WOMEN IN FRANCHISING
year was slower than expected but steady and when we gained clients, we retained them. With additional support from Tezlom head office, growth sped up in the second year and we are on course to meet our year two target by our second anniversary.
How has life changed and how is the work/life balance? It’s changed immeasurably; work/life balance is yet to come – especially for this type of 24/7 business. We knew we would have to give it everything for at least two years. But now that the business is growing and we are taking on another person, we’re looking forward to some time off.
“When we have a question or need advice, we just pick up the phone - help is there"
Has itbeen easy as a woman to run your own business? As a mother and daughter, we bring different skills to the business. We aren’t treated any differently and, given the industry we are in, many of our clients are led or owned by women so it is easy to build relationships with them. To be a successful franchisee, you need resilience, determination, people skills and an eye for finance. Don’t skimp on your research – speak to existing franchisees and don’t be afraid to probe. Franchising isn’t an easy option; you must be prepared to put the work in but it’s all worth it in the end.
tezlom.com
Roxie Taj, Director, Visiting Angels Manchester East
R
oxie encountered care provision when her daughter was born
with Down's Syndrome and needed additional support. But a lack of consistency, and carers not giving their full attention, proved a challenge. Roxie says: “This had a detrimental effect on my daughter’s mental development. I had to make changes and promised this would never happen again if I could help it. This marked the beginning of my journey into social care. “I was introduced to the
benefits of franchising by my partner. Recognising there are no bad carers, just bad habits, I looked for a franchise supporting my belief. Visiting Angels and its innovative carer-centric model was a no-brainer. “From an informal discussion to meeting the whole team at head office during training took several months but more importantly, it was done without pressure and at a pace to suit me. The opportunity was even more attractive because the CEO personally met me and went out of his way to help me. “Training was fun and
informative, with a Q&A with existing franchisees – every requirement to set up and run your business was covered. Since our initial training, we have never been without support. We have an assigned Area Development Manager who is only ever a phone call away and get regular
notifications about training and changes in legislation and/or practice. “Trading in the early days
was hard work, reaching out to relevant contacts via marketing and networking to recruit our first clients. Brand awareness now helps our business to grow via word of mouth – the best testimonial. “As a woman, people often assume I am an employee and are surprised I am the owner! But I am determined to prove what I am capable of, never forgetting my daughter and why I started this journey. Being a woman can be an advantage, particularly in a female-dominated industry such as care – strong-minded women would find Visiting Angels a perfect challenge. You need stamina and an empathetic nature, along with good people and networking skills. Time and workload management skills maintain work-life balance and a sense of humour always helps! “One of our clients loved our approach to meeting her needs so much that she painted an angel and presented it to me. I was so touched!"
visitingangelsfranchise.co.uk BUSINESSFRANCHISE.COM 95
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