Investment Required:
£35,000 + VAT
Having spent most of her career in Estate Agency Management, Julie was ready for a change.“As a branch manager, I was very successful,” she explains. “However I was not getting the job satisfaction I longed for. I wanted to be my own boss and build my own business instead of helping other people build theirs. I was ready for a new and exciting challenge.”
Julie was looking for a business where she could satisfy her drive for providing the best quality customer service. Having experienced first-hand the poor quality of care at home being provided in her local area, she knew that the care industry was where she could make the greatest impact. It would satisfy her desire to provide a first- class service and give something back to her community, while providing plenty of opportunity to have a profitable business.
Julie adds: “I was looking to be part of an established, successful brand and a business that was held in high regard, providing support and commitment to the franchise owner. I carried out many weeks of research into the care industry and Bluebird Care ticked all the boxes for me. Having then met them at their head office, I concluded the company was operated in a very professional way and had an excellent reputation in the care sector. It was a brand I wanted to be part of and I was confident enough to change direction and become a franchise owner.”
With the team of six regionally-based Business Development Managers, Bluebird Care’s support to its franchise owner network is second-to-none. The ‘first stage support’ happens within 48 hours of signing the franchise agreement. This initial support is the hand-holding stage required to get new franchise owners registered with the relevant regulated body and generating income quickly.
Julie explains: “The Northern-based Business Development Manager made contact with me within a few hours and answered all of my initial burning questions. He then assisted in finding my office, he helped with key staff recruitment and marketing and ensured I was successfully registered with the Care Quality Commission.
“He now visits me on a regular basis for on-going advice and guidance. There have been times when I have needed more help than others and it is reassuring to know that it is there if needed,” she adds.Six months on, Julie is delighted with the performance of her new business.
“I love this business and the freedom of being my own boss. I am reluctant to stay away, as the excitement of being successful is a big draw,” she comments. “My plan going forward is to grow my business at a steady pace and make sure the quality of the care remains at the highest standard. I am following the Bluebird Care model and the results speak for themselves.”
Areas for territory development:
- Cumbria, Lancashire
- County Durham, North Yorkshire
- South Yorkshire
- East Midlands, West Midlands
- North Wales, South Wales
- East Coast Scotland, West of Glasgow