Community Times is one of the UK’s largest publishers of online & offline magazines.

What is the business? Community Times offers the opportunity to publish a high quality glossy local magazine. Each edition is also published online.

Investment required: £6,926

Earning Potential: £2100 to £5000 per month depending on hours.

Is there training/support for franchisees? Yes

Best suited to: Many backgrounds. The flexibility of hours makes it attractive to many people. If you have 15 hours or more a week to spare on this business the extensive CT business support systems will allow you to publish your own magazine.

For more information: Jonathan Gibbs 0800 243 462 or 01792 773399, email j.gibbs@communitytimes.co.uk for more information and a free comprehensive information pack including a copy of the BBC's working lunch review of Community Times. Visit - www.mycommunitytimes.co.uk

Name: Tracy

Location: Port Talbot - South Wales

Family: 1 daughter Ffion aged 10

How often do you work?
During school hours and some admin time during evenings.

How does the job fit around your family life?
This is what attracted me to the business, I previously worked as Cabin Crew on shifts but this made family life difficult. Now I work less hours for more money when my daughter is in school. I also enjoy getting out and meeting people in the area.

How much roughly did the franchise cost you?
£4,950.

What did that investment buy?
The fee provided me with a unique area to operate within, training and businesses and monthly support and interaction from the Community Times business. Each month they send me a template magazine and I fill in the blanks with local advertisers and community information and events. When I return the completed template, CT organise the printing and distribution and publish the magazine online.

Do you get support/training?
Yes, the support information covers everything from sales to accounting. I have an Account Manager who is my point of contact. This lady is very helpful and assists with any issues I have. In my first few editions CT provided lots of supporting helping me with the development of the business and teaching me how to modify the template. My Account Manager puts me in touch with the right people to help within the business so I get the right type of assistance. There is also a comprehensive Online Business System called CT:Manage that provide access to information, articles, template adverts and advise 24 hours a day. CT Manage also allows me to modify my online directory, publish audio & video promotions on my site. My family think I'm a computer expert now, but the truth is the systems do most of the technical work.

Are there on-going costs?
My main costs are the printing. I use CT for this service as I have found their service to be very effective and importantly it's almost half the cost of any quotes I have received myself. I also pay a monthly support service and engage a distribution company organised by CT to deliver my magazines. Each month I sell about £4,600 of advertising and my costs come to about £1500.

How much do you earn?
£3,100 after costs. This is starting to rise as I am now getting the online revenue growing in addition to the glossy magazine.

Do you advertise?
Now I am established most of my business call me. I have however just started accessing a telemarketing service that CT have introduced, where they organise appointments for me. I think this is really going to grow my business, especially the online element.

What is the best thing about Community Times for you?
Flexibility of time. Of course I love the money, it's almost twice what I earned as Cabin Crew. I also feel a great sense of pride every time the delivery van arrives and gives me my copies of the latest months magazine.

Are there any downsides to the job?
Getting started, was the hardest part. It's new, you don't have repeat sales or customers so you have to be prepared for a few knock backs. Now it's up and running there's no real downsides. I was worried about holiday and other family commitments would fit in, but you can book customers in for a couple of month's or publish a little earlier.

Would you recommend this franchise opportunity to other Mums?
Yes, I love this business. You need to be prepared to do some work, it's not a magic business were you just make money. You go to work, follow a system and grow your business. I was one of the first Community Times magazines and it is now growing fast across the UK, the support systems and input from Community Times is developing all the time.