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BrightStar Care

BrightStar Franchising, LLCfranchising since 2005owned by BrightStar Group Holdings, Inc., BrightStar Buyer, Inc., BrightStar Intermediate, Inc., BrightStar Holdings Parent, LLC
Open the 2026 FDD

Everything below is BrightStar Care's own required public disclosure, presented neutrally. Chips link to the exact page of the source document.

The snapshot
Royalty
5.25%
field median 5%
Franchise fee
$50K
field median $52K
Startup investment
$103K – $220K
Item 7 range
Franchised outlets
396
2023 → 2025
What its locations disclose
Annual unit revenue (Item 19)
$1.94M median
207 units, per agency · FY2025
relaxed cohort — compare with caregroup: outlet_or_territory · gross · mature_full_year

Revenue is not profit. One statistic per brand, chosen by a published rule set; brands compare only inside the same group.

Methodology notes
  • FN-COHORT-WIDENED Brand cohort range did not fit a tight canonical bracket; assigned to a wider bracket that fully contains it.
  • FN-COMPARABILITY-GROUP Brands are compared only within the same comparability group (unit basis, revenue definition, cohort maturity). The group label is shown beside every comparison.
  • FN-HEADLINE-COHORT The headline figure is one Item 19 statistic chosen per brand by a published, versioned rule set (franchised, unit-level, mature, all eligible units, largest count, latest year, median first); the other disclosed cohorts remain available.
  • FN-RANK-COHORT Cohort is a performance-ranked subset (top/bottom/quartile), not a random or complete sample.
  • FN-REV-DEF-VARIES Revenue definitions differ by brand (Gross Sales/Revenue(s)/Receipts/Billings, Net Billings, etc.); see each brand's verbatim definition.
  • FN-UNIT-BASIS Reporting unit is the brand's own (business/territory/outlet); composites never mix bases.
Disclosed gross margin
41.7%
the brand's own Item 19 figure — definitions vary by brand
The franchisor's own books

From the audited financial statements attached to the FDD — the corporate entity, not its franchisees.

Whose numbers these are: Figures are BrightStar Franchising, LLC; the franchisor consolidated with its own subsidiaries; consolidating BrightStar Technology Group, LLC.

Audited by BDO USA, P.C. · unmodified opinion · with an emphasis-of-matter paragraph · fiscal year ends December 29 · pass through for tax FDD p. 259

