EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE. EXCEPTIONAL CARE. FRANC H ISE OPPORTU N ITY KIT

Transcription

1 EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE. EXCEPTIONAL CARE. FRANC H ISE OPPORTU N ITY KIT

2 EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE. EXCEPTIONAL CARE. A FirstLight HomeCare Franchise Investing In Your Future! TM In Franchised Businesses Percent of U.S. Private Sector Output 3.1% Jobs 8,880,325 Establishments 782,000 $890 billion 6.0% 2.6% The facts are pretty compelling. Franchising works and it works well. Investing in the right franchise is an investment in your future. The success rates, future saleability, and wealth building related to franchising make this business format the choice for thousands of Americans! From food, to retail, to service, to manufacturing, franchising touches all of our lives on a daily basis. As an owner of a franchise business, brand consistency, proven operational methods, training and ongoing support, marketing and technology support, and discounted pricing through aligned vendors give you a decisive advantage. We re excited that you have taken the first steps to learn more about arguably one of the hottest franchises in the United States. FirstLight HomeCare provides quality, affordable, non-medical in-home care for seniors, mothers with newborns, those recovering from surgery and other clients with a need for companion and/or personal care. That means families can take advantage of an affordable alternative to care when it s needed most from several hours a week to full-time, live-in situations. With nearly 90% of seniors indicating their desire to remain in their homes (source: AARP), why wouldn t you consider such a dynamic business opportunity? We Are Different TOP VETERANS FRANCHISE Awarded by Franchise Business Review It s no wonder that the Senior Care market is growing so rapidly. Every day in the United States, 10,000 people turn 65. But how has FirstLight HomeCare vaulted to a leader in this dynamic industry so quickly? Since our inception in 2010, we ve awarded over 150 territories in the United States and Canada and been the recipient of numerous awards, including Entrepreneur magazine s Franchise 500 and the Franchise Business Review Top Franchisee Satisfaction. FirstLight HomeCare is setting a new standard in the senior care industry! 2

3 EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE. EXCEPTIONAL CARE. A whole new and truly exceptional approach to non-medical, in-home care. An Exceptional Approach FirstLight HomeCare was designed from the ground up to be a completely new approach to high-quality in-home care. Our management team brings over 138 years of franchise experience and 100 years of home care experience and the development of a major, national senior care company to the creation of the most comprehensive, reliable, attentive, best-managed and values-driven organization in the industry. Every facet of the in-home care market was studied to provide our clients truly exceptional service. And that exceptional service starts with our people. Extraordinary People WHAT MAKES FIRSTLIGHT HOMECARE DIFFERENT? FirstLight HomeCare is staffed by people who have been there and who are there now. We understand the challenges families face when caring for loved ones across town or across the country. That means helping our franchise owners find and hire the kinds of people we would trust with our families so that your clients can trust and rely on them. All of our caregivers are direct employees (not contractors) state licensed where required and thoroughly screened and background-checked and must pass through our rigorous care training. We are a fully compliant company regarding the privacy of every client s personal health data, with caregivers trained in privacy issues. Following our thorough recruitment and orientation, all of our employees also complete our unique Culture of Care training and orientation process. Our Culture of Care FirstLight HomeCare is built upon a Culture of Care, rooted in family values, that comprises several disciplines which allow us to provide the very best personal care for our clients. But our aim is to provide everyone associated with our company care recipients, their families, caregivers, business owners, healthcare-referring sources and the general public an experience that meets and exceeds expectations. At FirstLight HomeCare, we strive to convey well-being, personal and corporate accountability with a commitment to ongoing improvement, and excellence in everything we do. 3

4 INNOVATIVE FAMILY SERVICES... FOR GREATER PEACE OF MIND. Our philosophy of caring for clients and their families influences every facet of our business, including the development of innovative, industry-leading tools. Client Care Access A secure, web-based tool for families to monitor the schedule and detail of care for their loved ones, providing tools for feedback and unrivaled peace of mind from virtually anywhere you have Internet access. Emergency Response For 24/7 peace of mind, a FirstLight HomeCare client can choose to have a Personal Emergency Response System provided, knowing it s backed by one of the largest and most trusted emergency response companies in the country. Client Satisfaction Surveys We want to know what you think and more than once: we regularly gather feedback from across our company, learning in detail where we are successful and where we need to improve. The opinion of every client and every family member matters to us. Client Care Assurance Our 100% commitment to your satisfaction. If you or your loved one is unhappy with our care services for any reason, we are committed to resolving that issue in a timely, thorough and caring manner. ClientFirst A unique tool for companion and personal care that helps us match specific caregivers to your loved one s interests and habits. This helps in the initial transition to an in-home care arrangement and often provides the foundation for enriched, long-term relationships. FI RSTLIGHT SERVIC ES Companionship Personal Care Regular visits, conversation and company Medication reminders Meal preparation Light housekeeping Laundry services Shopping and errand services Routine/incidental transportation Recreational activities Incoming mail and paperwork organization Grooming/washing assistance and guidance Live-in services 24-hour care Respite family care Bathing and hygiene Walking and mobility assistance Transfer and posture positioning Continence and toileting care Special diets and meal preparation Eating assistance Oral hygiene 4

