The Freedom of Franchising: How Wafa Mohbubul Built a Franchise Career at 24 Years Old
For many people considering franchising, one of the biggest attractions is the opportunity to take control of their future, build something meaningful and become their own boss with the support of an established brand behind them.
For Wafa Mohbubul, that journey started far earlier than most.
At just 25 years old, Wafa is the owner of Home Instead Broadstairs, Ramsgate & Margate and has quickly become one of the most influential young franchise leaders within the Home Instead network. Her journey from part-time Care Professional to franchise owner demonstrates how franchising can create opportunities for ambitious individuals looking for both independence and long-term growth.
Today, Wafa is not only driving significant business performance, but is also helping reshape perceptions around young leadership, women in franchising and what is possible within the care sector.
Starting small with a bigger ambition
Wafa’s introduction to Home Instead was not originally part of a long-term business plan. While working full-time in the tech industry, she joined Home Instead Canary Wharf as a part-time Care Professional, taking on evening shifts alongside her existing role.
What started as a practical way to earn extra income quickly became something much bigger. Wafa immediately recognised the difference in the Home Instead model: the professionalism, values and relationship-led approach to care stood apart from anything she had previously experienced.
Combined with her entrepreneurial mindset and family background in business ownership, it sparked a much bigger ambition. Rather than viewing care as simply a job, Wafa saw the potential to build a business that created meaningful impact while giving her the freedom and responsibility that comes with franchise ownership.
Why franchising appealed to Wafa
For many first-time business owners, franchising offers a balance that can often feel difficult to achieve independently: the freedom of business ownership alongside the structure and support of a proven model.
That combination was a major factor in Wafa’s decision. She saw Home Instead as an opportunity to:
- Build her own business within an established framework
- Benefit from the support of a recognised national brand
- Access proven systems, training and operational guidance
- Create meaningful impact within her local community
- Grow a scalable long-term business
Importantly, the franchise model also gave her confidence to take the leap at a relatively young age.
As someone entering business ownership early in her career, the support network around her played a key role in helping her transition into leadership.
Taking ownership of an established territory
In 2023, Wafa purchased the established Broadstairs, Ramsgate & Margate territory, taking over a business that had been operating since 2009.
While the wider Home Instead network had continued to evolve, innovate and modernise, the office itself had become operationally stagnant.
She inherited:
- Entirely paper-based systems
- Disorganised filing structures
- Outdated operational processes
- Limited engagement with the wider franchise network
For many new franchise owners, particularly at 24 years old, the scale of transformation required could have felt overwhelming.
Instead, Wafa saw opportunity. Drawing on her technology background, she quickly began modernising the business by:
- Introducing cloud-based systems
- Digitising care planning and compliance
- Rolling out digital training for Care Professionals
- Refining reporting and operational processes
- Improving communication and team collaboration
Working closely with Home Instead’s National Office teams, she transformed the territory into a streamlined, future-ready operation within months.
The results included:
- 33% monthly revenue growth
- 70% increase in Care Professionals
- 188% rise in client numbers
- 55% increase in care hours
For prospective franchise owners, Wafa’s journey highlights one of the major advantages of franchising: the ability to take ownership of an established business while still having access to support, guidance and proven operational frameworks.
Freedom to lead your own way
One of the biggest misconceptions around franchising is that owners lose independence or flexibility. Wafa’s journey demonstrates the opposite.
While Home Instead provides the systems, infrastructure and support behind the business, franchise owners still have the freedom to shape culture, leadership style and long-term strategy within their own territories.
For Wafa, this meant building a business centred around:
- Empowering people
- Recognising success
- Investing in team culture
- Embracing innovation
- Driving meaningful community impact
She introduced recognition programmes, strengthened communication across the office and invested heavily in creating a positive team culture. These changes quickly translated into stronger morale, improved retention and award-winning success within the territory.
Under Wafa’s leadership, Registered Manager Sabina Sabatowska became a finalist at the Great British Care Awards, while the wider office has continued to strengthen both operationally and culturally.
Redefining young leadership in franchising
As one of the youngest franchise owners within the Home Instead network, Wafa has become a visible example of how franchising can open doors for younger entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners.
Throughout 2025, she has supported Home Instead events, appeared as a panellist on webinars and contributed to regional franchise discussions, sharing her experiences of leadership, resilience and business ownership at a young age.
Her story challenges traditional assumptions around age and experience in franchising.
Rather than waiting for the “perfect time” to step into business ownership, Wafa chose to back herself early and grow through the experience.
She is also passionate about encouraging more women and younger people to consider franchising as a realistic and accessible route into entrepreneurship.
Building long-term freedom through franchising
For Wafa, franchising is not simply about short-term business success. Her long-term ambitions include multi-territory ownership, continued service expansion and creating opportunities for others within her teams. What began as a part-time role has evolved into a scalable business journey with significant future potential.
Her experience reflects one of the key reasons many people choose franchising: the opportunity to build something independently while benefiting from the backing of a wider network.
As Wafa reflects on her journey so far, she says, “What started as a practical way to earn extra money quickly became something much more. I realised that the franchise model at Home Instead gave me the opportunity to take ownership of my career while being supported by a proven brand with strong values.
Taking over an established franchise at a young age was challenging, but it also showed me how much opportunity there is when you’re willing to learn, adapt and back yourself. The support from the wider network gave me confidence, but I’ve also had the freedom to shape the business in a way that reflects my leadership style and ambitions.
For me, being your own boss isn’t just about independence, it’s about being able to create something meaningful, empower other people and make a real difference within your community. I think franchising gives people a pathway to do that much earlier than they might otherwise believe possible.”
If you’d like to explore how franchising could help you build your own business with the support of an established brand behind you, speak to the Home Instead franchise team today.