How Much Does It Cost To Start a Baby or Toddler Class Business in the UK?
By Tim Freed
If you are thinking about starting a baby or toddler class business, one of the biggest questions you will probably have is this:
How much does it actually cost to get started?
It is a completely reasonable question, and it is one that does not always get answered clearly. So today I want to give you a simple, honest breakdown of the real costs involved in starting baby and toddler classes in the UK, along with something just as important:
How to avoid the biggest time suckers that drain new class providers before they ever get the chance to grow.
Because while money matters, your time is the thing you cannot get back. And starting a new class business can burn through an astonishing amount of it if you are not careful.
Typical startup costs for a baby or toddler class business
Most people launching baby or toddler classes spend between £300 and £3,000. The exact amount depends on things like equipment, venue hire, training and how polished you want things to be.
Let’s break it down so you can plan effectively.
1. Venue hire (£10 - £30 per hour)
This is usually the biggest ongoing expense. Most class providers use community halls, church halls, village halls, dance studios or sports centres, and they typically pay between £10 and £30 per hour.
A friendly, clean, warm space is all you need. Families come for the experience you create, not the wallpaper.
2. Insurance (£70 - £200 per year)
You will usually need:
* Public liability insurance
* Professional indemnity insurance (depending on your class type)
This is simple and affordable. Most people fall somewhere between £70 and £200 per year.
3. Equipment and materials (£50 - £2,000)
Your equipment costs depend on the type of classes you run.
Examples include:
Baby sensory or toddler sensory
* Lights, textures, toys, instruments, bubbles, tuff trays
Baby massage or baby yoga
* Mats, oils, towels, cushions
Baby music or movement
* Speakers, mats, instruments, props
If you keep it simple, you can start with £50 - £200 of equipment. If you want something polished or themed, you might invest £1,000 or more.
But remember:
Parents are not paying for your props. They are paying for the value you bring.
Start small and grow.
4. Training or certification (£100 - £2,500)
Some classes require training, others do not. Common options include:
* Baby massage
* Baby yoga
* Music and movement
* Sensory programmes
* Paediatric first aid
Training can help you feel confident, but it is not the only thing that matters. Warmth, personality and connection go a long way.
5. Marketing costs (£0 - £500+)
This is where new class providers spend far more time than they expect.
You can budget for:
* A simple website or landing page
* Flyers or posters
* Social media ads
* Directory listings
* Photography
* A booking page
But the real cost here is not money. It is the time it takes to get new parents into your class.
The biggest hidden cost: the time you spend trying to market your classes
This is the part most new class providers underestimate.
Marketing your classes includes:
* Posting regularly on social media
* Replying to comments and messages
* Running ads
* Designing graphics
* Writing posts
* Creating videos
* Sending newsletters
* Updating your website
* Responding to late night parent enquiries
* Listing your classes everywhere parents might look
And that is on top of:
* Managing bookings
* Tracking payments
* Handling cancellations
* Chasing overdue fees
* Managing waiting lists
* Last minute changes
* Sorting refunds
* Updating registers
From the hundreds of conversations we have with class providers, many tell us they spend 5 to 10 hours per week on admin and marketing alone, even if they are only running one or two classes.
This is the real business killer. Not teaching the classes. Not the equipment. It is the sheer amount of admin and marketing needed to keep your classes full.
So how do you reduce that?
Here are a few ways to reclaim your time and actually enjoy running your business.
Create your free Toddle About listing to get found by local parents
One of the easiest and most effective ways to reach parents is to make sure your classes
appear where they are already searching.
You can create a free listing here.
Once you have a listing, parents can find your classes using the Toddle About search tools, including:
Search Near Me
For most new class providers, this becomes one of the highest quality sources of new enquiries because the parents searching here are already motivated and actively looking for things to do.
