Posted:21-May-2026
From Solicitor to Multi-Unit Franchise Owner: Leena Lakhani’s Values-Led Care Journey
Solicitor-turned-care entrepreneur Leena Lakhani launched Home Instead Wembley in 2016 and became a multi-unit franchise owner in 2024 after taking over Home Instead Ealing. Inspired by her family’s values and her commitment to supporting vulnerable people, Leena shares why franchising, and the Home Instead model in particular, has enabled her to build a values-led, scalable care business across North West and West London.
- Name: Leena Lakhani
- Location: Wembley and Ealing, London
- Franchise: Home Instead
- Date launched the franchise: Home Instead Wembley launched in 2016. Home Instead Ealing was taken over on 1 October 2024, making Leena a multi-unit franchise owner.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you were doing prior to buying your Home Instead franchise business?
Before buying my franchise, I was a qualified solicitor specialising in education law. I worked with children with special educational needs and disabilities, helping families secure the right schooling, support and opportunities. It was work I cared deeply about because it allowed me to make a real difference for vulnerable children and their families. I also had experience running an entire legal department, so while franchising and care were new to me, I knew I had the leadership, organisational and problem-solving skills needed to run a business.
Can you also tell us about Home Instead?
I own Home Instead Wembley and Home Instead Ealing. We provide high-quality, relationship-led care and support to older people across North West and West London, enabling them to remain safe, independent and comfortable in their own homes. Our services are delivered by carefully selected Care Professionals who are chosen not only for their skills, but also for their empathy, compassion and non-judgmental approach. Values and culture are very important to me. I am immensely proud of the care we provide in our community and the difference we make to people’s lives.
Why did you go down the franchise route? What made you choose the care industry? And why Home Instead
I discovered Home Instead while I was pregnant with my second child and on maternity leave. Something about the brand, its mission and its approach to care immediately resonated with me. I had spent my legal career advocating for vulnerable people and I could see that supporting older people to remain independent at home would be another way to make a meaningful difference. Franchising appealed because it offered the opportunity to run my own business while benefiting from a proven model, strong systems, training, compliance support and a wider network. I chose Home Instead because its values aligned so strongly with my own: relationship-led care, dignity, trust and putting people first.
How did you raise the finance?
I used a combination of personal savings to establish the business. As with any franchise, the process required careful planning, a robust business plan and confidence in the model. The strength of the Home Instead brand and the evidence of demand for quality home care gave me the reassurance to invest in the opportunity.
What training and support did you receive initially and ongoing?
The initial support from Home Instead covered the key areas needed to launch and operate the business, including care quality, compliance, recruitment, marketing, finance, systems and business operations. Ongoing support has been equally important. The national office provides guidance, resources, training and best practice, while the wider franchise network offers an invaluable source of shared learning, peer support and encouragement. The Home Instead National Conference is also a great example of this support in action; it challenges our thinking, provides new ideas and inspires us to keep improving.
How would you describe your day-to-day role as a franchisee?
My role is varied and people-focused. On any given day I may be working on strategy, recruitment, care quality, compliance, client relationships, team development, community engagement or financial performance. The biggest challenge is balancing the operational demands of a regulated care business with the need to keep growing sustainably and maintaining our culture. A key success has been building a business that genuinely reflects our values and provides excellent support to clients and families. Taking over Home Instead Ealing in October 2024 was also a major milestone, as it allowed us to extend our impact and become a multi-unit operation while continuing to focus on quality.
Has becoming a franchisee changed your life?
Yes, absolutely. Becoming a franchisee has given me the opportunity to build something meaningful that reflects my values and my family’s values. It has stretched me, challenged me and helped me grow as a leader. It has also given me the privilege of seeing the difference good care can make to people’s lives every day. Running the business can be demanding, but it is incredibly rewarding to know that our work helps older people remain at home, supports families and creates worthwhile careers for our Care Professionals.
How do you achieve a work-life balance?
Work-life balance is something I continue to work on. As a business owner and parent, there are always competing demands, so I try to be intentional about my time and priorities. Building a strong team is essential, because it means the business does not depend on one person alone. I also try to stay connected to the reason I started the business: family, care and making a difference. That helps me make better decisions and protect time for the people who matter most.
Why is Home Instead ideal for those looking for a scalable opportunity?
Home Instead is well suited to those looking for a scalable opportunity because the need for high-quality home care continues to grow and the model is built around strong systems, brand recognition, training and compliance support. I started with Home Instead Wembley in 2016 and progressed to multi-unit ownership by taking over Home Instead Ealing on 1 October 2024. Moving from one territory to two has allowed us to share expertise, develop leaders, create more opportunities for our team and support more clients across West and North West London. The benefit of multi-unit ownership is that you can build resilience, broaden your impact and apply what you have learned in one business to another, while still keeping the local, personal feel that is so important in care.
How do you retain your best staff and keep morale high and productive?
Our people are central to everything we do. We retain great Care Professionals by recruiting carefully, investing in training, listening to feedback and creating a culture where people feel valued and respected. Recognition is important, whether that is through regular praise, celebrating client feedback, sharing success stories, providing development opportunities or acknowledging people who go above and beyond. In care, morale is closely linked to feeling supported, so we focus on communication, supervision, training and making sure our team understands the difference they make every day. We celebrate the small wins all the time and I am very proud of our Office Teams.
Can you tell us about any community involvement?
Community involvement is a natural part of what we do. As a local home care provider, we work to build relationships with families, community groups, health and social care professionals and organisations that support older people. We are passionate about raising awareness of the importance of good care, reducing isolation and helping people access the right support at the right time. Our community work is also about being visible, approachable and trusted locally, so families know where to turn when they need help. We run Workshops in partnership with NHS Memory Service for those newly diagnosed with Dementia. We also run workshops with Communinty Action on Dementia, Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Alzheimer’s Society. We work together with St Luke’s Hospice, Meadow House and Parkinson’s UK.
What is the most invaluable piece of advice you could give someone looking to buy their first franchise?
Choose a franchise whose values genuinely align with your own. The brand, model and support are all important, but you also need to care deeply about the work you are doing, especially in a people-centred sector like care. Do your due diligence, speak to other franchisees, understand the financials and be honest with yourself about the level of commitment required. A franchise gives you a strong framework, but you still need resilience, leadership and the willingness to do the hard work.
In your opinion, what makes a successful franchisee?
A successful franchisee combines entrepreneurial drive with the discipline to follow a proven model. You need to be values-led, resilient, open to learning and willing to take responsibility for both the big picture and the detail. In care, success also depends on empathy, integrity and the ability to build trust with clients, families, staff and the wider community. The most successful franchisees are those who use the strength of the brand while still bringing their own passion, local knowledge and leadership to the business.
What are your plans for the future?
My plans are to continue strengthening Home Instead Wembley and Home Instead Ealing, focusing on excellent care quality, sustainable growth, staff development and community impact. I want both businesses to be known for outstanding support, compassionate care and a workplace culture where people can thrive. As a multi-unit franchise owner, I am also focused on developing leaders within the team and making sure we keep improving as the needs of our clients and communities evolve.
If you had to do it all again, what would you do differently?
I would remind myself earlier that building the right team and systems is just as important as working hard personally. Like many business owners, I have learned that you cannot do everything yourself and that sustainable growth depends on investing in people, structure and leadership. I would also give myself permission to pause, reflect and celebrate progress more often, because in a busy care business it is easy to move straight on to the next challenge.
Interested and want to know more about Home Instead?
The Home Instead profile outlines all aspects of their franchise opportunity and allows you to contact them for further information or to ask a question.
