2026 FDD Issued Apr 1, 2026, amended Sep 2, 2026 Minnesota Commerce (CARDS)
Caring Transitions Franchise Cost (2026)
Caring Transitions’s 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) lists an initial franchise fee of $58,900 (Item 5). Item 7 prints an estimated total investment of $75,860 – $123,250, but the printed total and the listed expense lines do not reconcile, so a cleared cost range is not available. This record was published provisionally before independent verification was complete. Read the printed lines and the unresolved difference.
Read the source-review hold before using these figures.
- Total investment
- $75.9K – $123KPrinted Item 7 total; does not reconcile
- Franchise fee
- $58.9KItem 5 source and terms
- Royalty
- 6% of Gross ReceiptsItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Brand fund
- 2% of Gross ReceiptsItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
What stands out about Caring Transitions
Results vary widely across owners. Item 19 gives no overall average, only quartiles, and the gap between the top and bottom groups is large: the lowest quartile averaged a small fraction of what the top quartile reported. Gross receipts here also include money passed through to clients, such as estate-sale proceeds, so they overstate what stays with the business.
Minimum payments apply even in slow months. The royalty is 6% of Gross Receipts or a monthly floor that rises after the first year, the national branding fee has its own floor, and the first year carries a set monthly local marketing spend. Several required subscriptions, including the call center and an estate-sale listing service, add fixed monthly costs.
The network has grown quickly, ending 2025 at 413 franchised businesses, a count that tracks territories rather than owners. Transfers between owners rose sharply in the latest year. The franchisor also offers to rebate the entire franchise fee in stages to owners who reach cumulative receipts targets within set periods, but it says the targets are not projections.
What are the initial franchise fees and financial requirements for Caring Transitions?
Item 5 lists an initial franchise fee of $58,900 for Caring Transitions. Check the cited Item 5 for payment timing, discounts and format-specific terms.
Item 5 (PDF pages 10-11): the initial franchise fee is $58,900 for a territory of 175,000 to 200,000 people, plus $500 for every 1,000 people (or part) over 200,000. A $5,000 deposit reserves a territory for 30 days ($10,000 for a second) and is credited to the fee. Additional franchises bought within 24 months may get 10% off, and qualifying veterans up to 10% off; only one discount applies. Under the Winners' Circle program the franchisor rebates $10,000 of the fee at each of three cumulative Gross Receipts goals ($900,000 in two years, $1,600,000 in three and $2,300,000 in four) and the rest at $3,100,000 in five years, subject to conditions; rebates are returned if the agreement ends early. A right of first refusal on another territory costs $5,000. Fees are non-refundable.
Source: Caring Transitions 2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 10.
This record lists no minimum net worth or liquid-capital requirement for Caring Transitions, because no sourced figure has been recorded. Ask the franchisor for its current financial qualifications in writing.
How much does it cost to open a Caring Transitions franchise? (Item 7)
Source: Caring Transitions 2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 15.
The printed totals or listed expenses below do not reconcile. These are the amounts the FDD prints, not a source-cleared investment range. Read the source note before using any budget figure.
| Expense Category | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $58,900 | $58,900 |
| Furniture and Equipment | $500 | $1,000 |
| Computer System | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| Travel & Living Expenses While Training | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| Initial Rent Deposit, Telephone, Bank and Other Deposits | $450 | $2,000 |
| Additional Funds - 6 Months | $4,000 | $38,000 |
| Grand-Opening Promotion | $3,000 | $4,000 |
| Sales Employee | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| Web Hosting Service | $100 | $100 |
| Monthly Office Rental Payment | $200 | $1,000 |
| Insurance | $2,000 | $5,000 |
| Certified Relocation Transition Specialist Training and Test | $650 | $3,000 |
| Membership and Association Fees | $500 | $500 |
| Estatesales.org Elite Package | $60 | $150 |
| Printed Item 7 total (also on the cover) (FDD printed amount, PDF p. 16) | $75,860 | $123,250 |
Item 7 (PDF pages 15-16) and the cover print $75,860 to $123,250. The 14 low estimates add to the printed low total, but the high estimates add to $123,150, $100 less than the printed high total. The estimate assumes a home office or about 200 square feet of shared space, owner and employee vehicles, and additional funds for 6 months; it excludes owner compensation and financing costs. Membership fees are $500 here and $1,500 in Item 6.
What ongoing royalties and fees does Caring Transitions charge? (Item 6)
Source: Caring Transitions 2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 12.
