home care franchise | Senior Home Care Franchise

Success Rate of a New Franchise Business vs an Independent Start Up

If you are considering starting your own business, you must decide if you want to start your own independent start-up business or invest in a franchise. Both types of businesses have qualities you will need to consider carefully when making this decision. Certainly with an independent start-up you are able to make all the decisions on how to run the business, but with a franchise you gain brand name recognition and supportive assistance. One of the main points you will need to look at is the success rate of both types of businesses. Below is a look at the success rate of starting a new franchise business vs starting an independent start-up business.

Success Rate of a New Franchise

A new franchise is associated with a main brand name company. The new franchise owner must purchase the rights to open their business from the main company. While start-up costs for a franchise may be less expensive than an independent business, franchise owners may incur added costs further down the road.

A study by the International Franchise Association (IFA) suggested that at many as 95 percent of new franchises were still in business after five years, and 91 percent after seven years.

As a way to further support IFA’a figures, FranNet completed another survey where it followed 1,260 new franchises from 2006 to 2010 to see what the success rate was. According to this survey, 91 percent of the new franchises were still in business after two years, and 85 percent of these franchises were still in business at the end of four years. Both studies show a very high success rate for new franchise owners.

Success Rate of an Independent Start-up

An independent start-up is a business that is built from the ground up and is not associated with any other brand name company. Typically, the start-up costs for these independent businesses are slightly higher and require the business owner to have an in-depth knowledge of how to manage and operate a business.

Statistics show the success rate for independent start-up are much lower than those for franchise companies. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and the US Small Business Administration, 70 percent of independent start-ups are still in business after two years, and 50 percent of still in business after 5 years. This number drops to just over 30 percent for independent start-ups that last longer than 10 years, and 25 percent for those lasting more than 15 years.

The success rate for a new home care franchise seems to be much higher than those for an independent start-up business. This large difference may be because franchises offer a vast amount of supportive services to new business owners to help them start and operate their businesses, which many new start-up owners just do not have.

Learn more about senior care franchising and download our FREE senior care franchising E-book today!

Please refer to our most recent Franchise Disclosure Document for important details.

Should You Start a Franchise or Independent Business?

Starting a business can be a difficult yet rewarding endeavor. Many hopeful entrepreneurs head to the bank with a business plan to help find finances to fund their business. After finding financing, it’s up to the entrepreneur to make the business successful. Unfortunately, not all businesses stay open after a few years. Many businesses close their doors after five to ten years.

If you’re thinking of opening your own business, you most certainly want a plan for success. One way to increase the likelihood of your success is to open a franchise rather than an independent start-up. Franchises are considered more stable of an investment and usually have more success in the long run. When you open a franchise, you are immediately associated with an already successful name, making new customers and clients more likely to give you their business. Let’s look at all of the reasons why you should open a senior care franchise business over an independent start-up.

Learn more about the successes of owning a franchise

Please refer to our most recent Franchise Disclosure Document for important details.

3 Ways Your Senior Care Franchise Can Make A Difference in Your Area

When you are awarded your own senior care franchise, you are faced with a set of tremendous opportunities. For you, as a business owner, it’s a chance to realize the dreams you’ve always had to make a living with you as your own boss on your own terms. But franchise ownership in the senior care industry also represents an opportunity to make a difference and have a positive impact on your local community. Seniors deserve lives of dignity and agency, but they can’t do it all on their own, which is why every community pulls together to provide resources and assistance. As a provider of in-home care, you blend your business in with the fabric of your local area as yet another valuable resource.

Following are some of the ways you can make a difference in your community, not only for seniors who can benefit from the services you provide, but their families, friends and neighbors.

Get Involved!

This may seem like an obvious first step to connecting with the senior community, but ask yourself how much you’ve really done to become familiar with senior issues in your area. Like many senior care franchise owners, you bring your own experiences from your family and personal life, but have you tapped into the issues that affect older individuals in your specific region?

Seek out opportunities to engage with seniors and their families, attend community events that are of interest to retired folks and take the time to learn about the issues and developments that affect the community — especially when they concern the people who have lived there the longest. Join local groups on Facebook, and make sure your voice is heard as one that’s an advocate for seniors and their needs. Be sure to show your face in the real world and don’t be shy to tout the benefits of in-home senior care services!

