Sarah Wickham went from earning £27.50 per week, to owning three multi-million pound franchise territories. Prior to investment, she had gained experience within the care sector, from carer, to admin, to business development.
But in 2019, Sarah decided she wanted more. If you want to stop building someone else’s business for them and take the leap into franchising, this is everything you need to know before signing.
Know what you can do
Sarah had a wealth of care expertise that she’d built up throughout a surprising and varied career. Her journey started on a Youth Training Scheme, earning £27.50 a week, doing admin work to support her manager. She was handed a tiny office to run almost as an afterthought. Within a year, she had doubled its turnover.
If she’d opened a home care business independently, she would’ve had to navigate policies, compliance, CQC, everything alone. Instead, with the structure and support of a franchise, Sarah had to freedom to apply her skills to the places that mattered. Her business development, her local influence, and her strategic thinking were given the space and time they needed.
She chose Thriving over surviving.
Accept the risk, and run with it
If there’s one word I could use to describe Sarah, it is fearless. Back in 2019, we met somewhat informally over dinner, back when I was still shaping the idea for Walfinch. Most people would have politely said, ‘great idea, hope you find someone’.
But Sarah accepted the risk. She saw the potential and the hard work that was ahead, she recognised this as an opportunity to thrive. And, by December, she had joined.
Know when to let go
Once her first territory was established, Sarah invested in a Registered Manager and stepped back from day-to-day running of the business. She says it is the hardest thing she has ever done. But her ability to delegate and shift her position within the business, meant she could focus on buying and building the next territory.
Many franchisees buy themselves a job, not a business. They’re involved in the day-to-day, every day, and their business becomes unscalable.
The truth is, when you invest in a franchise, you have to take the leap more than once. First, when you sign. Next, when you apply familiar skills and develop new ones. And, finally, when you have to remove yourself from the operations and trust they will not collapse.
Sarah’s story is one of courage and unmatched perseverance. If a prospective franchisee is prepared to trust the system, take the leap, and put in the work, then a multi-million pound business doesn’t have to just be a pipe dream. By following the system and building a business that works for you, it can become a North Star.
