“After working in a care home for over a year, I found myself asking, ‘Is there really no better way to provide these ladies and gentlemen with a more dignified life?’ And then I found Promedica24. I had no idea that my desire to challenge the system would lead me to business ownership! Proud doesn’t even come close.”
As one of the very first UK franchisees, Tibor Dusnoki has been running his Promedica24 business in Surrey since March 2015. In that time, he’s already helped over 40 families in his community, formed a solid working relationship with one of the UK’s largest hospitals and is a highly valued and respected member of the Promedica24 franchise family.
Tibor first joined Promedica24 as a business development manager (BDM). His passion and commitment to empowering the elderly and vulnerable is nothing short of inspiring. And it’s one of the things that make him so successful.
“By profession I’m a secondary school teacher but my career has also seen me take active roles in PR, marketing and communications too. When I first came to the UK I got involved in care. I had various roles which culminated in me working in a residential care home.
“I saw very quickly that care in the UK wasn’t what it could be, both in terms of quality and the options available to people. That’s when I found Promedica24. I applied for a job there immediately! The concept and the values of the business really resonated with me and I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of.”
Tibor started his BDM role with Promedica24 in April 2014. It didn’t take long for the management team to spot his potential and they soon approached him with the idea of becoming a franchisee. In March 2015, Tibor launched as one of the first two Promedica24 franchisees alongside his colleague Mark Muller who operates his franchise in Bournemouth and Poole.
“When the team at Promedica24 approached me about becoming a franchisee, I was very flattered! I was already bought into the company’s values and culture – it’s exactly what I’d been looking for as a solution to the problems I saw in the care homes. I truly believe in the service we provide, it offers the dignity and care that the elderly and the vulnerable deserve.
“My research was more into the concept of franchising and what it would be like to operate my own business, how I would be supported etc. It’s fair to say that I thought about it a lot but in the end I decided that it was a good opportunity for me. It was a good decision, I’m happy I did it!”
Like many people, Tibor thought that he simply couldn’t afford his own care business but minimal investment and working from home make the Promedica24 franchise opportunity a low-risk model with potentially good ROI.
“I didn’t really know much about franchising prior to becoming a Promedica24 franchisee. At first I didn’t even know franchises existed in the care industry and when I found out that they did, I thought the franchise fee for any care business would be at least £40k and double that for working capital which just wasn’t viable for me. Obviously I know now that Promedica24 is very different!”
Desperate to make a difference and challenge the system, Tibor looked to his wife, a dental nurse, and his two sons for their approval before taking the plunge: “My wife was very supportive of the decision to start Promedica24. She’s actually worked as a domiciliary care worker in the past as well so was really pro live-in care. As for my two boys, they’re just proud that we have what is now a family business and that what we do makes a real difference in people’s lives.”
As one of the first two UK franchisees, Tibor remembers his initial training fondly. Both he and Mark were pioneers of the existing system. “The training was very different back then, it wasn’t as structured as it is now but that’s what you would expect. I like to think that thanks to our input since day one, we’ve helped shape the training it into the comprehensive programme it is today.
“Now that I’m well established I tend to take care of myself on a day-to-day basis. But when I started, I just didn’t know anything about running a business and Promedica24 really helped me and supported me to the point that I’m self-sufficient. They still organise regular training sessions on things like PR and using the CRM system and if I ever I do reach out with any questions or need any support then I get it, no problem. Everyone at head office and in operations in Poland are always happy to help.”
Tibor considers himself every inch the local businessman. And, just like every business owner he has grand ambitions for growth. This means employing more staff and taking on premises locally. “Just like everyone I want to have more and more clients. My target for next year is 40 live contracts and to increase by 10 each year after that. I’ll consider employing someone when I reach 50 or 60 contracts because I want to retain the good work-life balance that I have now.”
When he’s not busy changing people’s lives, Tibor enjoys travelling, listening to music, reading and spending time with his family. And the best thing about being a Promedica24 franchisee?
“Being independent, working from home, being my own boss and having a good income; there are so many benefits! I think owning a business that improves people’s lives and means they don’t have to go into care is pretty special. I love what I’m doing now so I plan to stay in the business until retirement when I hope to hand the reins to my youngest son.
“I’m not just building a business that serves my community, I’m building a legacy for my family too.”
