senior care franchise | Senior Home Care Franchise

Franchise Efficiency — 4 Tips for Staying Productive

Franchising is different from other types of businesses in many ways. Some lessons from the traditional business world just don’t apply when it comes to operating a franchise. However, there’s one thing that’s true for business owners all over the world, regardless of the business model in which they operate: greater efficiency means greater revenue and greater success.

If you’re wondering how you can get the most out of your senior care franchise without burning the candle at both ends, we have four tips that can help you operate at peak efficiency!

#1 — The System Works — Just Follow It!

So many franchisees struggle with this one, but it’s really the key to successful franchising, regardless of the industry. Franchises succeed because they have built and maintained a proven system. This system is what you’re really paying for with your franchise fee, so why would you take pains to avoid working within it? By following the system, you decrease the burden on yourself and your team to come up with effective strategies. You also give yourself the best chance to make money and grow your business!

#2 — Hire, Delegate and Train

The person who does it all on their own is largely a product of fiction and fantasy. In reality, people who run successful franchises rely on others to help them get things done. Hiring good people is the first step, but you have to be comfortable delegating tasks to them so you can lessen your load. Maybe you’ll feel uncomfortable delegating tasks to those who may not do them quite as well as you; that’s where good training comes in, so be sure to take the time necessary to get all members of your team on the same page.

#3 — Become a Marketing Expert

Following the system gives you the best chance at success, but you have to be able to bring some things to the table on your own. One area where you can really make things easier on yourself is the marketing arena. Learning how to use social media, email and other modern marketing methods may seem daunting, but it’s actually fairly easy. If at any moment you’re wondering what you can do to make your franchise better, increasing your marketing expertise is always a solid choice.

#4 — Don’t Burn Yourself Out!

As a driven business owner, it’s easy to justify a work ethic that might leave you sleepless and strained. This doesn’t do anybody any good, though, and it actually hurts your business. Remember that you can only do so much, and be sure to take time to rest and recharge. If you’ve delegated properly and increased efficiency elsewhere, you certainly deserve it!

More Franchise Tips and Advice

Are you interested in learning more about how to run a senior care franchise at peak efficiency? We are experts here at Always Best Care! Download our FREE franchising ebook today and find out how you can take your career to the next level as a successful elder care franchisee!

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

Are You an Unhappy Employee? Become a Happy Franchisee!

Working and making a living as someone else’s employee is a perfectly legitimate way to go about having a career. In fact, there are many benefits associated with this work/life model, including the ability to leave work at the office and leave the big responsibilities with the real stakeholders. But for some people, the allure of owning one’s own business is more powerful and attractive than a career spent as an underling to someone else. If you are one of these people, you might feel stuck in your job because starting your own business simply requires too much time, effort and capital; it’s just not a good idea to make that big of a leap. This is why franchising is so attractive to people like you who want a change — and more responsibility — in their careers. And if you’re serious about becoming a franchise owner, it’s hard to beat the opportunities available right now in the booming in-home senior care industry!

Saying Goodbye to an Unfulfilling Career

When you look at the world of employment, it seems like people are working harder than ever for a rapidly dwindling set of rewards. Corporations and other employers expect people to go above and beyond 40 hours of hard work every week, and many employees are feeling the effects of burnout. To add insult to injury, many modern employers are so focused on the bottom line that they see their employees not as the human beings that form the backbone of their enterprises, but as assets that can be discarded when they no longer provide value.

It’s a tough world out there, and even though the majority of employers treat their employees well, those who demand more out of their careers can feel lost in a cycle of hopelessness in their jobs.

But where is the relief?

Considering Senior Care Franchise Ownership

People like you who work hard and care about results deserve to have opportunities that reward your efforts. Franchising is a terrific way to break out of the corporate machine and begin your own rewarding journey of business ownership. Senior care franchises, in particular, offer a great way to give back to the community while operating in a business model that’s experiencing amazing growth (with no signs of slowing down). Franchising in the senior care industry also requires less of an initial investment than many other franchise opportunities, making it ideal for those who are new to business ownership.

Learn More About Senior Care Franchising

Are you interested in learning more about how you can trade your stifling career for a life as a successful business owner? Answers are right around the corner. Download our FREE franchising ebook and find out if you have what it takes to own and operate a senior care franchise in your area!

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

Senior Care Franchisees — What’s Your Social Media Plan?