Get to Know the People in Your Care

You are the person at the head of your franchise, which means that you have to wear many hats.

One of those hats is worn by the person who got into senior care because they want the best for seniors who wish to live happy, healthy and independent lives.

Your caregivers will work with seniors on a day-to-day basis, but it’s helpful for you to be able to know who your clients are, personally. Check in with your clients on a regular basis, and be sure to keep a running dialogue with their families so you can be “in the loop” when it comes to changes with their stories and situations. This is one of the key ways for you to show that you’re more than just a business owner — you’re also a local leader who cares!

Give Back

Your business has a mission that surely aligns with the visions set forth by local nonprofits and other organizations. You can support these organizations with your time, money and energy, which will show the community that you’re passionate about the same causes they care about.

You can also consider sponsoring community events and institutions, with a keen eye toward those events that are of particular interest to seniors.

Learn More

Are you interested in learning more about the opportunities that are available as a senior care franchise owner! Consider a franchise with Always Best Care!

Are you interested in learning more about what it takes to be successful as a senior care franchise owner during the aging-in-place boom? Always Best Care is here to help you navigate the industry as one of our franchise owners! Download our FREE franchising ebook today to learn more and refer to our most recent Franchise Disclosure Document for important details.

Three Reasons to Start a Senior Assistance Services Franchise

According to the Administration on Aging, as of 2009 there were 39.6 million people in the US aged 65 or older, which represented 12.9 percent of the population at that time. These numbers are expected to increase dramatically by 2030, to around 72.1 million. The growing demographic of seniors in this country translates to a growing need for senior assistance services.

There are many reasons to consider starting a senior care services franchise. Here we discuss a few:

Fulfilling a Growing Need — With the aging Baby Boomer population, the number of elderly folks in the US is expected to double over the next 15 years, which will dramatically increase demand for in-home assistance. Many seniors would prefer to stay in their homes and maintain as much independence as possible, rather than live in an assisted living facility. By starting an in-home assistance franchise, you will be fulfilling a growing need in this country.

Doing Meaningful Work — A growing number of seniors will need both non-medical and in the coming years and decades. By starting a senior care franchise you’ll make a real difference in the lives of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of seniors who will need help with daily activities.

Working in a Recession-Resistant Market — Unlike many consumer products that people often go without during times of recession, medical and living assistance are essential services. Considering the fact that seniors are the fastest growing segment of the population, and considering the numbers of seniors who will require assistance in the coming years, elder care services is considered to be a recession-proof industry.

As with starting any business, there are many considerations, and careful planning is required in order to be successful. If starting an assisted living franchise appeals to you, considering franchising with Always Best Care, consistently ranked among the top 100 franchises in the United States. Learn more on our website.

To learn more about franchising in the senior care industry, download our FREE eBook today!

Please refer to our most recent Franchise Disclosure Document for important details.

Top Five Home-Care Myths and How to Dispel Them

Most seniors, when asked, respond that they would prefer to remain in their homes as they age, rather than move to an assisted living facility. Often, however, the homes in which they have lived for many years have become too big to maintain, or they begin to have health issues, and their family members can’t always be there to help. Still, many seniors and their family members remain wary of hiring help from a home care business, largely due to a few misconceptions surrounding in-home care. Here are five of the most common myths regarding non-medical home care:

Only very sick people need home care.

While it’s true that very ill people may seek in-home care, non-medical home care businesses also provide simple services, like homemaking, personal care, or companionship.

Home care is too expensive.

Compared to other senior care services, home care is one of the most affordable options. A large percentage of family caregivers over-estimate the costs of non-medical care by as much as $6.00 per hour. Additionally, some clients of in-home care franchises only require services for a few hours per week.

Home care clients have no say about who comes into their homes.

Caregivers are often carefully matched to clients’ needs and interests, and professional home-care workers are carefully screened.

In-home care will reduce the client’s independence.

This is often the top concern of seniors who are considering home care, and it’s tough to convince them that, in fact, the opposite is true. A professional caregiver can help the client remain in the home, while helping to keep them socially engaged, providing transportation to favorite activities, and helping prevent falls and other accidents which can reduce a senior’s mobility.

