2026 FDD Issued Apr 29, 2026 Minnesota Commerce (CARDS) Checked Oct 23, 2026
Home Instead Franchise Cost (2026)
A Home Instead franchise costs an estimated $92,640 – $350,550 to open, according to Item 7 of the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). That total includes the $54,000 initial franchise fee (Item 5) and covers this format: Standard Territory. Item 6 lists royalty fee: 5% of Gross Sales, subject to the conditions below.
- Total investment
- $92.6K – $351KItem 7 source and qualifications
- Franchise fee
- $54KItem 5 source and terms
- Royalty
- 5% of Gross SalesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Brand fund
- 2% of Gross SalesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Units (2025)
- 634Item 20 source and scope
- Franchise exit rate
- 1.6% / yrCalculated 3-year average; definition and source
What stands out about Home Instead
The operating data is reported per franchise rather than per caregiver or per client. Item 19 excludes several opening and closing categories from the annual sales sample. Sales include service billings under the source definition, while the startup table separately provides a wide additional-funds allowance for the opening period.
The source reports both revenue and client hours, but neither measure deducts the business’s costs. The startup table includes additional funds separately from equipment, signs and real-estate improvements. Combining those lines into an unsupported office-setup or licensing estimate would change what the filing actually discloses.
What are the initial franchise fees and financial requirements for Home Instead?
Item 5 lists an initial franchise fee of $54,000 for Home Instead. Check the cited Item 5 for payment timing, discounts and format-specific terms.
Item 5 (PDF pages 19-20) sets the initial franchise fee at $54,000, due when the franchise agreement is signed. A separate Deposit Agreement may reserve a market for $27,000; that deposit is credited toward the fee if a franchise agreement is signed within 120 days. If the applicant withdraws in writing within 90 days, $24,300 is refundable; the full deposit is refundable if the franchisor does not approve the applicant. Eligible honorably discharged veterans who do not already own a Home Instead franchise receive a 20% discount, reducing the initial fee to $43,200. Except for the stated circumstances, the initial franchise fee is non-refundable.
Source: Home Instead 2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 19.
This record lists no minimum net worth or liquid-capital requirement for Home Instead, 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 Home Instead franchise? (Item 7)
Source: Home Instead 2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 26.
Item 7 of Home Instead’s 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document estimates the total cost to open one standard territory at $92,640 – $350,550. This total includes the initial franchise fee.
| Expense Category | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $54,000 | $54,000 |
| Operating software, Required Systems, and Technology Fee – 3 months | $2,300 | $2,400 |
| Training and Living Expenses while Training | $2,600 | $8,250 |
| Real Estate & Improvements | $600 | $15,500 |
| Equipment | $3,000 | $21,500 |
| Signs | $0 | $15,500 |
| Miscellaneous Opening Costs, including insurance deposit | $1,300 | $25,400 |
| Inventory | $0 | $8,000 |
| Advertising – 3 Months | $0 | $13,000 |
| Additional Funds – 3 Months | $28,840 | $187,000 |
| Total | $92,640 | $350,550 |
Item 7 (PDF pages 26-27) prints a $92,640-$350,550 total. Real estate and improvements are $600-$15,500; note 4 estimates rent of $8,400-$36,000 a year if a dedicated office of about 500-800 square feet is leased. Equipment is $3,000-$21,500 and additional funds for three months are $28,840-$187,000.
What ongoing royalties and fees does Home Instead charge? (Item 6)
Source: Home Instead 2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 21.