Like most people in business, you are probably aware of the marketing potential of social media. Social media is a powerful and essential plank in your promotional platform, so you can’t afford to ignore it, particularly in the senior care industry, where it’s crucial for you to be able to sell your services and get people to take notice. Unfortunately, mounting a successful social media campaign takes time and energy that you might not have while trying to operate a successful business at the same time.

Thankfully, there are ways for you to fit social-medial management into your busy schedule in a way that’s effective in terms of reaching your marketing goals. But you have to have a plan!

Your Senior Care Social Media Plan

What does your social media presence look like now? Are you posting updates only when you remember to do so? What kind of value are you offering to your followers with your tweets and status updates? Are you actively searching for more followers?

If the previous paragraph overwhelmed you and made you feel like you’re not doing it quite right, that’s okay. Creating a social-media plan for your franchise will streamline the process and make it easy for you to maintain a strong presence on the most popular platforms.

Basically, what you need to do is decide how frequently you want to post updates, and what sort of content those updates will consist of. Remember: if you’re going to be effective, it’s important to stick to the 80/20 rule, which says that 80% of your updates or posts should provide value, with only 20% devoted to promotion.

Then, you need to determine which platforms you’re going to use. If you don’t have a lot of time, it might be smart for you to simply focus on Facebook for now. If you feel like you can afford to be more flexible, you can add Twitter and other platforms like Google + or even LinkedIn.

Take Advantage of Scheduling Apps

The next step is to create a schedule. One of the cool things about social media is that you can schedule your posts in advance, which can be a game-changing time saver. Using apps like Buffer, HootSuite or TweetDeck allows you to schedule all of your posts in advance, and many of these apps give you the ability to post across multiple platforms simultaneously.

You should also create time in your schedule to devote to social media specifically. Otherwise, the work may never get done. If you can afford to do so, it may be a good idea to hire an assistant (virtual or otherwise) who can handle your social media responsibilities. If you know where to look, this can be more affordable than you think.

Get Help from Your Franchisor!

One of the great advantages of franchising is always being able to consult the expertise of your franchisor. Utilize everything that’s made available to you, and be sure to follow recommended best practices. This can ease your work load considerably!

If you’re looking for additional information on using social media to promote an in home senior care franchise, we can help! Download your own copy of our FREE franchising ebook today to learn more.

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

Joining the Multi Billion Dollar Senior Care Market

You might be aware that the senior-care industry is growing rapidly (which is probably why you’re here reading this), but did you know that the industry has grown so much recently that analysts are valuing it at more than 300-billion dollars? That number may shock you — after all, it’s not like senior-care issues and news are front-page, newscast-leading items — but it shows just how much untapped opportunity there is within this special sector of the economy.

Have you been interested in buying and operating your own in home senior care franchise? Although the amazing growth continues, you don’t want to wait too long to make a decision.

Let’s examine the factors that make right now the perfect time to join the massive senior care market!

Baby Boomers Are Transitioning

The “Baby-Boomer” generation makes up a significant portion of the total U.S. population. Approximately 75 million individuals in the United States are members of the generation, and they are all reaching an age where key decisions must be made.

For many “Boomers,” this means handling the care of their parents, who have lived longer lives than anyone could have expected. Baby boomers remember the conditions under which their grandparents lived, and for the most part, they want to ensure that their parents have an easier, healthier and more comfortable time. In many cases, this means selecting the in-home senior care option, which allows for the greatest comfort and flexibility while receiving the best available care.

Baby Boomers are also being confronted with decisions to make regarding their own care. Retirement is upon them, and they want to make sure that decisions they make today ensure the best possible future for them when they are older. They also want their children to understand what types of care and housing they prefer to experience.

What all this means is that the demand for senior-care options is only going to continue to grow. Although the industry has become massive in recent years, there’s nothing preventing it from continuing to grow. With baby boomers occupying a transitional phase right now, there is no better time to join the elder care industry!

People Want Options

When it came to caring for seniors in previous generations, it meant moving Mom or Dad to a facility where freedom and autonomy for residents — not to mention comfort — were placed very low on the list of priorities.

Today, seniors have many more options available to them, and in-home senior care is one of the most appealing. The demand for such options is incredibly strong, as it turns out, and it is only going to become more powerful with the transitioning baby boomers preferring overwhelmingly to stay at home themselves.

