2026 FDD Issued Apr 1, 2026 Minnesota Commerce (CARDS) Checked Nov 3, 2026
BrightStar Care Franchise Cost (2026)
A BrightStar Care franchise costs an estimated $101,464 – $217,486 to open, according to Item 7 of the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). That total includes the $25,000 – $50,000 initial franchise fee (Item 5) and covers this format: Standard or Small territory, combined FDD range. Item 6 lists royalty/continuing fee, non-national accounts: 5.25% of monthly Net Billings from non-National Accounts + 6.25% of monthly Net Billings from National Accounts, subject to the conditions below.
- Total investment
- $101K – $217KItem 7 source and qualifications
- Franchise fee
- $25K – $50KItem 5 source and terms
- Royalty
- 5.25% of monthly Net Billings from non-National Accounts + 6.25% of monthly Net Billings from National AccountsItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Brand fund
- VariesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Units (2025)
- 427Item 20 source and scope
- Franchise exit rate
- 3.3% / yrCalculated 3-year average; definition and source
What stands out about BrightStar Care
The opening table blends territory sizes. Its low end uses the smaller-territory fee, while the high end uses the standard-territory fee; the FDD also gives a separate estimate for a Medium Density Market territory. Additional operating funds form a large share of the table, and state licensing can change the cost substantially. The printed range does not cover every population-based fee increase for a standard territory above the stated size. A buyer comparing territories needs the matching fee and licensing assumptions rather than treating the two ends as the price of one fixed format.
The royalty rate changes with National Account billings. The General Marketing Fee and Athena system fee each use the greater of a monthly minimum or a percentage of prior billings, while local consumer marketing has its own minimum and tiered rate. A flat percentage added to the royalty would miss those minimums and tiers. Item 19's broad franchised-only revenue group includes first agencies open at least a year; it does not represent every outlet in Item 20. Those revenue figures precede operating expenses and cannot show owner profit.
What are the initial franchise fees and financial requirements for BrightStar Care?
Item 5 lists an initial franchise fee of $25,000 – $50,000 for BrightStar Care. Check the cited Item 5 for payment timing, discounts and format-specific terms.
The $25,000 fee applies to Medium Density Market and Small territories; a standard territory starts at $50,000 for a population of 200,000 to 300,000, plus $100 per additional 1,000 people above 300,000. A qualifying existing owner may receive a 10% discount on an additional standard franchise. A qualifying veteran may receive a $5,000 discount on the first territory. An optional expansion agreement requires a $10,000 fee that is credited to the additional franchise fee if exercised. The cover says this April 1 FDD was amended August 24, 2026.
Source: BrightStar Care 2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 13.
This record lists no minimum net worth or liquid-capital requirement for BrightStar Care, because no sourced figure has been recorded. Ask the franchisor for its current financial qualifications in writing.
How much does it cost to open a BrightStar Care franchise? (Item 7)
Source: BrightStar Care 2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 26.
Item 7 of BrightStar Care’s 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document estimates the total cost to open one standard or small territory, combined fdd range at $101,464 – $217,486. This total includes the initial franchise fee.
| Expense Category | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| Leased Space for Agency | $4,000 | $9,600 |
| Utility Deposits | $300 | $500 |
| Furnishings | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| Technology Infrastructure | $4,000 | $9,500 |
| Signage | $400 | $5,000 |
| Marketing Materials | $250 | $500 |
| Office Supplies, PPE, and medical supplies | $600 | $730 |
| Printing, reproduction and postage | $0 | $300 |
| Business Licenses and Other Required License | $200 | $10,000 |
| Local Marketing Spend | $3,000 | $5,250 |
| State Electronic Visit Verification | $0 | $2,000 |
| Director of Nursing before opening | $0 | $8,658 |
| Insurance excluding workers compensation | $1,740 | $5,000 |
| Workers Compensation Insurance | $445 | $3,300 |
| Training Expenses | $3,700 | $7,500 |
| Legal Fees | $2,000 | $5,500 |
| Joint Commission Accreditation | $0 | $6,192 |
| Additional Operating Funds for three months | $53,829 | $83,956 |
| Total | $101,464 | $217,486 |
Other formats
| Format | Total investment |
|---|---|
| Medium Density Market territory | $95,164 – $178,386 |
The FDD combines the Small territory $25,000 franchise fee at the low end with the standard territory $50,000 fee at the high end. A standard territory may cost more if its population exceeds 300,000. The Medium Density Market total is stated on the FDD cover, PDF page 1; its separate expense lines are not provided in Item 7. Marketing Materials exclude additional shipping and handling.
What ongoing royalties and fees does BrightStar Care charge? (Item 6)
Source: BrightStar Care 2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 14.
