senior care franchise | Senior Home Care Franchise

5 Reasons to Consider Senior Care Franchise Ownership This Year

If you’ve been considering a jump into the world of business ownership, it’s probably something that you’ve been thinking about for quite some time. Starting your own business is not an endeavor that should be taken lightly, and if you’ve been dreaming of it for a while, you want to make sure the time and situation is right before you dive in. Perhaps you told yourself that you would take that leap this year, but now it feels like it’s too late with everything that’s going on. So maybe you’re considering making your move next year so you can start fresh with a new number on the calendar and the challenges of the previous year behind you.

Unfortunately, next year will probably be no less busy and/or challenging than this one, so maybe it’s a good idea to get the ball rolling today. If your business idea is to own and operate your own senior care franchise, there’s no better time than right now to get started.

Here are five of the reasons why you should consider senior care franchise ownership this year:

#1 — The Industry Is Growing; Get In as Early as You Can!

The senior care industry is growing and transforming, largely thanks to the influence of the Baby Boomer generation, which is seeing its members retire in massive waves. The “boomers” aren’t interested in “traditional” senior care options like nursing homes; they want to stay at home and use services that provide outstanding in home care.

If you want to get in as close to the ground floor as possible with your senior care business, we suggest you act now!

#2 — Seniors and Their Families Need Help Today

When you run a business, it’s good to know that what you do isn’t just good for you; it’s good for the community at large. This is absolutely the case in senior care. Right now, families in your area are searching for senior care solutions. Let your new business be the one to help them!

#3 — The Franchise Is There for You

Maybe you’re putting off business ownership because you’re not ready to jump through hoops and cut through endless amounts of red tape. Consider this, though: one of the key benefits of franchise ownership is the fact that the franchise is there for you, ready to give you the assistance you need to get your business off the ground. When you own a franchise, you get plugged into an entity that has the experience and know how to get you going on the right foot.

#4 — Get Good Word of Mouth Going Right Away

Senior care franchises rely on the owner’s ability to generate a strong presence in the community. And there’s nothing quite as valuable as good word of mouth. The sooner you get started building your reputation, the sooner you can experience the benefits of franchise ownership.

#5 — Why Not?

Seriously. Why not get started right now? You’ve been thinking of it for a while and time isn’t slowing down any time soon. And right now is a great time to get into the senior care industry. Sure, you can continue to put it off, but the only way you’ll be able to live your dreams of business ownership is by taking the first step. And the best time to start is right now!

Learn More

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.

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

Character Traits of Successful Franchisees

While most anyone with the funds and ambition can find a franchisor willing to sign them on as a franchisee, owning a franchise is not necessarily right for everyone. It’s important for prospective franchise owners to look inward and evaluate how they want to run a business. Contrary to how some may envision franchises, they are not businesses-in-a-box.

It’s important to evaluate your needs when considering becoming a franchise owner—do you want a lot of free time? Is spending time with your family a priority? Do you have the skill set required of a franchise owner?

“Franchise King” Joe Libava told Entrepreneur Magazine that modesty is in order when starting a franchise. Even if a person has decades of experience in a high ranking position, Libava said, he or she must follow the rules of the franchise, regardless of their experience. It’s important to remember why a franchise business was appealing in first place—avoiding mistakes and buying into a brand with a proven track record of success, for example.

One important consideration is whether you are okay with following someone else’s rules. Rule-breakers and independent-minded folks will likely have difficulty in a franchise environment. A franchisor worthy of your buy-in will already have a proven recipe for success, and the expectation will be that you follow that recipe.

Owning and operating a senior assistance services franchise requires an especially serious commitment, considering the level of care and responsibility involved. If you have a true passion for helping others, your personality is compatible within the franchise model, and owning a business is your dream, franchising with Always Best Care may be right for you.

Always Best Care is a leader in non-medical in-home senior care in the United States. We have been rated among the best home care franchises in the United States. Learn more about the services we provide and about becoming a franchisee on our website.

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

Running a Successful Franchise Business

Buying into a franchise does not equal automatic success. As many of us have experienced first-hand as consumers quality of service, efficiency and product quality can vary greatly from one franchise operation to the next. Here we outline some of the key steps to running a successful franchise based on the advice of expert Joe Libava, dubbed the “Franchise King.”

First and foremost, have a plan and stick to it. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day operations of the business, and not follow the plans and protocols you’ve outlined for yourself. But straying from the plan can lead to financial breakdown and customer dissatisfaction.

Don’t ignore the instructions and tools given to you by your franchisor. Those tools have had proven success and are there to ensure your success and the continued success of the brand. Many franchisors provide franchisees with tools for training, sales, marketing, tech support, and more. Take advantage of them!

