elderly care franchise - Senior Home Care Franchise

Franchise Or Startup? Make the Right Choice!

You’ve saved some money and you’ve made the decision to go into business. Congratulations! As an entrepreneur, you represent the backbone of our economy. But deciding the type of business you want to run presents its own challenges. You’re about to make a huge investment, but you need to determine whether you and your business savvy are better suited to a franchise or a startup. Obviously, we’re excited about the opportunities available within the senior care industry, but we know that any entrepreneurial journey begins with a strong, honest self assessment.

Let’s get started!

Can You Follow the System?

The beauty of franchising is the fact that success comes from adhering to a proven system. More often than not, simply following the system prescribed by the franchisor (combined with your hard work and enthusiasm) is enough to ensure some degree of success. However, if you’re the type of person who requires complete independence at all times, franchising might not be for you. Be honest with yourself before you make your choice!

Brand Awareness

Franchises are wonderful opportunities because they allow you to take advantage of amazing brand awareness. Always Best Care, for example, is well known across North America, which means that our franchisees don’t need to spend time and energy just getting the word out about what their businesses offer. Perhaps you’re more interested in building your own brand’s awareness from scratch, even though it represents a great deal of work. If that’s the case, you might be better suited for a startup.

Supplies, Equipment and Materials

Most businesses require equipment and supplies – not to mention space – to operate effectively. If you opt to go the startup route, you’ll probably be on your own when it comes to researching and acquiring the things you need to operate. With a franchise, however, your franchisor can give you a tremendous amount of assistance so you can find exactly what you need at the best available prices.

Marketing and Advertising

Some businesspeople insist on doing things their way, and there’s nothing wrong with that. If you’re the type of person who needs to have creative control over all aspects of advertising and marketing, it’s easier than ever for the average person to create and administer effective campaigns to promote their startup business. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a ton of work! Franchising, on the other hand, makes marketing and advertising easy. As a franchise owner, you have access to marketing tools that are just not available to anyone else. Moreover, you get to enjoy the power of an established company when it comes to your ability to attract clients and customers.

Are You a Potential Franchisee?

It really comes down to your self assessment. If you see yourself as a maverick who needs to do it all alone, you’re probably best suited pouring your money and your talents into your dream startup. But if you have a more collaborative personality and you want to take advantage of a proven system, franchising – especially in the in home senior care sector – could represent the perfect opportunity!

Learn More!

If you’d like to know more about franchising with Always Best Care, download our FREE franchising ebook today! It’s packed with information that will help you determine your best next steps in business.

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

Franchising and The Second Act of Your Career

We talk a lot about how people are living longer and preferring to stay in their homes after retiring – the Baby Boomer generation is reaching an age of transition, which is one of the reasons why the in home senior care industry is growing so quickly. But this generation is treating retirement and the prospect of “old age” much differently from previous ones. People in their 50s and 60s are finding that they can enjoy the fruits of their labors in retirement while continuing to follow their passions for working and helping others. As it turns out, for many in this new generation of retirees, franchising in the senior care sector is the perfect next step.

Why Senior Care?

Franchising is a great way for semi retired individuals and those looking for a late-career transition to apply their talents, skills, experience and expertise to the business world in a meaningful way. Here’s how:

A Way to Give Back

In the senior care industry, we offer something few other franchises can provide – a way to give back to the community. Seasoned individuals who’ve seen it all in the business world often shift their focus from the bottom line to the people who make it all possible. As a senior care franchisee, you can continue to operate a successful business while improving the world around you.

The Right Financial Outlook

Many people, as they approach retirement age, are simply not prepared financially to stop working. However, they do have the appropriate amount of capital to invest in – and operate – a senior care franchise successfully, making them ideal candidates. And with in-home care becoming so popular, those who invest in the senior care industry can feel confident about their decisions.

Social Engagement

Starting your own franchise business is a great way to surround yourself with people like you who value hard work and community support. Through the process of running your franchise, you’ll meet other franchisees, area representatives, caregivers, medical professionals and – of course – seniors who will engage you in ways that give your life real richness and meaning. Your own senior care business keeps you connected to the world and your community while giving you the chance to follow your career passions.

No Starting From Scratch

Let’s face it – starting a business from the ground up is no easy task. As a younger person, it may have been fun and exciting, but now that you’ve got some miles behind you, you are no longer interested in the grind. That’s why franchising is so ideal! With your own senior-care franchise, you can experience the joys of running your own business without the agonies of having to do it all on your own. It’s as simple as following the system!

