For mum of three, Raman Boparai, the idea of missing out on time with her sons when she went back to work, was unbearable. Instead, she chose the flexible option, offered through franchising with DNS Accountants, and started her own practice.

Having enjoyed maternity leave, and watching with wonder the development of your new baby, you may have noticed a change in your mindset around going back to work. Like many new parents, you may be dreading travelling to the office, again. You can’t bear the thought of being away from your new family for hours at a time.

As a mum of twins and their older brother, Raman Boparai felt exactly the same. So, whilst they were still young, she invested time in a future she could control. “When the twins were around 10 months, and my oldest was about three, I decided I wanted to gain my Accountancy Qualifications,” Raman explains. “It was an interesting journey balancing raising them with studying! And, because I wanted to put into practice the theory behind what I was learning, I was also working! My husband and I own a property business, which enabled me to learn through practical application.”

My heart ached

As an accountant, Raman had enjoyed a varied career, working across some interesting sectors, including charity and the Fine Arts. However, the arrival of her twins left her feeling disconnected, as they started to grow. “When I was working for someone else, I often felt like I was missing out on time with my sons. I’d leave home early, commute for two hours, and be in the office for 8am. Then I was home late. I rarely felt good when I came home; then my oldest would tell me, ‘Oh mummy, we missed you.’ My heart ached for my sons.”

One of Raman’s twins is autistic. So, he felt the impact of Raman’s absence the hardest. “I am my son’s support, as he feels calmer when I am around. He listens to me, and follows through on what I tell him, so it was particularly hard for him when I was at work. One day, he asked why I was doing something I didn’t like. It was then I realised I was ready to choose a different path for myself; and for them. I didn’t have children so I could just put them to one side.”

Like most parents, Raman wanted to give her children a solid foundation for adulthood. “I want to teach them things and give them skills to help make their life easier. I want to empower them to reach their potential. When Peter Pan flies, he holds on to one happy memory. Growing up, I was blessed with thousands of happy memories, and this is what I want to give to my sons – for them to have so many happy memories, they will fly in life. To be a good example for them to follow.”

A natural progression

After maternity leave, Raman’s previous employers were keen for her to come back. “But,” she says, “I didn’t want to dedicate my entire career to someone else’s work. I definitely didn’t want to be working full time, again. I needed something with a better work-life balance, which would give me back the time I wanted to invest in, and enjoy, my children. So, in terms of career development, DNS Accountants, for me, was a natural progression.”

She was already aware of DNS, having encountered them in 2016. “I wasn’t fully qualified, and my children were still quite young,” she says, “so I didn’t really delve into franchising too much. But, I kept my eye on DNS, and registered for their emails. Early in 2020 I became serious about finding a franchise with whom I could run my own practice. Before choosing the right one, I had two non-negotiable areas: Support and flexibility. DNS felt like the only franchise to offer both of those things. I also felt like they recognised the importance of family – it’s not pushed to the side; it’s right there at the heart of DNS.”

Trained for confidence

Raman, like every franchisee in the DNS network, started her new business with a week of intensive training, designed to give her the confidence to start her new business. “I understood the operational side of running a business and, having worked with people and managed teams, I understood how to manage people at various levels. But, DNS Head Office trained me in other areas of business management, like sales and finding new clients. Having worked across a variety of sectors, I’ve successfully combined my experiences with the DNS business model and training, to develop a business on my own terms.

“I’m still in my first year, but I’m well on the way to achieving my year one goal of 30 clients, and the desired turn-over. More importantly, I am also embracing the work-life balance I wanted. It’s all about having the flexibility to do what needs to be done – whether for clients or for my boys. Although we are still learning how to balance my new way of working, they understand when mummy needs to go and make a call in the middle of preparing dinner. The key to creating the right balance for us, as a family unit, is time management.”

An alternative route to success

Raman believes the impact on her sons, as she grows her franchise, will be the benefit of knowing there is an alternative route to career progression. “The academic route isn’t right for everyone,” she says. “I think I’ve learned this most through my twins. Especially as a result of supporting my autistic son – he’s allowed me to see why having a relaxed homelife is so important. I am hoping my sons will see they don’t have to follow the traditional route, if they want a successful career. They can have a business, and a family, and enjoy creating happy memories with their family, whilst also working from home.”

In fact, Raman doesn’t want to just role model an alternative route to success for her family, she wants to help young people in her community receive the same message. “Charity is another big part of my family’s life. I aim to use my business to inspire young people – or even other parents – to see how achieving their aspirations and goals doesn’t have to be dependent on following the academic route. There is an alternative open to them.”