Remember the golden rule: the customer is always right. There’s no doubt that poor service will keep customers away, and as word spreads, deter new customers from patronizing your business. Make sure your employees are trained to provide excellent service at every level and are held accountable should they fail to do so. Repeat customers are vital to the success of any business, and providing excellent service should be central to your strategy. Offer incentives to draw repeat customers and make sure your customers know they are valued.

Network to give your business an edge. Networking with other business professionals or joining your local chamber of commerce or small business group will likely lead to the exchange of ideas and information that could help propel your business forward. Be sure to network with friends and family, as well—your biggest allies—to get the word out about your business.

Being proactive, diligent about excellent service and networking can all help you be a more successful franchise business owner.

Start Your Own Senior Care Business

Franchising with Always Best Care could be the opportunity you’ve been looking for to make a real difference in the lives of seniors. Always Best Care is recognized as a leader in the non-medical in-home senior care industry. To learn more about franchising with Always Best Care, visit our website.

Learn more about senior care franchising by downloading our FREE eBook today!

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

The Importance of a Solid Business Plan for Senior Care Franchisees

It’s a mistake to assume that becoming the operator of a senior care franchise means that business and strategic plans are not necessary. Although franchisees are generally required to follow a set of established business, operational and marketing standards and protocols, operating a business takes savvy and knowledge. Anyone who has ever experienced poor service and/or poor product quality at a franchised business knows that the name alone does not guarantee a positive experience.

Here are some key reasons to develop a solid business plan:

A business plan will help you develop a solid financial strategy and help you convince lenders of the viability of your business.
The process of writing a business plan will prompt you to plan, ask questions, and anticipate issues that you may not have considered initially.
A business plan spells out your goals, as well as timelines for those goals.

Your business plan should include some key elements—a mission statement, a description of the business structure, market strategy and plan, information about the organizational and management structure, and financing information, among others.

A solid business plan communicates to lenders and franchisors that you are a serious contender and are prepared to run a successful franchise operation. Do your research and make sure franchising is right for you.

Those looking for opportunities to start one of the best home care franchises and serve the senior community should consider franchising with Always Best Care.

Learn more about senior care franchising and Learn more about the senior care franchising industry today by downloading our FREE eBook.

Learn more about senior care franchising by downloading our FREE eBook today!

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

Connecting With Your Community — The Key to Running Your Franchise Effectively

Being a presence in your community is a crucial component to operating an in-home senior care franchise. After all, people will be much more attracted to the services you offer if you can demonstrate that your business is — as we like to say — a resource for the community. You can become a resource by developing your skill set and putting yourself out there as a leader in senior care.

Following are just a few of the ways in which you can ensure that people look at your franchise as more than just a local business.

Find Your Niche and Show Why You’re the Expert

What is it about senior care that attracted you to the business?

You probably have a personal interest in senior care, or maybe you have expertise in a certain aspect of senior living. Perhaps you’re passionate about changing the face of senior care to accommodate the Baby Boomer generation. Or, you witnessed a relative struggle with the hard choices associated with staying at home, or entering a nursing facility.

Whatever your specific area of interest in regard to senior care, you can use it to help build your business.

How?

Carefully and steadily build your knowledge base through training, community involvement, Certified Senior Advisor certification, or any other method that helps build your competence. Partner with local thought leaders in an area of interest to you (Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, Cancer Research, …) Consider becoming a SHIP (Medicare) Counselor.

Connect with local organizations and community leaders and see if there are opportunities available to give talks or lead workshops for audiences interested in your area of expertise. Doing this shows people that you’re not just a local business owner; you’re a passionate expert who is in business to truly help people and provide resources for those in the community who need them.

You can also leverage your specific expertise by writing informative blog posts, podcasting or arranging for interviews with local media. The more your voice is heard by people in your area, the more likely they are to think of you when the time comes to make decisions about senior care.

Make Sure the Rest of the Senior Care Community Knows Your Name!

Always Best Care franchise owner Susan Oderwald talked about this during our recent interview with her, and it’s something that can help you make a name for yourself — and your business: Network, network and network some more! Make a point to meet with key individuals in the greater senior care community, including hospice care providers elder-law attorneys, skilled care providers and others. Expand your sphere of contacts. These people can become amazing referral sources for you, but you’ve got to do the work to ensure that your name is always on the tips of their tongues.

When you can start showing up to community meetings knowing everyone’s name, you can be sure that you’ve made a name for yourself, helping your business immeasurably.

Follow the System

You’ve got to work hard on your own to make it as a senior care franchise owner, but you’ve also got to be able to trust the proven system that’s in place to help you grow. Area Representatives and National Directors from your franchise’s support office want you to do your best, and they will give you all the necessary tools and strategies. It’s what sets franchise ownership apart from other types of business opportunities, and it’s what’s going to give you the edge you need to make an amazing impact in your community!

Learn More

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.

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.

