Which items in the Caring Transitions Disclosure Document relate to pre-opening purchases and leases?
Caring_Transitions Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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- Grand-Opening Promotion. Before you open your Caring Transitions franchise, you will need to purchase marketing materials and advertising to promote the business. These pre-opening promotion expenses will range from $3,000 to $4,000, depending upon the size of your market, the marketing techniques you use, and the cost of advertising in your market. No part of the pre-opening promotion expenses will be refundable. You will purchase the advertising from various media located in your market. You may purchase marketing materials, such as brochures, mailers and promotional items bearing our trademarks, from our National Branding Fund, or you may purchase them from any approved supplier.
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- Before you open your Caring Transitions franchise, you will need to participate in training and take a test to become a Certified Relocation Transition Specialist. The cost of the training and test presently totals $1,100, payable to an approved third-party that provides the training. The training takes a total of approximately 18 hours, which will be done on-line. Caring Transitions does not derive revenue from the fee that you pay to the approved third-party.
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- Before you open your Caring Transitions franchise, you will need to obtain a monthly Elite Package subscription to EstateSales.org. The cost is $150 per month, but Caring Transitions has presently a negotiated arrangement with EstateSales.org that allows you to obtain the
required subscription for $60 per month. This monthly rate is subject to change at any time. Caring Transitions does not derive revenue from this subscription.
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- There is a fee to join certain industry organizations, including the National Association of Senior Move Managers and the National Association of Professional Organizers.
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Source: Item 9 — FRANCHISEE'S OBLIGATIONS (FDD pages 21–22)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Caring Transitions' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, several items pertain to pre-opening purchases. Item 7 discusses the estimated initial investment, which includes pre-opening promotion expenses ranging from $3,000 to $4,000 for marketing materials and advertising. These expenses are non-refundable and depend on the market size and advertising costs. Franchisees can purchase marketing materials from the National Branding Fund or approved suppliers.
Item 8 outlines restrictions on sources of products and services, noting that franchisees need a computer system and specific software to operate their Caring Transitions franchise. While the computer system can be purchased from any approved supplier, franchisees may be required to purchase or lease proprietary software from Caring Transitions, its affiliates, or a designated third party. The cost of these goods is estimated to be 3% to 12% of the initial investment and 20% to 40% of ongoing operating expenses.
Prospective franchisees should carefully review Items 7 and 8 of the FDD to understand the costs associated with pre-opening purchases and leases. They should also consult the operations manual and Item 11 for more details on the computer system specifications and the National Branding Fund. Understanding these requirements and associated costs is crucial for planning the initial investment and ongoing operational expenses for a Caring Transitions franchise.