Is BrightStar Care right for you?
Protected Territory
Franchisees receive an exclusive zip-code territory of 200k-300k population with 15k+ residents aged 65+. The franchisor will not open or allow competing agencies inside the territory provided the franchisee remains in compliance.
Dual Revenue Streams
Agencies generate revenue from both private-pay and insured home care clients as well as institutional healthcare staffing contracts, including National Accounts.
Scale Through Multi-Unit
25% of operators own multiple units. Adjacent-territory expansion is available and may be required if outside billings exceed 25% of total revenue.
About BrightStar Care
BrightStar Care is a home care and healthcare staffing franchise founded in 2005 and headquartered in Bannockburn, Illinois. The company operates under BrightStar Franchising, LLC, a subsidiary of BrightStar Group Holdings, Inc. Franchisees run agencies delivering non-medical companion and personal care, skilled medical in-home services, and supplemental staffing to institutional clients.
Franchisees manage a local agency using the proprietary Athena Business System to recruit, credential, and schedule caregivers and nurses. The model combines in-home care for private-pay and insured clients with healthcare staffing for facilities. Operations emphasize compliance, payer-source diversification, and protected-territory marketing within zip-code defined markets typically sized at 200,000-300,000 population.
BrightStar Group Holdings, Inc. is the direct parent of BrightStar Franchising, LLC. It is a Delaware corporation with principal offices at 2275 Half Day Road, Suite 210, Bannockburn, Illinois 60015. Its own parent is BrightStar Buyer, Inc., which is ultimately controlled by BrightStar Holdings Parent, LLC.
The business model
How a BrightStar Care territory actually makes money at the unit level.
Initial Franchise Fee
Standard fee is $50,000 for territories of 200,000-300,000 population. Medium or small territories (under 200,000) are $25,000. Territories above 300,000 incur an additional $100 per 1,000 residents.
Ongoing Fees
Royalty is 5.25% on non-National Account net billings and 6.25% on National Account billings. Local marketing contribution is the greater of $500 or 2.5% of prior month's net billings. Athena technology fee is the higher of $250 or 1% of prior month's net billings.
Initial Investment Range
Total initial investment is estimated between $102,754 and $220,186 for a single agency, including franchise fee, leasehold, technology, insurance, Director of Nursing, local marketing, and three months of operating funds. The franchisor notes that substantially higher working capital is recommended for the first 12 months.
Supply Chain & Rebates
Franchisees must purchase technology, software, marketing materials, and certain supplies from the franchisor, its affiliates, or approved vendors. BrightStar Technology Group derived $6.2 million in revenue from required franchisee purchases in fiscal 2025. Approved suppliers such as Quill pay volume rebates.
Payer & Service Mix
the financial-performance disclosure data discloses average and median revenue, gross margin percentages, client and employee counts, business mix by service line, payer sources, and contribution from National Accounts for 207 agencies open at least 12 months as of December 31, 2025.
Quick facts
Initial franchise fee
$50,000
Total investment range
$102,754 to $220,186
Royalty
5.25% of gross revenue
Marketing fund
2.50% of gross revenue
Founded
2005
Headquarters
Bannockburn, IL
Active US franchisees
567
Total US units
812
Training & support
What the franchisor + parent platform provide. And what they don't.
What's provided
- +New Owners Training: up to 72 classroom hours at headquarters, nearby conference center, or virtually.
- +Branch/Operations Manager training: 24 classroom hours at headquarters.
- +Director of Nursing training: 24 classroom hours at headquarters.
- +Salesperson training: 24 classroom hours at headquarters.
- +BrightStart 27-month onboarding program with pre-opening checklists and post-opening coaching.
- +Comprehensive 1,123-page Operations Manual and ongoing consultation via phone, email, or in-person.
Honest disclosure: what's NOT provided
No mandatory advanced training program is currently required. The franchisor does not provide technical or clinical licensure training; franchisees must obtain all required licenses and credentials independently.
Multi-unit growth path
Multi-unit ownership is established in the system. 142 of 567 operators own more than one agency. Franchisees may acquire adjacent territories when outside billings (excluding National Accounts) exceed 25% of total revenue. Jumbo territories over 800,000 population may require additional offices or personnel. The franchisor provides a ReStart program for owners acquiring additional agencies.
Capital + financing paths
Most operators use one of these four paths to fund the initial investment.
SBA 7(a) Loans
Many BrightStar Care franchisees utilize SBA-backed financing for the initial investment. The brand is eligible under standard SBA franchise loan programs.