How to Avoid Franchise Owner Burnout in Your First Year

Have you just begun your journey as an in-home senior care franchise owner? The first year of running your business is going to go by incredibly quickly! But how you look back upon your initial 365 days of franchise ownership will largely depend upon the actions you take right now and the habits that you instill in yourself today. One key thing to remember at this time is that owning and operating your franchise effectively is much more like a marathon than a sprint, so you’ve got to be able to pace yourself properly. Otherwise, you may become a victim of entrepreneurial burnout.

As you look at the road ahead in your role as a new franchise owner, it’s important to keep the big picture in mind so you don’t wear yourself out and put your business in jeopardy.

Here are some tips that can help you endure your first year effectively so that you can ensure that your franchise sticks around to serve your community with terrific senior care options!

Don’t Allow Hesitation to Paralyze You

Have you ever heard of the concept of the “seal of hesitation”? Basically, it describes the scenario in which business owners feel like they can’t take the next step because there’s more research to do, or the business plan needs to be rewritten — essentially, it’s all about employing delay tactics in order to avoid the stresses associated with facing risk.

When you’re in your first year as a franchise owner, it’s easy to get stuck in patterns of hesitation. After all, at this point, your dream of a successful franchise is still perfect in your mind. Taking action requires you to test your vision and come face to face with the associated risks. But it’s what you have to do to move forward effectively.

Take action when the time is right and you will avoid the pitfalls of procrastination. You’ll also give yourself the chance to learn from mistakes you make before the pressure of time has built to a crescendo. It might be difficult to take those first steps, but by doing so now, you’ll build some great habits that will carry your business forward.

One Mistake Is not the End of the World

In your first year, flaws and mistakes can stand out like sore thumbs, and they can seem much more damaging than they actually are. Just keep in mind that although you will certainly suffer some setbacks in your franchise’s first year, it’s highly unlikely that you will experience outright failure. When a setback occurs, take a breath and assess what you can do to overcome it. Chances are, you will not only overcome the setback; you’ll find a way to create new opportunities that would not have presented themselves otherwise.

Be Good to Yourself

The importance of this one cannot be overstated! Your first year in business will be intense and almost completely focused on your franchise. But you need to stop every once in a while to smell the roses and take care of your needs as a human being. Being a workaholic might seem like the correct approach, but overdoing can leave you feeling like a car without any gas in the tank — you aren’t going anywhere!

Learn to treat yourself, and balance your work with time to reflect and recharge. That way, you stand a great chance at avoiding the burnout that so often accompanies the first year of franchise ownership.

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.

Choosing the Right Senior Care Franchise: 4 Questions to Ask

Are you considering a senior care franchise? Smart decision! You’ve chosen a franchise opportunity with huge demand. By 2050, there will be approximately 80 million senior citizens in the US. Based on current trends, their preference will be to remain independent and, as advances in medicine extend lifespans, they will be seeking at home care in record numbers.

Finding the Right Senior Care Franchise

So, how do you choose the senior care franchise that is right for you? Which one will give you the best opportunity for future financial security and personal fulfillment? Finding the right franchise depends on several key factors. We recommend choosing a senior care franchise that can answer “yes” to the following three questions.

1) Does the senior care franchise provide comprehensive operational support?

At Always Best Care, we pride ourselves on our powerful franchise owner support services. We offer the full scope of training, planning, communications, marketing, and staffing assistance. This includes – among other benefits – your own customizable micro-website. These combine to ensure you will get up and running smoothly and begin gaining clients without delay.

We also assign an experienced Area Representative, based near you, to deliver on-the-spot coaching, mentoring, and practical business-building advice that will be invaluable to you when you open your doors and as you gain experience.

2) Does the senior care franchise help you find clients?

Want leads? We got ‘em! We generate leads and distribute them to every local Always Best Care senior care franchise. Our national marketing and advertising campaigns have received more awards than any other home senior care franchise in the United States and is designed to catch the attention of prospects with a strong call to action – which means they will be calling you.

3) Does the senior care franchise have brand recognition?

The Always Best Care franchise gives you a jump-start toward success. In business since 1996, and franchising since in 2007, our national and local advertising and marketing campaigns continue to strengthen brand awareness in a big way. Over the years, we have earned many national awards for excellence in operations, marketing, and franchising. We were recently named by Entrepreneur Magazine as a top personal service franchise and one of the 500 fastest-growing franchises.

4) Does the senior care franchise offer options for the continuum of care?

Like anyone else, senior citizens want choices. At this stage of their life, health and care needs can change rapidly. As the owner of an Always Best Care franchise, you will be able to respond to those needs with a suite of flexible care options. Our care options include:

By providing the entire continuum of care, you will establish a reputation with your clients for being the “go-to” provider regardless of the level of care needed. You will also be able to establish long-term, trusting relationships with local assisted living facilities, nursing homes, medical providers, and hospitals. All in all, the continuum of care gives you a decided competitive edge.

Always Best Care offers everything you are looking for in a senior care franchise. We invite you to learn more by calling 855-358-9626.