When is the initial Franchise Fee due to Caring Senior Service?
Caring_Senior_Service Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The initial "Franchise Fee" of $49,000 is payable when you sign the Franchise Agreement.
The Franchise Fee includes your pre-opening requirement of certain computer software, including Tendio™ and MS Office 365 software, and your initial supply of certain forms and materials, including business cards, letterhead, envelopes, and brochures.
In the event you are converting an existing in-home care business to a Caring Senior Service franchised business, we offer you a 50% discount on the Franchise Fee for the Territories being converted, as outlined in the Conversion Addendum attached as Exhibit K to the Franchise Agreement.
A 50% discount will be applied to the initial franchise fee if you are an existing Caring Senior Service System franchisee and your office has achieved our GreatCare Master certification, or if you operate multiple offices, one of your offices must have achieved our GreatCare Master certification and your remaining office(s) must have achieved any of our GreatCare office certification levels at the time of your additional purchase of a franchise.
If you are entering into a subsequent Franchise Agreement for an additional franchise Territory, we offer you a 10% discount off of the Franchise Fee for your second Territory, a 15% discount off of the Franchise Fee for your third Territory, a 20% discount off of the Franchise Fee for your fourth Territory, and a 25% discount off of the Franchise Fee for your fifth Territory.
If you qualify for our VetFran military veteran's discount, we will offer you a 20% discount off of the initial Franchise Fee for your first franchise Territory. This discount is available to veterans who have received a discharge (other than dishonorable) as well as any active duty personnel. If the franchisee is an entity, the veteran participant must maintain at least a 51% ownership interest in the entity to qualify for this discount. To apply for the discount, you must provide us with a copy of form DD-214, reflecting your military status, before the Franchise Agreement is signed. In the event you qualify for our VetFran military veteran's discount and you are a conversion franchise, you may only benefit from one of these discounts.
Source: Item 5 — INITIAL FEES (FDD pages 10–11)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Caring Senior Service's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the initial Franchise Fee of $49,000 is due when you sign the Franchise Agreement. This fee covers pre-opening requirements such as computer software (Tendio™ and MS Office 365) and initial supplies like business cards, letterhead, envelopes, and brochures.
Notably, the FDD outlines several scenarios where discounts on the initial franchise fee may apply. These include a 50% discount for franchisees converting an existing in-home care business, discounts for existing Caring Senior Service franchisees who have achieved GreatCare Master certification, and discounts ranging from 10% to 25% for franchisees entering into subsequent Franchise Agreements for additional territories. A 20% discount is also available for qualifying women-owned, minority-owned, and VetFran military veteran franchisees. However, it's important to note that in some cases, franchisees may only benefit from one of these discounts.
Furthermore, the document mentions a Development Fee of $20,000 per Development Territory, payable upon signing a Development Addendum. This fee grants the franchisee the right to develop additional Franchised Businesses in contiguous territories. While the Development Fee is non-refundable, it can be applied as a credit towards the initial franchise fee when the franchisee enters into a franchise agreement for a Development Territory. Understanding these various fees, discounts, and payment terms is crucial for prospective Caring Senior Service franchisees to accurately assess their initial investment and financial obligations.