Item 6 of Caring Transitions’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 Fee | 6% of Gross Receipts | Every period | The greater of 6% of the prior month's Gross Receipts or a Minimum Royalty of $300 per month for 12 months and $500 per month after that, due by the 5th (note 1). Gross Receipts are measured before client distributions, so an estate sale of $1,000 for a client produces $1,000 of Gross Receipts (note 2). (Item 6, PDF p. 12) |
| National Branding Fee | 2% of Gross Receipts | Every period | 2% of Gross Receipts with a $350 monthly minimum, due by the 5th; may rise by no more than 10% for each year the agreement has been in effect (note 4). (Item 6, PDF p. 12) |
| Local Marketing | Varies | Every period | At least $399 per month with a designated supplier during the first 12 months, then 4% of Gross Receipts on an annual basis. (Item 6, PDF p. 12) |
| Local Cooperative Advertising | Varies | When it applies | Up to 3% of Gross Receipts monthly if a cooperative is established, unless a majority of members agree to more; none exist. Not credited toward the national branding fee (note 3). (Item 6, PDF p. 12) |
| Transfer Fee | Varies | When it applies | The greater of $15,000 or 10% of the purchase price, plus legal and administrative costs; none for a transfer to your own company. (Item 6, PDF p. 12) |
| Lead Referral Fee | $10,000 | When it applies | $10,000 if you sell to a buyer already in the franchisor's sales database when discussions began. (Item 6, PDF p. 12) |
| Right of First Refusal Fee | $5,000 | When it applies | $5,000 for an optional right of first refusal on another territory. (Item 6, PDF p. 12) |
| Formation of Business Entity | Varies | When it applies | Variable; if you sign individually you must form an entity and assign the franchise to it within 90 days. (Item 6, PDF p. 12) |
| Electronic Copies of Marketing Materials | Varies | When it applies | The national branding fund's costs of creating materials you order electronically. (Item 6, PDF p. 12) |
| Technology/Software License Fee | $250 per month | Every period | $250 per month; may rise by no more than 10% for each year in effect plus added tools and vendor price increases (note 10). (Item 6, PDF p. 12) |
| Call Center | $100 – $500 per month | Every period | $100 to $500 per month depending on volume, for the required designated call center. (Item 6, PDF p. 12) |
| Certified Relocation Transition Specialist Continuing Education | $650 – $3,000 per year | Every period | $650 to $3,000 annually to maintain CRTS or other professional certifications. (Item 6, PDF p. 12) |
| Financial Education Presentation | $250 | When it applies | $250 within 6 months after signing. (Item 6, PDF p. 12) |
| EstateSales.org | $60 – $150 per month | Every period | $60 to $150 per month for the required EstateSales.org Elite Package subscription. (Item 6, PDF p. 12) |
| Web Hosting Service | $100 per month | Every period | $100 per month for any URL the franchisor provides. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Membership and Association Fees | $1,500 | When it applies | $1,500 as incurred for required industry memberships, such as the National Association of Senior Move Managers and the National Association of Professional Organizers. Item 7 estimates $500 for the same item. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Franchisee Meetings | Varies | When it applies | Currently $899 per person; may rise by no more than $100 for each year in effect (note 11). (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Late Fee | Varies | When it applies | The greater of $100 or 10% of a payment more than 5 days late; $50 for returned ACH payments; $100 for late revenue reports and records. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Interest | Varies | When it applies | 18% per year on payments more than 30 days late, in addition to the late fee. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Customer Refunds | Varies | When it applies | The amount the franchisor advances to refund your customer, plus 18% interest. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Audit Fee | Varies | When it applies | Audit cost plus 18% interest on the underpayment, only if the audit follows your failure to keep or submit records or finds an understatement of 3% or more for any week. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Territory Amendment Fee | $10,000 | When it applies | $10,000 if the franchisor allows you to amend your territory. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Sales/Use Taxes | Varies | When it applies | Any state or local tax assessed on royalties, branding fees or other fees. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Reimbursement | Varies | When it applies | Expenses the franchisor pays for you, such as rent or taxes, plus 18% interest. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Legal Expenses | Varies | When it applies | Legal expenses to enforce the franchise agreement, plus 18% interest. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Indemnification | Varies | When it applies | Amounts the franchisor pays on claims arising from your business, plus 18% interest. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Step-In Fees | Varies | When it applies | $500 per day if the franchisor administers the business after your default or incapacity. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Liquidated Damages | Varies | When it applies | The average monthly royalty and branding fees from the prior 12 months, if the agreement is terminated for an uncured default. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Buyer's Premium | Varies | When it applies | Paid by winning bidders on CTBids.com as a percentage of the bid (currently up to 18%); the franchisee keeps 15% of the bid in years 1-2, falling to 12% in years 6-10, and the franchisor's share will not exceed 6% (note 12). (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
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.