Franchise With Always Best Care

Are you interested in learning more about how you can energize the second act of your career? Download our FREE franchising ebook today and learn how you can take your next steps toward a franchise with Always Best Care!

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

Five Tips to Avoid Franchisee Failure

Success as a franchisee is all about following the system and using the tools that are made available. But that doesn’t mean franchisees are immune to the types of mistakes that can cause a business to fail. Following the system is essential, of course, but successful senior care franchisees know that they have to work diligently and bring their own skills and experience to the table in a big way if they want to succeed. It’s also important to avoid some common pitfalls that can cause a business to perform poorly.

Are you interested in becoming a franchisee in the in home senior care sector? You need to keep these five essential tips in mind!

#1 – Beware a Bad Fit!

It’s important to be able to recognize awesome opportunities and capitalize on them quickly, but it’s equally important to research franchise opportunities thoroughly before making a big investment – and possibly a big mistake.

Before you commit to a franchise, you need to do your due diligence, perform research and ensure that the business you select is the perfect fit.

#2 – Find the Right Funding

There’s more to becoming a franchisee than simply coming up with the franchisee fee for the business. In order to succeed and ensure growth of your business, it’s crucial to have the proper amount of funds. Capital is king, regardless of the type of business you operate, so be sure you have sufficiently deep pockets before you sign the dotted line.

#3 – Management Matters

If you don’t plan on being involved with the day-to-day operations of your franchise, you need to put extra effort into finding dependable management personnel who can keep your business on the right track. Exceptional management can mean the difference between massive success and ultimate failure.

#4 – Are You Cut Out to Be Your Own Boss?

Evaluating your franchise opportunity is critical, but it’s just as important to evaluate yourself and your ability to be an effective boss. Do you feel comfortable with the idea of being your own boss? Do you have any experience sitting behind the desk that says, “The Buck Stops Here?” Big business dreams are great, but you have to be honest with yourself and about your abilities.

#5 – Follow the System

This one can never be repeated enough. The biggest reason for franchisee failure is ignorance of the system that has made the franchisor (and existing franchisees) successful. Although following the system is no guarantee of success, it is absolutely the best way to avoid failure!

Learn More About Franchise Success in the Senior Care Industry

Always Best Care has been providing excellent opportunities for franchisees since 1996, and we know a thing or two about what it takes to have the best possible franchise experience. If you’d like to learn more about franchising, download your own copy of our FREE ebook today!

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

Veterans and Franchising – an Amazing Opportunity

Returning to civilian life has always been a tough transition for members of the military, but it’s a challenge that society is becoming increasingly aware of. Those who have served possess amazing skills and attributes that can benefit the country in countless ways, and the culture is beginning to recognize the value that returning members of the armed forces can bring to business. But one sector that often gets overlooked is franchising. In home care and senior care franchises, in particular, are excellent avenues for veterans to apply their expertise and experience.

If you’re a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces who is wondering about entering into entrepreneurship, franchising represents the ideal opportunity to return to civilian life while honoring those skills, values and talents that were learned and honed while on active duty.

Here’s why:

#1 – Franchising Is Highly Conducive to Your Skillset

Veterans are usually highly disciplined individuals who work hard and understand how to follow a system. The attributes that you worked so hard to perfect during your service are exactly the same traits that today’s franchisors are looking for. Additionally, the typical veteran’s skillset allows them to succeed at a higher rate than the average franchisee.

#2 – Family Bonding

When you take a look at successful franchises, many of them are run by people who value spending time with their families. In fact, a large number of franchisees operate their businesses directly alongside their spouses. Franchising also allows more flexibility when it comes to working from home and simply being there for the ones you love. For veterans who have spent long periods of time away from the family, franchising is simply the perfect fit because of the way it can make family bonds stronger.

#3 – An Opportunity to Continue Service

Franchising in the senior care industry gives returning veterans the perfect scenario for success. The industry is growing quickly, and the opportunities for financial success are perfect for those who are driven to work hard and execute a franchisor’s playbook to perfection. Most importantly, though, is the in home care industry’s emphasis on providing service to those around us. As a franchisee in the senior care industry, you can continue to provide safety and security to valued members of our society.

Consider Always Best Care

When you franchise with Always Best Care, you join a company that values our seniors and our nation’s returning veterans! Always Best Care has been named one of the top 50 franchises for military veterans by USA Today, and the company is proud to be able to support people like you who are able to bring tremendous skill, talent and compassion to the job. If you’d like to learn more, we invite you to download our FREE franchising ebook today!