5 C U LT U R E O F C A R E The FirstLight HomeCare difference starts with our Culture of Care Our Culture of Care philosophy is the cornerstone of FirstLight HomeCare. It comprises the beliefs and values which guide us every day as we serve others. Among our values is this promise to our employees and clients: At FirstLight HomeCare, the genuine health and well-being of others is our greatest concern. We vow to provide first-class personal service for our clients so that they may enjoy the warmth, independence and relaxed comfort of their home. As a franchise owner, our Culture of Care philosophy and commitment to Service Excellence will be a cornerstone in differentiating you from other senior care providers in your market. FirstLight HomeCare s strategies, tools and support enable you to provide a world-class customer experience for families and referral sources. The business result: a clear competitive advantage! Service Excellence: We Are FirstLight HomeCare We foster healthy relationships for life. We are always receptive and anticipate the needs of others. We are empowered to create a unique, healthy and comfortable environment. We recognize and appreciate serving our clients with unparalleled care, while enriching lives, enhancing community relations and spreading the FirstLight HomeCare Culture of Care. We continually seek to innovate and strengthen the FirstLight HomeCare Culture of Care. We believe that every service challenge presents an opportunity for us to immediately own and resolve that challenge to our client s satisfaction, and that such challenges present opportunities for us to improve FirstLight HomeCare. We foster teamwork and collaboration so that we may exceed the expectations of every client and team member. We constantly strive to learn and grow. We are proud of our FirstLight HomeCare image, exemplified through our professional appearance and demeanor. We care for and protect the confidentiality and safety of others. We are responsible for uncompromising standards of care and personal attention, and we are committed to maintaining a safe environment. The Caregiver Bond At FirstLight HomeCare, our extraordinary caregivers are the most significant members of our team in delivering our service commitment to others. By embracing each day with values of trust, honesty, respect, integrity and dedication, we cultivate our relationships to the benefit of each caregiver and the entire organization as a whole. FirstLight HomeCare promotes an atmosphere where diversity is respected, quality of life is valued, personal ambitions are attained and the FirstLight HomeCare Culture of Care is emboldened. 5

6 TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM The FirstLight HomeCare technology platform a superior way to manage your franchise The FirstLight HomeCare technology platform is a unique and special aspect of our franchise management system, bundling several core functions to benefit franchise owners in a structure never before seen in the senior care business. We ve taken our industry-leading staffing/scheduling software, our proprietary intranet offering and a robust back office accounting service (including payroll processing) and rolled these functions into an affordable and efficient framework to help accelerate the growth of your business. Plus, all of these applications are web-based for ease of access and future portability. Our platform is further enhanced with other functionality, including credit card processing, background check system connectivity and call center services all established and linked to the FirstLight HomeCare platform. This innovative FirstLight HomeCare technology platform yields real, bottom-line benefits to you: Greater day-to-day productivity for you as a FirstLight HomeCare owner Increased effectiveness and reliability in your technology, meaning your employees can better follow the FirstLight HomeCare management system More time to focus on growth and development activities for your FirstLight HomeCare business Combined with our relationship with one of the largest senior care technology companies in the U.S., the FirstLight HomeCare technology platform gives your franchise immediate differentiation as you establish a new standard for senior care in the communities you serve. The best part of owning a FirstLight HomeCare franchise is having access to proven policies and procedures but still be able to have the freedom and flexibility to put my own management style and culture into my business. Jim Crews, FirstLight HomeCare of Scottsdale, AZ 6

