FAQ’s
Why should I choose Visiting Angels?
Visiting Angels chooses to challenge the status quo and creates an opportunity for caregivers and clients alike to benefit from a new kind of care company. In doing so, our franchisees will create commercially successful businesses which change the lives of everyone involved. We believe that to truly be successful in this pursuit, and to change the future of social care in the UK, we must actually put our carers at the heart of the business. For without them, there is no business.
Do I need any experience in care?
You don’t need a background in health or social care and you don’t need to have run your own business before. But there are some skills and experiences that we know are essential for making a success of this business. And we believe that we owe it to you, to our brand and to our existing franchisees, to only bring the right people into the business.
What is my role in the business?
As a Visiting Angel franchisee, you are the face of the business. You are responsible for networking within the local community, with healthcare professionals and affiliates and both private and public bodies, to generate interest for the brand. With our help, you will build a team of experienced care staff around you to focus on daily operations and recruit high quality care workers whilst you focus on generating referrals, driving lead generation and developing your business.
Where will I be based?
You will be based where you know. You are local to your community and have a vested interest in improving the lives of the people around you. You know the area – maybe you even grew up there. Your contacts, your network and your familiarity with local nuances will catapult you ahead of any corporate owned office, Visiting Angels or otherwise.
How much will it cost me to invest in a Visiting Angels franchise?
Franchise fee brackets
- Franchisees who join our thriving network will pay an initial investment of £24,995 plus VAT.
You’ll need liquid capital of circa £30,000 and should expect to require working capital of £50,000-£60,000. This depends on your location as the cost of salaries and office rent will differ geographically. Typically, up to 70% bank funding is available.
What kind of support can I expect?
Setting up a care business is a complex process. That’s why we’re with you every step of the way. We support new business owners like yourself from start-up all the way through to being large, successful care providers. At Visiting Angels, we pledge to support you from day one, but most importantly, we will continue to support you for the life of your business.
We offer one-to-one pre-launch support followed by a 12-week jump-start programme with a Franchise Developer. Franchisees then join an ongoing business support programme which includes quarterly meetings with our Managing Director, regular business reviews, the Visiting Angels University, access to the pilot office team, regional meetings and an annual conference to share ideas and experiences.
How long does it take to start after signing up?
The process can vary but we will work closely with you to ensure things run as smoothly as possible. We will assist you with securing your CQC (Care Quality Commission) registration, finalising your business plan and securing bank funding if necessary, locating suitable premises and recruiting your Registered Care Manager. On average, it takes around five months from signing your franchise agreement to taking on your first client.
How do I recruit and train staff?
You will be in charge of finding the best carers for your business. But we will support you every step of the way and ensure you have everything you need to build your very own team of Visiting Angels.
We provide resources like job specs, template job ads and will advise you on best practice for placing them. You will also have access to a personality profiling tool and we will assist with initial interviews. This includes training you on interview techniques that will prove most effective. We will then train your caregivers through our in-house 15-module training programme and conduct 12-week reviews with your Registered Manager to ensure that they pass probation.
What is the term of the franchise agreement?
The length of the franchise agreement is five years and you will have the option to renew for another five years if you both parties agree to do so.
Are there any ongoing fees?
Our Management Service Fee is 4.5% of turnover with an additional 1.5% contribution for the National Marketing Fund. Both charges are designed to continually increase the levels of support, innovation and resource available to you and your fellow franchisees.
