Leading the way in franchise owner support
INITIAL INVESTMENT REQUIRED FROM £32,500 + VAT
As the population continues to age, the care sector has become a huge growth area in the franchise industry and one that attracts franchise owners from a variety of backgrounds.
Bluebird Care is a management franchise opportunity that recruits and trains staff to provide care in people’s own homes. As a result of the quality and diversity of its franchise owners, it has become one of the leading providers in this sector and is now one of the UK’s largest providers of privately funded care at home.
“We seek franchise owners with management experience, people skills, a passion for high quality and empathy for what we do,” states Annetta Doyle, Bluebird Care’s Franchise Recruitment Manager. “Our policy has always been to recruit franchise owners, not simply to ‘sell’ franchises, as the selection process is just as much about us selecting our franchise owners, as them selecting Bluebird Care as their business partner. Having recruited the right people, we then need to work closely with them for mutual benefit – the classic win-win situation. Franchising is a long-term business relationship and you build this long-term relationship by working closely with your franchise owners.”
Regional support
To provide franchise owners with valuable local advice and information, Bluebird Care has Business Development Managers based around the UK. “With the experience we have in both franchising and care provision, we know how important the support we provide is to our franchise owners,” states Franchise Director Simon Dalziel. “We don’t just talk about it – we action it!”
Support for franchise owners is tailored to each stage of their business, as Simon explains: “Clearly the start-up phase is very important, as both our franchise owners and ourselves are very keen to get the business under way as soon as we can. We work in a regulated environment, so our experience is crucial to complete the necessary procedures to get each business trading.”
The allocated Business Development Manager remains the first point of contact on an ongoing basis for the franchise owner, who also has access to the range of other support offered.
Support in a variety of ways
Behind the Field Support Team, Bluebird Care supports its franchise owners in a number of different areas of business.
Business management – Mentoring franchise owners to run an efficient, profitable business.
Sales and marketing – Bluebird Care shares ideas and help and advice in this crucial area.
IT – In-house training and regular updates on the industry leading care management software, used by all Bluebird Care franchise owners.
Regional franchise owner meetings and annual conference – The opportunity to hear the latest from the care sector and updates on the Bluebird Care system and share best practice with other franchise owners.
Training – Training courses for franchise owners and their staff, covering all aspects of the Bluebird Care proven business systems
PR – Bluebird Care has its own in-house PR Manager, who works with franchise owners to promote their businesses locally as well as raising the national profile of the company for the benefit of all the franchise network.
Products and supplies – Due to the company’s size and number of franchises, Bluebird Care is able to negotiate very advantageous prices for franchise owners, as it buys direct from suppliers.
Simon concludes: “The success Bluebird Care has achieved has been down to having an excellent business system that we have proved will work in any part of the UK and beyond; a dedicated and passionate network of franchise owners who wish to be successful in a huge market and simply the experience we have in what we do – supporting our franchise owners in a true business partnership environment.”
Initial investment required
Initial investment required is £32,500 + VAT plus working capital. Minimum personal investment of £25,000. Bank funding is available.