Steps to Franchise Ownership

It takes a sp​​ecial person to become a Home Instead® franchise owner. We look for folks who share our passion and commitment to serving seniors and who will raise the bar on our high standard of excellence. Determining mutual compatibility requires a thorough and thoughtful selection process.
home instead businessman discussing steps to franchise ownership

How to Become a Franchise Owner

A Proven & Thorough Experience

There are nine steps to become an owner. That may seem like a lot, but it’s a proven process that gives both of us adequate time to evaluate the opportunity, ask questions, and learn about each other. Our network of existing owners, now 1,200+ strong, endorses this process because they know each step is necessary to make sure only the highest quality owners continue to join our family-like network.
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Choose a franchise type and location

Consider whether you’d like to open a new business in a new territory or purchase an established business in an existing territory. Part of your decision may be determined by territory availability in your location of interest. View available territories.
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Contact us

Next, you’ll need to contact us to start the qualification process. You can call us directly at (888) 520-2941 or use the Request Information form.
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Apply

Once we get in touch, we’ll send you additional information, including a Confidential Application Form. Fill out this application and return it as soon as possible.
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Learn More

When we receive your application, we’ll set up a time to have more in-depth conversations with you. This is your chance to ask questions and leave no stone unturned. We feel it’s important to be completely transparent as we evaluate the opportunity together.
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Review the Franchise Disclosure Document

At this point, we’ll share our FDD with you, which provides greater detail of what our mutual relationship will be.
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Provide Financial and Background Information

We respect your privacy, so we only ask you to provide financial and background information after we have shared our own in the form of the FDD. This information will be kept confidential and will help us assess your financial preparedness for our franchise opportunity.
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Participate in our Talent Interview

Other franchisors may not require this step, but we think it’s essential for building a business family of like-minded, talented, passionate, and dedicated franchise owners. We’ll ask you a variety of questions to help both of us determine if owning a Home Instead® franchise is a good fit for you.
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Come Visit Us

As a final step, we’ll invite you to visit our global head quarters in Omaha, Nebraska. You’ll get to meet key staff members and senior leadership, as well as ask any lingering questions you may have before making a final decision.
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Accept your Franchise Offer

Finally, the big day will have arrived! Assuming we both agree that you are the right fit for the Home Instead® network, you’ll receive your franchise offer shortly after your visit. Once you accept, we’ll begin working with you to schedule your new owner training and start planning your grand opening.

How Long Will It Take to Purchase A Franchise?

The path to franchise ownership does not have a set timeline. It’s really up to you. If your goal is to open a franchise in 12 months or less, we can help make that happen. If you need longer to fully explore all your options, that’s ok too.

Three Ways to Start Your Own Home Instead Franchise

There are three different paths to franchise ownership. Each path offers a different ownership experience, with a unique set of challenges and rewards. The path you take will ultimately depend on territory availability. ​

Open a New Franchise

We have hundreds of new franchise territories available in untapped markets throughout the U.S. and Canada. All new territories have the same basic start-up costs and fees.

As you can imagine, the commitment involved in opening a brand new business is intensive. You'll need to secure the necessary licenses (if applicable and varies by state and province), prepare an office space, set up your customer relationship management software and other operational processes, hire staff members and CAREGivers℠, and a wide variety of other critical start-up activities. New owner training and support will prepare you with everything you need to hit the ground running.

If you like the idea of starting fresh, rolling up your sleeves, and growing your business from the ground up, this is the path for you. You'll have the satisfaction of being able to do things your way and make your own decisions from the very beginning.


Purchase an Existing Franchise

If you are an individual who wants to take the next step in your career or someone who is looking to take an existing business to the next level, then purchasing an existing Home Instead® franchise may be the best option for you.

Existing franchises become available for a variety of reasons. You should expect that the franchise price will vary depending on a number of factors, including the business' current assessed value. You and the existing owner will handle all financial negotiations. However, the Home Office must approve the buyer of a Home Instead franchise through our owner evaluation process.

If you are interested in purchasing an existing Home Instead franchise, we encourage you to search our list of available territories, but also to contact us. Often existing franchise sales are not listed on our site as owners are not yet ready to publically announce their intentions.

Convert an Existing Business

If you already own a home care business, we can work with you to convert your existing business into a Home Instead franchise. You'll be able to maintain ownership of your business, client base and referral provider network, in addition to gaining the following benefits and support:

  • A proven business model
  • Top-notch CAREGiver recruitment and training tools
  • Collaboration among a network of other owners
  • Public education programs for family caregivers and seniors
  • Materials to support marketing and networking efforts
  • Exposure through regional and national marketing programs
  • Ongoing access to business management support