What expenses are Brightstar Care franchisees solely responsible for regarding training?
Brightstar_Care Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
See Section 3.1 of the Franchise Agreement for general training provisions. You are solely responsible for your (or your owners') and your employee's room, board, travel, and salary expenses associated with training.
As of the issuance date of this Disclosure Document, the BrightStar Care training program, known as Boot Camp, has four (4) training tracks: (1) New Owner track, (2) Sales track, (3) Clinical track, and (4) Operations track. All tracks include both on-line components and instructor-led classroom-based sessions held in a location in Lake County, Illinois.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 47–67)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Brightstar Care's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are responsible for specific expenses related to training programs. This includes both initial training like the Boot Camp program and any additional or refresher courses offered. The franchisee must cover the costs of room, board, travel, and salaries for themselves, their owners, and their employees while they attend any training programs. These training programs may be held at the corporate headquarters in Bannockburn, Illinois, or a nearby conference center in Lake County, Illinois. Franchisees are also required to attend the Annual Conference.
This means that beyond the initial franchise fee and any tuition for ongoing training detailed in Item 6, a Brightstar Care franchisee needs to budget for the logistical costs of sending themselves and their staff to required and optional training events. These costs can include transportation, accommodation, meals, and the salaries of those attending while they are away from their regular duties. The frequency and duration of additional training programs are not fixed, which makes budgeting for these expenses challenging. The franchisor estimates up to two additional training programs per year, each lasting approximately 2 to 3 days.
Furthermore, franchisees are obligated to pay registration fees for the Annual Conference, regardless of whether they attend in person or virtually. If a franchisee fails to attend the Annual Conference in person, they must also attend a separate 2-day session in Gurnee, Illinois, at their own expense, to review the conference content. This requirement ensures that all franchisees stay updated on brand standards and best practices, but it also adds to the overall cost of training and development. Brightstar Care also reserves the right to hold annual franchise meetings via a virtual experience, in which the franchisee must attend and pay the registration fee regardless of participation.
In summary, a prospective Brightstar Care franchisee should carefully consider these additional training-related expenses when evaluating the financial feasibility of the franchise. Accurately estimating these costs is essential for effective financial planning and ensuring the profitability of the franchise.