Investment from
£45,000
Category
Home Care
Established
2004
About This Franchise
Bluebird Care is the largest private home care provider in the country, with over 220 franchise offices delivering more than 900,000 hours of care every month. Established in 2004 and franchising since 2006, the brand serves over 20,000 customers through 10,000 care professionals. Ranked 8th in the Elite Franchise Top 100 and a winner of the Team Support Expertise award at the Home Care Awards, Bluebird Care offers a management franchise in a private care market worth over £20 billion. With operating profits of 8 to 12% for established businesses and mature franchisees achieving turnovers of up to £6 million, it is one of the most proven franchise investments in the care sector.
A detailed look at the Bluebird Care Franchise franchise opportunity, what's involved and what makes it stand out.
Nine out of ten people say they would rather receive care in their own home than move into residential care. That single statistic explains why the home care sector is one of the fastest growing and most resilient industries in the country. An ageing population, rising demand for dementia support, increasing preference for home-based care over residential settings, and sustained government investment in social care are all driving growth that shows no sign of slowing. The Bluebird Care franchise has been built to meet this demand at scale, and its 20-year track record proves that the model delivers.
Unlike many home care providers that focus solely on older people, Bluebird Care is inclusive in its service offering. Franchisees deliver support across multiple market segments: elderly care, learning disabilities, children's respite services, NHS hospital discharge support, live-in care, dementia care, and complex care packages. This breadth of service prolongs the customer journey, improves carer retention through career progression pathways, and opens multiple revenue streams that single-service competitors cannot access.
With over 220 franchise offices, Bluebird Care has the brand recognition and operational infrastructure to dominate local markets. Each franchisee receives a viable territory sized by population, household numbers, and age demographics. The business model primarily targets the private healthcare market rather than local authority contracts, giving franchisees higher margins and greater control over their revenue.
The private care market is valued at over £20 billion and continues to expand. According to the Homecare Association, a 57% increase in adults aged 65 and over requiring care is projected by 2038, and 80% more people (nearly two million) will be living with dementia by 2030. These are not projections that might happen; they are demographic certainties that will drive sustained demand for decades.
Bluebird Care assigns every new franchisee a dedicated Onboarding Manager for the first 12 to 18 months. This is a hands-on mentor who guides you through every stage of business setup, from finding premises and recruiting a care manager to achieving CQC registration and winning your first clients. Beyond the Onboarding Manager, you also have a dedicated Business Development Manager and a Quality and Compliance Manager.
The Bluebird Care franchise package costs £45,000 + VAT. The total investment, including start-up costs and working capital, is typically £160,000 to £180,000. Bluebird Care has established relationships with HSBC, NatWest, RBS, and Lloyds, all of whom will lend up to 70% of the total investment. A start-up business typically begins generating £250,000 in turnover, while more mature Bluebird Care businesses achieve turnovers of up to £6 million. Established businesses can expect operating profits of 8 to 12%, and over 30 franchisees now operate multiple territories.
| Franchise package fee | £45,000 + VAT |
| Total investment (incl. working capital) | £160,000 - £180,000 |
| Bank lending (HSBC/NatWest/RBS/Lloyds) | Up to 70% |
| Start-up turnover | ~£250,000 |
| Mature turnover | Up to £6,000,000 |
| Operating profit (established) | 8% - 12% |
Bluebird Care's Franchise Support Centre has a combined 300 years of industry experience in care and franchising. The brand has partnered with Dame Arlene Phillips DBE to advance its mission as the leading dementia specialist in home care. Over 100 Bluebird Care businesses have achieved the 800 Award on the Reputation marketing platform, reflecting outstanding customer feedback. The brand's scale, its breadth of service, and its depth of support create a franchise proposition that no other home care provider can match.
Bluebird Care franchisees come from a wide range of professional backgrounds. You do not need care experience, but you do need a professional background with senior leadership experience, a caring personality, and the drive to build a business that makes a genuine difference. With territories available across the country, the opportunity to join the largest private home care franchise is open.
Brand scale matters, but quality is what wins clients and keeps regulators on side. In 2025 the Winchester, Eastleigh and Romsey office became the first home care provider in the UK to be rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission in all five inspection categories across three consecutive inspections (2018, 2021 and 2025). In December 2025 the Bluebird Care Oxford franchise was upgraded from Good to Outstanding overall, with caring, effective and well-led all rated Outstanding. Inspectors have repeatedly singled out the network's safeguarding culture, leadership and person-centred planning, evidence that the central support, training and audit framework genuinely lands at branch level.
“"A third consecutive Outstanding rating is a sustained standard of excellence that other services should aim to match." Neil Cox, CQC Deputy Director of Operations in the South”
The backdrop for new Bluebird Care franchisees is one of structural, demographic demand. The Office for National Statistics projects the over-65 share of the UK population will rise from 19% to 27% over the next 50 years, while the Department of Health and Social Care expects a 57% increase in adults aged 65 and over requiring home care by 2038. The number of CQC-regulated domiciliary care services has grown by more than 70% since 2018, and the sector now employs roughly 700,000 people delivering care to almost a million customers nationwide. For sector-level context the Homecare Association, the recognised UK trade body for home care providers, publishes regular data on workforce, fee rates and policy.
A Bluebird Care franchise is a management business, not a hands-on caring role. Most owners spend their week working alongside a registered Care Manager and a coordination team, reviewing the previous day's visits and any quality flags, signing off new care plans, meeting prospective private clients and their families, and building relationships with local referrers such as GPs, hospital discharge teams, occupational therapists and solicitors handling power of attorney work.
Bluebird Care looks for owners with senior leadership experience, the financial standing to fund their share of the £160,000 to £180,000 total investment, and a genuine commitment to running a regulated business well. A clinical background is not required, the model provides a registered Care Manager and Quality and Compliance support, but you do need to enjoy people, set high standards, and be ready to be the visible local figurehead of the brand. Many of the network's strongest operators are former corporate managers, healthcare professionals and serial entrepreneurs who wanted a values-led business with real social impact.
The Bluebird Care Franchise gives you 220+ peer offices, dementia leadership, and a proven path to £6M turnover. Request information through Franchise Hunt to explore territories.
Interested in exploring more opportunities in this sector? Take a look at other home care franchise opportunities available on Franchise Hunt.
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To find out more about the Bluebird Care Franchise franchise opportunity, simply click below to fill out the form to speak with a representative from the brand.
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The minimum investment for a Bluebird Care Franchise franchise starts from £45,000. This typically covers the franchise fee, training, and initial setup. Additional costs such as premises, equipment, and working capital may apply.
Yes, Bluebird Care Franchise provides training for new franchisees. This typically covers operations, business management, marketing, and ongoing support to help you get started and grow your franchise.
Bluebird Care Franchise offers third party financing options to help prospective franchisees fund their investment. Contact the franchise directly for details on available funding support.
Bluebird Care Franchise was established in 2004. With 22 years of experience, the brand has built a track record in the UK franchise market.
Bluebird Care Franchise currently has 220 franchise outlets operating across the UK, demonstrating network coverage and brand presence.
Bluebird Care Franchise franchise opportunities are available across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Contact the franchisor through the enquiry form to confirm specific territory availability in your area.