In this climate, it’s easy to see why owning a senior-care business is so appealing. In business, it’s rare to see such a huge demand for something with so many ways to satisfy it, making in-home senior care a golden opportunity!

More Senior Care Market Information

Are you interested in learning more about what it’s like to own and operate a senior-care franchise? Download our FREE franchising ebook today!

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

Three Tips for Selling Your Senior-Care Services

When it comes to operating a successful in home senior care business, you’ve got to be able to split your focus on two different aspects: On one hand, you probably entered the senior care industry because it offers a way to provide help, assistance and much-needed care to aging individuals in your community who might otherwise suffer from a lack of options. On the other hand, you’re also running a business, which means that if you want to continue to provide excellent care and act as a resource in your community, you need to be able to sign up clients and turn a profit.

All too often, unfortunately, franchisees in the non medical elder care industry fail to focus adequately on the business side of things, leaving them vulnerable to the competition and making it difficult to establish a local presence.

Are you wondering how you can restore balance so that you provide excellent care for your clients and your bottom line? We have three tips that you can’t afford to ignore!

#1 — Be Proactive!

Even though you might be able to provide the best care in the country, that’s not enough to sell your services to people. You just can’t afford to expect that the mere presence of your franchise in a specific market will drum up enough interest to get people to dial your number or sign up for more information on your website.

You have to be willing and able to put yourself out there and sell.

If you have sales experience, great! Take full advantage of your sales skills, and you will likely find success. However, if you feel uncomfortable with sales, remember that what you’re actually selling is better lives for older individuals and their families. You simply have to be proactive about it.

#2 — Build a Network

If you want to sell your senior-care services successfully, you have to position your pitch in a way that it gets heard by people who matter. That’s why it’s so important to establish strong relationships with hospitals, physicians, senior communities, estate attorneys and others in your area.

Through these connections, you will find exactly the clients that you are looking for.

#3 — Watch the Competition

You don’t want to be looking over your shoulder constantly, but you have to be aware of the fact that senior care is booming right now, and a lot of hungry franchisees are entering the industry, many of them with unique and innovative ideas about selling their services.

Pay attention to what your competitors are doing and work to set yourself — and your business — apart. And when you notice that someone might be working a little harder than you on the sales side, that’s your signal to find another gear, seek the wisdom of your area representatives and do what it takes to find your client base.

Learn More

If you want to know more about what it takes to be a successful franchisee, we invite you to download a copy of our FREE franchising ebook today! It’s packed with information you won’t find anywhere else. Download it now!

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

Four Franchising Mistakes to Avoid

Franchising in senior care is one of the best ways to build and own your business. Doing so is a great way to avoid the pitfalls that owners of startups and other traditional businesses struggle with so much. And buying a franchise allows you to completely avoid much of the difficult work that must be done when starting most types of businesses. However, even though franchising is one of the smartest — and safest — options available for owning your own business, there are a number of common mistakes that you might not be aware of.

If you’re interested in owning your own successful senior-care franchise, you’ll want to become very familiar with the following four mistakes! Avoiding them might mean the ultimate difference between wild success and utter failure.

Underestimating Franchise Costs

Franchising requires a significant initial investment. But it also requires having a sufficient amount of capital on hand to cover expenses that you might not be aware of. One of the biggest mistakes new franchisees make is failing to build capital beyond the initial costs of franchising.

Overestimating Freedom

You want to be your own boss and control your own destiny, which is great — franchising requires people who are willing to work hard to be successful. What’s more important, though, is your ability to defer to your franchisor who is able to provide you with a proven system for success. Sure, you’ll have to give up some of the freedoms enjoyed by people who run more traditional types of businesses, but you’ll also give up most of the headaches they experience!

Failure to Perform Research

Too many new franchisees are enchanted by the idea of getting in on the ground floor with a franchise opportunity that may be full of promises, but that offers little actual reward. The best thing you can do for yourself before you sign with a franchise is perform diligent research. How long has the company been around? How happy are its franchisees? Is there a future for its business model?

Underestimating the Competition

Your research will lead you to believe certain things about the competition, but you have to be willing to adjust your view over time. Your competitors may not be doing well today, but they are just as hungry for success as you are, so you’ve got to do what you can to stay on top of your game — even when the competition seems less than fierce.

