Can Caring Senior Service impose a fee for the GreatCare® Audit?
Caring_Senior_Service Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
In addition to such periodic inspections as described above, you must cooperate with us and our designees with respect to GreatCare® Audits. The GreatCare® Audit system has been implemented in order to promote maximum efficiency and superior client care, and to ensure compliance with our Standards and specifications, as amended from time to time. The method, timing, and scope of a GreatCare® Audit will be specified in our Confidential Operations Manual, however, you are required to cooperate with the personnel conducting these audits, including us or our designees, to the greatest extent required for any inspection under this Section 5.12. We may, at our discretion, impose a GreatCare® Audit fee to be paid upon demand. Upon completion of your GreatCare® Audit, your auditor will submit to us, for our review and approval, a completed audit form with a list of suggested corrections. You will have thirty (30) days to implement the corrections and to provide proof of such correction in the form we require. If the correction, at our discretion, requires re-inspection, or you fail to cooperate with the implementation of the correction, we may require that you pay a re-inspection fee not to exceed the initial GreatCare® Audit fee and reimburse us or our designee for travel-related expenses in connection with such re-inspection (including transportation, room, and board costs).
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 53–204)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Caring Senior Service's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Caring Senior Service has the discretion to impose a GreatCare® Audit fee, which is payable upon demand. The GreatCare® Audit system is designed to promote efficiency, superior client care, and compliance with Caring Senior Service's standards and specifications. The specifics regarding the method, timing, and scope of these audits are detailed in Caring Senior Service's Confidential Operations Manual.
Following a GreatCare® Audit, the auditor will submit a report with suggested corrections to Caring Senior Service for review and approval. The franchisee then has 30 days to implement these corrections and provide proof of completion. If Caring Senior Service determines that a re-inspection is necessary, or if the franchisee fails to cooperate with the implementation of the corrections, Caring Senior Service may require the franchisee to pay a re-inspection fee.
The re-inspection fee will not exceed the initial GreatCare® Audit fee. Additionally, the franchisee is responsible for reimbursing Caring Senior Service or its designee for any travel-related expenses incurred during the re-inspection, including costs for transportation, room, and board. This fee structure incentivizes franchisees to promptly address any issues identified during the initial audit and maintain compliance with Caring Senior Service's standards.