1851

2016 has been an eventful year so far for <a href="http://thetotsquad.com/franchising?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=tot-squad-expands-into-washington-dc-with-its-first-franchisee-6792" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tot Squad</a>. The innovative company, located in play spaces and large retailers like Babies R Us, Buy Buy Baby and Whole Foods, helps parents clean and properly install baby gear. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenbsaxton?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=tot-squad-expands-into-washington-dc-with-its-first-franchisee-6792" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jennifer Beall Saxton</a>, Founder &amp; CEO of Tot Squad, celebrated a huge milestone in June as the brand expanded into Washington D.C. with its first franchisee, Hayden Little.

&ldquo;I have to say, we hit the jackpot in having Hayden as our first franchisee. Hayden is not only a savvy business professional with great insights and feedback, but she is also really committed to our mission of coming to the rescue of busy parents everywhere,&rdquo; said Saxton. &ldquo;She has secured relationships with the most popular baby and maternity boutiques and kid activity centers in her area.&rdquo;

Little has partnered with <a href="http://fit4mom.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=tot-squad-expands-into-washington-dc-with-its-first-franchisee-6792" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fit4Mom</a> to clean strollers after workouts and the company celebrated its development into D.C. by giving away 500 free stroller cleanings at launch events at retailers throughout the city.

With Tot Squad planning to add more franchisees, Saxton highlights the importance of taking the time to properly vet every potential franchise candidate. The company has hired <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewhorton10?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=tot-squad-expands-into-washington-dc-with-its-first-franchisee-6792" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Andrew Horton</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kris-nieb-87b27726?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=tot-squad-expands-into-washington-dc-with-its-first-franchisee-6792" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kris Nieb</a> of <a href="http://www.velocityhubfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=tot-squad-expands-into-washington-dc-with-its-first-franchisee-6792" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Velocity Franchise Development</a> to help point Tot Squad in the right direction, raise awareness of the brand and find the best-qualified franchisees to fuel its growth.

&ldquo;One of the biggest (but good to have) challenges has been keeping up with all the franchise inquiries. &nbsp;The vetting process is thorough for a reason: we want to ensure it&rsquo;s a good fit for both parties, but that means there are numerous candidates at different stages in the process,&rdquo; says Saxton.

On top of expanding into D.C., Saxton was selected as one of 10 finalists in the <a href="http://www.womenfoundersnetwork.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=tot-squad-expands-into-washington-dc-with-its-first-franchisee-6792" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Women Founders Network</a> competition and was also a finalist at <a href="http://www.heralabs.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=tot-squad-expands-into-washington-dc-with-its-first-franchisee-6792" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hera Fast Pitch</a> in San Diego. Both are events where Saxton pitched Tot Squad to other female entrepreneurs. Saxton says that participating in these events and continuously networking with people in the industry has been key for growth and success.

&ldquo;Hera was such an amazing opportunity to meet women from a variety of industries with different perspectives.&nbsp;The judges asked some new and challenging questions &ndash; participating in these events keeps me focused on what resonates with potential investors and what areas of my business model I need to work on,&rdquo; says Saxton. &ldquo;In terms of networking, I love meeting successful women that I can learn from as well as other young entrepreneurs.&nbsp;Whether you win or lose, there are always great takeaways in every pitch competition.&rdquo;

Right now, Saxton is working on raising $1 million to $1.5 million in this round of fundraising to help build a strong executive team and pilot the kiosk concept at a major retailer. A vital component of fundraising for Saxton is forming partnerships with organizations set up to help new small businesses. The company is part of the<a href="https://www.sofi.com/entrepreneur-program/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=tot-squad-expands-into-washington-dc-with-its-first-franchisee-6792" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> SoFi entrepreneur program</a> - a community that supports new entrepreneurs with student debt - and has received over $150,000 in financing from the organization. Saxton has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from contacts she&rsquo;s met through SoFi and gained large retail partnerships after competing in events like the International Franchise Association&rsquo;s <a href="http://nextgenfranchising.org/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=tot-squad-expands-into-washington-dc-with-its-first-franchisee-6792#the-nextgen-competition" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">NextGen in Franchising Global Competition</a> in 2015 where she came in second.

