Owning a franchise business is a fantastic way to satisfy an entrepreneurial spirit within the relative safety of a well-established brand. When you open a franchise business you benefit immediately from a strong support system, and a tried and tested framework that you know will lead to business success, as it has done for so many before you.
A proven model for success
When you join a franchise business as a franchisee you are capitalising on years of tried and tested strategy. This means that you know how the model works, and you’ll benefit from lots of practical examples of how to make the business work. Having these proven models for success reduces the risk that you take on opening a new business.
Not all areas are the same, so joining a large, national franchise operation means that you will be able to tap into the knowledge and experience of other franchisees who operate in similar places to you, with important lessons about demographic split or population density.
Mike and Cath Chalton established one of our first franchises in the Wirral, before going on to own four territories in total: Wirral North, Wirral South, Chester and Liverpool South. They cite a clear management structure as one reason for their growth and success, with employees’ roles and responsibilities clearly defined. That’s even more so as the company has grown, as they can make the most of economies of scale. Making operations more cost-effective, they can reinvest the saved money into other areas of the business and maintain a more financially robust business.
Reduced risk and higher success rates
Franchise businesses typically have much lower failure rates when compared to independent startups. The Institute for Fiscal Studies highlights that one-fifth of self-employed sole traders don’t survive one year, and the majority are no longer trading after five years. However, according to What-Franchise, 80% of new franchise businesses are still running after their first five years. This means that becoming a franchisee is much less risky than starting an independent business, and you can reap the rewards from your hard work once you’re up and running.
One of our franchisees, Suhail Rehman, owns nine franchise territories across Scotland. His entrepreneurial aptitude, coupled with Home Instead’s strong business model, has enabled him to grow significantly and provide care across such a vast area. Over the years, he has added new care to the company’s service offering, such as specialist dementia care and healthcare at home, which allows care professionals to deliver forms of medical treatment in clients’ own homes. It has opened the company up to new client bases, and as clients’ care needs progress, Home Instead can adapt the care plan and remain as their care company.
Brand recognition
Brand trust is built on the reputation of the business, and this trust is built up over time through consistent high performance, positive PR and client and staff testimonials. Brand recognition and trust is particularly important for the home care industry, where so much trust is placed in the company to provide excellent care.
Choosing a franchise of an established brand gives a new home care office a massive boost, as that office will benefit from immediate client trust and recognition. Home Instead has a solid, nationally recognised brand that a new franchisee will immediately be associated with, and a new franchise office will be able to start delivering the same high standard of care by following the guidelines set out by National Office.
Marketing and advertising
Joining our franchise gives you immediate access to a legacy of brand trust and recognition, along with comprehensive marketing support to help you hit the ground running. You’ll have ready-made templates, materials, and a brand guide at your fingertips, as well as access to a national marketing fund and professional media management to boost national coverage, build brand awareness, and generate leads for clients and care professionals. Additionally, you’ll receive a local website with assistance for localisation and optimisation, along with high-quality networking materials to help you connect with referral providers. You can also opt for additional support, including customisable press releases to attract local media attention.
Beyond local marketing, you’ll benefit from national and regional campaigns and have the creative freedom to tailor your outreach locally. Through our partnerships with like-minded organisations, we enhance client service and provide you with access to specialist marketing and PR professionals to elevate your franchise’s visibility.
Helen Brown, owner of Home Instead Portsmouth, has embraced the marketing and PR support provided by National Office, building awareness of the brand in the local area. Hosting information sessions for families in need of care advice, Helen has demonstrated her ability to support people with a range of care needs. Networking is an activity franchise owners are encouraged to do, and in making the community more dementia friendly by going into organisations and delivering talks, Helen has solidified Home Instead as a key part of the community.
We will provide you with access to targeted marketing strategies and share insights drawn from our proven track record of success. We know what works best to help drive local visibility and client acquisition for your franchise. Additionally, we’ll guide you on what makes a franchise an attractive employer, supporting you with staff onboarding and retention.
Training and support
Once you’ve got staff members onboard you can also access specific training to improve your service offering. This could be anything from specialist dementia training to training in common clinical skills, such as catheter care, enteral feeding care, stoma care and basic wound care. Home Instead staff have regular competency checks on their knowledge and their clinical skills and receive on-going support and guidance from our training team to keep their knowledge current.
Franchise owners benefit from comprehensive training and ongoing support, including preliminary operational guidance to prepare for initial training, a dedicated business advisory team for continuous advice, and access to industry training resources, such as web-based training for owners, key staff, and Care Professionals. Additionally, multi-phased training covers specialised areas like in-home safety and dementia care. Home Instead will also provide specific training and support benefits relevant to the home care sector, such as compliance with healthcare regulations and quality standards.
Economies of scale
When joining a large organisation, you can expect to take advantage of bulk purchasing and shared services, reducing overall costs. This means that you can place orders for things that you and your staff will use every day, such as medical supplies, insurance, or administrative services, and pay at the bulk rate for however much you require.
Community and networking
If you feel you need further support, you can tap into the experience of our franchise network of 255 + units to exchange ideas and advice.
You’ll benefit from strong relationships and camaraderie among owners and National Office staff who share common goals, and you can expect to be invited to participate in the Home Instead annual conference – an energising, educational and motivating experience where you’ll get to interact with suppliers, other owners and National Office staff, building relationships that will benefit you and your business for years to come.
As part of a large home care franchise network, you’ll gain valuable networking opportunities within the home care industry, allowing you to collaborate with other care providers and share best practices. This support and connection make owning a Home Instead franchise a highly rewarding experience.