BrightStar Care
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching BrightStar Care franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
- Franchising since
- 2005 Source: franchise.org
- Headquarters
- Bannockburn, IL United States Source: franchise.org
BrightStar Care franchise specializes in home healthcare and medical staffing services, providing skilled nursing, companion care, and medical personnel to clie
Headline figures
BrightStar Care quick facts
- Is BrightStar Care a franchise?
- Yes. BrightStar Care offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 396 franchised and 31 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 104).
- How much does it cost to open a BrightStar Care franchise?
- The BrightStar Care Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $220,186 for standard/small territory total investment high (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 31); $181,086 for medium density territory total investment high (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 1); $102,754–$220,186 for standard/small territory total investment low (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 31); $96,454–$181,086 for medium density territory total investment low (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 1). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What is the BrightStar Care initial franchise fee?
- The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $50,000 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 16). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
- What ongoing fees does BrightStar Care charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is 5.25% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 16). The brand or advertising fund contribution is 2.5% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 17). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does BrightStar Care disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Yes. The BrightStar Care FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 86). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
- How many BrightStar Care locations are there?
- The FDD reports 427 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 104). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
- Is BrightStar Care a good franchise to buy?
- Franopolis does not rate or recommend franchises. From the reviewed FDD: Item 19 includes financial performance figures; check which locations and period they cover; Item 20 lists outlet openings, closures and transfers; Item 6 includes a brand or advertising fund contribution on top of royalty; Item 20 also lists current and former franchisees you can contact. Review the full FDD with a franchise attorney and accountant before deciding.
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
What the disclosures show
- 1The 2026 FDD (Item 7) estimates opening costs separately by format: $220,186 (Standard/small territory total investment high); $181,086 (Medium density territory total investment high); $102,754 – $220,186 (Standard/small territory total investment low); $96,454 – $181,086 (Medium density territory total investment low); several initial fee options apply.
- 2Item 19 covers 5 separate groups: revenue for 207 locations; revenue for 202 Franchised agencies locations; revenue for 190 Franchised agencies locations; other measures for 207 locations; revenue for 195 locations. They are not combined.
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
BrightStar Care head-to-head
Closest peers in the same subcategory, side by side from reviewed FDD figures. Not a ranking or recommendation.
Costs · Items 5–7
What does it cost to open?
Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.
Startup Investment — Item 7
Range across 4 single-unit formats
2026 FDD · Item 7
Formats disclosed in Item 7 (4)
Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.
- Medium density territory total investment lowPDF p. 1$96,454 – $181,086
- Standard/small territory total investment lowPDF p. 31$102,754 – $220,186
- Medium density territory total investment highPDF p. 1$181,086
- Standard/small territory total investment highPDF p. 31$220,186
Standard single-unit franchise fee
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 16
Discounted and multi-unit options are separate; see all fees.
Ongoing Fees — Item 6
Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.
- Royalty rate — non-National AccountsMain ongoing fee
41 reported fees, each with its payment basis, are listed below; they haven't been sorted into recurring, initial and occasional groups yet.
Financial Performance — Item 19
What results are disclosed—and for which locations?
5 separate populations, shown apart. Revenue is not owner income.
207 locations
Revenue · 207 locations
- Who is counted
- BrightStar franchised and affiliate-owned first agencies, 12 months or longer as of December 31, 2025
- Excluded
- Tables A–C include first agencies and former first agencies acquired by affiliates/larger franchisees; only agencies open at least 12 months. 2025 data shown with related note adjustments.
- Method
- Calendar year 2025 revenue; quartile grouping.
202 locations
Revenue · 202 locations
- Who is counted
- Franchised first agencies, 12 months or longer as of December 31, 2025
- Excluded
- Tables A–C include first agencies and former first agencies acquired by affiliates/larger franchisees; only agencies open at least 12 months. 2025 data shown with related note adjustments.
- Method
- Calendar year 2025 revenue; quartile grouping.
190 locations
Revenue · 190 locations
- Who is counted
- Franchised first agencies open at least 24 months
- Excluded
- Tables A–C include first agencies and former first agencies acquired by affiliates/larger franchisees; only agencies open at least 12 months. 2025 data shown with related note adjustments.
- Method
- Calendar year 2025 revenue; quartile grouping.
207 locations
Other measures · 207 locations
- Who is counted
- First franchised agency first year performance
- Period
- First year performance
- Excluded
- Tables A–C include first agencies and former first agencies acquired by affiliates/larger franchisees; only agencies open at least 12 months. 2025 data shown with related note adjustments.
- Method
- Calendar year 2025 revenue; quartile grouping.
195 locations
Revenue · 195 locations
- Who is counted
- BrightStar franchised and affiliate-owned first agencies, 24 months or longer as of December 31, 2025
- Excluded
- Tables A–C include first agencies and former first agencies acquired by affiliates/larger franchisees; only agencies open at least 12 months. 2025 data shown with related note adjustments.
- Method
- Calendar year 2025 revenue; quartile grouping.
These groups are never combined.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
United States, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of December 28, 2025 of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 104
Net +49 outlets, 2023–2025
Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero; the labels between the dots show each year's change. Openings and closures for 2025 haven't been pulled from the Item 20 tables yet, so no turnover or churn is shown.
Questions to investigate
Prompts based on what this brand's reviewed disclosures do and don't show — not conclusions. Join free as a member to save questions to your research.
For the franchisor
Which line items in the 2026 Item 7 estimate ($96,454 – $220,186) vary most by market, and why?
Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?
Which locations are included in the Item 19 figures, and which were excluded?
Is a territory available in my area, and how is it defined in my agreement?
For current and former owners
How did your actual startup costs and timeline compare with the Item 7 estimate?
How many hours a week do you work in the business, and in what role?
How do your results compare with the Item 19 figures, and what explains the difference?
What support from the franchisor has been most and least useful?
For your advisors
Ask a franchise attorney to review the territory, renewal, transfer and termination terms.
Ask an accountant to build a cash-flow plan using your own assumptions, not the franchisor's.
Sources & vintage history
Every displayed fact is retained with its disclosure vintage, item, page, and reviewed status. Prior vintages remain on file rather than being overwritten.
Citations (2026 FDD)
- [1]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 16
- [2]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — BrightStar franchised and affiliate-owned first agencies, 12 months or longer a… · PDF p. 86
- [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised first agencies, 12 months or longer as of December 31, 2025 · PDF p. 86
- [4]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised first agencies open at least 24 months · PDF p. 86
- [5]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — First franchised agency first year performance · PDF p. 87
- [6]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — BrightStar franchised and affiliate-owned first agencies, 24 months or longer a… · PDF p. 86
- [7]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 104
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page. Source document: FDD
Territory & operations
No territory or operating requirements have been reviewed yet.
22 addresses in Franopolis's imported location list. Coverage may differ from Item 20 outlet counts.
These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.
Legal & agreement
Franchisor financial statements
No verified franchisor financial statement figures have been reviewed yet.
SBA-backed loans to franchisees
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Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) & 504 FOIA data. Loan volume is not a measure of franchisee success.
Related research
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Pearle VisionHead-to-head comparisons
At a glance
Business history
Not reviewed
Owner participation
Not reviewed
Territory language
Not reviewed
Litigation disclosure
Not reviewed
Bankruptcy disclosure
Not reviewed
Agreement term
Not reviewed
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.
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