In terms of management, franchise veteran <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mckinnon-0990518?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=tot-squad-expands-into-washington-dc-with-its-first-franchisee-6792" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">David McKinnon</a>, Co-Founder of Service Brands International and Chairman at TriniD, acts as the board observer to Tot Squad while Saxton serves on the board of directors and recently added a second executive to the leadership.

&ldquo;I am so grateful that <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/meranee-phing-naaman-5a421a?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=tot-squad-expands-into-washington-dc-with-its-first-franchisee-6792" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Meranee Phing Naaman</a> recently agreed to join the board. Meranee is a partner at the private equity shop Riverside Company and has extensive experience both in the baby and franchise industries,&rdquo; says Saxton.&nbsp;&ldquo;We are on the hunt for a third board member and strategically, I think an executive with a strong retail background would round out the group.&rdquo;

In addition to finding the right people, Saxton has hefty plans for 2017 with a focus on development and a goal to open Tot Squad franchises in at least 20 more cities by the end of 2017. With a clear focus and Saxton at the helm, Tot Squad is positioned for record growth throughout next year and in years to come.&nbsp;

Tot Squad Expands into Washington D.C. with its First Franchisee

1851 Franchise

Jennifer Beall Saxton leads the baby gear cleaning company into new markets and partnerships


tot-squad-expands-into-washington-dc-with-its-first-franchisee

ServiceMaster Restore

ServiceMaster Restore Powers Into the Second Half of 2025 With Growth and Purpose-Driven Impact

ServiceMaster Restore Powers Into the Second Half of 2025 With Strong Growth and Purpose-Driven Impact

servicemaster-restore-powers-into-the-second-half-of-2025-with-strong-growth-and-purpose-driven-impact

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers - Midyear Press Release 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Comfort Keepers® Hits Mid-Year Stride With Strong Franchise Growth and Rising Demand for In-Home Care

comfort-keepers-franchise-midyear-momentum-2025

petbar

petbar - Garrett Dewan - Why I'm Investing - 1851 Franchise

Why Garrett Dewan Is Choosing To Reinvest in petbar

petbar-franchise-austin-garrett-dewan-multi-unit

Paris Baguette

NJBIZ: Paris Baguette Ramps Up Expansion With New Franchises, Facility and 2030 Growth Target

njbiz-paris-baguette-ramps-up-expansion-with-new-franchises-facility-and-2030-growth-target

Busy Bee Jumpers

Top 10 Reasons To Buy a Busy Bee Jumpers Franchise in 2025

top-10-reasons-to-buy-a-busy-bee-jumpers-franchise-in-2025

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down Amid Challenges, Leaving Franchisees Facing Uncertainty

wendys-ceo-transition-kirk-tanner-franchisee-uncertainty

"Come in, We're OPEN" sign against abstract background

Small Business Optimism Dips, Raising Concerns for Franchise Owners

small-business-optimism-dips-raising-concerns-for-franchise-owners

Photo of Roof Scientist truck and trailer

Roof Scientist Expands Into Northern Indianapolis as Entrepreneur Dale Speckman Launches New Business in Fishers

roof-scientist-expands-into-northern-indianapolis

Image of Donald Trump pointing with red stripes in the background

August 1 Tariff Deadline Is Said to Have ‘No Extensions’: What This Could Mean for Franchises

august-1-tariff-deadline-franchise-impact

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

Coffee & Analytics graphic with photo of Nick Powills

Franchise Growth Is Messy. Lead Gen Is Uncomfortable. Let’s Fix It.

franchise-lead-generation-insights

How Franchise Brands Can Prepare for the Rise of AI-Driven Advertising

how-franchise-brands-can-prepare-for-the-rise-of-ai-driven-advertising

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Kelsey McManemin — Vice President of Marketing, HTeaO

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-kelsey-mcmanemin-vice-president-of-marketing-hteao

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

From Corporate Careers to Community Roots: Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

kansas-couple-opens-childrens-lighthouse-gardner-olathe

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery 

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery in Overland Park, Kansas

paris-baguette-franchise-overland-park-khandelwal

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

Tot Squad Expands into Washington D.C. with its First Franchisee

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS