Is the initial Franchise Fee for a Caring Senior Service franchise refundable?
Caring_Senior_Service Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The initial Franchise Fee is uniform for all franchisees and is nonrefundable when paid.
Development Fee
Under the Development Addendum to the Franchise Agreement, you will have the opportunity to purchase the right to develop additional Franchised Businesses in contiguous territories.
For each Development Territory we mutually agree to and include in the Development Addendum, you will pay to us, on the signing of your Development Addendum, $20,000 per Development Territory included in the Development Addendum (the "Development Fee"). For example, if you are executing your first franchise agreement with us, and simultaneously entering into a Development Addendum for two Development Territories, you will pay to us: (i) a $49,000 Franchise Fee under your first franchise agreement with us; and (ii) $40,000 as a Development Fee under your Development Addendum (calculated as $20,000 for each Development Territory).
In turn, during the term of the Development Addendum, we will not establish, or grant anyone else the right to establish, a Franchised Business within the Development Territories included in your Development Addendum. At least once every 15 months during the term, you must enter into our then-current form of franchise agreement for a Development Territory to be developed under your Development Addendum. As long as you exercise your development rights per the terms of the Development Addendum, the Development Fee will result in a credit of $20,000 applied towards the initial franchise fee due under the terms of our then-current franchise agreement.
To the extent a multi-territory discount applies to the purchase of additional Territories under our thencurrent form of franchise agreement, such discounts will be applied at the time you enter into such future franchise agreement with us.
The Development Fee is uniform for all franchisees and is not refundable under any circumstances, regardless of whether you exercise your development rights, as compensation to us for our lost or deferred opportunity to grant franchises in the Development Territories.
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 is nonrefundable. The standard initial franchise fee is $49,000, payable upon signing the Franchise Agreement. This fee covers pre-opening requirements such as computer software (Tendio™ and MS Office 365) and initial supplies like business cards and letterhead.
While the standard franchise fee is $49,000, Caring Senior Service offers several discounts. Franchisees converting an existing in-home care business may receive a 50% discount on the Franchise Fee. Existing Caring Senior Service franchisees who have achieved GreatCare Master certification can also receive a 50% discount on the initial franchise fee for additional territories. Furthermore, Caring Senior Service provides discounts for subsequent territories, ranging from 10% to 25%, and a 20% discount for qualified VetFran military veterans and participants in the women-owned and minority-owned program.
It is important to note that while the initial franchise fee is nonrefundable, Caring Senior Service also charges a Development Fee of $20,000 per Development Territory under the Development Addendum. This fee is also nonrefundable, regardless of whether the franchisee exercises their development rights. However, the Development Fee acts as a credit towards the initial franchise fee if the franchisee develops the territory.