Item 6 of Home Instead’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 | 5% of Gross Sales | Every period | 5% of Gross Sales, due on the 15th and last day of each month or other dates in the Operations Manual. Item 6 note 2 defines Gross Sales, which is not reduced for uncollected accounts. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Additional Trainee Fee | $2,250 – $2,700 | When it applies | Currently $2,250 per additional attendee (one person, one hotel room), not to exceed $2,700. The first two attendees are included in the initial franchise fee or transfer fee; travel and some meals are extra. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Supplemental Training | Varies | When it applies | $500 per day, which may rise by up to 20% per year, plus the franchisor's travel and lodging expenses; provided at the franchisor's discretion when requested. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Transfer Fee | $25,000 | When it applies | Payable by the transferee or transferor when ownership of the franchise is transferred. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Minority Ownership Change Fee | $9,000 | When it applies | For a requested transfer that does not change majority ownership, such as adding or removing a minority owner, an internal restructuring or a transfer to a trust; due on signing the approval documents (PDF pages 21-22). (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Audit Fee | Varies | When it applies | Cost of the audit or inspection, including travel and staff compensation, plus interest on any underpayment and related administrative or professional costs, if the audit is needed because reports were late or it shows non-compliance or an understatement of at least 2% of Gross Sales for any month. (Item 6, PDF p. 22) |
| Management Fee and Expenses | Varies | When it applies | Up to $2,000 per day plus operating expenses the franchisor pays, if it appoints a manager because no approved manager is in place or because of death, disability or incapacity. (Item 6, PDF p. 22) |
| Renewal Fee | $9,000 | When it applies | Deducted on or after the renewal date when the Franchise Agreement is renewed. (Item 6, PDF p. 22) |
| Marketing Fund | 2% of Gross Sales | Every period | 2% of monthly Gross Sales, paid at the same time and in the same manner as the royalty. Item 11 describes the Marketing Fund. (Item 6, PDF p. 22) |
| Technology Fee | $500 per month | Every period | Then-current fee, currently $500 per month, due on the 15th. It may be adjusted on 60 days' notice but not increased by more than 25% per calendar year. (Item 6, PDF p. 23) |
| Fees for Required Systems | Varies | Every period | Varies with the size of the franchise and the number of system users: currently $177-$1,861 per month for systems billed monthly, and up to $3,457 in a month when annual system fees are billed (Item 6 note 3). Fees can rise with vendor charges. (Item 6, PDF p. 23) |
| Bulk Purchasing Administrative Fee | Varies | When it applies | Up to 10% of the cost of a Required System, optional system or other product or service under a network contract the franchisor arranged; it may be a separate charge or retained vendor discounts, rebates or credits. (Item 6, PDF p. 23) |
| Interest Fee | Varies | When it applies | The prime commercial rate reported by the Wall Street Journal plus 3%, but not less than 12% per year, on amounts not paid on time. (Item 6, PDF p. 23) |
| Insurance | Varies | When it applies | The cost of insurance the franchisor obtains if the franchisee fails to obtain or maintain required coverage. (Item 6, PDF p. 24) |
| Costs and Attorneys' Fees | Varies | When it applies | Costs and reasonable attorneys' fees the franchisor may recover. (Item 6, PDF p. 24) |
| Indemnification | Varies | When it applies | Amounts for claims related to the franchisee's operation of the business. (Item 6, PDF p. 24) |
| CST Fee | Varies | When it applies | Currently $120-$255 per consult scheduled on the franchisee's behalf, billed monthly. Optional, except that the franchisor may require it for certain pilot programs. (Item 6, PDF p. 24) |
| Click-to-Chat (Optional) | $50 per month | When it applies | Currently $50 per month, billed quarterly, for an optional program. (Item 6, PDF p. 24) |
| Local Marketing Program Fee (Optional) | Varies | When it applies | If the franchisee joins an optional local marketing program, the amounts the franchisor specifies to cover services, media spend, vendor charges and administrative costs. Item 11 says no percentage of Gross Sales must currently be spent on local advertising. (Item 6, PDF p. 24) |
| PerforMax Group Fee (Optional) | $1,000 per year | When it applies | $1,000 annual membership for an optional coaching and peer support group, plus a share of group meeting expenses and the member's own travel, lodging and meals. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Annual Convention (Optional) | Varies | When it applies | Then-current registration fee, currently $0 for franchise owners and $399 per additional attendee, plus travel and lodging. Registration fees may rise by no more than 25% per calendar year. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Regional Meetings (Optional) | Varies | When it applies | Then-current registration fee, currently $0, plus travel and lodging; attendance is limited to franchise owners. If a fee is introduced it may rise by no more than 25% per calendar year. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
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.
Home Instead startup investment and modeled fees over 10 years
Required Systems fees vary with the size of the franchise and the number of users, and some systems are billed annually, so one annual sales figure cannot establish total recurring fees. See the fee amounts and definitions in Item 6 above. Open the calculator with your own assumptions.
Item 20: Home Instead franchised outlet history
Source: Home Instead 2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 75.
Item 20 Table 3 reports 626 franchised outlets at the end of 2025. The company-owned table reports a further 8 outlets. Our calculated average annual franchised exit rate is 1.6% across the 3 reported years, using the definition below.
| Year | Franchised at Start | Opened | Reported Exits | At End | Franchise Exit Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 614 | 8 | 6 | 616 | 1% |
| 2024 | 616 | 17 | 14 | 619 | 2.3% |
| 2025 | 619 | 17 | 10 | 626 | 1.6% |
Franchised units went from 614 to 626 over 3 years (+12).