Item 6 of BrightStar Care’s 2026 FDD lists the charges below. Recurring charges and charges triggered by a transfer, renewal or other event have different conditions. Read each fee’s basis and notes before comparing rates.
How to read an Item 6 fee table.
| Fee Type | Amount / Rate | Payment Frequency | Notes & Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty/Continuing Fee, non-National Accounts | 5.25% of monthly Net Billings from non-National Accounts | Every period | A Minimum Monthly Royalty Fee may apply if a Monthly Performance Standard is missed. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Royalty/Continuing Fee, National Accounts | 6.25% of monthly Net Billings from National Accounts | Every period | (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| General Marketing Fee | Varies | Every period | Greater of $500 a month or 2.5% of prior month's Net Billings. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Monthly Athena Business System and Email Service Fee | Varies | Every period | Greater of $250 a month or 1% of prior month's Net Billings; excludes third-party tools. (Item 6, PDF p. 15) |
| Microsoft Enterprise Package | $14.50 per month | Every period | Per seat; required for owners, optional for other staff. The rate may change. (Item 6, PDF p. 15) |
| Multi-factor Authentication Security License | Varies | When it applies | Up to $5 per account per month when available; the FDD says this license is not currently provided or charged. (Item 6, PDF p. 16) |
| State Electronic Visit Verification | Varies | When it applies | Up to $1,000 one-time setup per aggregator and up to $0.50 per record transmitted, where applicable. (Item 6, PDF p. 16) |
| State EVV Late Notice Fee | Varies | When it applies | Up to an additional $1,000 per aggregator if notice is late. (Item 6, PDF p. 16) |
| State EVV Version Upgrade Fee | $500 | When it applies | Per state-required version upgrade; may rise to $1,000. (Item 6, PDF p. 16) |
| State EVV Version Upgrade Late Notice Fee | Varies | When it applies | Up to $500 more per upgrade when notice is late. (Item 6, PDF p. 17) |
| Key Position Onboarding via BrightStar Learning Lab | $495 | When it applies | Per Key Position registration. (Item 6, PDF p. 17) |
| Additional Training | Varies | When it applies | Group training $100-$200 per attendee per day; advanced training $300-$400; onsite training $500-$900 per trainer per day, plus specified travel costs. Rates may change within stated limits. (Item 6, PDF p. 17) |
| Annual Conference and Branch Leadership Conference | Varies | When it applies | Up to $2,500 per person for annual conference, $2,000 for in-person branch leadership, or $500 for virtual branch leadership, plus travel and living costs. (Item 6, PDF p. 17) |
| Insurance excluding workers compensation | Varies | Every period | First-year premium estimate $6,400-$12,000, payable to approved supplier. (Item 6, PDF p. 18) |
| Workers Compensation Insurance | Varies | Every period | First-year premium estimate $1,800-$10,000, subject to payroll audit. (Item 6, PDF p. 18) |
| Renewal Fee | $5,000 | When it applies | (Item 6, PDF p. 19) |
| Transfer Fee | $15,000 | When it applies | Prorated when less than all of an Agency is transferred; Item 6 Note 8 describes circumstances in which a higher amount may apply. (Item 6, PDF p. 19) |
| Termination Damages | Varies | When it applies | Contract formula in Item 6 Note 9; amount depends on Net Billings and remaining term. (Item 6, PDF p. 19) |
| Reimbursement for Complaints | Varies | When it applies | Costs incurred to resolve complaints that the owner fails to resolve. (Item 6, PDF p. 19) |
| Indemnification and Defense | Varies | When it applies | Actual losses and defense costs arising from Agency operations. (Item 6, PDF p. 19) |
| Costs and Attorneys Fees | Varies | When it applies | Amounts awarded to the prevailing party in arbitration. (Item 6, PDF p. 19) |
| Examination or Audit of Records | Varies | When it applies | Estimated $5,000-$35,000 examination expense if an understatement is found or required billing is not used; a requested cross-territory review costs $1,000, with another $1,000 if no infringement is found. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Late Fees | Varies | When it applies | Interest at highest legal rate for open-account business credit, capped at 1.5% per month. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Tax Reimbursement | Varies | When it applies | Out-of-pocket taxes attributable to operations or payments, excluding franchisor income taxes. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Vendor Evaluation Fee | Varies | When it applies | Up to $5,000 if vendor approved; a $2,500-$5,000 technology-risk assessment fee may apply even without approval. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Other Charges and Service Fees | Varies | When it applies | Program changes may generate up to $5,000 per year without separate agreement, with a stated franchisee-adoption exception for larger charges. (Item 6, PDF p. 22) |
| Cross-Territorial Policy Payment | Varies | When it applies | Potential payment to affected franchisees after an unauthorized cross-territory service, based on client charges and gross margin. (Item 6, PDF p. 22) |
Explore annual fees and payback assumptions
This fee schedule cannot be reduced to the calculator’s simple sales-based formula. Enter your own assumptions and check them against the Item 6 terms.