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

Local Support – The Secret to Success for Your Franchise

When you purchase a franchise, you’re buying a business, but you’re also obtaining access to a trusted, nationally recognized name. That’s part of the beauty of franchising, regardless of the industry – the public is largely already aware of your business and its reputation before you open your doors on Day One. Franchising makes it possible to tap into the public’s existing awareness of a brand on the national level, but success as a franchisee on the local level isn’t guaranteed, regardless of the public’s awareness of the brand. Whether you choose to purchase a franchise in the senior care sector or in some other arm of the industry, the presence of solid, dependable local support can mean the difference between prosperity and failure.

If you’re interested in purchasing a franchise and you want to ensure that you will receive the support you need, look for the following:

Local Coaching

It’s wonderful to be able to receive comprehensive training and guidance from the corporate or national level, but there are nuances to operating locally that can only be addressed from the perspective of someone who understands the business at the ground level. For example, Always Best Care provides bi weekly coaching sessions to its franchisees from experienced Area Representatives who share a significant stake in the business’s success. If this type of coaching is missing from the opportunity you’re investigating, it might be time to look elsewhere.

A Quick and Helpful Response

Sometimes you need an answer ASAP, and the more you wait, the more you hurt your business’s ability to serve clients and ensure your success. All franchises have protocols for receiving assistance, but you should be on the lookout for franchises that provide support on the local level from business owners who know the area (and the needs of its residents) inside and out. At Always Best Care, our Area Representatives share in the royalty income that franchisees generate, which means that they don’t succeed unless you do. They are helpers, mentors and teammates, and they are always there to give you the support and answers you need when you need them!

Local Strategic Planning

Successful businesses are led by people who have an ability to see around the next corner and are able to plan for the future. Many franchises focus on strategy and planning on the national level, but they provide little to no assistance locally, which is where the rubber really hits the road. As a franchisee, you need to be able to plan for the future based not only on national trends, but also on the unique characteristics of your specific area. Always Best Care provides ongoing local strategy support so that franchisees can take advantage of all the knowledge and information that’s available. This gives business owners the best chance at success in an increasingly competitive industry.

Learn More!

Are you interested in learning more about how local support can drive your success as a franchisee? Download our FREE franchising ebook today to learn how you can benefit from the guidance and mentorship that’s available to you when you join the Always Best Care team!

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

Three Questions to Ask Before You Buy a Franchise

Buying a franchise is something that should not be done on a whim, but you might be surprised at the lack of research and due diligence that goes into some buyers’ decisions. As you might expect, those who fail to ask the right questions and perform the appropriate research often fail with their businesses, as well. Naturally, you want to succeed as a franchise owner, whether it’s in the growing senior care industry or in some other sector.

Here are three questions to ask that will help you ensure that the opportunity you take on is the right one for you and your future!

#1 – What’s it actually like to work in this industry?

This one seems obvious, but it’s not always considered. As a franchise owner, you will be involved in your industry on a deep level – if you don’t like working in that industry, you and your business are going to suffer. Fast food, for example, is a popular franchise sector, but if you still have nightmares about being a fry cook when you were a teenager, it might not be a good fit for you. Thankfully, there are numerous opportunities available; you just may need to dig a little deeper.

#2 – What is the franchise failure rate?

You might have to perform a bit of detective work to get this number, and you’ll have to learn to see through the spin that franchisors give it. If failure seems to go beyond the simple fact of franchisees failing to follow the system, it could be evidence of an enormous red flag.

#3 – What support is offered beyond initial training?

Some franchises save time and resources by offering a bare-bones training program. After you’ve been initiated, you’re basically on your own. In order to stave off failure, however, you need to look for opportunities that offer ongoing support and assistance. Always Best Care, for example, doesn’t just train its franchisees; it gives them access to a vast network of local and national experts and resources. ABC also helps its franchisees by offering cutting-edge marketing technology and tools so franchise owners are always on top of their game.

If you find that a franchise leaves it all up to you, it’s probably one to avoid. But if a franchise shows that it’s committed to ongoing support, you’re on the right track!

Learn More About Franchise Opportunities

Are you interested in learning more about the opportunities available in the in home care industry? We know you have lots of questions – we have all the answers you need, and we’re happy to help you decide if senior care is the right place for you to do business. If you’re ready to learn more, please download your FREE copy of our franchising ebook, and feel free to contact Always Best Care any time for more information.