Caring Transitions startup investment and modeled fees over 10 years
A source check placed this record on review hold. Automatic fee estimates are withheld until the outstanding issues are resolved. Item 6 charges the greater of 6% of Gross Receipts or a monthly minimum royalty, a national branding fee with its own monthly minimum, and a local marketing minimum in the first year. A single annual sales figure cannot show which months reach those minimums, so this record does not produce an annual fee estimate or payback preset. See the fee amounts and definitions in Item 6 above. Open the calculator with your own assumptions.
Item 20: Caring Transitions franchised outlet history
Source: Caring Transitions 2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 41.
Item 20 Table 3 reports 413 franchised outlets at the end of 2025. The company-owned table reports a further 0 outlets.
| Year | Franchised at Start | Opened | Reported Exits | At End | Franchise Exit Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 272 | 60 | 18 | 314 | — |
| 2024 | 314 | 70 | 12 | 372 | — |
| 2025 | 372 | 65 | 24 | 413 | — |
Calculated outlet totals, net growth and exit rates are withheld because this record has not cleared the current Item 20 source checks. The table retains the outlet counts printed in Item 20. Read the unresolved source issues.
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.
33 units changed owners in 2025.
Item 20 counts individual franchised businesses (territories), not owners: 284 franchisees operated 413 franchises at the end of 2025 (Item 19). Table 3 totals are on PDF page 41; Table 1 (page 36) and Table 2 transfers (page 37) match. There are no company-owned outlets; franchises reacquired by the franchisor were terminated at reacquisition.
How much do Caring Transitions franchise owners make? (Item 19)
Source: Caring Transitions 2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 34.
Item 19 of the 2026 FDD reports average Gross Receipts, top quartile of all franchisees (Table 1) of $922,414 (year ending December 31, 2025, 58 of 235 franchisees that operated 342 franchises during 2025; 21 (36%) attained or surpassed the average). Caring Transitions’s Item 19 reports sales but no profit, costs or owner pay. Rent, payroll, supplies, loan payments and Item 6 fees come out of sales before an owner is paid, so these figures cannot show what an owner earns.
Read the source-review hold before using this figure.
See every Caring Transitions 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 Caring Transitions’s Item 19 figures and sample limits.
How long is the Caring Transitions franchise agreement term?
Source: Caring Transitions 2026 FDD, Item 17, PDF p. 32.
The standard Caring Transitions franchise agreement runs 10 years, with renewal terms of 10 years.
Item 17 (PDF page 32) and the franchise agreement: a 10-year term, renewable for two additional consecutive 10-year terms if the renewal conditions are met.
How long does it take to open a Caring Transitions franchise? (Item 11)
Source: Caring Transitions 2026 FDD, Item 11, PDF p. 26.
Item 11 of the 2026 FDD states the time from signing the franchise agreement to opening: 2 to 6 months.
Timing depends mainly on attending initial training, held about every 4 to 6 weeks. The franchise agreement allows termination if the business does not open within 90 days after initial training.
Comparing other franchise records
An unresolved startup-total conflict prevents matching this record to other brands by investment amount. Browse the franchise directory and read the format and source qualifications on each record.
Compare other senior & home care franchises
Sources
C.T. Franchising Systems, Inc. Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 1, 2026, as amended September 2, 2026, as filed with the Minnesota Commerce (CARDS). Read the source FDD PDF. How to get this FDD yourself.
- Item 5: cited PDF p. 10
- Item 6: cited PDF p. 12
- Item 7: cited PDF p. 15
- Item 19: cited PDF p. 34
- Item 20: cited PDF p. 41
- Agreement term (Item 17): cited PDF p. 32
Page references for Caring Transitions 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: Initial cost profile published from the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (issued April 1, 2026).
- November 2, 2026: Source review hold recorded. Unresolved corrections are listed in this source section.
- November 2, 2026: Provisional publication approved per owner directive: Owner directed on November 2, 2026 that every remaining batch 6 brand go live, including brands whose FDDs print conflicting figures. Each record was rechecked against its FDD on November 3, 2026; the unresolved source conflicts remain disclosed and the record is not marked verified.
- November 2, 2026: Corrected against the April 1, 2026 Minnesota Clean FDD, as amended September 2, 2026: cover, Items 5, 6, 7, 11, 17, 19 and 20. Item 6 now lists all 29 rows (the draft had 6) and suppresses the annual fee model because of royalty and branding minimums; every section citation moved to its actual PDF page. Item 19 no longer treats a single quartile as the model basis. Added the amendment date, opening time, renewal terms and Item 20 scope notes, and rewrote the analysis. Held as a draft because the FDD's Item 7 high lines add to $100 less than its printed total.
- September 2, 2026: Amendment date recorded for the source FDD.