7 MARKETING & ADVERTISING SUPPORT FirstLight HomeCare wants every franchise to be as successful as possible and that s why we equip business owners with the knowledge, training and tools to successfully operate and develop their FirstLight HomeCare business. One very important area of franchise development is marketing, advertising and local public relations. This is because these disciplines not only promote awareness and preference for FirstLight HomeCare services among clients and their families, but also assist with recruitment, the development of referral sources and relationships, and the overall advancement of the FirstLight HomeCare brand. With this in mind, we have partnered with a leading healthcare marketing and PR firm to develop your Franchise Marketing Program; a strategic and robust program to provide a structured, reliable approach to your local communication efforts. Here are its major components. Program Element 1 Basics of Marketing During training and orientation, every FirstLight HomeCare franchisee will attend one of our Basics of Marketing seminars. These seminars are designed to: Familiarize you with various types of advertising vehicles and their costs and benefits Make available information and resources for local and regional networking and public relations Help you with planning and budgeting for regular advertisement and promotion Introduce our marketing partner and let you ask them directly questions concerning brand building and marketing Program Element 2 The FirstLight HomeCare Starter Kit This kit, or package of communication tools, gives you access to professional, attractive, affordable print and electronic materials that can be used right from the start of your business to convey your commitment to quality and excellence. 7

8 MAR KETI NG & ADVERTISI NG SU PPORT Elements can be quickly and easily customized and delivered through help from our provider partners. Examples of materials available include: Local franchise stationery (business cards, letterhead, envelopes, mailing labels) Sales collateral such as brochures, sales fliers, pocket folders and various caregiver recruiting materials Customizable print ads, web ads, yellow page ads and direct mail pieces Display and event materials such as posters, counter cards and banners Radio and TV commercials (designed for local station tagging) Local media lists for advertising and PR opportunities, along with a starter Referral Source list for networking efforts Program Element 3 Ongoing Marketing & Advertising Support Ongoing marketing support through our provider partners helps ensure that you maximize your growth potential. Each FirstLight HomeCare franchise owner will have an open option to utilize Program Element 3 Services at their discretion. These fee-based services may include local media analysis, media negotiating/buying expertise, consultation, actual hands-on marketing development, support with advertising, literature, newsletters and other graphic needs, as well as ways to leverage new media such as web marketing and social media. This wide range of added services is anticipated to be coordinated through the FirstLight HomeCare Franchising Team, and exemplifies our commitment to creating world-class marketing materials for all FirstLight HomeCare franchise owners. We will update the FirstLight HomeCare family on these added services as they become available, assuredly at a reduced cost to individual franchise owners, as FirstLight HomeCare Franchising bears the initial developmental investment. 8

9 PROVIDER PARTNERS FirstLight HomeCare has teamed up with a select group of technology and service providers who not only share our passion for excellence but who themselves are committed to the highest ethical standards for doing business. This ensures that our clients, families, caregivers and other team members are supported by provider partners who are focused on 100% customer satisfaction. Based on this unique collaboration and our provider partner relationships, FirstLight HomeCare provides an unparalleled operating system to help enable our collective success. Personal Monitoring & Emergency Response Systems We understand the value of the peace of mind our clients and their families gain from personal safety monitoring and alert systems. That s why we offer a comprehensive suite of easy-to-use solutions that feature advanced technologies to effectively manage medication schedules, monitor vital signs, and provide immediate assistance and response in the case of emergencies. In our experience, we ve found that clients who use our personal monitoring and emergency response systems are likely to enjoy more confidence in their daily routines and, in some cases, are able to maintain their independence longer than they otherwise might. Our systems are developed and serviced by leaders in the medical alert industry and work around the clock to ensure our clients safety and give welcome reassurance to their families. Personal Medication System An intelligent reminder system that automatically dispenses correct doses of medications and vitamin supplements according to doctor s orders Vitals Monitoring Allows healthcare providers, caregivers or even insurers to remotely and accurately monitor a client s vital signs to help improve his or her care and take preventive measures to avoid serious health events and hospitalizations Medical Alert Monitoring Personal emergency response system that provides help to clients whenever they need it Compatible with traditional landline, digital and VoIP phone services 9

10 PROVIDER PARTNERS Traditional Marketing As our FirstLight HomeCare brand evolves, our marketing partner continues to drive our messaging strategy, design, marketing and advertising tool production, website development and other communication initiatives system-wide. Public Relations Our public relations partner is instrumental in sharing the voice of FirstLight HomeCare at the national level as well as supporting franchisees at the local level, building the FirstLight HomeCare brand within your territory, complementary to our national efforts. Search Engine Optimization/Online Marketing/Social Media Our online marketing provider develops strategic plans customized for FirstLight HomeCare to ensure our business maximizes every search engine optimization tool available. They provide pay-per-click and online advertising services, Google Local optimization for first-page Google presence, social media platform management that translates to consumer engagement, lead generation, inbound calls, and mobile services for the digital age. The best part of owning a FirstLight HomeCare franchise is the responsiveness of the home office. The support is second to none and their hearts are in the right place. Ed Ukaonu, FirstLight HomeCare of Atlanta, GA 10