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

Blogging Your Business — Five Tips for Success

Succeeding at business in today’s world requires a certain amount of Internet marketing expertise. This means using social media, setting up a website, growing an email database and practicing proper SEO (Search Engine Optimization) techniques so that you can be found on the web. One aspect that business owners tend to neglect, though, is blogging.

So, what are the benefits of business blogging?

More Traffic
Every time you update your blog, you create yet another chance to be found by new users.
Fuel for Social Media
When you post a new article on your blog, you have one more piece of content that you can share on social media. More importantly, you give your fans and followers something new to share!
You Are an Authority
When you write consistently about the topics your business focuses on, you establish yourself as an expert in your field, growing your credibility.
Traffic Converted Into Leads
When you add a call to action to your blog post, it encourages readers to travel through your business’s marketing funnel, allowing you to capture the best possible leads.

Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Blog

Now that we know the big benefits of blogging, we can get into some advice to help you maximize your blog’s impact.

#1 – Keep it Consistent

Your blog isn’t going to generate much traffic or make much of an impact if you don’t update it regularly. Try for at least one new post per week.

#2 – Find Unique Angles

Many of the topics you want to cover have been addressed time and again online. As you generate ideas, try to find topics that haven’t been covered, or locate subjects on which you can write from a new angle.

#3 – Easy on the Eyes

Reading online isn’t always the most pleasant experience. Reward your readers by ensuring your blog is full of great images, headlines, lists and space.

#4 – Know Your Keywords

If you want the right people to find your blog, you need to attract them by using the most relevant keywords. Just a little bit of research into this area can give you a huge edge.

#5 – Your Voice; Your Point of View

Attracting readers to your blog is one thing; getting them to come back again and again is a whole other challenge. That’s why it’s so important to establish a unique voice and point of view, letting readers know that they can only find content as fresh, informative and useful as yours on your blog!

Blogging Help and More with Always Best Care

Are you interested in growing a business, but you need some help when it comes to setting up an excellent marketing campaign that includes consistent blogging? When you franchise with Always Best Care, you get access to the industry’s top marketing tools and strategies, and you always have help when it comes to attracting traffic to your site and your business. If you’d like to learn more, download our FREE franchising ebook today!

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

Find a Franchise – Tips to Help You Locate the Best Opportunity

Have you determined that buying a franchise is the best way for you to put your business skills and talents to work? If so, you know that franchising offers the best way for you to enjoy the experience of running your own business without the potential pitfalls that can get in the way of shepherding an original idea from its conception through its realization (and beyond). The real challenge for you now is determining what type of franchise to buy.

Are you stuck trying to determine which franchise will give you the best chance for success? Here’s how you can pinpoint the perfect opportunity!

Big Questions

It’s important to ask yourself some important questions to determine what you truly value in life and in business. Doing this will help you eliminate franchise opportunities that simply will not work for your life and your specific situation.

What are your goals?
What is your budget?
How do you see your role within the business?
What level of risk are you comfortable with?
What do you actually envision yourself doing?

Asking these questions will reveal a lot about who you are and what type of franchise will be the best fit, and it should help you focus on a specific industry or sector.

Franchise Attributes

Once you’ve determined the franchise sector that fits you best, it’s time to separate the players from the pretenders, which means asking even more questions:

Is the franchise dedicated to staying on the cutting edge of their industry?

What kind of support is offered to franchisees?
What is the corporate staff like – can you work with them?
Does the company care about your potential for success?
How selective is the franchise when choosing owners?

If a particular franchise fails to provide positive responses to these questions, you should look elsewhere!

Due Diligence and the FDD

Before you commit to a specific franchise, it’s critical that you review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) thoroughly. This document will tell you everything you need to know about the company and your potential role within it, so if it doesn’t resonate with you and your values, you should take it as a sign that you ought to look elsewhere for opportunities! Remember – buying a franchise is one of the biggest investments you will ever make, so make sure you’re comfortable and confident before you make any commitments.

Learn More About Senior Care Franchising

The senior care industry is growing at an astronomical rate, and opportunities abound for enthusiastic business owners like you who want to grow successful businesses. If you’ve determined that this sector is a good fit, or if you’d just like to learn more about the industry, we invite you to download our FREE franchising ebook, which is loaded with even more insights that can help you make an informed decision about your future.

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

Go Into Business for Yourself, not by Yourself with Franchising!

Going into business for yourself often means going into business by yourself. And that means lots of sleepless nights and weekends spent at the office. For many entrepreneurs it’s all worth the effort – few things are as satisfying as building something meaningful from the ground up – but the realities of going into business for oneself can be too daunting for even the hardest working would-be business owners.