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 Home Instead’s exit rate with other brands.
46 units changed owners in 2025.
Item 20 Table 3 (PDF pages 71-75) prints national totals on PDF page 75. Table 4 (PDF page 75) reports affiliate-owned businesses; transfers come from Table 2 (PDF pages 66-70).
How much do Home Instead franchise owners make? (Item 19)
Source: Home Instead 2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 65.
Item 19 of the 2026 FDD reports average gross sales for franchised businesses operating full year 2025 of $2,750,876 (2025, 611 franchised businesses open all 12 months in 2025). Home Instead’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% of Gross Sales) come out of sales before an owner is paid, so these figures cannot show what an owner earns.
See every Home Instead 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 Home Instead’s Item 19 figures and sample limits.
How long is the Home Instead franchise agreement term?
Source: Home Instead 2026 FDD, Item 17, PDF p. 55.
The standard Home Instead franchise agreement runs 5 years, with renewal terms of 5 years.
Item 17 (PDF page 55): the Franchise Agreement runs 5 years. After a franchise bought by transfer between unaffiliated parties, or for a new location, the owner may renew for 5 years on the same terms; otherwise renewal is under the then-current agreement. Renewal requires a $9,000 fee and other conditions.
How long does it take to open a Home Instead franchise? (Item 11)
Source: Home Instead 2026 FDD, Item 11, PDF p. 36.
Item 11 of the 2026 FDD states no typical time to open. The agreement requires you to open within 30 days after the franchise agreement's effective date, unless Home Instead permits another period in writing.
Where a state license is required to operate, the deadline is measured from a later date (PDF page 36).
Compare Home Instead with other franchises
Head-to-head FDD cost, fee, and earnings comparisons:
Franchises with a similar investment range
These published records are selected by proximity to Home Instead’s $92,640 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
- BrightStar Care $101K – $217K Senior & Home Care
- ShelfGenie $95.3K – $148K Source review pending Provisional publication Home Services
- The Junkluggers $96K – $359K Home Services
- Ace Hardware Painting Services $89.3K – $153K Source review pending Provisional publication Home Services
- Budget Blinds $101K – $211K Home Services
Compare other senior & home care franchises
Frequently Asked Questions about Home Instead
- How much does it cost to open a Home Instead franchise?
- Item 7 of the 2026 FDD estimates $92,640 – $350,550, including the initial franchise fee of $54,000. The widest line is the additional funds for the first three months.
- What ongoing fees does Home Instead charge?
- Item 6 lists a royalty of 5% of Gross Sales, a marketing fund contribution of 2% of Gross Sales and a monthly technology fee. Fees for required systems vary with the size of the business and the number of users.
- How long is a Home Instead franchise agreement?
- The franchise agreement runs 5 years. Item 17 describes renewal for another term, subject to a renewal fee and other conditions.
- What does Home Instead report in Item 19?
- Item 19 reports average Gross Sales of $2,750,876 per franchised business for 2025, along with client hours served. The figures were not independently audited and do not deduct any costs.
Sources
HOME INSTEAD, INC. Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 29, 2026, as filed with the Minnesota Commerce (CARDS). Read the source FDD PDF. How to get this FDD yourself.
- Item 5: cited PDF p. 19
- Item 6: cited PDF p. 21
- Item 7: cited PDF p. 26
- Item 19: cited PDF p. 63
- Item 20: cited PDF p. 75
- Agreement term (Item 17): cited PDF p. 55
Page references for Home Instead 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
- October 29, 2026: Record updated.
- October 23, 2026: Source check completed against the recorded FDD.
- October 23, 2026: Complete source recheck against the April 29, 2026 FDD: cover, Item 1, Item 5, all 22 Item 6 rows (PDF pages 21-26), Item 11 local advertising terms, every Item 7 row and total, Item 17, Item 19 and Item 20 Tables 1-4. Replaced the Item 6 schedule, which had misstated the technology, transfer, renewal and interest terms and listed charges and a local marketing minimum the FDD does not contain; removed liquid-capital and net-worth figures that had no FDD or exact website source; corrected the Item 20 page. The source hold is cleared.
- October 19, 2026: Source review hold recorded: The October 19 audit corrected conflicting Item 7 prose, selected financial-performance labels and PDF references. The fee schedule and remaining record sections still require a complete source recheck; the historical source-check date is not renewed by these targeted corrections.
- October 16, 2026: Initial cost profile published from the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (issued April 29, 2026).