Little Wickets

Welcome to the Little Wickets franchise opportunity

Championing Fair Play & Fun. Creating Team Players for Life

Build a Business with Purpose

Little Wickets is an award-winning children's sports business giving young children a joyful first step into team sport. Since 2011, our fun, inclusive cricket-inspired programmes have helped children get active, build confidence and develop teamwork, resilience, coordination and social skills.

You do not need to be a cricket expert to run a Little Wickets business. Our model suits sports coaches, teachers, parents, career changers and entrepreneurs. Coach sessions yourself if suitably qualified, or focus on building the business and managing a team of qualified coaches.

Why Little Wickets?

• A distinctive specialist offer for young children, rooted in fair play, teamwork and the Spirit of Cricket.
• A flexible model that can start part-time & grow with your ambitions or go full-time an build a team of coaches to deliver the programme year-round with a team of coaches.
• Multiple income streams across families, schools, nurseries, holiday provision, clubs and events.
• Low overheads with no dedicated business premises required.
• 15+ years of programme development, systems and practical know-how already behind you.

Award-Winning & Nationally Recognised

2026 recognition to date includes:

• Founder Chloe Williams winning EWiF New Woman Franchisor of the Year 2026
• Little Wickets ranking No. 31 in Club Hub's Top 100 Children's Activity Providers - the only cricket-based provider in the Top 100
• Finalist places for Club Hub Family Business of the Year and the Class Business Awards Brand Excellence category.
• Little Wickets Ltd and Little Wickets East Midlands have also been nominated in the What's On 4 Kids National Children's Activities Awards' Most Loved Sport or Physical Activity categories.

The Opportunity at a Glance

• Packages from £3,000, tailored to the size and opportunity of your exclusive territory.
• Typical launch within 6-12 weeks, depending on availability and local logistics.
• No previous business ownership or cricket playing experience required.
• Run it hands-on as a coach, build a coaching team, or combine both.

Multiple Income Streams, One Flexible Model

Build a balanced mix of recurring term-time activity and additional seasonal or partnership income through:

• 1st Innings and 2nd Innings weekly community classes for children from age 2½ to Year 2.
• Schools, after-school clubs, nurseries and early-years partnerships.
• Holiday clubs and camps for primary-aged children.
• Cricket club partnerships, birthday parties and special events.
• Growth through recruiting additional qualified coaches and expanding local delivery.

Support Every Step of the Way

You are building your own local business, but you are not starting from scratch. Little Wickets provides practical UK-based support from launch onwards.

• Initial training, onboarding and one-to-one business guidance.
• Established coaching programmes, manuals and operational systems, including safeguarding and risk-assessment frameworks.
• Personalised booking and email tools, plus an online resource hub.
• Brand, marketing templates, national activity and local marketing guidance.
• Coach recruitment support, ongoing mentoring and access to the Little Wickets partner community.

Your Partner Package

Packages start from £3,000 and are tailored to the size, potential and opportunity within each exclusive local territory.

Your package includes:

• An individually mapped exclusive territory and use of the Little Wickets brand and proven business model.
• Starter Little Wickets cricket equipment, equipment bag and branded coaching kit.
• Training, coaching programmes, manuals, policies, templates, booking and digital systems.
• Marketing support, ongoing UK-based HQ guidance and complimentary British Franchise Association franchisee membership.

Ongoing fees include an IT administration fee, a small franchise management commission and a national marketing fee deducted from bookings. Full details are provided during discovery.

Built on Strong Standards

Little Wickets is an Emerging Member of the British Franchise Association, a certified member of the Children's Activities Association and an ICAP member with a 3-Kite top-level quality assurance rating - reinforcing our commitment to responsible franchising, safeguarding and professional standards.

Hear from a Little Wickets Partner

“I have a full time career and a young family but can fit in the necessary work around that and grow the business at a healthy rate. Chloe and the team have been so supportive since I started, consistently going above and beyond what I had expected.”
Mark Jones, Little Wickets Berkshire

Is Little Wickets Right for You?

We are looking for positive, organised and self-motivated people who believe in the value of children's sport. You do not need previous business ownership, cricket playing experience or coaching qualifications - what matters is the drive to build a strong local business, follow a proven model and create positive experiences for children.

Take the Next Step

Start with an informal conversation about you, your goals and your local area. If there is a good fit, there is a refundable discovery deposit payable. Discovery includes tailored territory mapping and financial projections before you make a final decision. Training and onboarding begin once the legal and financial steps are complete.