LineFY2024FY2025
Total revenue$56.46M
Royalties collected$36.49M
Operating income
Net income$-6.5M
Equity$23.09M$301.07M
Methodology notes
  • FN-STATEMENT-SET Figures come from one audited statement package (entity, report, fiscal year-end); a later package supersedes the comparative years of an earlier one, and packages for other entities are never blended.
  • FN-FY-BASIS Brand reports on a non-calendar fiscal year.
Who runs it
Dean Ulizio
Chief Strategy Officer
FDD p. 13
  • Chief Strategy Officer · BrightStar Franchising, LLC · January 2020 – present
  • Executive Vice President of Global Strategic Development · BrightStar Franchising, LLC · September 2016 – December 2019
  • Executive Vice President of Global Strategic Development · BrightStar Senior Living Franchising, LLC of Gurnee, Illinois · September 2016 – December 2019
Heather Smith
Chief Experience Officer
FDD p. 14
  • Chief Experience Officer · BrightStar Franchising, LLC · October 2025 – present
  • Chief Human Resources Officer · BrightStar Franchising, LLC · February 2025 – October 2025
  • Interim Sr. Vice President of Human Resources · BrightStar Franchising, LLC · April 2024 – February 2025
  • Founder and Principal Consultant · Purple Key Consulting, LLC in Scottsdale, Arizona · March 2007 – February 2025
Pete First
Chief Development Officer
FDD p. 13
  • Chief Development Officer · BrightStar Franchising, LLC · March 2022 – present
  • Senior Vice President, Franchise Development · BrightStar Franchising, LLC · March 2020 – March 2022
  • Vice President of Franchise Development · BrightStar Franchising, LLC · September 2018 – March 2020
  • Senior Vice President, Franchise Development · BrightStar Senior Living Franchising, LLC in Gurnee, Illinois · September March 2020 – present
Brandon Allison
Chief Financial Officer
FDD p. 13
  • Chief Financial Officer · BrightStar Franchising, LLC · August 2025 – present
  • Chief Financial Officer · ClearChoice Dental Implants in Chicago, Illinois · June 2023 – July 2025
  • SVP, Strategic Planning · TrueBlue, Inc., in Chicago, Illinois · June 2017 – June 2023
Zachary Woods
Chief Operating Officer
FDD p. 14
  • Chief Operating Officer · BrightStar Franchising, LLC · January 2025 – present
  • Senior Vice President of Operations · BrightStar Franchising, LLC in Gurnee, Illinois · March 2023 – January 2025
  • VP of Franchise Operations · BrightStar Franchising, LLC in Gurnee, Illinois · March 2018 – March 2023
Kelley Hill
Senior Vice President, Clinical Operations
FDD p. 14
  • Senior Vice President, Clinical Operations · BrightStar Franchising, LLC · April 2025 – present
  • consultant · Homewatch CareGivers in Greenwood Village, Colorado · October 2024 – July 2025
  • Co-Founder and Chief Clinical Officer · Helpful, in Cambridge, Massachusetts · September 2022 – 2024
  • Executive Director and Compliance & Clinical Services · FirstLight Home Care in Cincinnati, Ohio · June 2021 – October 2022
Lori Cabbage
Senior Vice President of Business Development
FDD p. 14
  • Senior Vice President of Business Development · BrightStar Franchising, LLC · January 2021 – present
  • Senior Vice President of Client Success · Complia HealthCare in Schaumburg, Illinois · August 2017 – January 2021
Andrew Ray
Chief Executive Officer
FDD p. 13
  • Chief Executive Officer · BrightStar Franchising, LLC · February 2024 – present
  • Chief Operating Officer · BrightStar Franchising, LLC · October 2022 – January 2024
  • Chief Operating Officer · BrightStar Senior Living Franchising, LLC and BrightStar Holdings, both of Gurnee, Illinois · October 2022 – present
  • President · NextCare Holding in Mesa, Arizona (DBA BrightStar Care of Mesa) · September 2019 – October 2022
Chris Kapcar
Chief Technology Officer
FDD p. 13
  • Chief Technology Officer · BrightStar Franchising, LLC · May 2025 – present
  • Chief Information Officer · Addison Group in Chicago, Illinois · November 2024 – May 2025
  • in between positions · April 2023 – October 2024
  • VP of Technology · TrueBlue, Inc., in Chicago, Illinois · October 2018 – March 2023
Litigation disclosures

Required public disclosures from BrightStar Care's own FDD, reproduced neutrally. A disclosure is not a judgment of wrongdoing.

BrightStar Franchising, LLC v. Colleen M. Ryan, Daniel D. Ryan and Ryan Home Healthcare, LLC
01-25-0000-5569 · American Arbitration Association · on or about February 4, 2025
FDD p. 14

We initiated action against a former franchisee and its guarantors, whose franchise agreement was terminated for clinical non-compliance, to enforce post-termination obligations (particularly the non-competition and non-solicitation requirements) and to seek payment of post-term liquidated damages and other amounts totaling at least $700,000. Respondents Ryan Home Healthcare, LLC and Colleen M. Ryan filed counterclaims for breach of the franchise agreement and a related forbearance agreement, breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing, tortious interference, civil conspiracy, and violation of the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act. Daniel D. Ryan asserted 300+ counterclaims claiming to seek a total of $100,000,000.

Status: Pending. Final hearings are currently scheduled to begin on May 12, 2026. We intend to pursue our claims and defend against the counterclaims vigorously.

The counterclaims filed by Ryan Home Healthcare, LLC and Colleen M. Ryan seek in excess of $2 million, interest, attorneys' fees, costs, and punitive damages.
Cosmo Fraser and Adam Fraser vs. BrightStar Franchising, LLC, Shelly Sun, Thomas Gilday, Scott Oaks, et al.
02-16-0005-0209 · American Arbitration Association · March 15, 2017
FDD p. 15

Former franchisees who operated one BrightStar Care franchise in Georgia alleged violation of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act, violation of the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act, statutory fraud under Georgia law, common law fraud, and negligent representation in connection with the acquisition of their franchise. They alleged the defendants failed to disclose that the franchised territory was not a 'new' territory, previously operated by 2 different franchisees who allegedly had failed, allegedly was smaller than most franchised territories, and misrepresented the financial performance for first-year franchisees. Sought rescission and rescissionary or compensatory damages in excess of $500,000, punitive damages, attorneys' fees and costs, and other relief.