More Franchising Wisdom and Advice

The senior care franchise world is a rewarding one for those who work hard and follow the guidelines recommended by their franchisors. Always Best Care has been a leader in non medical home care for 20 years, and we know what success looks like. However, if you’re interested in learning more about franchising in our industry, we recommend that you do your due diligence before making any decisions. Start by downloading our FREE senior care franchising ebook today, which is loaded with information you simply can’t find anywhere else!

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

Four Signs that Franchising Is Right For You

Like a lot of people these days, you might be searching for opportunities that make your personal and professional lives more comfortable and successful. Perhaps you’ve worked in the corporate world, or you’ve considered hanging your own shingle as the owner of a business. If nothing seems to satisfy, but you’re eager for something new, franchising might be your best bet. Franchising, particularly in the rapidly growing in-home senior care industry, is a great way to make a living while making a difference. Moreover, it features the best of all worlds when it comes to the business experience. And when you find the ideal franchise, you experience the perfect balance between support and freedom.

But how do you know if franchising is really right for you?

Here are five signs to look for:

#1 — You’ve Got an Active Mind

Are you always thinking of ways in which a business you run could be successful? Are you constantly looking at trends and performing forecasts of the future? Do you often find yourself considering possibilities surrounding marketing initiatives? Your thoughts can be put to good use in the world of franchising, where good ideas are always welcome.

#2 — You Motivate Yourself

You don’t need anyone to tell you what to do in order to get the job done. You just do it, and you do it well. As a self starter, you are perfect for a possible career as a senior care franchise owner. However, it’s important to note that you will need to take direction from the franchisor who will give you guidance based on proven principles.

#3 — You Know How to Follow A Successful System

Sometimes business is all about doing the right thing based on what’s worked in the past. Yes, you’re a thinker and a self starter, but you realize that when something works, it’s worth repeating. As a franchisee, you will work with people in your industry that have proven time and again that they know what works. All you need to do is recognize that the system is the path to success, then you can augment it with your own expertise and business savvy.

#4 — You Feel Like It’s Time for A Change

Are you simply ready for a new direction in your life and your career? Have you looked at different opportunities and found them lacking something? Perhaps franchising is the ideal scenario and you simply haven’t investigated it yet.

If you are truly ready for a change in your life that will affect every aspect of your personal, social and career tracks, it’s time to take a look at franchising. Franchising — especially in senior care — is a great way to play to all of your strengths while ensuring that your future remains bright.

Learn More About Senior Care Franchising

Are you interested in learning more about what franchising in the senior care sector can do for you? Download our FREE senior care franchising ebook today! It’s loaded with excellent information and insights that you won’t find anywhere else. Simply click the link and see where franchising can take you and your career!

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

Three Rules for Social Media Franchise Marketing

One of the biggest advantages of franchising is the ability to use a proven system as a means of finding success. Owners of startups and other types of businesses are required to do it all by themselves in most cases, and that can be stressful. Franchisees are expected to do some work on their own, though, and those who put in the proper effort are usually rewarded with greater successes than their competitors and peers. One of the major ways in which senior care franchisees can give themselves a boost is by using social media intelligently and effectively, but there are some rules to follow.

Are you wondering how you can maximize your social media efforts and help your in home elder care franchise become more successful? Read on for five essential rules!

#1 — Provide Quality Content

We’ve addressed this one before, but it can’t be overstated — your social media content should consist of 80% value and 20% promotion. People aren’t going to follow you because you fill your feed with boasts about how great your business is. They follow and support your business because you provide them with valuable, unique insights. Take some time to craft high-quality content that contains value, and you’ll see your social media presence grow considerably.

#2 — Have Some Patience

Growing your presence on social media takes time, especially when you’re just beginning. Seeing your follower count hold steady can be frustrating, and you might feel like acting rashly to get the meter to move. The best advice is to be patient and let the process work. Trust that by providing great content you will grow your follower base. Remember: slow and steady wins the race!

#3 — Be a Good Listener

As a provider of in home senior care, you expect your caregivers to be excellent listeners. You need to operate in the same way on social media if you want to gain traction. Pay attention to what your target audience is talking about and join the conversation with valuable insights. Try to locate their pain points, then show how you can relieve them. Keep your ear to the ground, and you’ll see your social-media status grow.

The Final Word

As you can see, marketing on social media is fundamentally similar to marketing through other media. Be mindful of the content you’re providing, be patient and remember to pay attention to what’s going on — these are pieces of advice that may seem obvious, but they’re all too easy to forget when working with social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and others. It’s an ongoing process, but it’s one that will pay dividends as long as you follow the rules!

