What is the 'System' that Brightstar Care franchisees will use to operate their agency?
Brightstar_Care Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Road, Suite 210, Bannockburn, IL 60015 ("we," "us," or "our"), and | | | , with a place of business at | | | ("you" or "your"). | |
RECITALS
WHEREAS, we, our principal, and our affiliates have expended a considerable amount of time, effort, and money to develop a distinctive system (the "System") for the operation of an agency providing comprehensive personal care and/or medical services to private-duty clients within their home and marketing supplemental healthcare staff to institutional clients (each an "Agency," "BrightStar Care Agency," or "Franchised Business"); and
WHEREAS, we are engaged in the business of granting franchises to operate BrightStar Agencies; and
WHEREAS, you desire to enter into an agreement with us to obtain the rights to operate a BrightStar Care Agency (or "Franchised Business") using the System developed by us, our principal, and our affiliates, including standardized methods, guidelines and procedures for providing domestic care services, and the operation of a medical staffing services agency, the Athena Business System; sales techniques, marketing, advertising, and staffing management systems; and procedures for operation and management of a BrightStar Care Agency in the manner set forth in this Agreement and in the Operations Manual we provide and modify from time to time (the "BrightStar System" or "System"); and
WHEREAS, we and our franchisees use various trade names, trademarks and service marks including, without limitation, the service mark "BrightStar" in connection with the BrightStar System (the "Licensed Marks"); and
WHEREAS, we and our affiliates have developed and maintain an integrated management system providing various technology solutions, including: client relationship management, staff relationship management, billing management, web management (www.brightstarcare.com), franchise management and all modifications thereto that may be made from time to time (the "Athena Business System" or "ABS");
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 117–118)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Brightstar Care's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the 'System' encompasses several key components designed to provide comprehensive personal care and medical staffing services. This system includes standardized methods, guidelines, and procedures for delivering domestic care services, along with the operation of a medical staffing services agency. The Brightstar Care system also incorporates the Athena Business System, sales techniques, marketing, advertising, and staffing management systems. These elements are detailed in the Operations Manual, which Brightstar Care may modify over time.
Prospective franchisees must adhere to the standards and specifications outlined in the Franchise Agreement to maintain the integrity of the Brightstar Care System. The Athena Business System (ABS) is an integrated management system that provides technology solutions for client relationship management, staff relationship management, billing management, web management (through www.brightstarcare.com), and franchise management. Franchisees are expected to use the Brightstar System and ABS as part of their agency operations.
Brightstar Care retains the right to modify the Brightstar System, including the introduction of new products or services and the acceptance of new sources of reimbursement. Franchisees are obligated to offer and sell all products and services required by Brightstar Care and are prohibited from offering unauthorized products or services. This ensures consistency and standardization across all Brightstar Care agencies.
The Operations Manual contains critical information and guidelines for operating the Brightstar Care agency, and Brightstar Care may revise its contents periodically to implement new requirements. Franchisees must comply with these changes, provided they are applied in a reasonably nondiscriminatory manner to other franchisees. Franchisees are responsible for checking the intranet website at least twice a week for updates to the Operations Manual, and implementing these changes may require additional investment.