When Amy Patel Popat and husband, Kev, wanted to invest in a business together, neither had any experience. Right at Home proved to be their route to business success
2019 turned out to be a great year for Kev and I. Our daughter is a delightful addition to the family and – like our business – she is growing healthily. In the spring, we expanded into a second territory, then winning the British Franchise Association’s ‘Franchisee of the Year’ award in June was such a prestigious honour, it still seems a little unreal.
We decided to enter franchising because, still being in our twenties, we wanted the support needed to be successful in building a business. We began to research our options and Right at Home struck a chord with both of us – it provides exceptional homecare, enabling its clients to live independently at home.
Growing up I’d lived with my grandmother, so I’ve always felt strongly about supporting our older generation to live well.
We both loved the idea of running a business that made a positive difference to people’s lives every day and we immediately connected with the Right at Home brand and the level of service it offered.
In 2015, we invested in Right at Home Solent and I became their youngest female franchisee. Some friends and family felt it was a risky proposition because we were so young but Kev and I were determined to succeed and talking to Right at Home’s franchisees gave us confidence that we would be well-trained and supported.
“The fact that women can balance so many different things, with natural empathy, makes us great business leaders”
When we first opened, I continued to work, joining Kev at our office where we would often work late into the night. We knew from day one that having a strong and united team around us would be key to our success. It didn’t happen overnight, but we dedicated ourselves to recruiting people who shared our passion for quality care.
Last summer we had our first full inspection from the Care Quality Commission, the care sector regulator. I particularly felt, as young entrepreneurs, that we had to go above-and-beyond to prove we were worth their top rating.
We focused on evidencing how our team went the extra mile for our clients and we received a lot of support from the Right at Home national office. The hard work paid off when we received an ‘Outstanding’ rating – a team achievement that we are immensely proud of.
We’ve enjoyed tremendous success within the Right at Home network, winning their internal award for the ‘Best New Franchise’, being recognised as the fastest-growing franchise and being admitted into its ‘Premier Circle’ for high-turnover franchises.
I firmly believe franchising gives women an excellent platform to start their own business. My advice to others who have an ambition to be their own boss is: ‘Don’t be afraid to take the lead in running your own franchise. The fact that women can balance so many different things, with natural empathy, makes us great business leaders.’
At a glance Right at Home
Established:2010
Number of franchised outlets: 64
Location of units: England and Wales
Investment range: Up to £130,000 including working capital
Minimum required capital: £40,000
Contact: Kate Dilworth, franchise recruitment manager, 0151 305 0755, 07825 047344 kate.dilworth@rightathomeuk.com
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