What Hartbeeps does

Hartbeeps, operated through its legal entity Soundplay Music Limited and headquartered in Kings Langley, UK, delivers multi-sensory musical classes for babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers (birth to age 5). The company offers an age-segmented curriculum comprising Baby Bells (8 weeks to sitting), Baby Beeps (sitting babies 7+ months), Baby Loves Massage (birth to 16 weeks), Happy House (toddlers), and Baby Signing, all aligned with the UK's Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. Its core technology consists of an original music library of hundreds of compositions produced by professional musicians, supported by 100+ ready-made class plans and proprietary multi-sensory props and trademarked puppet characters (Dexter Cat, Adrian Mouse).

The business operates primarily through a franchise model: independent franchisees purchase a license to run Hartbeeps classes in defined UK territories, receiving branded kits, training, ongoing professional support, and access to the proprietary content library. Each franchisee delivers classes in local venues (community centres, churches, dedicated sensory spaces) and sets its own pricing — observed rates range from £8 to £9.50 per session depending on flexible or block booking. Additional revenue streams include in-house nursery and pre-school sessions (B2B), birthday party entertainment, and event entertainment (festivals, play days), with partner relationships supporting value-added services such as Ella's Kitchen and Cheeky Wipes sample distribution.

Revenue at the corporate (franchisor) level derives from initial franchise fees, ongoing royalties or support fees, and centrally managed events; franchisee-level revenue is captured independently. Geographic coverage spans Scotland, North England, the Midlands, Wales, South England, and London, with Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland currently having no active franchisees. The company holds full membership in the Quality Franchise Association and was founded in 2003 by Sarah, a music-background entrepreneur who remains involved.

Name

Hartbeeps

Legal name

Soundplay Music Limited

Website

https://hartbeeps.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hartbeeps is a UK-based early childhood education franchise delivering multi-sensory musical classes for babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers through 100+ franchisees nationwide, plus nursery visits, birthday parties, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early childhood music and sensory classes

NAICS

Child Care Services (6244)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Infant & Toddler Developmental Enrichment (Sensory, Motor, Language) (EDACAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s Entertainment Booking (Clowns, Characters, Princess Parties) (HSACAHAF), Creative Arts, Music & Movement Content (EDAGACAG)

Keywords

• Early childhood music classes
• Baby sensory classes
• Toddler development programs
• Children's party entertainment
• Franchise education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kings Langley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Franchise Fees: Initial franchise fee charged to franchisees for the right to operate Hartbeeps classes in a defined territory. Franchisees invest in a tried and tested model with over two decades of ground work, receiving branded kit, training, and ongoing support.
2. Class Fees (Consumer): Parents and caregivers pay per session or block booking for baby and toddler classes. Cambridge franchise shows pricing of £9.50 per session (flexible) or £8 per session (block booking).
3. Birthday Party Services: Hartbeeps provides entertainment for children's birthday parties (ages 1-5), hosted at homes or chosen venues, with themed sensory musical sessions.
4. Nursery and Pre-School Sessions: Weekly or term-time educational sessions delivered to nurseries and pre-schools, providing a creative addition to their curriculum aligned with EYFS principles.
5. Event Entertainment: Tailored sensory musical entertainment for events including summer play days, music festivals, and winter wonderland events. Includes sensory stay and play, DJ sessions, and multi-activity spaces.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hartbeeps designs and delivers multi-sensory musical storytelling classes for babies and toddlers through age/stage-specific programmes (Baby Bells, Baby Beeps, Baby Loves Massage, Happy House, Baby Signing), supported by an original music library and proprietary sensory props. The company also delivers in-house nursery and pre-school sessions (B2B), hosts birthday parties and event entertainment, and licenses its brand, curriculum and content to franchisees operating local classes across the UK.

Product overview

Hartbeeps is a UK-based early childhood education company offering a portfolio of multi-sensory musical classes and entertainment services for babies (from birth), toddlers, and pre-schoolers up to age 5. The core offering consists of age/stage-specific classes: Baby Bells (newborn to 7 months), Baby Beeps (7 months to walking), Baby Loves Massage (birth to 16 weeks), Happy House (toddlers), and Baby Signing (across all classes). Additional services include Nursery & Pre-School Sessions, Birthday Parties, and Events Entertainment. The company operates through a franchise model with over 100 franchise owners and their Imaginator teaching teams. Hartbeeps also offers franchise and teaching opportunities for those wishing to join the network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Baby Bells

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Quality Franchise AssociationcoreOthersFull member of the Quality Franchise Association (QFA). Franchisees display the QFA Full Member logo on their website, indicating adherence to franchising industry standards and best practices.
• Ella's KitchenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner company for sample product distribution. When customers request sample products, Hartbeeps shares details with Ella's Kitchen to fulfil sample requests. Part of the broader partner ecosystem providing value-added services to families.
• Cheeky WipesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner company for sample product distribution. When customers request sample products, Hartbeeps shares details with Cheeky Wipes to fulfil sample requests.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Baby Sensory: UK-founded baby sensory class franchise offering structured multi-sensory programmes for newborns to 13-month-olds, plus Toddler Sense. Operates an almost identical franchise-led, age-staged model with original content, directly competing for the same parent customers and franchisees as Hartbeeps.
• Jo Jingles: Established UK franchise providing music and singing classes for babies and pre-school children through a nationwide network of franchisees. Closely overlaps Hartbeeps on age range, franchise distribution, and music-led early-years curriculum.
• Monkey Music: Long-running UK franchise of structured music classes for children from 3 months to 4 years, delivered by franchisees in local venues. Competes head-to-head with Hartbeeps on age bands, music-based developmental content, and franchise-led national coverage.
• Music Bugs: UK franchise offering sensory music classes for babies and pre-school children, structured by age stage, with original songs and props. Operates an identical franchisee-delivered model targeting the same parent demographic as Hartbeeps.
• Tumble Tots: UK physical-development franchise for pre-school children delivered via a network of franchisees in local venues. While activity-led rather than music-led, it competes for the same parent wallet and franchisee talent pool as Hartbeeps.
• Sing and Sign: UK franchise teaching baby signing through music-based classes for infants and toddlers, delivered by franchisees. Direct overlap with Hartbeeps' Baby Signing programme on both curriculum and franchise distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• Gymboree Play & Music: Internationally established early-years play, music, and sensory programme operating in multiple countries via licensed centres. A larger, broader incumbent in the same early-years developmental class category, with overlapping content but a wider portfolio and global footprint than Hartbeeps.
• Stagecoach Performing Arts: Large UK franchise network offering performing arts classes (singing, dance, drama) for children including early-years age groups. A broader incumbent in the franchise-led children's activity category, with partial curriculum overlap (music, creative movement) to Hartbeeps.

Emerging players

• Little Kickers: UK franchise of football-based activity classes for pre-school children delivered by franchisees in local venues. Targets the same 0-5 parent demographic with a different (sport) developmental lens, competing for franchisee recruits and parent discretionary spend.
• Pyjama Drama: UK franchise of imaginative drama and play classes for babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers delivered by franchisees. Competes for the same early-years parent customers and franchisee operators with an alternative (drama-led) developmental curriculum.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hartbeeps
• Instagraminstagram.com/hartbeeps
• Xx.com/hartbeeps
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hartbeepsuk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hartbeeps