If a family caregiver is present, there is no need to hire a home care worker.

If a family caregiver is on-call 24 hours a day, this can lead to emotional and physical exhaustion. Burned-out caregivers cannot provide quality care, no matter how much they may wish to. By hiring a home-care worker, families can give the primary caregiver crucial respite and relief, without having to remove the senior relative from his or her home.

For franchising opportunities and information on the senior care industry, download our FREE eBook today!

Please refer to our most recent Franchise Disclosure Document for important details.

Area Representatives — 3 Ways They Help You Run Your Franchise

The advantages of going into business as a senior care franchise owner are numerous, but perhaps the most attractive aspect of operating a franchise vs. going the startup route is the system of support that’s in place for you. As an in-home senior care franchise owner, you aren’t starting from scratch; you’re beginning your new business with a road map and a proven system all in place.

The proven system includes strategies and tools for marketing and hiring, but it also includes the wisdom and support of people who understand what it’s like to run a business like yours. And for many franchise owners in our industry, the most crucial person in the system of support is the Area Representative.

What is an Area Representative, and how can they help you operate your franchise as effectively and efficiently as possible?

Let’s take a look!

#1 — Your Area Representative Has a Vested Interest In Your Business

If your ability to run your business well didn’t make a difference to your Area Representative, they probably wouldn’t be quite so invested in your potential success. But Area Representatives depend on franchise owners like you to follow the system and employ their own helpful strategies. Their ability to succeed is tied directly to yours, so they are going to be there for you whenever you need to know how to move forward.

They’ve been in your shoes, and they can give you advice that comes from a place of genuine care and faith in your business!

#2 — Your Area Representative Is Your Local “First Responder”

People who run startups and other non-franchise types of businesses don’t have experts to call at a moment’s notice when a crucial decision must be made. They are on their own, and that’s a scary place to be.

With an Area Representative in your franchise’s corner, you always have someone available to respond quickly and give you the guidance you need to move forward confidently and with the best interests of your business in mind. Having an expert who is just a phone call, email or text away is a significant boon to your ability to operate your business well.

#3 — Your Area Representative Provides Magnificent Motivation!

Sometimes as a business owner, you just need someone to give you a pep talk or a positive perspective. When you own a franchise with Always Best Care, you can rest assured knowing that such a motivating presence is always there for you.

It’s an exciting business, but it’s also full of challenges that can leave franchise owners feeling frustrated. When an Area Representative is available, it can make all the difference in the world during times of struggle.

True Teamwork to Help You Run Your Franchise

Owning and operating a franchise is a terrific way to go into business for yourself, giving you an opportunity to call the shots and make important decisions. But you also get to take advantage of a team of experts who are there to help you, and the cornerstone of that team is your Area Representative. They’ve been where you are now, and they know how to navigate the world you’re entering as a franchise owner.

Learn More

Are you interested in learning more about what it takes to be a senior care franchise owner during the aging-in-place boom? Always Best Care is here to help you navigate the industry as one of our franchise owners! Download our FREE franchising ebook today to learn more and refer to our most recent Franchise Disclosure Document for important details.

Need a Better Way to Be Your Own Boss? Consider Franchise Ownership!

When people think about the “American dream,” they tend to envision a nice home, a loving family and a rewarding professional life. The concept of independence also comes to mind, with many Americans dreaming of lives in which they are their own bosses.

Being your own boss is challenging, but it’s also one of the most rewarding aspects of living the “American dream.” Entrepreneurs embody this spirit, taking risks and confronting challenges in the name of freedom and independence. They also love the notion of providing for their families with an income derived from pursuing their own professional goals — not the goals of a boss or a corporation.

But traditional entrepreneurship is not right for everyone. It looks good on paper to many people, but in reality, it’s just too much to take on, especially when they have families to support. And for many would-be entrepreneurs, there are too many potential pitfalls: What if they don’t have the right business plan? What about filling out and filing the proper legal documents? How will they know how much capital is needed to get a brand-new venture off the ground.

