DON'T buy a home care franchise!

 

Thinking About Buying a Home Care Franchise? Read This First.

I get approached all the time by people who are thinking about changing careers to join the world of home health care. They’ve seen the growing need, and they want to be part of the solution.

Honestly? That’s amazing.
They want to help people, work for themselves, and build something meaningful—and I’m always happy to talk to people like that.

But then comes the question I always get:

"Should I buy a home care franchise?"

And my answer, every single time?

❌ Don’t buy a franchise.

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I Know the Temptation—Because I Was There Too

When I was first thinking about starting my agency, the idea of doing it all on my own felt terrifying.

If you're from a healthcare background, business terms can feel like a foreign language.
If you’re from a business background, healthcare terms are just as confusing.

And the more you research, the longer your list of questions gets...

• What’s a PSW?

• What’s the difference between an RN and an RPN?

• How does WSIB/WCB work?

• What’s a CADD pump?

• What’s the ESA? LHIN? EBITDA? The CNO? A UCP?

• What’s wage burden or contribution margin?

It’s a lot.

So you do what I did—you start googling for answers... and suddenly you’re staring at ads for franchises promising you an easy path to success.

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Why Franchises Look So Tempting

Home care franchises market themselves as turnkey solutions. They offer:

✅ Templates and policies
✅ Marketing materials
✅ Coaching from experienced operators
✅ Systems you don’t have to build from scratch

And it sounds like the perfect shortcut—just pay the fee, and bam, you’re in business.

But here's the catch:
That “little” royalty they want? It’s usually 5–10% of your revenue—forever.

That doesn’t sound like much at first... until you do the math.

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Let's Talk Numbers

Let’s say your business grows like mine did—starting small, growing steadily over time. Over 20 years, with moderate growth, here’s what those franchise fees could add up to:

Between $3.5 million and $7 million.

Yep, you read that right.

Millions of dollars… for templates and advice.

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What Could You Do With That Money Instead?

Rather than giving that money away in franchise fees, you could reinvest in your business and your people:

💡 Offer employee benefits and pension plans
💡 Upgrade your office for a better work environment
💡 Run strong online marketing campaigns
💡 Pay for CPR certification renewals for caregivers
💡 Provide ongoing training and career development

That’s how you grow a business with heart, integrity, and long-term success.

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Why I Didn't Buy a Franchise (Even Though I Almost Did)

I came very close to buying a franchise.
At one point, I literally had the deposit cheque in my hand.

But at the last moment, I stepped back and asked myself:

• What am I really getting for this money?

• Do I need someone else to tell me how to do this?

• Couldn’t I just build these systems myself—and keep the freedom to grow how I want?

So I said no.

And now, 15 years later, I’m so grateful I did.

I’ve built a successful business that provides thousands of hours of care every week—and I have total freedom to shape it on my terms.

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That’s Why I Created Home Care 101

I wanted to give new agency owners the tools, resources, and support they need—without the lifetime cost of a franchise.

At Home Care 101, you’ll find the same types of documents and systems franchises offer—at a fraction of the cost.

✅ Policies & procedures
✅ Hiring documents
✅ Intake forms
✅ Templates, checklists, and guides
✅ Business planning tools
✅ Freebies, blog posts, and advice from someone who’s done it

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Want a Smarter Shortcut?

No royalties. No contracts. No territory limits. Just resources that work.

👉 Grab the Home Care 101 Complete Start-Up Kit to get on the fast track to launching your own agency—without giving away your future earnings.

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Let's Build Something Great—Together

We believe in doing the work, building something real, and choosing freedom over franchise fees.

💬 Sign up for our newsletter to get freebies and tips straight to your inbox.
🎓 Check out our starter kit and training resources to get started today.

You’ve got this.

Did you like this article?  Check out some more great content!

• Tips on how to start a Successful Canadian Home Care Business
• The Financials of a Successful Home Care Business
• How to grow your small Canadian Home Care Business during COVID-19
• The Key Ingredient for a Successful Home Care Business
• What comes first, finding clients or hiring Caregivers?

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