Animal magic is child's play: as Blue Peter presenters will surely tell you, animals and children are a law unto themselves. But if you can rise to the challenge there are plenty of rewarding franchises on offer. (Franchises with children and animals: words).

THEY SAY THERE ARE two things you should never work with--children and animals. This is because, as well as being cute and loveable, they can be unruly, unreliable and unpredictable. But many franchisees successfully to work with at least one of these, and the really successful franchises are keen to expand further, which is great news for people who are looking for a fresh business challenge.

So, what sorts of opportunities are available? When it comes to children's franchises there are plenty of choices. Formative Fun, for example, is a specialist retail shop full of educational toys, books, CDs and games. Venture Portraits does family photos, while Kids Klub produces children's keepsake videos.

The newest franchise involving kids is little Impressions. Launched 18 months ago, this franchise specialises in making plaster casts of children's hands and feet and framing the results in oak. The business can be run from home and has been designed to have low turnover but high margins. Head office says you do not need to be an artist to succeed in this franchise, although a creative eye is an advantage. The main quality required is an ability to make …