Thankfully, there is a wonderful alternative to the traditional model of entrepreneurship; one in which there is a tremendous amount of support and assistance available: franchise ownership!

A Different Way to Be Your Own Boss

Franchise ownership has emerged as an ideal option for those entrepreneurs who would rather follow an established model than start from scratch. It involves following a system and the guidance of experts, but it’s one of the best ways for modern entrepreneurs to become their own bosses. The benefits of owning and operating one’s own business remain, but with the additional benefits of having access to a system of support and expertise that would not be available under the traditional entrepreneurship model.

Franchise Ownership in the Senior Care Sector

Franchise ownership is a great way to be your own boss, but selecting the right franchise can be a challenge. Everyone knows about fast-food franchises, but there are numerous alternatives available to suit the entrepreneurial needs of people from all walks of life and business. One of the most intriguing industries for franchise ownership is senior care.

The in home senior care industry is rising, and many of the opportunities that are available in this growing sector of the economy are in franchise ownership. Senior care franchising allows entrepreneurs to be their own bosses, but it includes the added benefit of the opportunity to serve and help others.

Consider Always Best Care

Always Best Care is a leader in the senior care industry, and we’re always looking for compassionate, driven people to join our company as franchise owners. Our proven system provides a clear roadmap, and our people are always there to help. For those looking to be their own bosses, Always Best Care is a terrific choice for the next chapter of professional life!

Are you interested in learning more about what it takes to be a senior care franchise owner during the aging-in-place boom? Always Best Care is here to help you navigate the industry as one of our franchise owners! Download our FREE franchising ebook today to learn more and refer to our most recent Franchise Disclosure Document for important details.

4 Ways to Boost Your Franchise Blog

One of your responsibilities as a senior care franchise owner is to market your business effectively. These days, the most powerful marketing is done online, often through various social media platforms, email newsletters and — especially — blogging. Having a blog on your website ensures that you always have fresh content for the search engines and potential clients to find. It also helps you establish your voice as an authority in senior care.

Senior care franchise owners need to be focused on their businesses, so blogging isn’t always in the forefronts of their minds. However, maintaining a blog doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming. And the benefits associated with establishing a strong voice in blogging are tremendous compared to the relatively small effort needed to do so.

If you’re a franchise owner — or are interested in becoming one — in the senior care industry, here are four tips to help you maximize your online marketing efforts through your blog!

Tip #1 — Keep a Content Calendar

To be effective with your blog, you can’t just log into your website and start typing away. Instead, generate some topics and themes that you want to cover. Then organize those topics in a calendar format so you can see what you’ve got coming up. This helps you maintain a consistent schedule while enhancing your ability to cover a wide range of topics.

Tip #2 — Establish Your Voice

Whether you’ll be the one to actually write the posts, or if you have a designated writer, it’s important to establish the “voice” of your blog. It should have a point of view that tells readers that you’re an authority in senior care and the various subjects you are covering.

Tip #3 — Space Is Your Friend

There’s plenty of content on the internet to read, so people aren’t going to waste time with blogs that consist of long blocks of text. Break your posts up into bite-size chunks by adding headings, lists and plenty of “white space” between paragraphs. When you organize your posts this way, they are much more easy on the eyes and more likely to inspire readers to come back for subsequent posts.

Tip #4 — Add Images!

The internet is increasingly becoming a visual medium. Your words are important, but your blog will perform much better if you add some images. Better yet, find a way to include video content to your blog, and you’ll see a significant uptick in engagement.

Consistency Is Key

Getting your blog set up will be the most challenging part of the process, but once it’s set up, all you have to do is keep updating your content calendar and follow it so that your posts get published regularly and consistently. Keep it consistent and be sure to follow the tips above, and you’ll see just how effective blogging can be in effectively marketing your franchise!

Are you interested in learning more about what it takes to be successful as a senior care franchise owner during the aging-in-place boom? Always Best Care is here to help you navigate the industry as one of our franchise owners! Download our FREE franchising ebook today to learn more and refer to our most recent Franchise Disclosure Document for important details.

