website TBC TBC TBC TBC but illustrated covers are very strongly branded TBC TBC
Community Times An A5 full colour glossy magazine TBC TBC TBC Monthly TBC TBC Business System dealing with design, publishing, administration, distribution, printing, accounts and tax TBC TBC Yes Yes: articles, crosswords, recipes and features TBC TBC TBC Printing and distribution handled centrally Yes, quite strong branding £5,895 TBC
Families An A4 magazine black and white or colour, for mothers of children age 0-12 17 areas in print 1990 TBC Ten times a year with double issues in Jan/Feb and July/Aug TBC. The largest is a county Featured on website with all contact details. Each edition has its own section with editorial, local news, advertisers directory and readers' forum TBC TBC Franchise pack covering all aspects of the business. Half day's training in your home plus some sales training on the phone TBC TBC Telephone support and occasional workshops TBC TBC TBC TBC £5,000 plus VAT. Plus £400 for the Families admin software TBC
  Type of publication Number of active territories Date Established First pilot franchise or group member Frequency Territory Promotion of your publication Software supplied Extra software needed Training provided Templates provided Content provided Support Termination Policy Resale or transfer policy Printing Company Branding for your publication Package or franchise cost Ongoing fees
The Family Grapevine A phone book for families with children from ante-natal to 18. Size A4 full colour. Over 30 areas either in print 1995 1996 Your choice, but usually three times a year Normally one district council. Small councils are merged together and large ones split up as required. Featured on website with full contact details and pdf of latest publication. Group media pack. Group booking tools for advertisers. Management system dealing with all aspects of the business, including accounts, research, publication and much more Adobe InDesign and Photoshop Extensive online Knowledgebase, constantly evolving and improving, and comprehensive Checklist. Peer to peer support including a Forum Templates provided for documents, adverts and publications None required Internet Forum, Knowledgebese, contact details for all members, technical support by telephone Your area can be resold if you do not publish for 1 year. On termination you can publish anything, anywhere you like, as long as the title is not The Family Grapevine or similar. If you sell your business yourself, you pay £250 for the reassignment of your rights to your buyer. Printing and distribution handled by you Use of the Grapepad logo and the title 'The Family Grapevine', both of which are trademarked. No joining fee. £125 per month for the first two years and £25 per mointh thereafter, to cover all member facilities. No further charges or royalties, ever.
Good Company Grapevine A phone book full of places to go and things to do in your local area (for adults, not children). Size A4 full colour. Pilot edition launched 2007. Part of The Family Grapevine Group, established 1995 2007 Your choice, but three times a year is recommended Normally one district council. Small councils are merged together and large ones split up as required. Featured on website (launching late Spring) with full contact details and pdf of latest publication. Group media pack. Group booking tools for advertisers. Management system dealing with all aspects of the business, including accounts, research, publication and much more Adobe InDesign and Photoshop Extensive online Knowledgebase, constantly evolving and improving, and comprehensive Checklist. Peer to peer support including a Forum. Much material shared with other publications in The Family Grapevine Group. Templates provided for documents, adverts and publications None required Internet Forum, Knowledgebese, contact details for all members, technical support by telephone Your area can be resold if you do not publish for 1 year. On termination you can publish anything, anywhere you like, as long as the title is not Good Company or similar. If you sell your business yourself, you pay £250 for the reassignment of your rights to your buyer. Printing and distribution handled by you Use of the Grapepad logo and the title 'Good Company Grapevine', both of which are trademarked. No joining fee. >£125 per month for the first two years and £25 per mointh thereafter, to cover all member facilities. No further charges or royalties, ever.
Kids Direct An A5 publication aimed at families with children under twelve. 15 areas in print 1991 (TBC) TBC but more than nine years Three times a year TBC, existing areas include large towns or regions Full contact details on the website TBC TBC Business Manual - a step by step guide to guide you through all of the stages necessary to achieve your first publication TBC Access to current and past articles Support on recommended software applications and general business advice TBC TBC TBC Kids Direct corporate logo which is a registered trademark £2,000 Royalty based on turnover, minimum £300 pa reducing in stages to 4%
MyMag TBC Not revealed. The website only says over 800 people have set up, not how many are in print TBC 2004 Monthly A single postcode, e.g. LS17 None None Microsoft Publisher and a book-keeping package such as SAGE Instant accounts Manuals (work-books), video tutorials and tele-seminars. Templates provided for documents, adverts and publications Yes: articles, puzzles, cartoons, fillers etc. Members' Forum, newsletters. Your area can be resold if you do not publish for 6 months. On termination you cannot publish any publication anywhere in the UK. If you sell your business yourself, you pay £200 plus VAT to reassign your rights to your buyer. If MyMag re-sells your area you will get a refund of 50% of what you paid (regular paying members only). Printing and distribution handled by you None £3,599 plus P&P £60 per month
  Type of publication Number of active territories Date Established First pilot franchise or group member Frequency Territory Promotion of your publication Software supplied Extra software needed Training provided Templates provided Content provided Support Termination Policy Resale or transfer policy Printing Company Branding for your publication Package or franchise cost Ongoing fees
Raring2Go An A5 full colour what to do and where to go magazine for parents of under 9's, part of the MyMag group. Minimum publication size 24 pages, maximum 60 pages. 100+ territories sold, number active not stated publically. 2005 2005 Four times a year 200 territories of varying size and quality, priced accordingly None apparent Management System which includes running totals and targets. Does not appear to include invoicing and accounts management. Microsoft Publisher 2003 and Excel 2003 Face-to-face training backed up with video tutorials and regular tele-seminars Templates provided Yes, it is obligatory to publish 4 pages of supplied content. Other optional content is provided. Telephone support, a suite of Training courses and a comprehensive guide to the selling and marketing the magazine and website proposition. No details publicised. If terms are the same as MyMag your area can be resold if you do not publish for 6 months. On termination you cannot publish any publication anywhere in the UK. No details publically available. Central Strong obligatory branding £8,995, £10,995, £13,995 or £19,995 + VAT depending on territory For each edition of a 40 page magazine: £2,435 for printing 10,000 copies plus £750 License Fee.
Parents News A tabloid newspaper for parents with information on family events and issues. 3 areas in print 1993 1996 Eleven times a year TBC but approximately the size of a county Mentioned on the website but no contact details given   TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC   TBC TBC TBC
Primary Times An A4 magazine distributed through Primary Schools specialising in What's On, Where to Go and What to D 52 areas in print in the UK, Ireland, Spain and Finland 1989 TBC Seven times a year TBC but approximately the size of a county Basic contact details on the website TBC TBC Training mentioned but no further information on the website TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC but illustrated covers are very strongly branded £15,000 payable in stages as you grow your business TBC

None of these businesses offers you a 'get rich quick' scheme or any guarantees. Whichever you choose you will have to work hard to reap rewards.