The songs for seeds Franchise Opportunity Positions Owners To Sing the Brand’s Praises Thanks to a Low Investment With No Fixed Costs

Two moms, two sets of twins and two giant strollers may not typically lead to the creation of a children’s music education franchise, but songs for seeds co-founders Allison Schlanger and Alison Qualter Berna had an idea to take the sector to the next level. 

It all started when Allison and Alison took their respective set of twins to a children’s music class. The two moms bonded over the difficulty of trying to fit their double strollers into a tiny New York City elevator and the fact that the music class facility wasn’t childproof. They wanted a better environment in which their children could learn through music, and while both women loved their day jobs—Allison worked for MTV and Alison worked at UNICEF—they also felt a strong pull to create a new career path that would allow them to connect with and make a difference in their communities. Thus, both a friendship and a business were born; along with their husbands, Craig Schlanger and Bobby Berna, the four parents created the New York City-based enterprise songs for seeds in 2009. 

The concept soon caught on in the neighborhood and the two husband-and-wife teams proceeded to open more locations. After years of receiving franchise inquiries, the brand awarded its first franchise in 2012 to a mother who had been taking her own children to songs for seeds for years. Following its growth outwards from New York City, the child-delighting music education brand has since grown to 22 locations in nine states—Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and South Carolina—and is laying roots in new markets from coast to coast.

So just what makes songs for seeds such a compelling and rewarding business opportunity?

A parent-prioritizing and research-backed model that keeps kids clamoring to come back. Such a model can be characterized by songs for seeds’ five key differentiators: Live Band; More Than Music; Interactive Learning; Modern Approach; and Parents Matter.

Five Core Values: Live Band; More Than Music; Interactive Learning; Modern Approach; and Parents Matter

Unlike most “mommy and me” classes, songs for seeds’ classes showcase a three-piece live band for every class, making for an interactive and unique learning experience that children and their families won’t find elsewhere. Furthermore, songs for seeds’ curricula is built around a  “more than music” philosophy, using colors, shapes, numbers, animal sounds, animal movement and music from around the world to help set the foundation for creativity and robust early childhood education. 

“Parents regularly tell us that their child developed a love of music because of songs for seeds. Our program is designed to feel like play and to constantly keep children engaged,” shared Allison, alluding to the brand’s third key differentiator, Interactive Learning. “Through this approach, kids are encouraged to jump up and join the band. They take to the mic, or try their hand at the drums. Many music classes won’t allow kids to touch the adult equipment, but we have created everything with kids in mind. They learn to make connections between sound, rhythm, color, numbers and world culture—and they beg their parents to come back again and again.”

Finally, songs for seeds stands out from the competition thanks to a modern curriculum—characterized by over 100 week’s worth of different lesson plans—as well as a Parents Matter conviction that influences every decision made by the business. Because of the importance of parents’ insight, the songs for seeds’ co-founders provide franchise owners with access to Listen360, a customer engagement platform which surfaces real-time customer feedback for immediate response. 

The Right Foundation to Grow: songs for seeds’ First-Rate Franchisee Support

Impressively, the four songs for seeds’ co-founders didn’t just stop after developing a best-in-class business model; the quartet also committed to exceptional franchisee support.

Songs for seeds’ founders work closely with all new franchisees during the onboarding process to help them secure a location, find customers and help audition and hire a band. Franchisee training takes place over the course of five days at the brand’s New York City headquarters, wherein new owners are introduced to songs for seeds’ fully-automated software platform which allows customers to pay monthly until they opt-out. Such technology supports retention rates and keeps franchisees’ focus on earning new customers widening the reach of their engaging and educational offering instead of having to worry about coordinating weekly class sign-ups for existing customers. 

Songs for seeds also leverages its own custom-built marketing portal called the SHOP, which houses hundreds of pieces of marketing graphics and material which franchise owners can customize to their location with a simple download and print. A dedicated songs for seeds Marketing Coordinator remains available to answer franchisees’ questions and lend guidance for on-going support throughout every stage of the franchise ownership journey.

