BrightStar Care Franchise

BrightStar Franchising, LLC was organized in Illinois in January 2005 and began offering franchises that August. An affiliate had operated a BrightStar Care business since October 2002. The franchisor is based in Bannockburn, Illinois. Its FDD was issued April 1, 2026 and amended August 24, 2026, identifying BrightStar Group Holdings as its direct parent.

The BrightStar Care agency model brings together companion and personal care, skilled in-home care where permitted, and supplemental healthcare staffing. Clients include people receiving care at home, national-account clients and institutional customers. The ability to provide skilled services depends on state licensing and other requirements. This agency franchise is distinct from the group’s separately described former senior-living and care-home franchise offerings.

The office coordinates service delivery, recruiting, schedules, sales and administration. Item 7 describes approximately 750 to 1,100 square feet for a first agency office. The owner builds a team around operations, sales and nursing leadership, with trained and qualified employees providing patient care. Required services, licenses and accreditation milestones form part of the operating plan.

The disclosed initial investment for the standard and Small territory formats spans $101,464 to $217,486, including a franchise fee of $50,000 for a standard territory or $25,000 for a Small territory. The standard fee covers a population of 200,000 to 300,000, with an additional charge for population above that level. The estimate includes office setup, technology, licensing, training expenses and three months of additional operating funds. The FDD separately describes a Medium Density Market program for existing operators, with different premises and cost assumptions.

BrightStar Learning Lab organizes onboarding into four tracks: New Owner, Operations, Clinical and Sales. New Owner training is conducted in Lake County, Illinois or virtually. The program describes two sessions of three to four days each, with a stated maximum of twelve days overall. It develops understanding of agency operations, sales, clinical business processes and compliance, and supplements weekly support calls with assigned Start Team coaches.

The three key-role tracks combine on-demand courses and live virtual sessions. Sales training addresses the selling process and interactive role-play. Clinical training covers clinical administration, regulation, compliance and the care programs. Operations training focuses on daily agency administration, business processes and supporting technology. Owners and their key personnel complete the required training before opening, within the disclosed onboarding timetable.

BrightStart provides a predetermined education plan for new agencies, including pre-opening checklists and coaching during the first 24 months of ownership after opening. Its typical plan combines around three months of preparation with that continuing support. The separate ReStart program addresses buyers of existing agencies. Depending on the training arrangement, new owners may also spend time in an established owner’s office to observe agency processes.

Pre-opening assistance includes access to the electronic Operations Manual, review of a proposed lease against franchise requirements, and help ordering initial recruiting and marketing materials. The owner secures approved premises, obtains licenses, recruits personnel and pays training-related travel, accommodation and salary expenses. BrightStar’s lease review is limited to its system standards; office selection and the lease remain the owner’s responsibilities.

During operations, support includes consultation on administrative and operating questions, approved marketing resources, manual updates and maintenance of the Athena Business System. The required platform supports functions such as sales and billing; the agency also carries technology, hardware and related operating costs. Optional on-site training may carry an additional fee. Owners attend required conferences when held and fund registration and travel costs. Local marketing has a separate spending requirement, and the agency remains responsible for staffing, service delivery and employment decisions.

BrightStar Care offers a defined agency model for an owner interested in both care services and healthcare staffing. The mix of home-care clients, institutional staffing and the national-account program gives a prospective owner several service channels to evaluate against local licenses, staffing capacity and market needs.

The four training tracks recognize that selling services, running an office and overseeing clinical work require different capabilities. The combination of role-specific onboarding, Start Team coaching, operating manuals and the Athena Business System gives the local organization a shared set of tools and procedures.

The business calls for direct oversight by an approved Control Person who meets the franchisor’s proximity, training and full-time participation requirements. Sales and nursing leadership are core staffing responsibilities, with some role combinations permitted for Small territories. It is a fit to consider for an owner prepared to develop a team and manage a healthcare service operation in the local community. Contact FranchiseTop40 to discuss BrightStar Care’s territory formats and ownership requirements.

Read more in BrightStar Care Franchise: Services, Staffing & Training.