Home Care Franchise Opportunities

Home Care Franchise Opportunities

How to succeed with a home care franchise

If you’re looking for fresh possibilities and a career that’s never boring, setting up a home care franchise business could be the ideal move for you.

According to the latest statistics from the Homecare Association, the UK home care and supported living market is now valued at £12.4 billion. That's a rise of around 13% since 2020.

With a 15% increase in requests for home care services, from 1.81 million in 2015 to 2.1 million in 2024, there’s a greater need for home health franchises than ever before.  

What is a home care franchise? 

A home care franchise, also known as a domiciliary care franchise, provides a range of care services to individuals in their own homes.

The purpose of this service is to help people maintain independence and improve their quality of life. A home carer carries out a range of different care tasks, tailored to their clients' needs.  

What is the difference between home care and domiciliary care?

There are some subtle differences between home care and domiciliary care. Home care involves tasks such as housekeeping, meal preparation and companionship. On the other hand, domiciliary care includes regulated personal care, bathing, dressing and administering medication, for example. Overall, both services support individuals to live independently at home.  

How does a home care franchise work? 

Home care franchise business models differ slightly depending on the specific franchise, but there are some key similarities. In general, the franchisee buys the rights to operate a home care business under an established brand.

Setting up a franchise business is likely to involve careful planning. There are plenty of issues to consider. These include your financial situation and the skills required to make a home care franchise work effectively. 

For this reason, franchise companies will likely offer training for new franchisors or refresher courses for more experienced people.

This may cover the financial processes involved when you start a home care franchise business and include training in employee management or prospecting for growth opportunities.  

Sarah Howes is the marketing manager at GoodOaks Homecare. The company operates a franchise model that allows individuals to own and run their home care business under an established and trusted brand.  

"Franchise partners receive comprehensive training, ongoing support and access to proven business systems," says Sarah. "They pay a monthly fee to the franchisor. In return they receive help with compliance, recruitment, marketing tools and ongoing training and support."  

In fact, Sarah confirms that GoodOaks' franchise partners benefit from a strong reputation, carbon-neutral commitment and a growing demand for high-quality homecare services.  

What different types of home care franchises are there? 

There are various types of homecare franchises, each with a different focus. Some brands specialise in non-regulated care, providing household duties and companionship to combat loneliness in communities.  

"Others offer live-in care, where a care professional provides round-the-clock support," explains Sarah from GoodOaks. “There are also specialised services dedicated to specific conditions such as dementia, end-of-life care, and complex needs." 

Some home care franchises, such as GoodOaks Homecare, offer both visiting and live-in care, with a flexible service tailored to each individual. The personalisation of home care is likely to result in a more successful and effective service, with clients gaining exactly what they need from their care.  

Advice about setting up your business

As with any new career move, research is an important first step. If you’re thinking of starting your own home care franchise, looking into relevant home care businesses for sale and established domiciliary care franchises is a good starting point.  

Cheryl White, the founder and CEO of Apollo Care, explains that searching trusted franchise sites or franchise portals will help you better understand the industry. The British Franchise Association shares useful information to help you make an informed decision. 

"Once you’ve chosen your preferred home care franchise, I would recommend doing some background checks," says Cheryl. “Speak to current franchisees and see what investment opportunities are available."

The CQC (Care Quality Commission) also gives franchise companies CQC ratings, which tells you a great deal about the quality of a franchising business and of those franchisees already in the network.  

Some home care franchise businesses offer discovery sessions. These are a great way to get to know the brand and the people you might work with.  

"A discovery session gives you an opportunity to ask as many questions as you like about the sector, the franchise model and the brand," adds Sarah from GoodOaks Homecare.  

How much do home care franchise owners make? 

This is a tricky question to answer, as all home care franchises operate differently. However, recent research shows that UK home care franchises can reach around 22-24% in net profit margins, with gross home care profit margins at approximately 36%.  

Home care is a resilient industry, with the population aged 65 and over in England projected to increase by 30.5% between 2023 and 2043.

Following a tried and tested business model, provided through a franchisor, can help new franchisees develop and grow their home care franchise.  

Agreeing that home health franchises are a sound business investment opportunity, Cheryl from Apollo Care Franchising says, "Return on investment can occur in as little as 18 months to two years. We encourage franchisees to make long-term plans and always have an exit plan so they can prepare for the future." 

Home care franchise success stories 

When it comes to home care franchise success stories, there are almost too many to mention. Sarah from GoodOaks Homecare describes some of its franchisees going from strength to strength. 

"Our branch on the Isle of Wight began trading in 2023 and is now invoicing over six figures every single month. Another branch aims to break the stigma surrounding homecare in Asian communities. Their hard work has created a meaningful impact on local families and earned them incredible feedback." 

Watching franchisees scale their business is a massive boost for many franchisors. "Some of my franchisees started with me as home carers, then became business owners themselves," says Cheryl from Apollo Care Franchising. "Now they have their own home care teams and are making a real difference in their communities." 

When a home care franchise is doing well and is established, there’s a possibility of expansion. It’s likely that franchisees will extend their territories to surrounding areas as they build their portfolio and take on more employees.  

Environmental considerations

For Sarah at GoodOaks, being the UK’s only carbon-neutral homecare franchise has significant positive impacts. The cars used in home care can have an environmental effect that some franchisors want to address. 

"We measure and offset our care professionals’ travel emissions and actively seek ways to support our planet, just as we support our elderly clients. If the industry collectively prioritises sustainability, we can make a meaningful difference in the future of care." 

More expert advice

• Choose an area you know well to establish your franchise. Use existing contacts to support your start-up.
• Find a franchisor you trust and get along well with. They are specialists and have in-depth sector knowledge.  
• Follow the franchise blueprint – the tools and processes the franchisor gives you to run your business will make all the difference.   
• Leverage your network and speak to other franchisees for advice and support.  
• Get your processes sorted from the beginning to help you maintain quality and consistency. 
• Ask for help from the franchise support team when you need it. 

Finally, it’s sensible to do your research and complete a deep dive into the home care franchise brands you’re considering as a potential partner. This will help you identify prospective opportunities in terms of fees, support, training and profitability.   

Explore the franchise brand’s website and see if their vision and values align with yours. The more informed you are, the clearer your decision will be on whether a home care franchise is the right fit for you. 

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