11 IS FIRSTLIGHT HOMECARE RIGHT FOR YOU? Thank you for your interest in FirstLight HomeCare. We re excited about the future of this industry and making our organization the best-known, best-operated and most preferred provider of in-home care services for seniors and their families. Here is a little information about our philosophy and the kinds of extraordinary people we aspire to join our team. Our Culture of Care and the Desire to Serve At FirstLight HomeCare, everything we do is based in our Culture of Care philosophy, which simply states: The genuine health and well-being of others is our greatest concern. We vow to provide first-class personal service for our clients so that they may enjoy warmth, independence and relaxed comfort in their own home or any setting. To achieve this, we re looking for people who enjoy being around people (although most of our support is geared toward seniors, we do provide services for anyone over the age of 18), who are passionate about service and want to build a high-potential business where they can serve seniors, their families and the communities in which they live. A potential franchisee s business acumen or background is important to us, but we know this is a business where virtually anyone from any occupation can be successful if they follow our system and utilize the FirstLight HomeCare franchise tools available to them. TOP VETERANS FRANCHISE Awarded by Franchise Business Review Are you outgoing? Do you enjoy being around people? Do you enjoy helping others? Do you enjoy a fast-paced environment and understand the value of great service? These are the questions we expect potential franchisees to ask themselves. And while some business or related experience is helpful, healthcare experience is NOT required. A Great Opportunity for Couples or Teams A FirstLight HomeCare franchise is a great opportunity for couples or a team of people. A husband-and-wife team is often a near-perfect fit for this business if their backgrounds and service perspectives are aligned with our keys to success. We also find our franchise offering has strong appeal to many entrepreneurial-minded women, veterans, family partnerships and early retirees looking for a second career. 11

12 IS FIRSTLIGHT HOMECARE RIGHT FOR YOU? In fact, our FirstLight HomeCare two FTE (fulltime equivalent) franchise requirement fits very well with many candidates. With this requirement, franchisees take a two-tier approach to the business, with one person maintaining an inside focus (recruiting and client services) and the other maintaining an outside focus (referral networking and building community relationships). This approach is crucial to developing your client base at an accelerated pace. Would You Like to Learn More? These are just some of our ideas about the types of people we re looking for to become FirstLight HomeCare franchisees. For more information, please visit Thank you! The military definitely prepared me for owning a FirstLight HomeCare franchise. The discipline, management, order and stressful situations you go through in the military transfer well to a franchise system especially FirstLight HomeCare. Bobbi Martinez, FirstLight HomeCare of Arlington Heights, IL Attending Discovery Day and meeting the FirstLight HomeCare corporate team could not have made me feel more confident moving forward with my business endeavors. I was greeted by a team of professionals that quickly felt more like an extended family to me. After spending time with the team, learning about their professional backgrounds and observing their overwhelming passion for what they do firsthand, I knew immediately FirstLight HomeCare was the right choice for me. Eric Friedrich, FirstLight HomeCare of St. Simon s Island, GA 12

13 YOU COME FIRST AT FIRSTLIGHT HOMECARE Investing in your future is a serious decision. At FirstLight HomeCare, we understand the importance of finding the right franchise. As you start your investigation process, we will do our best to answer all of your questions. Our initial investment for a single territory is as follows: FirstLight HomeCare is a Preferred Franchise with the SBA and has many lending relationships providing SBA, conventional, retirement rollover, lines of credit, home equity and more for qualified owners. Multiple territory opportunities are also available for qualified candidates. Item Amount Initial Franchise Fee $39,500 Travel and Training Expenses $3,025 to $6,050 Business Premises $0 to $5,400 Start-Up Supplies and Inventory $300 to $900 Employment Screening $256 to $384 Equipment, Signage, Graphics $250 to $2,450 Advertising, Marketing and Promotions $4,000 to $6,000 Grand Opening Marketing $1,500 to $3,000 Other Paid Expenses $950 to $4,500 Business Permits, Licenses and Fees $0 to $7,000 Insurance as Required Under Section 7.16 of the Franchise Agreement $3,200 to $5,400 Computer Equipment $2,200 to $2,900 Additional Funds: 3 to 6 Months $32,000 to $47,975 TOTALS $87,181 to $131,459 13