Griswold’s home care franchise provides non-medical support for people who need assistance with daily activities. This review uses Griswold International, LLC’s Franchise Disclosure Document issued April 20, 2026. It applies to the agency business model, which the FDD distinguishes from its older registry model.
Services and the agency model
Item 1 describes personal care, homemaking, companion care, incidental transportation and other approved supportive services. It states that current caregiver services do not include medical services. The business involves finding clients, recruiting and placing caregivers, and coordinating services within the system’s requirements.
The disclosed history includes predecessor Special Care, Inc., which began operating in Pennsylvania in 1982. Griswold International has offered franchises since 2009 and agency-model franchises since 2016. Historical experience does not establish the results a new owner will achieve.
Investment and franchise fee are different figures
Item 7 estimates the total initial investment at $99,600–$185,600. Its table includes a franchise fee of $49,500–$54,500 and additional funds for six months of $27,000–$86,000, along with office, technology, insurance and other startup expenses. Those additional funds are part of the total estimate, not a separate amount to add again.
Item 5 sets the base initial franchise fee at $49,500 for the standard territory and provides for an additional $5,000 for the described population expansion. The earlier article’s $95,850–$174,100 figure should not be used as the current franchise fee. Use the dated Item 5 and Item 7 disclosures for the applicable offer.
Financial qualifications are separate from startup costs. This article previously listed $350,000 net worth and $100,000 liquid capital. Griswold’s official franchise FAQ, reviewed October 14, 2026, instead states $350,000 minimum net worth and $75,000 minimum liquid capital, with liquidity included within net worth. Those are website-stated screening figures, not qualifications independently established by this FDD review; confirm the current requirements for your application.
Financing is not provided by the franchisor
Item 10 states that Griswold does not offer direct or indirect financing and does not guarantee a franchisee’s note, lease or obligation. The earlier statement that Griswold itself offers financing was incorrect. Any proposed outside financing should be evaluated on the lender’s actual terms.
Build a budget for the location and staffing plan you are considering. Include payroll timing, insurance, recruiting, office expenses and the cash needed while developing a client base. Do not treat the FDD’s additional-funds estimate as an assurance that the business will become self-funding within six months.
Training and marketing support have defined limits
Item 11 describes HomeCare Academy as a blended program with self-guided preparation, two weeks of virtual and on-site instruction, and follow-up tailored to the franchisee’s needs. The training table totals 45 self-guided hours and 72 instructor-led hours. Griswold does not currently charge for this initial training, but attendees pay travel, living and related expenses.
Topics include regulations, caregiver recruitment and retention, lead generation, client intake, accounting and software. Ask how the schedule fits your licensing and opening timeline and what additional preparation your office staff will need.
The marketing provisions do not require Griswold to spend a particular amount in your territory or supply a guaranteed amount of advertising material. Branded materials are available for purchase, and self-generated advertising requires approval. Ask how you will build local referral relationships and measure the cost of acquiring clients.
The owner’s operating commitment
Item 15 requires the owner to supervise, manage and devote full time and energy to the franchise for the first three years. After that, the disclosed arrangement can permit an approved, trained, full-time manager. A manager-operated franchise requires the manager to hold a 10% interest. Separate provisions apply to existing franchisees signing the agency addendum.
This is an operational commitment involving staffing, scheduling, service coordination and local business development. Ask current owners how they handle caregiver absences, client communication and office coverage. A desire to help people should be matched with a realistic plan for managing the business.
Review the Griswold franchise profile and compare service scope and owner responsibilities using the home care franchise guide. Evaluate the applicable agreements and local requirements before making a commitment.
Sources: Griswold International, LLC FDD issued April 20, 2026, agency model; Item 1 PDF pages 9–10, Item 5 page 16, Item 7 pages 23–24, Item 10 page 28, Item 11 pages 28, 30 and 33–34, and Item 15 pages 39–40. PDF pages count from the cover. Candidate qualifications are separately attributed to the official FAQ.