High Reward, Short Margins: songs for seeds’ Cost-Conserving Investment and Buildout-Free Model

Another element that positions franchise owners for growth and success is songs for seeds’ low startup investment. Because a typical songs for seeds class consists of children and parents being led in song by a three-piece, live-music ensemble composed of musician-teachers— themselves independent contractors who are paid per class—franchisees do not need to employ full-time staff, translating to a relatively low required investment. 

Also contributing to the brand’s low investment is the lack of a required buildout; instead of having to construct their own brick-and-mortar locations, songs for seeds franchisees leverage underutilized spaces within existing kid-friendly businesses. This could include partnerships with ballet studios, karate dojos, churches, synagogues, toy stores, community centers and more so franchisees only pay rent when a class is actually in session. The brand also offers a mobile kiosk unit, which is referred to as the Roadie Box, that allows songs for seeds franchisees to transform any available space into a songs for seeds classroom. 

“songs for seeds is a great business opportunity for two reasons,” co-founder Craig Schlanger said. “The first is it’s low upfront investment relative to other franchise offerings with big inv­estments in buildout and general construction. The second is that the model strips out all the fixed costs. By removing monthly rent and full-time employees, franchisees can reach breakeven and eventual profitability much quicker than can a business saddled by a fixed payroll and rent.” 

Laying Roots: A Growing songs for seeds Franchise Family

Today, the premier children’s music education brand is looking for franchise partners to expand its national footprint and has partnered with franchise development consultancy RainTree to accelerate growth. 

The brand is also looking to expand in areas that are densely populated with young families. Target markets for songs for seeds span several regions across the U.S. and include major cities such as: Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Dallas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Detroit, Portland, Seattle and Washington, D.C. Given its origins in New York City, songs for seeds is also looking to focus on growth in neighboring New Jersey; in particular, within the neighborhoods of Princeton, Morristown, Montclair, Maplewood, Ridgewood, Rumson and Summit. More than anything else, emphasized Alison, songs for seeds locations need to be opened in locations densely populated with young families with the means to provide their children with extracurricular classes—such locations will likely mirror the demographics of communities such as Scarsdale, New York; Greenwich, Connecticut; and Boca Raton, Florida.

Franchisees are awarded a protected territory based on zip codes that contain 5,000 to 10,000 households. Songs for seeds also provides incentives for multi-unit owners, with a franchise fee of $70,000 for two units or $90,000 for three units. 

When it comes to prospective franchise partners, songs for seeds is continuing to look for growth-oriented entrepreneurs who want to help educate children through music, play a major role within their communities and make sure their business stays top-of-mind for busy parents. Songs for seeds franchisees should also possess marketing savvy, especially in terms of social media. Importantly, a songs for seeds franchisee does not need to be musical themselves.

The co-founders noted that many franchisees are drawn from the brand’s own customer base. Three of the brand’s strongest franchisees started out as class participants, and class musicians have also become owners. 

“The songs for seeds franchise opportunity has been so successful largely because it’s such a unique children’s program,” Bobby Berna said. “There is really nothing else like it in the marketplace. The combination of an extremely engaging, live, three-piece rock band combined with the educational elements that are delivered during the class via our ‘more than music’ philosophy keeps families coming back week after week. From our franchise owners’ perspective, the simplicity of the model combined with a fast path to profitability with the opportunity to scale to multiple locations, allows them to be successful business owners while also giving back to their communities.” 

With a cost-effective business model, plus an unrivaled focus on parents and fostering positive childhood development, songs for seeds is ready to make the world a better place, one song at a time.

The startup costs for a songs for seeds franchise range from $92,250 to $122,650. The franchise fee is $45,000. Multi-level financial incentives include two units for $70,000 and three units for $90,000. To learn more about franchising with songs for seeds, visit https://songsforseedsfranchise.com/.