Franchise Focus
Partners in care H
If you’re looking to go into franchising with your partner, Caremark could be the perfect choice
INVESTMENT LEVEL: FROM £100,000
ave you ever thought about going into business with your spouse or partner? For some couples, this would be a non-starter because they
enjoy having the separation between work and home life and the benefi ts of having diff erent things to talk about. Yet working together can be very
fulfi lling, and can even bring some people closer together, particularly when they are both working towards a common objective. Having shared aims and ambitions brings a sense of purpose and reinforces the satisfaction gleaned from working towards and achieving goals together. It’s worth remembering that working together in a franchise doesn’t normally involve being side by side in the same room for eight hours every day, both doing the same work; diff erent franchises will require diff erent skillsets so there are often opportunities for distinct roles.
“Caremark’s homecare franchise works well for couples as it requires skills that two people often bring as a pair”
People skills, fi nancial awareness and administrative capabilities all have a role to play in contributing to the overall picture, and individual strengths can, in fact, complement each other. One partner may be much better at networking and bringing
in new business, while the other prefers to be the anchor in the offi ce, keeping everything working behind the scenes. Caremark’s homecare franchise works well for couples as it requires a breadth of skills that two people often bring as a pair. The homecare franchisor has a number of successful partnerships in its network with individuals coming from a variety of professional backgrounds, not all of which have been within social care. Having a previous career in care is not a pre-requisite to owning a homecare franchise either.
Graham and Alison Livingston own
and direct Caremark Plymouth, a growing homecare business in the West Country. When setting up their business in 2012, they divided the work so that each had a clearly defi ned role.
Graham explains: “Alison comes from a
care background, so it made sense for her to take the role of care manager. Originally I was working as the care co-ordinator but having subsequently recruited someone to take on that role, I am now able to spend more time on growth and development.” Working as a couple also means that family life does not have to suff er. Richard and Emily Magrath have a franchise in Northern Ireland. To balance the challenges of running their own business, the couple place great emphasis on spending time together as a family. They live fi ve minutes from their offi ce, which works very well in trying to manage their business and home life.
Emily says: “Our day starts at home getting our three young boys sorted for school or childcare. Every day in the offi ce is diff erent but busy. Our offi ce hours are
Graham and Alison
9.00am to 5.30pm, but one of us is always home for the kids.” Initially, new franchisees tend to have a very hands-on role covering many diff erent aspects of the business, which is when partners with varying skills can come into their own. Plus, having the benefi t of support and business development guidance from regional and head offi ce teams from day one enables them to utilise their own particular skills in the most eff ective way.
As with all business relationships there may be ups and downs but when it comes to couples working together, the element of trust and mutual co-operation is already in place. Having a shared vision and enjoying the successes of a joint enterprise is immensely satisfying for those who build a business together. Certainly, couples can and do work successfully and harmoniously together in running a franchise and, in some cases, manage the challenges of a demanding business regime and raising a family. The key ingredient here is having the can-do attitude, ambition and vision to see a great future in whichever franchise the couple choose.
Caremark Care providers
www.caremarkfranchises.com franchise@caremarklimited.co.uk 01903 266 392
September 2017 |
BusinessFranchise.com | 75
Richard and Emily Magrath
Investment:£100k+
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120
