- Start Up Cost:
- Franchise Type:
- Sector Type:
- Investment Type:
- Market:
- £12,500
- Home Based
- Recruitment
- Start-up
- B2C
Founded in 2004 by Norland Nanny and mother of three, Frankie Gray, our guiding philosophy is simple: to provide parents and child carers with outstanding levels of service and care.
Today, Frankie and her team are proud to count many of the UK’s most experienced, reliable and professional nannies and childcare providers on their books. Together, they offer Harmony at Home childcare and nanny services not only to parents around the UK but also internationally, alongside offering household staff recruitment. Every one of our franchises adheres to the same exacting Harmony at Home standards to ensure that all of our clients receive a premium level of childcare or household staffing service.
We pride ourselves on taking the time to know each and every client – understanding their individual requirements and finding the perfect solution to fit their lifestyle and needs.
Our franchise brochure can be viewed here.
We have developed a simple and successful model, to enable you to work from home, running an Employment Agency, which provides a profitable source of income and a guaranteed Harmony at Home level of childcare or staffing provision to local parents and households.
You will be sourcing candidates for our clients who are the employers. Making the right matches is very important, and so you will be a great communicator, and readily available at all times of the day.
If you’re an entrepreneur looking for an opportunity to run your own business from your home or office, we have created a bespoke package for you. This franchise arrangement means that you can run the business around your family life, with low risk and excellent opportunities for generating an attractive income, from a growing market sector.
Training is blended and delivered both remotely and in-person. The in-person training takes place at our offices in Haywards Heath, West Sussex. We use online video calls and screen sharing, and you are set daily tasks to complete and are given personal support throughout the initial 2 weeks of training. Generally training will be provided in small groups where you will get the opportunity to meet other new franchisees joining the network at a similar time to you.
Following this, there is plenty of ongoing training, support and coaching to take advantage of. There are many ways to access support, and we have created a range of support methods to suit everyone’s needs, most importantly we want you to be self-supporting, and able to access what you need when you need it most. For example, you can book 1:1 15-minute video power sessions with our founder or join in our weekly drop in Focus and Support video call. Our manual, and network hub are full of resources and guides, and every year we offer support and training at our yearly conference. Head Office are on hand to offer telephone and email support, and our network of industry experts and more experienced Franchisees are readily available to help with any extraordinary queries. We are here for our franchisees and always want to help them succeed.
As a Household staff recruitment agency, you will be finding staff for private households. Your agency will provide a full-service including job advert creation, interviewing, and screening applicants, matching applicants to the clients requirements, setting up interviews for both parties, and interview feedback. An introduction fee is charged to the client upon their decision to employ an applicant introduced by your agency.
Philippa Day has extraordinary powers!
On the outside, she is a busy mother of two; ferrying her children, from one place to another, just like any other parent at the school gate! However, when the children are away, Philippa reveals a hidden secret. As well as being a busy mum, who is always available when her children need her, Philippa Day is also an extremely successful businesswoman.
So, how does Philippa achieve such superhuman feats? The answer is clear: as well as being a dedicated mum, Philippa is also the proud owner of the Harmony at Home Berkshire and Oxfordshire Franchises.
Philippa’s long and distinguished path to superhero status began in 1994, when she qualified as a Chiltern Nanny. She then spent two decades building her reputation as a world class nanny, working in the UK and overseas.
Philippa decided to become her own boss, and purchased the Harmony at Home Berkshire Franchise in 2014. And she hasn’t looked back since! Having recovered her initial investment within four months, she has now acquired the Oxfordshire Franchise and renewed her Berkshire Franchise for a further 5 years.
And the moral of the story…with the right business formula, combined with a lot of hard work and dedication, any mum can become a Supermum!
"I had returned my investment after my first 6 months of trading."
Kate Rich considered a Franchise to give her back quality time with her young family, whilst giving her the opportunity to launch her own business with the support and knowhow of a well established brand that offered a personal high quality service. Kate purchased the Cambridgeshire Franchise at the beginning of 2018.