Status: Concluded. Settled on March 1, 2018; we paid the Frasers a total of $215,000, the parties exchanged mutual releases, and the case was dismissed with prejudice.

We paid the Frasers a total of $215,000, the parties exchanged mutual releases, and the case was dismissed with prejudice.
BrightStar Franchising, LLC v. Foreside Management Company, Mark E. Woodsum, and Claire Woodsum
1:25-cv-08741 · United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois · July 28, 2025
FDD p. 15

Franchisor initiated action for Enforcement of Post-Termination Obligations.

Status: Franchisor Initiated Action.

Enforcement of Post-Termination Obligations
BrightStar Franchising, LLC v. Humdum, LLC, Suresh Pandurangam, and Jyoti Rai
01-25-0000-3477 · American Arbitration Association · on or about January 23, 2025
FDD p. 15

Franchisor initiated action for recovery of unpaid royalties, fees, costs and liquidated damages.

Status: Franchisor Initiated Action.

Recovery of unpaid royalties, fees, costs and liquidated damages:
BrightStar Franchising, LLC v. Udolie Corp., Stacie E. Jeffers, and Michael R. Christensen
01-25-0009-1279 · American Arbitration Association · December 1, 2025
FDD p. 15

Franchisor initiated action for recovery of unpaid royalties, fees, costs and liquidated damages.

Status: Franchisor Initiated Action.

Recovery of unpaid royalties, fees, costs and liquidated damages:
The fine print
Fee schedule, as filed
  • initial franchise fee: $50,000 for the first 200,000 to 300,000 in population in your Protected Territory with a minimum of 15,000 in population 65 years of age or older. You must pay us $100 per each additional 1,000 people (pro rata) in the Protected Territory over 300,000.If you are acquiring a franchise for a Medium Density Market territory or a Small territory, both of which involve a Protected Territory with less than 200,000 in population, you will pay us an Initial Franchise Fee of $…
  • royalty: 5.25% of monthly Net Billings generated from non-National Accounts and 6.25% of monthly Net Billings generated from National Accounts
  • brand fund: General Marketing Fee: the greater of $500 per month or 2.5% of the prior month's Net Billings
  • technology fee: Monthly Athena Business System and Email Service Fee: the higher of $250 per month or 1% of the prior month's Net Billings; Microsoft Enterprise Package $14.50 per seat; Multi-factor Authentication Security License up to $5 per account per month
  • local marketing requirement: the greater of: (i) 1.5% of your Agency's monthly Net Billings up to $200,000 (for a 4-week month or $250,000 for a 5-week month) and 0.5% of your Agency's monthly Net Billings over $200,000 (for a 4-week month or $250,000 for a 5-week month); or (ii) $1,000 per month
Territory policyFDD p. 59

You are assigned a Protected Territory designated by zip codes in which BrightStar agrees not to open company-owned Agencies or authorize other parties to open Agencies using the Marks (provided you are not in default). Standard size territory typically includes a population of 200,000 to 300,000 people with a minimum of 15,000 aged 65 or older. Territories over 300,000 require $100 per each additional 1,000 people (pro rata). Jumbo territories (800,000+) may require additional offices/personnel. Medium Density Market and Small territories include a population of less than 200,000. Exclusivity is limited: franchisor retains rights including National Accounts, e-commerce, merger/acquisition activity, and cross-territorial servicing. At least 75% of monthly Net Billings must come from within the Protected Territory (excluding National Accounts).

Technology named in the FDD
Care management & scheduling
ABS Mobile
CRM & lead management
CRM system and application service systems
Recruiting & hiring
WorkBrightHireology
Payroll & HR
payroll software (alternative vendor)
Accounting & finance
Great Plainsrevenue cycle management services (True North)cash application and collection softwareMicrosoft Dynamics GP accounting software
Training & learning
e-learning platform
Marketing
SEM/PPC advertising vendor partnerwww.brightstarcare.com (website)
Franchisor portal & intranet
Bright Connect / BrightConnectGbBis mapping applicationintranet
Productivity & office
office suiteMicrosoft 365
IT & infrastructure
disk encryption softwareMicrosoft Windows operating system
Other
Athena Business System (ABS)
For franchisor teams
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