Have Your Summer Holidays Sparked a Career Re-think?

Phil Harrison, NIC Local’s Head of Franchise Recruitment, has spent years helping professionals transition from traditional careers into successful franchise ownership.

In his role, he regularly speaks with individuals who are looking for more freedom, balance, and control in their working lives – especially those coming from corporate backgrounds. You can find out more about Phil’s vital role in his A Day in the Life article.

In the article below, written in his own words, Phil shares the shift in mindset he’s observed among professionals following the summer break, and explores why more people are considering franchising as a pathway to a more flexible and fulfilling future.

Have Your Summer Holidays Sparked a Career Re-think?

Since the summer holidays, I’ve had more and more conversations with corporate professionals rethinking their careers. Many have returned from time off with their families and found it harder than ever to readjust to the demands of traditional employment. That quality time, school runs, slow mornings, family meals, offered a glimpse into a different kind of life. One with more balance, more flexibility, and more control.

Now, as the nights begin to draw in and that summer holiday feels like a distant memory, those same professionals are questioning whether they want to keep doing what they’ve always done. It’s a familiar story, especially in my role in franchise recruitment at NIC Local.

“Lack of work-life balance,” “burnout,” “office politics”, these are the recurring themes. After years of following rigid structures and chasing KPIs under someone else’s agenda, many are starting to think: what if I could build something for myself, with support, but without a boss?

That’s where franchising comes in.

The reason I chose a franchise, and the reason many others do, is because it offers a proven model, built-in support, and a potentially faster route to profitability than going it alone. It’s an attractive middle ground between the risk of starting from scratch and the constraints of corporate employment.

But let’s be clear: it’s not easy money. Franchising takes grit, leadership, and full commitment. The big difference? You’re building a business that’s yours. A saleable asset that grows in value and reflects your own hard work.

At NIC Local, we’re looking for people who are highly organised and capable of managing teams effectively. Our most successful franchisees are strong leaders who take pride in delivering excellent service and building high-performing businesses. You don’t need to come from a cleaning background, but you do need drive, structure, and people skills.

Having been on both sides, corporate and self-employed, I can say there’s no “easy” route to success. But what franchising offers is the opportunity to work hard on your own terms. Whether it’s attending the school play, taking an afternoon off, or just avoiding the daily commute, franchise life gives you the flexibility to make those choices.

As the seasons change and many professionals settle back into the same routine, others are choosing something different. They’re swapping burnout for ownership, office politics for autonomy, and long hours for a business that fits around life and family.