home care business - Senior Home Care Franchise

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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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.

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.

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.

San Antonio Home Care Business Market Growing

According to the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics, nearly 20 percent of Americans will be 65 or older by the year 2030. The populations of cities are aging, along with the statistics. San Antonio, TX counted ten percent of its population as being over 65 in the year 2010. As the large population of baby boomers ages, there are many opportunities to start your own senior care business. Senior care business opportunities are growing in San Antonio, and seniors there are looking (like seniors in other areas) to remain at home for as long as possible as they age. Family members and caregivers are anxious to conform to the wishes of their relatives, and many are looking for a senior home care business rather than a residential senior facility.

Even with the sluggish economy, the home care business is expected to grow 28 percent by the year 2020, adding more than 100,000 jobs during that time. This growth in the industry is becoming apparent in San Antonio, where the cost of senior care has steadily increased over the last five years. Between 2010 and 2011, when other industries saw reduction in earnings and jobs, home care businesses saw a 13% increase in job creation in the city of San Antonio. Franchise operators looking to start a home care business and who would be willing to re-locate should certainly consider San Antonio as a market for franchise operations. The industry is also expected to grow faster than the national average in other metropolitan areas in the state of Texas, as well.

Download our FREE eBook today to learn more about senior care franchising!

Please 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.

The Surprising Benefits of Owning Your Own Senior Care Franchise

Perhaps you’ve heard about the positive aspects of owning your own senior care franchise. Yes, now is the ideal time to join the growing in home elder care industry thanks to a booming senior population and new ideas about how to best enjoy life in one’s senior years. But what about some of the intangibles?

As it turns out, owning and operating your own senior care franchise is not just a great business move; it’s also a wonderful way to experience some additional benefits that you may not have expected!

Let’s take a look at some of the surprising perks of franchising in the senior-care industry!

A Chance to Learn Through Top-Notch Training

People who choose to become franchise owners are usually individuals who come from other industries, and they often come to their new industries with much to learn. But most prospective franchisees are eager for the opportunity. With franchising — particularly in the growing non medical senior-care industry — you get a chance to learn from a diverse array of experts, all of whom want to teach you in a way that ensures success for your business and a solid future.

We’re not talking about boring classroom lectures here — with franchising, you become exposed to the latest news, data and information, as well as the techniques that will make you and your businesses real resources of your community!

Freedom From Rookie Mistakes

Training is highly valuable for franchisees because they get to learn from the best how to be the best. Franchising also allows for freedom from many of the embarrassing — and potentially costly — mistakes that new business owners tend to make.

Successful franchise operations excel because they’ve been built through a trial-and-error process. As a franchise owner, you can trust that the system you enter has been developed through years of experience, testing and proof of success. This means that you can rest easy knowing that you don’t have to suffer through growing pains and “rookie” mistakes.

Most of the pains that are associated with beginning a new business have already been relieved. All you have to do is follow the system and apply your talents. The proven system that your franchisor has developed will take care of the rest!

A Full and Comprehensive Marketing Plan

As a franchisee, you simply don’t need to worry about advertising and marketing the way that other new business owners do. Your franchise comes with a well-known and respected brand name, and your franchisor is ready to assist you when it comes to promotion. National advertising campaigns ensure your continued name recognition within the community, and your own efforts complement the proven procedures undertaken by your franchisor. This frees you to be the best senior-care franchisee you can be for your community!

More Senior-Care Franchising Benefits

Are you interested in learning more about the perks of owning your own senior-care franchise? Download the free Always Best Care franchising ebook and find out how you can get started on your own successful franchising journey today!

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

Three Great Questions to Ask Existing Franchisees

When it’s time for a change in your life or your career, it can be tempting to jump in head first, dealing with the consequences and challenges as they arise. However, that’s not the right way to approach business ownership, no matter how eager you may be for a shift in your professional life. Perhaps you’ve become interested in the possibilities present within the lucrative senior-care industry, and you’ve heard about the difference you can make in your community as an in home elder care franchisee. While the industry finds itself in the midst of amazing growth and opportunity for hard-working individuals like you, you still need to do your homework and due diligence before you sign any paperwork.