Here is what Kate says;
I decided to buy the Franchise as I believed there was a gap in the market in my area for a very personal nanny agency delivering high quality nannies. I was also personally seeking a new challenge that fitted around my two very young children and the idea of running my own business was hugely appealing. I met and spoke with a number of other nanny agencies but the decision to buy the Harmony at Home Franchise was an easy one.
How easy was the process to start up?
"The initial start up was pretty straightforward – I was given a Franchise manual to follow on a daily basis which provides proven methods of working efficiently and effectively which have worked really well. There are lots of templates for emails and letters too which you can use so you don’t feel like you are starting everything from scratch which means you quickly get into a way of working which is efficient and quick."
What support and training have you had and what is it like?
"In the early days particularly, I called on the support of Head Office when I had queries or when I just wanted a second opinion on something. This was hugely helpful and always made me feel like I wasn’t on my own which I think is crucial when you are setting up the business. The support is ongoing and I know I can always call or email if I need anything at all."
How has the Harmony at Home Franchise changed your working life?
"My working life has changed massively! I am now based at home which means that I can work around my own personal commitments and therefore I feel that I have a much better work: life balance which I had previously found hard to achieve."
What is it about the Harmony at Home Franchise that really works for you?
I enjoy the flexibility It gives me – being able to go to the gym during the day and walk my dogs. I can also pick up and drop off my children too which I’m so grateful for. I really enjoy the interaction I have with both nannies and clients – each day is different and can be challenging but it’s also really rewarding.
Why is Harmony at Home different to other recruitment agencies?
"I think the focus on the service we offer to both families and nannies is personal, and we listen and understand their requirements so that we can help find the best possible match for them. Also, the fact that we are often available at the weekends and evenings and can bend around the needs of our families’ and nannies’ commitments."
How quickly did you recover your initial investment?
"I had returned my investment after my first 6 months of trading."
Does your revenue generated exceed your expectations?
"My revenue has exceeded my expectation. Although I am yet to finish my second year of trading, my revenue is set to have doubled my first year’s revenue."
What is it like to be a part of the Harmony at Home network?
"It is really good to be part of the Harmony at Home network – knowing that the other Franchisees are in the same position as you and can help you with any queries and can share experiences is a real comfort."
What would you say to someone who is considering purchasing a Harmony at Home Franchise?
"I would say to anyone considering buying a Franchise to go for it! It has been a great decision for me. It can present its challenges and can sometimes be an emotional rollercoaster but it’s also very rewarding – both personally and financially. You can make it fit around your personal commitments and know that the more you can give the business in terms of time and effort the more you will get out."
Would you recommend purchasing a Harmony at Home Franchise to others?
"Yes, I would recommend purchasing a Franchise to others. See above!"
I am Jo and I own Harmony at Home Nanny Agency Buckinghamshire. ‘Looking after children has always been my passion’ Jo explains. With an incredible 15 years of Nanny experience herself, coupled with high level Office Management skills, 2021 found Jo feeling ready for a new challenge. Keen to find a way to combine her talents Jo launched our Buckinghamshire Franchise, recouping her initial investment in just 3 months.
Here is what Jo says;
When asked why she opted for a Harmony at Home Franchise Jo describes the brand as "a good one" - established and with a high quality polished feel.
Although there was a lot to take on board in the first few months of running her business Jo explains how it is now second nature. Her candidates and clients often express how much they appreciate her prompt communication, organisation and keen eye for detail. On a day to day basis Jo loves the autonomy and flexibility of running her own business. "If I have the opportunity to meet a friend for coffee, I can - I am not tied to my desk", Jo smiles. She is also able to walk the dog and maintain her fitness with regular running.
"Jo described the onboarding process as seamless, "Frankie has an excellent way of explaining things". And whilst the training materials continue to be a useful source of information Jo knows that the Harmony at Home team, including other franchisees are always on hand to lend an ear. "I really enjoy being part of the Harmony at Home network - having the others at the end of the phone if needed. I enjoy the video calls - we can give each other advice and just get to know each other better. They are a great team."
Would Jo recommend joining Harmony at Home as a franchisee? "I would definitely say to go for it! It is an enjoyable, flexible and well paid role - what's not to like?"
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