Caremark named one of the UK’s Top 5 franchise brands by Elite Franchise
We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Caremark has been ranked Top 5 in the Elite Franchise Top 100, sitting alongside some of the biggest UK franchises!!!!
Four years ago, Caremark sat in 18th place. In 2026, we have climbed into the Top 5. That steady rise reflects a long-term focus on values, investment, and network support rather than short-term headlines.
For us, it is a proud moment. For anyone exploring a Caremark franchise opportunity, it is also useful, independent proof that our model and support are working.
What is the Elite Franchise Top 100?
The Elite Franchise Top 100 is an annual league table of the leading franchises in the UK. Brands are judged across a wide range of criteria, including:
- Growth and performance
- Support for franchise owners
- Leadership and culture
- Innovation, systems, and technology
- Contribution to the wider franchising community
It is not a popularity vote. An independent panel looks closely at how each brand operates in practice, how it supports its network and how it is set up for the future.
Why a Top 5 place matters if you are looking for the best franchises to own.
If you are thinking about a move into business ownership, you are likely weighing up risk and reward. You may be comparing several sectors and wondering which are the best franchises to own for the next ten to fifteen years.
A Top 5 Elite Franchise ranking gives you three important signals:
1. Proven performance in a resilient sector. Caremark is a twenty-year-old home care brand that now has 153 offices in the UK and Ireland, with the UK offices delivering more than 135,000 hours of care every week alone. That level of activity shows that the business model is working in many different territories and market conditions.
2. Serious support behind each local office Elite Franchise looks closely at the support on offer. At Caremark, this includes a forty-person Franchise Support Centre across quality, marketing, technology, and finance, an eight-day induction for new owners, and a nine-month leadership programme to help them grow with confidence.
3. A brand built for long-term value. The biggest UK franchises are usually those that balance profit with purpose and keep investing back into their networks. As a family-owned company with a fair 4.5% advice and support fee, Caremark can reinvest in technology, marketing, and people without pressure from private equity.
Put simply, a Top 5 place tells you that Caremark is a recognised name in home care and is being run in a way that supports sustainable growth for franchise owners.
How Caremark climbed the table…
Our Elite Franchise 100 journey is not about one big change. It is about hundreds of decisions over time; all aimed at better care and better support.
Some of the key steps include:
Investing in leadership and expertise. Over the last year, Caremark has strengthened its leadership team with a Director of Technology, a Manager of People and Culture, and a dedicated Onboarding Manager. These roles ensure new owners hit the ground running and that the network keeps evolving.
Backing the network through the National Marketing Fund (NMF). Our NMF has now delivered over 40 million impressions and more than 11,300 customer enquiries across TV, radio, digital, and door-drop campaigns. This level of activity would be hard for any new owner to achieve on their own. Through shared investment, it becomes possible.
Driving quality and consistency. Five regional quality managers, led by a Director of Training and Compliance, work with offices to keep standards high and support continuous improvement. An app-based communication system means guidance and good practice can be shared quickly across the network.
Using technology with a human focus. Caremark believes technology should make care better, not replace human contact. Recent work includes using AI to help draft parts of care assessments, which cuts admin time and frees staff to focus on the person in front of them.
These are some of the reasons Elite Franchise has recognised Caremark as a Top 5 brand. They also mirror what many of the biggest UK franchises do well. They build strong systems, invest in people, and never stop improving.
What the biggest UK franchises tend to have in common.
Whether you look at global food brands, hotel groups, or service networks, the biggest UK franchises usually share a few traits:
- A clear purpose and customer promise
- A single, proven operating model
- Strong training and ongoing support
- Technology that makes the work easier
- A focus on culture and values, not only numbers
Caremark’s purpose is simple. To help people live safely and comfortably in their own homes, whatever their social standing. That moral commitment is paired with a robust operating model and structured support, so franchise owners can grow serious businesses in their local communities.
What this means if you are considering a Caremark franchise opportunity.
If you are exploring a franchise opportunity in 2026, you may already have a successful career in sales, operations, HR, healthcare, or technology. You may also have a personal link with care and a desire to do something that feels more meaningful. Either way, you do not need a care background or previous experience in the sector to succeed. What matters most is your ability to lead people, follow a proven model, and stay committed to quality.
Caremark’s Elite Franchise Top 5 ranking will not make your decision for you. It does not remove the need for hard work, resilience, and leadership.
What it does give you is evidence. Evidence that:
- The model works at scale
- The support is real and well-resourced
- The brand is recognised at a national level
- You can build a strong commercial asset while doing work that improves lives every day
When you research the biggest UK franchises or the best franchises to own, it is worth looking beyond headline numbers. Ask how the brand treats its network, how it supports quality on the ground, and whether you feel proud to stand behind its purpose.
For many of our current franchise owners, the answer to those questions led them to Caremark.