One of the best things you can do for yourself — and your future franchising efforts — is to interview current senior-care franchise owners. They have insights that you won’t find elsewhere, and they can provide you with knowledge that can ensure that you make the right decision.

But what should you ask existing franchisees?

We’ve come up with three essential questions — Let’s take a look!

#1 — “How Happy Are You?”

This may seem obvious, but if you envision a happy life for you and your family, you want to be sure that such satisfaction is possible with a particular franchisor before you make any commitments.

Ask franchisees about their happiness and satisfaction. Pay attention not only to what they have to say, but also their body language and enthusiasm. If you sense that trouble may be brewing under the surface of a happy exterior, you may need to deepen your research and/or eliminate a particular franchise from contention.

#2 — “How Long Did it Take To Experience a Return on Investment?”

Ultimately, you’re interested in franchising because it offers an opportunity to earn a solid income. But you can’t wait forever to see a return on your investment. Find out how long it took existing franchisees to experience a return, and you’ll have a much better idea of what the senior-care franchising landscape will look like for you.

#3 — “What Kind of Support Have You Received?”

One of the primary reasons to choose a franchise business instead of a more traditional business model is the level of support that’s available to franchisees. Ask current franchisees about the types of support they’ve received from the main office. Is there marketing assistance? What about training? You want to make sure that you’re not on your own once you make a commitment!

More Great Franchise Questions and Answers!

If you’re interested in operating your own senior care franchise, a bright future awaits — but only if you go into the process of purchasing your franchise armed with good questions and great research. For more information on what it’s like to own and operate your own non medical senior care franchise, download our FREE franchising ebook today!

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

Franchise or Independent Business? Make the Right Choice

Life in the corporate world is great for a lot of people. It provides a certain sense of security, and those who operate within its confines can always rely on a steady paycheck. But for many individuals, working as an employee of a corporation leaves them wanting more from their professional lives. They want more control, and they desire the ability to make important decisions. For some, this drives the choice to leave the corporate world and start businesses of their own. Are you one of these driven individuals? If so, you might be mulling the choice between a career as a franchisee — possibly in the growing senior care industry — and existence as an independent small business owner.

So, what’s the right choice?

Now Is A Great Time to Act

Regardless of what you decide to do with your career, now is the perfect time to act on your desire to experience life as a business owner. The economy is beginning to take off again after years of stagnancy, and people are willing to take more risks, which is conducive to a healthy business climate.

Entrepreneurial life can provide benefits that people who remain in the corporate realm can only dream about. But it requires hard work, tremendous personal investment, dedication and sacrifice. That means that if you’re ready to leave corporate life, you better have a plan!

Franchise or Independent — What’s Best for You?

This is a tough question to answer because each individual is different. That being said, there are some factors you can consider to help you make the ideal choice for you, your career and your family.

Investment

How much money are you willing to invest in a business opportunity? An independent venture will require you to spend much more than a franchise, but franchises offer less independence. The franchise advantage, though, is a proven business model and structure, so there’s a greater chance of success right off the bat.

Structure

In an independent business, you alone occupy the top of the food chain. As a franchisee, the large decisions are made by the franchisor. it’s important to consider what level of control you wish to maintain, and what level you’re willing to relinquish. It’s a tradeoff — there are advantages and disadvantages to each type of structure.

Branding and Marketing

As an independent business owner, you are starting from scratch, which means that you have to build a brand and grow the public’s awareness of it. When you’re a franchisee, however, you buy in to a brand that’s already been established and is recognized by the public.

What’s Your Decision?

Whether you choose to go the independent route or you decide that in home senior care franchising is right for you, your eagerness to make it as a business owner is admirable! Success can be yours in either scenario, but it’s necessary to do your homework and search your heart to ensure that you have the best chance at success.

If you’re interested in learning more about franchising in the booming senior-care industry, we invite you to download our FREE franchising ebook today!

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