How to Survive — and Thrive — In Your First Year as a Franchise Owner

Running a business of any kind requires hard work, planning, and diligence. The process of operating a business successfully requires intense focus and an ability to compartmentalize different aspects of the endeavor. If you are considering franchise ownership, you may think that running your business will be easier because of the system that’s in place to help you and other franchise owners succeed, but you’re in for a surprise if you think you can simply sit back and watch your business grow without making a serious effort of your own.

Your first year as a franchise owner will test you and present you with challenges that you may feel unprepared to deal with. Owning a senior care franchise can be stressful, particularly during your initial 365 days, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Yes, the first year of running your business will have a significant impact on your long-term success, but as long as you remain focused and follow some simple, common-sense tips, you will be able to see, firsthand, the many benefits that franchise ownership can bring.

#1 — Assess and Understand Your Local Market

This is where many franchise owners fall behind. Yes, your franchisor will have marketing data and resources for you to utilize, but it’s up to you to understand the area in which you will operate, the people who live there and their needs. If you want to make a difference as a senior care franchise owner, it’s essential to understand what you bring to your market that no one else can provide.

#2 — Start Networking Immediately

No matter how high the demand for quality in home senior care in your area may be, people are not going to line up outside your door to sign up with your company. It’s up to you to go out and tell people about your business. Begin by networking within your established groups. Put the word out about what your business has to offer and why your franchise does it better. Doing this allows you to hone your “pitch” in low-pressure situations, and it gives you the chance to gauge the level of interest surrounding your franchise.

#3 — Surround Yourself with the Best People

Operating your own senior-care franchise may require you to start out with a very small team, but as you add key personnel, it’s important to fill roles with people who can truly help your business grow. You aren’t just putting people into slots; you are matching opportunities with individuals who have the specific skills and talents to take them on. In your business, you need to have high-quality people who share your vision and are committed to providing the highest levels of care.

More Senior Care Franchise Info

If you’re interested in learning more about what it takes to operate a senior care franchise in its first year, Always Best Care is here to help you! To learn more, download our FREE franchising ebook today!

Please refer to our most recent Franchise Disclosure Document for important details.

Be There for the Baby Boomers as a Senior Care Franchise Owner

According to statistics from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 10,000 “Baby Boomers” will turn 65 every single day for the next 20 years. The overall senior population in the U.S. is also expected to double during the coming two decades, which means that senior care will only become more and more important. In fact, the need for new solutions in the area of senior housing and non medical care is becoming critical. Baby Boomers are not interested in adhering to the senior-living patterns of the past; they insist on doing things differently, which often translates into different lifestyle needs. This generation will insist on living our their senior years at home, but for them to do so comfortably, our society’s entire infrastructure will require changes.

What does this mean for you?

As a senior care franchise owner, it means that opportunities for growth and success will abound in the coming years, but you can’t just rest on your laurels and expect good things to happen. You need to be able to understand the Baby Boomer generation and their specific requirements. If you can do this, you can become a much-needed resource in your community and a model for how to handle the needs of Baby Boomers.

Recognizing the Opportunity

The dominant mindset surrounding the Baby Boomers and their shift into retirement age has been one of anxiety. Certainly, it’s easy to look at the needs of Baby Boomers — and their sheer numbers — and focus on the negative. But what if you shifted your perspective? It’s actually easy to see great opportunity where others might see stress and strain.

As an in-home senior care franchise owner in your community, you will lead the way when it comes to catering to the Baby Boomers. This generation wants to retain independence, and they love the idea of staying at home through their senior years. However, they also understand that they will require assistance and care from time to time as they grow older, making your senior-care company the perfect solution!

Baby Boomers and In-Home Care: Made for Each Other

Baby Boomers are largely responsible for creating our modern world, and they want to help create a new standard for senior living, as well. For most of them, this means staying at home where they can continue to live as they wish, on their own schedules. You can help this great generation by providing them with the resources they need as your area’s favorite in-home senior care provider!

Learn More

If you’re interested in learning more about providing excellent care as a senior care franchise owner, we invite you to consider the possibilities available through franchising with Always Best Care. We’ve been leaders in senior care for nearly two decades, and we’ve always got an eye on the future. Download our FREE franchising ebook today to learn more.

Please refer to our most recent Franchise Disclosure Document for important details.