Third-Party Lenders
Franchisees have accessed conventional bank loans and specialty healthcare-service lenders using the the filed disclosures and historical the financial-performance disclosure data.
Personal Capital & Partnerships
Prospective owners frequently combine personal funds, retirement-account rollovers, and equity partners to meet the recommended 12-month working capital levels.
Vendor & Insurance Financing
Certain technology and insurance providers offer payment plans that reduce upfront cash requirements for approved franchisees.
Process timeline: inquiry → grand opening
Typical 12-16 week path from first call to launching your first customer route.
Discovery & Validation
Review the filed disclosures, speak with franchisor leadership, and conduct calls with existing operators. Validate territory availability and market demographics.
Franchise Agreement Execution
Sign the Franchise Agreement and pay the initial franchise fee. Begin BrightStart pre-opening onboarding.
Site Selection & Setup (Weeks 1-6)
Secure leased office space, install technology infrastructure, order signage and marketing materials, and obtain business licenses.
Initial Training (Weeks 4-8)
Attend New Owners Training (up to 12 days total) and key-staff training for Branch Manager, Director of Nursing, and Salesperson at headquarters or virtually.
Staffing & Launch (Weeks 8-12)
Recruit and credential caregivers and nurses, complete Joint Commission accreditation if pursued, and begin local marketing campaigns.
First 90 Days Post-Opening
Deliver initial services, utilize Athena Business System for billing and operations, and receive field support and coaching under the BrightStart program.
Ongoing Operations & Review
Monthly performance reviews, quarterly business planning, annual conference attendance, and evaluation for multi-unit expansion.
Match assessment
Are you a BrightStar Care match?
12 questions. Math-first. No high-pressure sales call afterwards. Just your match assessment and the reasoning behind it.
Start nowCommon questions
How much does a BrightStar Care franchise cost?
The initial franchise fee is $50,000 for a standard 200,000-300,000 population territory. Total initial investment ranges from $102,754 to $220,186 according to the investment disclosure of the the filed disclosures. Substantially higher working capital is recommended for the first 12 months.
What is the royalty fee for BrightStar Care?
The royalty is 5.25% of monthly net billings from non-National Accounts and 6.25% from National Accounts. The local marketing contribution is the greater of $500 or 2.5% of prior month's net billings.
Does BrightStar Care provide financial performance representations?
Yes. the financial-performance disclosure discloses average and median revenue, gross margins, client and employee counts, service mix, payer sources, and National Accounts contribution for 207 agencies open at least 12 months as of December 31, 2025. 36% of reporting agencies exceeded the average.
What territories are available for BrightStar Care franchises?
Protected territories are defined by zip codes and sized for 200,000-300,000 population with at least 15,000 residents aged 65+. Medium and small territories under 200,000 population are available at a reduced $25,000 franchise fee.
How long does it take to open a BrightStar Care agency?
The typical timeline from signing to opening is 3-6 months. This includes training, office setup, staffing, credentialing, and launch of marketing and sales activities.
Does BrightStar Care offer multi-unit ownership?
Yes. 25% of operators own multiple units. Adjacent-territory expansion is encouraged and may become mandatory if outside billings exceed 25% of total revenue.
What training and support does BrightStar Care provide?
New owners receive up to 72 hours of classroom training plus key-staff training for the Branch Manager, Director of Nursing, and Sales roles. The BrightStart program offers 27 months of structured onboarding and coaching. Ongoing operational support is provided via phone, email, and periodic on-site visits.
Is BrightStar Care a good franchise to own?
The model combines home care and healthcare staffing in a protected territory with disclosed historical revenue and margin data. As with any franchise, outcomes vary by operator execution, local market conditions, and ability to recruit and retain clinical staff.
How many BrightStar Care locations are open?
There are 567 active franchised and affiliate-owned agencies operating in the United States.
What is the difference between BrightStar Care and a non-franchise home care agency?
BrightStar franchisees receive a protected territory, national brand, proprietary Athena operating system, national account contracts, approved vendor programs, and 27 months of structured onboarding support.
Does BrightStar Care require previous healthcare experience?
No specific prior healthcare experience is mandated. However, franchisees must hire a qualified Director of Nursing and comply with all state licensing and accreditation requirements.
Can BrightStar Care franchisees service National Accounts?
Yes. National Account contracts are available and carry a 6.25% royalty. These contracts can be fulfilled inside or outside the protected territory subject to program rules.
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