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BRIGHTSTAR CARE

BRIGHTSTAR CARE

BrightStar Care franchises operate agencies that provide comprehensive non-medical and medical home care services, including companion care, personal care, and skilled nursing, to private-duty clients in their homes or residences, as well as supplemental healthcare staffing to institutional clients like hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics. The business model is based on franchising the BrightStar Care Agency Program, which includes proprietary systems, trademarks, and training, with franchisees generating revenue from four primary streams: non-medical care, personal care, skilled care, and staffing. Target markets include individuals and families needing in-home care funded by various payors, and healthcare facilities requiring reliable staffing solutions.

396
Locations
$103K–$220K
Investment
Since 2005
Franchising
Download FDD
HealthcareBannockburn, ILBrightStar Group Holdings, Inc.www.brightstarfranchise.comDisclaimer

Franchise Costs

Franchise Fee
$50,000
Item 5 of FDD
Initial Investment Range
$102,754 – $220,186
Low: $102,754High: $220,186
Item 7 of FDD
Royalty Rate
5.25%
of gross sales
Brand Fund
2.50%
Item 6 of FDD
Fixed Monthly Fees
$933 – $2,083
Item 6 of FDD

5.25% royalty (6.25% on National Accounts) + 2.5% General Marketing Fee (min. $500/mo) + $250/mo Athena system fee + insurance $8,200-$22,000 first year

Financial Performance

Item 19 Financial Performance

Average Gross Revenue
$2,513,604
Median Gross Revenue
$2,017,379
Top Quartile Revenue
$4,894,278
Bottom Quartile Revenue
$971,193
Average Gross Profit
$1,055,713.68

Data Based On: 190 franchised agencies open 24 months or longer in 2025 for revenue data. 203 agencies that were first franchised (some later acquired by affiliate) open 12 months or longer in 2025 for gross margin data.

* Average gross revenue, median gross revenue, revenue top quartile, and revenue bottom quartile are extracted from 'TABLE A (First Agencies Only)', specifically '2025 Revenue for Franchised Agencies open 24 months or longer4' on page 4. This data represents 190 franchised agencies and, as per Note 4 on page 6, explicitly excludes agencies acquired by affiliates during 2025. Average gross profit is calculated by multiplying the average gross revenue ($2,513,604) by the 'Average Gross Margin Percentage' (42.0%) from the 'Franchisee Margins' table on page 8. The gross margin data is based on a sample of 203 agencies that were initially franchised (some later acquired by affiliates) and were open 12 months or longer in 2025 (as per notes on pages 7 and 8). No information for net income, net profit, EBITDA, or other operating expenses was provided to estimate profit ranges beyond gross profit.

Extracted Item 19 Section

Avg. Revenue: $2,513,604

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BRIGHTSTAR CARE Franchise Analysis

The home healthcare industry is exploding, and BrightStar Care's model taps into both private-duty in-home services and institutional staffing—a rare dual-play that diversifies revenue risks. Item 19 lays out revenue benchmarks across hundreds of units, while a robust SBA lending history hints at accessible financing. Yet, layered fees and litigation around post-termination disputes raise eyebrows: does the 6% growth momentum outweigh these hurdles?

Item 7 pegs total investment at $102,754-$220,186, including a $50,000 franchise fee, with ongoing costs like 5.25% royalty (6.25% on national accounts), 2.5% marketing fund (minimum $500/month), $250/month Athena software fee, and first-year insurance of $8,200-$22,000. Item 19 shines brightly: average gross revenue hits $2,513,604, median $2,017,379 across disclosed units, signaling strong top-line potential in a high-demand sector. SBA data backs viability with 103 loans averaging $554,910, suggesting banks view franchisees favorably despite the capital intensity.

System metrics paint a healthy picture: 396 franchise locations (plus 31 corporate) grew 6% from 373 in 2024, with 38 projected new units, just 3 terminations, 5 non-renewals, but 25 transfers indicating some owner churn. Litigation centers on enforcement of non-competes and unpaid fees post-termination, plus one older misrepresentation claim—typical for service brands but worth vetting territories. For investors eyeing healthcare, BrightStar's disclosed earnings and expansion beat category averages, though fee stack and transfers demand scrutiny on net margins.

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Analysis based on the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.

How BRIGHTSTAR CARE Compares

Key Insights

  • Top 10 largest franchise system in Home Services
  • One of the lowest SBA loan default rates in Home Services
FranchiseInvestmentFeeRoyaltyLocations
BRIGHTSTAR CARE
Current
$103K – $220K$50K5.3%396
MERRY MAIDS$127K – $166K$55K7.0%933
HOLIDAY LIGHTING HEROES$150K – $177K$127K10.0%653
MOSQUITO AUTHORITY$54K – $128K$45K10.0%546
Culligan$130K – $814K$40K2.0%460
MOSQUITO JOE$150K – $192K$43K10.0%415
Home Services Average
135 franchises
$144K – $287K$53K7.0%–

* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 135 Home Services franchises by location count.

Locations & Growth

Outlet Growth Over Time

Total outlets at end of each year

Geographic Distribution (2025)

Outlets by state across the United States

Top States
1CA
55
2FL
42
3TX
34
4PA
21
5NJ
21
6VA
20
7IL
17
8MD
16
9NC
14
10GA
11
11MN
11
12MI
11
13CT
9
14OH
9
15SC
8

+25 more states

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SBA Loan History

Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for BRIGHTSTAR CARE franchisees (2018 – 2025)

Total Loans
103
Average Loan
$554,910
Total Volume
$57.2M
Default Rate
0.0%

Loans by Year

SBA 7(a) loan activity over time

* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.

103 SBA loans on record

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Franchisee Contacts

306 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.

306 Contacts Available

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Due Diligence

Litigation (Item 3)

Franchisee Cases5

Primarily post-termination enforcement actions (non-competition, liquidated damages), recovery of unpaid royalties and fees, and one prior franchisee fraud claim regarding territory and performance representations.

Bankruptcy (Item 4)

Bankruptcy HistoryNo
No bankruptcy history reported

System Health (Item 20)

Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year

Terminations
3
Non-Renewals
5
Reacquired
0
Ceased Ops
3
Transfers
25
Sold to Franchisees
4
Projected New
38

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Frequently Asked Questions

The total initial investment to open a BRIGHTSTAR CARE franchise ranges from $102,754 to $220,186. This includes a franchise fee of $50,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 5.3% of gross sales.

Download BRIGHTSTAR CARE FDD

Complete Franchise Disclosure Document — 2026 filing.

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