BrightStar Care startup investment and modeled fees over 10 years
Some recurring charges depend on a sales subset, usage or another amount not supplied by the annual sales figure. We do not combine them into an all-sales percentage or estimate total fees. See the fee amounts and definitions in Item 6 above. Open the calculator with your own assumptions.
Item 20: BrightStar Care franchised outlet history
Source: BrightStar Care 2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 100.
Item 20 Table 3 reports 396 franchised outlets at the end of 2025. The company-owned table reports a further 31 outlets. Our calculated average annual franchised exit rate is 3.3% across the 3 reported years, using the definition below.
| Year | Franchised at Start | Opened | Reported Exits | At End | Franchise Exit Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 347 | 15 | 15 | 347 | 4.3% |
| 2024 | 347 | 35 | 9 | 373 | 2.6% |
| 2025 | 373 | 34 | 11 | 396 | 2.9% |
Franchised units went from 347 to 396 over 3 years (+49).
Reported exits include terminations, non-renewals, franchisor reacquisitions and other cessations. A reacquired outlet may continue operating. How we calculate the exit rate. How to read the Item 20 outlet tables. Compare BrightStar Care’s exit rate with other brands.
25 units changed owners in 2025.
Table 3 all-state totals are on PDF page 100; Table 2 transfer totals on page 96; Table 4 company-owned totals on page 101. The Table 3 rows reconcile, and the Table 4 reacquisition counts match Table 3.
How much do BrightStar Care franchise owners make? (Item 19)
Source: BrightStar Care 2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 82.
Item 19 of the 2026 FDD reports average Revenue for Franchised Agencies open 12 months or longer of $2,427,980 (2025, 202 franchised first agencies open 12 months or longer). BrightStar Care’s Item 19 reports sales but no profit, costs or owner pay. Rent, payroll, supplies, loan payments and Item 6 fees such as the royalty (5.25% of monthly Net Billings from non-National Accounts + 6.25% of monthly Net Billings from National Accounts) come out of sales before an owner is paid, so these figures cannot show what an owner earns.
See every BrightStar Care Item 19 figure, with its period and sample.
Payback calculator (enter your own assumptions) Check any inputs against this record’s Item 7 startup costs and Item 6 fee rules.
How to interpret BrightStar Care’s Item 19 figures and sample limits.
How long is the BrightStar Care franchise agreement term?
Source: BrightStar Care 2026 FDD, Item 17, PDF p. 68.
The standard BrightStar Care franchise agreement runs 10 years, with renewal terms of 5 years.
Three conditional five-year renewal terms under the current Franchise Agreement.
How long does it take to open a BrightStar Care franchise? (Item 11)
Source: BrightStar Care 2026 FDD, Item 11, PDF p. 46.
Item 11 of the 2026 FDD states the time from signing the Franchise Agreement to opening: within 150 days.
The timing can vary with premises, financing, training, and agency licensing.
Franchises with a similar investment range
These published records are selected by proximity to BrightStar Care’s $101,464 low-end Item 7 investment, starting with Senior & Home Care. Formats, fees and source qualifications differ; the figures are not interchangeable budgets:
- Right at Home $94.3K – $176K Source review pending Provisional publication Senior & Home Care
- Home Instead $92.6K – $351K Senior & Home Care
- Visiting Angels $125K – $171K Senior & Home Care
- Kumon $102K – $234K Education & Tutoring
- The Seals $101K – $147K Business Services
- Budget Blinds $101K – $211K Home Services
Compare other senior & home care franchises
Sources
BrightStar Franchising, LLC Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 1, 2026, as filed with the Minnesota Commerce (CARDS). Read the source FDD PDF. How to get this FDD yourself.
- Item 5: cited PDF p. 13
- Item 6: cited PDF p. 14
- Item 7: cited PDF p. 26
- Item 19: cited PDF p. 82
- Item 20: cited PDF p. 100
- Agreement term (Item 17): cited PDF p. 68
Page references for BrightStar Care use the PDF viewer's digital page count, not printed page headers. Some viewers download the document instead of opening the referenced page.
If the state document viewer does not open, use Minnesota Commerce's public filing instructions to look up the filing by franchisor name and document date.
Document & verification changelog
- November 3, 2026: Source check completed against the recorded FDD.
- November 3, 2026: Initial cost profile published from the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (issued April 1, 2026).