So, what’s the solution for those individuals who can envision their own business success, but are discouraged by the realities of building the business on their own? Franchising, of course!

The Franchising Sweet Spot

When you purchase and operate a franchise, you find yourself in the “sweet spot” of business ownership. You don’t have to feel like you’re putting your capital (and your skills) in jeopardy by gambling on a brand-new venture. Instead, you invest your capital and skills in a proven model.

Help Is Always Available!

The best part is that the franchise model ensures that you never have to do it all by yourself. For example, let’s say you purchase a senior care franchise. You have experience dealing with management, and you’re passionate about helping others and ensuring that seniors live their best possible lives – those attributes can truly flourish in the franchise system because they are supported by a proven process that fosters success. All you have to do is follow the system and use the tools that are made available to you by your franchisor.

Additionally, there are people in the system like Area Representatives and other franchisees who can assist you when you get stuck or have encountered an issue that you might not know how to address. Nothing like this exists anywhere else in the entrepreneurial world, which is why franchising is so appealing.

Franchising and Freedom

But what about the freedom to make important decisions on your own and solve problems creatively? You follow a proven system as a franchisee, but it doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to flex your creative muscle and develop unique solutions to problems using your experience and acumen.

In fact, franchisors prefer to work with franchisees who bring knowledge, creativity and problem-solving ability to the table! Your success helps the company grow, and everybody wins when each member of the company pulls his or her own weight (all while following the proven system for franchise success).

So, instead of mulling over opportunities that place all the pressure for success squarely on your shoulders, why not consider buying a franchise? It gives you the opportunity to go into business for yourself while avoiding the numerous pitfalls that would come from going into business by yourself!

Learn More!

Are you interested in learning more about franchising in the growing senior care industry? Download our FREE franchising ebook today and learn how you can get started in this amazing industry! Also, be sure to visit our website to learn more about how you might fit in with the Always Best Care team.

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

Local Marketing for Franchise Success

Marketing your senior care franchise successfully requires you to make sure your business gets exposure on multiple fronts. TV advertising, billboards and – especially – Search Engine Optimization (SEO) are all important tools to use as you spread the word about your franchise. However, if you’re not focused on your local market, you may not experience the full potential of your efforts.

If you’re a franchisee and you’re looking for an edge in your marketing efforts, there is actually a lot you can do to spread the word about your business. Obviously, any marketing strategies that you intend to implement will need to be approved by your franchise. But by taking the initiative with some proven methods of marketing, you can separate yourself from the local competition and establish your business as a leader.

Following are a few local marketing initiatives that you can combine with your in home care franchise marketing plan for great success:

#1 – Local Business Listings

From the consumer’s side of the equation, this seems like common sense – when you search for a local business online, you expect to find information on its location, business hours, telephone number and social media presence. Unfortunately, too many local businesses fail to establish themselves in local listings.

If you aren’t showing up in search results, then it’s time to build profiles and add information to sites like Google Plus, Foursquare, Yelp and Facebook. Be sure to consult with your area representative or corporate office so that you adhere to your company’s guidelines. Your support team may even have tools, images, templates and strategy guides to help you!

#2 – Social Media

Almost every business uses social media, but some businesses use it much more effectively than others. For franchises, it’s critical to use social media outlets to locate and market to a local audience. Using social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook allows you to plug your business directly into the community by promoting news, events and other pertinent information in your feeds.

Once you’ve established yourself as a local business worth following on social media, you will build amazing loyalty among your followers and fans. Of course, you should always check with your corporate office to ensure that the strategies you employ adhere to franchise guidelines.

#3 – Email Marketing

If you’re like most people, you probably get emails every day from local business promoting their services and wares. Maybe you delete most of these, but it’s likely that you’ve also learned about promotions and deals that made you a more loyal customer thanks to email communications that have provided real value.

An email marketing campaign can be difficult to establish, but your efforts will be worth it in the long run as you build a list of interested, local consumers who have voiced real interest in your business. Be sure to inform every customer (and potential customer) about the benefits of signing up for your list (discounts, coupons, free consultations, etc.). After a while, you’ll notice that your email list contains names of your most loyal and passionate fans. Just make sure that you work with your area rep or corporate office so you know the guidelines that must be followed to ensure franchise success through email!

If you’re interested in learning more about franchise marketing in one of the fastest-growing sectors, contact Franchise With Always Best Care today! Also, be sure to download your own copy of our FREE franchising ebook for more great information on how you can succeed as a franchisee!

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