Funding with Confidence: Tom Robinson on the Financial Foundations of a Home Instead Franchise

For many prospective franchise owners, one of the biggest questions isn’t whether franchising is the right opportunity, it’s how to fund it, plan for it and build a business that succeeds over the long term. At Home Instead, those conversations are supported by proven financial models, funding guidance and strategic expertise led by Director of Finance, Tom Robinson.

As demand for home care continues to rise, so does interest in a sector built on resilience and long-term demographic need. But turning that opportunity into a successful business starts with strong financial foundations.

Providing strategic and financial guidance across the UK group of companies, while supporting National Office and the wider franchise network, Tom helps maintain the strength of Home Instead’s financial model while supporting prospective and existing franchise owners to build with confidence.

For those considering franchise ownership, that support begins well before launch, including the Home Instead Affordability Calculator, allowing prospective franchisees to input their amount of savings. The calculator then informs them of the rough price of business they can afford – setting expectations from the very beginning.

Funding a franchise with confidence

For many people exploring a franchise opportunity, funding can feel like one of the biggest barriers to getting started. One of the strengths of the Home Instead model is that support begins early, helping prospective franchisees understand both the investment required and the routes available to help fund it.

That support goes beyond financial projections alone and includes practical guidance across three key areas:

Financial planning

Prospective franchisees are supported to understand the numbers behind the opportunity, including territory potential, operating costs, cash flow forecasting and profit and loss modelling. This helps owners approach the opportunity with clarity and build on realistic, informed assumptions.

Funding options

Home Instead also supports prospective owners in exploring different routes to finance, whether through personal investment, commercial lending or government-backed start-up funding options where appropriate. Understanding the range of funding routes available can help prospective franchisees identify the approach that best fits their circumstances and ambitions.

Access to lender guidance, beyond HSBC

While HSBC has long been recognised as a supportive lender in the franchise sector, prospective owners can also receive guidance around lender options beyond HSBC, helping them explore a broader range of potential funding partners.

Support includes helping franchisees understand:

• What lenders often look for in a franchise funding application
• How a strong business plan can support lending conversations
• How different lenders may approach franchise funding
• What options may be available beyond traditional high street banking routes

For many prospective owners, this lender guidance provides reassurance that funding conversations do not begin and end with a single route.

Discover how our franchise financial model is designed to support long-term growth.

More than start-up funding: building for long-term success

Strong financial foundations are not only about making the initial investment. They are about building a business that can grow sustainably.

Home Instead’s model has been shaped over more than 20 years and offers compelling financial potential:

• More than 60% of franchisees generate over £1 million in annual turnover
• More than 20% generate over £2 million
• Established offices typically achieve operating profit margins of around 12–18% before franchisee earnings
• Just a 0.5% share of seniors in a territory could generate annual revenues of £1.1 million

While financial outcomes can never be guaranteed, these figures demonstrate the strength and scalability of the model.

Explore the financial potential of a Home Instead franchise.

Financial discipline that supports resilience

Financial success in franchising is also about the disciplines that support long-term performance.

From managing cash flow and understanding break-even points, to planning for tax, overheads and risk, financial resilience is built through strong habits as much as strong revenues.

Key areas prospective owners should consider include:

• Cash flow forecasting and break-even planning
• Managing fixed and variable costs
• Building contingency plans and managing risk
• Diversifying services as the business grows
• Understanding the long-term drivers of profitability

These fundamentals help turn a promising business into a sustainable one.

The value of a proven support model

One of the advantages of joining an established franchise network is not having to navigate these considerations alone.

Through National Office support, peer networks and structured financial frameworks, franchise owners benefit from guidance designed to support performance at every stage of the journey.

That includes support not only in building a business, but in understanding how to strengthen and grow its long-term value.

Find out more about the support available from our National Office team.

Thinking beyond launch, even to exit

One often overlooked part of franchise finance is planning for long-term value creation.

At Home Instead, franchise ownership is viewed as building an asset. Financial performance, market conditions and business maturity all influence future resale value, which is why exit planning can be worth considering from the start.

Home Instead’s dedicated brokerage support through H.I. Resales offers further reassurance for owners thinking about the full lifecycle of their investment.

Learn more about established territories and franchise resale opportunities.

Why finance matters in a resilient sector

Home care remains one of the UK’s most resilient and needs-led sectors, driven by long-term demographic demand rather than short-term market trends.

Combined with strong funding guidance, proven economics and a robust support structure, this makes Home Instead a compelling opportunity for those looking to build a profitable, purpose-led business.

For prospective franchisees, that means access to:

• Support understanding funding options and lenders
• Guidance on planning and financial modelling
• Proven economics within a scalable model
• Ongoing support to help maintain profitability
• A long-term opportunity in a growing market

Together, these create strong foundations for sustainable franchise ownership.

As Tom reflects:

“Funding is often where prospective franchise owners start their thinking, but it should never feel like a barrier. With the right financial planning, a clear understanding of funding options and guidance around the lending landscape, people can approach franchise ownership with real confidence.

Our role is to help people understand not just how to fund a business, but how a strong financial model and the right support can turn that investment into long-term success. That’s what we aim to provide at Home Instead.”

Ready to explore your funding options?

If you’d like to learn more about funding a Home Instead franchise, territory opportunities and the support available to help you get started, speak to our Franchise Development Manager Luke Spellman, who can talk you through everything you need to know.

Book a call with Luke to start the conversation.

Learn more about funding with banks and lenders by listening to our Talk Franchise episode on Funding with Marc Talbot and Ines Laing from HSBC.