Since the start of the year, Home Instead Senior Care has already welcomed new owners in 12 territories to the network – a mix of brand new franchises and a territory resale.

Our new franchisees are all people who have recognised the market opportunity and business potential investing in the senior care market and representing an ageing population.

The nine brand new franchises have given owners the opportunity to launch their own venture but with a proven business model, first-class training and support, alongside a genuine culture of peer collaboration.

Our ‘dedicated dozen’ also includes one new owner who has purchased a territory resale – the ideal proposition for people who want to become part of our mission ‘to change the face of ageing’ but with an established team, office and structure in place.

Our franchise model has proven longevity, we’ve been operating in the UK for the last 12 years and we’re proud to have opened over 190 franchises to date. Many of our franchises are turning over in excess of £1 million per year with operating profits of 15-20%.

We have 120 territories available and 6 territory resales, ideal investments for people with passion and determination, business leaders who want to be part of a mission-led franchisor that is proud to hold 5 Star Franchisee Satisfaction from Smith & Henderson for the past 4 years running.

Meet one of our newest franchisees…

Ashley’s Franchise Sign Up Story

After graduating from university with a degree in Economics and Languages, Ashley Gray, now 45, worked in the City for almost 12 years. Gaining experience with several companies, it was his final position running a headhunting company where he developed a strong ability to build successful relationships. It’s this quality that he’s looking to use as he launches his Home Instead franchise in Yeovil, Sherborne and Bridport.

Wanting to do something different, Ashley left his job in the City in 2008, spending time volunteering at an Indian orphanage, before starting a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in 2009.

It was a career change for wife Becky and the arrival of his first son, Seb, that led to a relocation from London to the South West. With a five-week-old baby and Becky starting a new career as a doctor at Musgrove Park Hospital, Ashley needed a new venture that worked for all three of them.

Hotelier – A ‘Never Forever’ Opportunity

With a family friend who was an experienced hotelier and influenced by his experiences, Ashley purchased a 13-bed hotel in East Devon. Becoming the family home, it was close enough to the hospital for Becky and allowed the flexibility in working hours that a corporate role couldn’t.

Ashley said: “I like to think I’m entrepreneurial and there was an innovation and entrepreneurship focus to my MBA. Running a hotel was something completely different from what I’d done, but it was never ‘forever’. As much as seeing it as a business, I was also playing the property game – the building was attractive and I could see potential.”

Turning the hotel from a near-loss making operation into a successful one, Ashley sold the business in July 2016 to begin looking for his next venture. Because the hotel had also been their home, the family relocated again, moving to South Somerset, where his twin boys were born the following month.

New Challenges

The next six months are described by Ashley as ‘full on’, adjusting to life as a family of five but also looking for his next business move.

Ashley said: “I’d always been interested in care and running a care home had always been in the back of my mind. I wanted a business that made a positive difference to other people’s lives rather than just focusing on the bottom line.”

“The hardest thing about running the hotel was not having someone to share the business with and I knew an independent care home would be the same. It made me realise that a homecare franchise could offer me the opportunity to open my own business, doing something worthwhile, but with the support and peer relationships that franchising brings. The ability to share the business experience is what sold it to me.”

Ashley researched homecare franchisors and found Home Instead Senior Care. He attended a Home Instead Discovery Day in London, meeting with the team from National Office. He said: “Once I’d seen their presentation, it made sense. They’re doing it really well – offering a top service with a focus on value. That was the differentiator. With my background, I knew I could make a really good business and give something back, maybe this sounds like a cliché but it’s so true with this franchise model.”

Open Culture, Warm and Welcoming

It was the open and honest culture of Home Instead that impressed Ashley who asked if he could visit franchisees in neighbouring territories to get to know the business better, before deciding whether to invest in a franchise.

Ashley added: “Having the chance to meet existing franchisees allowed me to hear all about their positive stories and shared experiences, first hand. I visited three offices and spoke to another six franchisees. They were all very warm, welcoming and had a similar outlook to me. I could see how the opportunity to invest in a territory would totally play to my skill set.”

Ashley followed his instincts and completed his new owner training in May this year.

Support in everything from HR to PR

Drawing on the comprehensive support package Home Instead offers, Ashley is now in the process of recruiting his Care Manager ahead of opening his franchise in September. He said: “The support from National Office gets you in the mind-set to think ‘Home Instead’. It’s given me a really good understanding of how they operate and the support on everything from HR to PR has been really important.”

He added: “I’m so excited to get started, to emulate the Home Instead mission in my territory and become a thought leader in my locality. I want to create a business that is respectful to CAREGivers and empowers them to be the best they can be. I want my clients and their families to say, ‘I want my care there because it’s the best!!!’”.

Home Instead Senior Care, the world’s largest and best homecare provider, has 120 territories available across the UK as well as 6 territory resales. If you would like to learn more about a Home Instead franchise opportunity, please submit an enquiry form below!