Sync your class listings automatically with Book That In
Here is something many providers do not know:
If you use Book That In as your booking system, your classes can sync automatically with your Toddle About listing. That means no more:
* Duplicated updates
* Out of date listings
* Manual edits
* Forgotten Christmas closures
* Scrambling to update your profile at midnight
Your classes stay up to date everywhere without you lifting a finger.
You can explore Book That In here.
And if you want to grow smoothly without drowning in admin, you can sign up here.
Automate your marketing with AutoMate
If you want to save even more time, you can use a CRM like AutoMate to automate a lot of your marketing and parent communication.
AutoMate lets you:
* Build email sequences
* Automate reminders
* Follow up with leads
* Track engagement
* Nurture new parents into regular bookings
* Reduce no shows
* Bring people back after they lapse
It syncs with Book That In too, so your customer data flows straight into your CRM.
You can explore it here.
This kind of automation is a game changer. It allows you to look after your customers, provide great communication and keep your classes full without spending hours every week glued to your phone.
So what does it cost to start a baby or toddler class business?
Here is the simple version:
Low budget launch: £300 - £800
Comfortable start: £800 - £1,500
Premium setup: £1,500 - £3,000+
Most people fall somewhere in the middle.
The money matters. But the thing that makes or breaks most class businesses is not money.
It is time.
If you want to give yourself the best chance of success, focus on saving time wherever you can. That might mean automating bookings, automating communication or simply making sure you are showing up in the right places.
Final thoughts
Starting a baby or toddler class business is one of the most rewarding things you can do. You are building community, bringing families together and creating moments that stay with them for life.
And now you have a clear idea of what it costs, where the hidden time drains are and how to avoid them.
Whether you are just starting out or preparing to grow, remember this:
You do not need to do everything manually. You do not need to be everywhere at once. And you do not need to burn out to build something brilliant.
Let tools, automation and the right platforms do some of the heavy lifting for you so you can focus on what you do best.
Till next time,
Tim
About The Author
Tim Freed is the Co-Founder of both Toddle About and Book That In.
Having built and managed a 50-strong team of door-to-door sales people in his early 20s, he joined the corporate world and built a multi-million pound recruitment team. Then Tim turned to entrepreneurship - founding Toddle About in 2010, which is now a thriving franchise business. He went on to launch Book That In in 2017 with his business partner, Alec Wadey, which is now one of the fastest growing online booking systems in the UK.
Tim is always learning and striving to improve and loves nothing more than sharing his hard-won knowledge and experience in sales, marketing, leadership and entrepreneurship with other business owners to help them on their own journeys.
FAQs for Starting a Baby & Toddler Business
Each question targets a high-intent keyword and contains internal links where useful.
How much does it cost to start a baby class business in the UK?
Most new class providers spend between £300 and £3,000 depending on equipment, venue hire, insurance, marketing and training. You can start small and scale as you grow.
What equipment do I need to run baby or toddler classes?
It depends on the class type. Sensory classes often need lights, textures and props, while music or yoga classes might need mats and instruments. Most people can start with simple, low cost items and upgrade later.
How do I attract parents to my new baby or toddler class?
The best way to reach parents is to show up where they are already looking for activities.
You can create a free listing on Toddle About here. Your classes will then appear in the Toddle About search tools, including Near Me and Things To Do.
How much time does it take to run baby classes each week?
Many class providers tell us they spend 5 to 10 hours a week on admin and marketing alone, even when they are only running one or two classes. Tasks like bookings, cancellations, social media and chasing payments add up quickly.
How can I save time on marketing and admin for my baby class business?
CRM tools like AutoMate can automate emails, reminders, lead nurturing and more. Using a booking system like Book That In also saves hours each week, and it syncs automatically with Toddle About so your listings always stay updated.
Do I need qualifications to run baby or toddler classes?
Some classes require training, such as baby massage or baby yoga. Others do not. Confidence, safety and your ability to deliver a great experience matter more than certificates.
Where can parents find my classes online?
Parents can find your classes by searching Toddle About using the directory search tool. Making sure your listing is active and up to date helps new families discover you quickly.