Elite Franchise Magazine

Buoyed by success

Water Babies’ MD James Brookes, outlines how rising demand for early-years swimming lessons, strong parental trust, and a tech-driven franchise model continue to drive momentum across the UK and beyond

Q&A: How Home Instead thinks global and acts local

Home Instead’s UK MD Ruth Brown talks leadership, franchising, resilience, and why building a values-led business starts with people…

And the 2026 EWiF Award winners are

Nine women were recognised at the annual EWiF Awards ceremony in Leicester on Wednesday 20 May, celebrating outstanding achievement across franchising

Maids in the UK

Recurring revenue and systems-led growth are reshaping the cleaning franchise model as Merry Maids UK positions itself for long-term scale. We spoke to Brand Leader Vikki Donnachie, to find out more…

Celebrating the best in franchising

Elite Franchise Top 100 (EF100) Awards 2026, recognising the businesses and individuals driving excellence across the franchising sector

Franchise built on Purpose, People and a Relentless Drive for Better Care

Rod of the Antarctic

An unlikely Dyno-Rod Plumbing & Drains partnership with a polar explorer shows how franchise networks can connect community impact, brand purpose, and local business leadership to maximise branding opportunities…

Hitting a major milestone

Home Instead’s inspirational boss sees the company hit 20 with the same purpose-led vigour and principles that started it all, but plenty of commercial success to talk about…

Hubs Bakshi: My Story

After scaling from one McDonald’s restaurant to five, with a sixth on the way, Hubs Bakshi explains how people, culture, innovation and community engagement have shaped his rapid expansion

Stagecoach CEO Lisa Stead explains how she turned her student experience there into franchise leadership, inspiring students across the performing arts network

The personnel touch

More Than Loft Ladders has an exhaustive process to introduce newcomers to the business and set them up for success both initially and on an ongoing basis

Worldwide wings

Making an impact in the popular and competitive QSR sector isn’t easy, but Chicken Cottage COO, Tom Corcoran believes the brand’s mix of classic offerings, flavour experimentation and tech-lead service standards gives it the edge over the competition. We spoke to him to find out more…

Who cares for Carers?

A homecare company putting care at the centre of its culture seems like a no-brainer, but in a sector beset by high staff turnover, carer care is a strategy that has been central to its successful expansion in the UK and Europe. We spoke to CEO Dan Archer, to find out more…

Snapping into shape

Part of the successful Lift Brands fitness portfolio, Snap Fitness’ popular gym memberships offer 24-7 access alongside digital and online wellbeing content. We spoke to CEO Kevin Yates to find out more about the franchise and what it offers.

Wish you were here?

For those that love travel, having a business that offers the chance to be your own boss while also exploring different destinations sounds like an unattainable dream. But taking on a Travel Franchise business - ranked in the top-20 in this year’s EF100 - is exactly that. We spoke to one franchise owner about their personal journey

Franchising’s fresh frontier

The debut of Elite Franchise Live webinar opened with a thought-provoking session titled “Next Gen Z.” While the title hinted at a forward-thinking discussion, what followed was both a conversation and a compelling call to action, urging the franchising community to reimagine itself for a younger, more purpose-driven generation

Maid to measure business

Molly Maid franchisee, Gabi Boi, describes her journey from office manager to franchise owner and how it has brought flexibility to her role as a young parent and business leader…

Make your mark in the care sector

In a sector defined by the need for business acumen and compassionate care delivery, Caremark – a top-10 finisher in this year’s EF100 - aims to be the benchmark of innovation, quality, and purpose

Franchising’s finest take centre stage

Elite Franchise was proud to host the Elite Franchise Top 100 (EF100) 2025 celebration last night, bringing together the UK’s most exceptional franchises at the prestigious Leonardo Royal St. Paul’s in London

Building a drama school out of a crisis

Stagecoach Performing Arts and Drama Kids thriving under the stewardship of CEO Andy Knights

Swimming toward success

CEO Howard Harrison talks passion and purpose behind Water Babies.

Blazing a trail

Snap-on – this year’s EF100 winner - is a multi-award-winning franchise brand, occupying a distinct position in both the franchising and automotive landscapes

Doing the right thing

Home care provider Right at Home is going from strength to strength with an offering that boasts targeted digital marketing

European kitchen improvement brand Raison Home is making inroads into the UK market with a growing number of successful franchise owners. We talked to one to find out just what’s cooking…

Doing it by the book

Just before he walked off into the sunset of a well-earned retirement, franchise finance and business planning expert Chris Roberts wrote a book that offers a complete guide to finance and more. Here he tells us all about it…

SPONSORED FEATURE

How to write a strong franchise award entry

Andy Swales

Jun 16 '26

The EF100 UK Awards open on 6 July. A judge-led virtual masterclass on 1 July will help franchisors understand what makes a strong submission, before entries officially open

How to judge franchise support before you sign

Cathryn Hayes

Jun 19 '26

Support is one of the main reasons people choose franchising, but ‘support’ means different things in different systems. Here is how to tell the difference before you commit

Why buying a franchise resale could be the smartest route into business ownership

Richard Pakey

Jun 18 '26

Starting a franchise from scratch is not the only option. Richard Pakey, founder of Lime Licensing Group, explains why an existing franchise resale can offer a faster, lower-risk path to business ownership

Peak District challenge celebrates Kent Rhodes’ legacy as fundraising total exceeds £100,000

Andy Swales

Jun 17 '26

The ActionCOACH community has surpassed £100,000 in charitable fundraising following the eighth annual Kent Rhodes Challenge, held in the Peak District during the first weekend of June

Why more business owners are plugging into franchise brands

Andy Swales

Jun 16 '26

With customer trust becoming increasingly valuable in competitive home service markets, Pacifica Local explains why more entrepreneurs are choosing to join established franchise networks rather than build alone

When the temperature rises, so do the big questions

Paul Lewis

Jun 16 '26

A British heatwave has a funny way of making people reassess their careers. Here is why so many end up exploring franchise ownership

What powers does the Fair Work Agency have?

Sue Tumelty

Jun 15 '26

The Fair Work Agency launched in April with wide-ranging enforcement powers. Here is what franchisors and employers need to know about compliance

Women in franchising: two leaders swap status for purpose

Pip Wilkins

Jun 15 '26

Two former professionals turned franchisees show how women in franchising can achieve purpose, growth and flexibility by leveraging proven business models

From rookie to veteran: how Petpals is building a franchise network that lasts

Kevin Thackrah

Jun 12 '26

Petpals is celebrating 25 years in business. Kevin Thackrah on why franchise longevity is built on people, culture and supporting franchisees at every stage

Now is the time for franchise businesses to focus on profit protection

Malcolm Muir

Jun 12 '26

Revenue growth has long been the primary focus for franchise operators. But with rising costs and tighter margins, Malcolm Muir, consultancy director at Venners, argues that protecting the profit you already earn is now just as important

Elite Franchise strengthens international leadership team

Andy Swales

Jun 12 '26

Award-winning franchise leader Jodie Marsh will now oversee commercial growth across Elite Franchise UK and Canada following an expanded international promotion

Why childcare franchising is a growing opportunity in the UK

Grace Cole

Jun 11 '26

Three Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries franchisees reveal what it really takes to build a successful childcare business from scratch