Behind Every Home Instead Franchise: Meet Tom Robinson, Director of Finance
When you join Home Instead, you are in business for yourself – but never by yourself. Behind every successful franchise office is a National Office team of specialists providing expert guidance across finance, business development, care quality, operations, marketing, compliance and more. In our “Behind Every Home Instead Franchise” series, we introduce the people whose expertise helps franchise owners build strong, sustainable and purpose-led businesses in their local communities.
For many people exploring franchise ownership, one of the first questions is not whether they want to run their own business – it is how to fund it, plan for it and build something that performs over the long term.
At Home Instead, prospective franchisees are supported from the very beginning by experienced National Office specialists who understand what it takes to build a resilient, sustainable and rewarding business.
As part of our “Behind Every Home Instead Franchise“ series, we are introducing Tom Robinson, Director of Finance.
Tom is a member of the Home Instead Leadership Team and plays a key role in ensuring franchise owners are supported by strong financial foundations, clear funding guidance and a proven model designed for long-term success.
His work supports both National Office and franchise owners across the UK and Ireland, helping ensure the Home Instead franchise model remains robust, scalable and fit for the future.
“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.”
– Tom Robinson, Director of Finance
Helping prospective franchisees invest with confidence
Funding a franchise can feel like one of the biggest hurdles for anyone considering business ownership. That is why Home Instead provides financial guidance early in the journey, helping prospective owners understand what is involved before they make a decision.
This includes support around financial planning, affordability, territory potential, operating costs, funding options, cash flow and realistic profit expectations.
Prospective franchisees are also supported to understand the lending landscape, including what lenders typically look for and how to prepare a strong funding application.
This early-stage support gives potential owners clarity and reassurance. Rather than approaching franchise ownership alone, they are guided by a team that understands the model, the investment and the long-term commercial opportunity.
Tom also works alongside franchisees with a financial background to ensure the voice of the network is factored into wider financial discussions, including pricing reviews and projected performance. This collaborative approach helps keep financial guidance grounded in both National Office insight and the realities of running a local Home Instead business.
A proven model with long-term potential
Home care is a needs-led sector, driven by long-term demographic demand and the growing desire for older people to receive high-quality support in the comfort of their own homes.
For franchise owners, this creates an opportunity to build a purposeful business that meets a genuine need in the local community.
Home Instead’s model has been refined over more than 20 years and is designed to support sustainable business growth. Across the network, more than 60% of franchisees generate over £1 million in annual turnover, while more than 20% generate over £2 million.
Established offices typically achieve operating profit margins of around 12-15%, although, as with any business, success is never guaranteed.
These figures highlight the potential of a well-supported franchise model where owners combine local leadership with the systems, expertise and guidance of an established national brand.
Building financial discipline from day one
Strong financial performance is not only about the initial investment. It is about building a business that can last.
Tom and the Finance team support franchisees in developing the key disciplines that underpin sustainable growth, including:
- Cash flow forecasting and break-even planning
- Managing fixed and variable costs effectively
- Building contingency plans and managing risk
- Planning for growth and diversification of services
- Understanding long-term profitability drivers
This support helps franchise owners make informed decisions at every stage, from launch and early growth through to expansion and long-term value creation.
As a franchise owner, you are not expected to navigate those decisions alone. You have access to a National Office team that understands the Home Instead model and can provide guidance grounded in experience.
Part of a wider support network
Tom is part of Home Instead’s wider National Office team of 70 experts working across every function of the business, including business development, care quality, operations, marketing, legal, IT, compliance, learning and development, and more.
Together, these teams provide the support, structure and expertise that underpin the success of the Home Instead franchise network.
See how Home Instead’s National Office teams work behind the scenes to support franchise owners across the UK.
For anyone considering franchise ownership, Tom’s role highlights one of the key advantages of joining Home Instead: the opportunity to invest in your own business with expert financial guidance behind you from the very start.
This article is part of our “Behind Every Home Instead Franchise” series, introducing the National Office experts who support our franchise owners across every stage of their journey.