How does the Brightstar Care initial franchise fee (Item 5) relate to the business experience (Item 2)?
Brightstar_Care Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You need not have experience in the healthcare industry before acquiring your Agency franchise. You initially must obtain whatever licensure is required to perform Companion and Personal inhome care services in your state. Once you achieve $15,000/week in weekly revenue (although we make no representation how long this will take or whether it will occur as this relates to a unique combination of territory, competition, salesperson performance, national accounts opportunities, and operational execution by you) or have been open for one year (whichever occurs first), you must apply for Joint Commission Accreditation and, within 6 months following application for Accreditation, obtain Accreditation as well as licensure that enables you to perform the full BrightStar Care business model. If attaining skilled licensure in your state is delayed due to unpreventable administrative licensing issues at the state licensing authority, then an additional period of time not to exceed 6 months post-skilled license issuance will be allowed to obtain Joint Commission Accreditation. You must maintain your licenses and Joint Commission Accreditation in good standing while adhering to all rules, standards and regulations of your licenses and accreditation throughout the Franchise Agreement's term, including paying all licensure and accreditation dues and fees on time. The majority of our current franchisees have no prior healthcare industry experience. You should investigate the availability in your state of all required licenses before acquiring our franchise.
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Brightstar Care's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, prior experience in the healthcare industry is not required to acquire a Brightstar Care Agency franchise. Item 2 states that franchisees must initially obtain the necessary licensure to perform Companion and Personal in-home care services in their state.
Once a Brightstar Care franchisee achieves $15,000 per week in revenue or has been open for one year (whichever comes first), they must apply for Joint Commission Accreditation. They then have six months following the application to obtain Accreditation and licensure that enables them to perform the full Brightstar Care business model. Franchisees must maintain their licenses and Joint Commission Accreditation throughout the Franchise Agreement's term, including paying all associated dues and fees on time.
While healthcare experience is not a prerequisite, franchisees are responsible for investigating the availability of required licenses in their state before acquiring the franchise. The FDD does not specify any direct relationship between the initial franchise fee and a franchisee's prior business experience. However, the initial franchise fee grants access to the Brightstar Care system, training, and support, which are designed to help franchisees, regardless of their background, to establish and operate their agencies successfully and meet the brand's standards.