Learn More!

Are you interested in learning more about what it takes to operate a successful non medical senior care franchise? Download our FREE senior care franchising ebook today! It’s packed with valuable information you won’t find anywhere else!

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

The Advantages of Ethics in Franchising

Recognizing the difference between right and wrong is one of the fundamental qualities of being a good human being. Unfortunately, the business world is full of temptations that make it difficult for otherwise good people to always do the right thing. This has the effect of turning many people away from potentially lucrative careers in business because they feel as if they’d have to muddy their morals just to succeed. In franchising, ethics are incredibly important, though. There are simply too many people who depend on good leadership and honest behavior for any wrongdoing to happen continuously. And this is particularly true in the senior care franchising sector, which tends to attract good people who want to make a real, positive difference with their franchises.

If you’re considering franchising and you value living an ethical life, you should know that franchising tends to reward those who consistently choose to do the right thing!

Let’s take a look!

Building Customer Loyalty

When you operate an ethical franchise, you build loyalty among your customer and client base. It’s not even that hard to do. People see that you operate ethically and transparently, and they respect your practices. They see themselves as good people, too, and they love that your business shares the same values of honesty and hard work.

Simply put, if you want to run a business that people love — and tell everyone they know about — then it pays to do the right thing and operate ethically.

Keeping the Best People Around

Any great business is built through the efforts and teamwork of a great staff of employees. Businesses that fail to operate ethically often see employees come and go in a constant revolving-door scenario. On the other hand, franchises and other businesses that operate ethically tend to keep good employees around for a long time, strengthening the business, its reputation and its profits!

In the senior care industry, the quality of care you provide will be your calling card. That’s why keeping your best caregivers around by operating ethically should always be a priority.

A Better Environment for All

When you operate your franchise ethically, you create an environment of positivity and goodness instead of a place people can’t wait to leave. As an owner of a senior care franchise, it’s crucial for you to set the tone, and that tone needs to be friendly, honest caring and ethical if you want to be successful.

It all starts at the top, so if you see yourself as an ethical person, make sure your franchise embodies the very same values that you find so important in your life. You’ll build a fantastic reputation, and you’ll set yourself apart from the competition in a way that ensures loyalty, stability and profits!

Learn More!

Are you interested in learning more about what it takes to own and operate a successful franchise? Download our FREE senior care franchising ebook today to find out how you can take the next steps toward a bright future!

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

Just the Facts: A Senior-Care Franchise Q&A Session

Franchising is a form of business ownership that people tend to understand in a general sense, but they often become confused about the details of franchise operation and the differences between franchises and other business types. In our last post, we answered some of the most common questions people have about franchising. Today we want to drill down deeper into questions you may have specifically about franchising in the growing senior-care sector.

Operating an in home elder care franchise is a great alternative for people who have a passion for business, but don’t believe they fit in with other types of business opportunities. It also appeals strongly to those who feel more at home working with people instead of products. If you fit this category, read on for some insights that will help you understand the realities of senior care franchising and, possibly, move forward confidently with your own franchising dreams.

How Does Senior Care Compare with Costs?

The costs associated with franchising vary greatly, so it’s not easy to give a clear answer to this question. That being said, the cost of franchising in the senior care sector is comparable to or less than many other popular service-oriented franchises.

One thing we can say with confidence: Always Best Care is proud to have been named one of the “top low cost franchises” by Franchise Business Review.

Will I Succeed in Senior Care?

Not everyone is cut out to be a successful senior-care franchisee, so how do you know if you have what it takes?

Successful franchisees in our industry are:

– “Self starters” who display a willingness to do what it takes to succeed on their own on a daily basis

– Passionate about helping others and improving the lives of the people around them

– Effective when it comes to time management and delegation

– Willing to receive and implement coaching from area representatives and others with authority in the system

– Comfortable following a proven system, but with a willingness to innovate within that structure

What About the Future?

Franchising will always be around, and there will always be opportunities. As far as the future of franchising, we can only speak confidently about the senior care industry, which is more “recession proof” than virtually any other sector of the economy. Senior care services will always be needed, regardless of the state of the economy. And the growth of the senior population ensures that a continuous customer base will be ever present.

Have More Franchising Questions?

If you’re interested in learning more about franchising in the non medical home care industry, we’ve got the answers you need! Just download our FREE franchising ebook to get started today.

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