What our Franchise Owners wish they knew before starting
Choosing a franchise is a big decision.
You are weighing the culture fit, support on offer, investment costs, and what your day-to-day will look like. The brochure can show the franchise business model, but lived experience is what answers the real questions.
In a people-centred, regulated sector like home care, those choices matter even more because trust, quality, and leadership shape results. Many of our Franchise Owners say the most valuable lessons came after they launched. That is why we asked 5 of them a simple question:
What do you wish you had known before starting your Caremark franchise?
Here are their best lessons for a confident start.
“Embrace the challenges, ask questions, and make full use of the support and resources available. The more you roll up your sleeves and face things head-on, the faster you’ll learn and grow.” – Hannah Drury, Caremark Sutton, and Epsom & Ewell, Reigate & Banstead.
What this tells us:
- Your mindset matters. Being coachable and asking early questions helps you learn faster and avoid repeating mistakes.
- Asking for help is a strength. With Caremark, you have real people and resources to lean on, not just a manual. Use them.
- Progress builds when you try, learn, and adjust. Focus on one improvement at a time to keep it manageable.
“You need to be very clear about your role in your franchise business. You don’t want to get caught up in too much of the day to day detail. You need to be able to stand back, be the captain of the ship and be clear about the direction you’re taking your company in.” – Rob Johnstone, Caremark Cambridge & South Cambridgeshire
What this tells us:
- Franchise Owners succeed by leading the business, not by doing every task. Work on strategy, sales, and relationships, and set clear boundaries so you do not become the bottleneck.
- Daily care and compliance sit with a strong Registered Manager, so hiring well is essential to consistent quality. Caremark’s onboarding team will help you with this.
“You don’t want systems coming before the franchisee. It’s franchisee profitability focus from the head office vs equity.” – Dal Khaira, Caremark West & East Dunbartonshire
What this tells us:
- Choose a franchisor that designs support around owners, not the other way round. Systems should help, not hinder. Caremark is fully UK-owned with decisions made locally, which supports faster, more personal help and a long-term focus on owner success.
- Ask how guidance flexes for your area and stage so you can adapt to local realities.
“We are involved with multiple franchises and the FSC having a personal touch is massive, compared to those with a more corporate feel.”- Aman Khaira, Caremark West & East Dunbartonshire
(FSC is an abbreviation of Franchise Support Centre)
What this tells us:
- People matter as much as process in a franchise business.
- Having named contacts and regular check-ins makes learning faster. This is something to look for in any franchisor.
- Peer knowledge sharing across the network is a real advantage.
- You should always know who to call and what to expect.
“The importance of making use of your free time to get stuff done, especially at the start when there will be a bit of free time during applying and waiting for registrations. Also, the impact of the franchise having the right people and alignment values.”- Paul Rodgers, Caremark Cheshire South East
What this tells us:
- Time invested now saves stress later. Use the waiting period to build foundations so day one feels calm and organised rather than rushed.
- Hire for values and train the skills. Early habits around quality and culture pay off later.
We hope our Franchise Owners’ reflections give you a clearer picture of what to expect and what is possible with franchising and Caremark.
If these lessons sound like your way to build a business, you will feel at home with Caremark. We exist to be the real care company. We back committed owners with practical training, a personal support team, and a network that shares what works
When you are ready, we are here to help you write your own story. Explore available territories for sale, download a prospectus, or get in touch with our team.