FranchiseGator.com - BrightStar Healthcare Announces Care giving Franchise Network Expansion

January 20, 2006

BrightStar Healthcare Announces Caregiving Franchise Network Expansion Burgeoning franchise “just what the doctor ordered,” with 400 new
franchises in the next five years

Chicago – According to a new federal report,* U.S. health care spending increased to nearly $1.9 trillion in 2004, consuming 16 percent of the nation’s economic output and emphasizing the importance of high-quality care for Americans in need. Responding to the population’s growing need for personal care, Chicago-based BrightStar Healthcare is embarking on its first large-scale growth initiative since launching the franchise opportunity in August 2005.

Inspired by a family experience, BrightStar is a full-service healthcare staffing agency that specializes in providing both medical and non-medical private duty homecare and healthcare staffing to corporate clients. Currently, BrightStar Healthcare has five locations operating in the United States, with 400 new franchises and forty corporate locations slated to open by the end of 2010. The only woman-owned franchise in the healthcare industry, BrightStar recently signed agreements in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and is aggressively targeting markets throughout the country for expansion, including Ohio, Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Indiana.

“National studies continue to show that the healthcare industry is ripe for growth,” said Shelly Sun, founder and president of BrightStar Healthcare. “BrightStar is at the forefront of the movement, setting industry standards as a growing national franchise that is providing every level of care for aging adults, as well as anyone else in need of assistance.”

In Loving Memory of Grandma Pat The inspiration for BrightStar Healthcare came from J.D. and Shelly Sun, a husband and wife team, who faced a situation that is becoming ever more common in the U.S.

When their late Grandma Pat was suffering from cancer, Shelly and J.D. struggled to find quality healthcare professionals to help care for her. They spent a lot of time searching for people they could trust to help provide care. This experience inspired Shelly, a 13-year veteran of corporate America, to develop a healthcare staffing business that would provide reliable and trustworthy caregivers to all in need.

Since 2002, BrightStar has been providing medical and non-medical homecare to private clients within their homes, as well as supplemental healthcare staff to corporate clients such as hospitals and nursing homes. BrightStar provides completely customized healthcare solutions by understanding the goals and needs of their clients.

“We are intimately involved with the families we serve and support our clients and staff with every means possible,” Shelly Sun added. “We are people who care about people. Our mission is to give 'peace of mind' to our clients by providing the highest quality healthcare staffing solutions to families and businesses. We empower our team to live our values and provide compassionate care and service; anytime, anywhere.”

While senior citizens make up the majority of the company’s private duty clientele, BrightStar also works with high-tech pediatric and workers’ compensation cases, long term care and Veteran clients, as well as private trust and public guardian payers.

BrightStar recognizes that every client has individual needs and tailors each care plan accordingly. BrightStar carefully partners aides with clients based on personality traits, the level of care required and the client’s personal preferences. Whether assisting clients who require high levels of medical care or simply providing a loved one company, BrightStar caregivers strive to improve their clients’ quality of life, maintain their dignity, and relieve the stress that their families face on a day to day basis.

A “Bright” Franchise Opportunity A new concept in a rapidly growing industry, BrightStar is the only franchising company in the country that specializes in both medical and non-medical homecare and healthcare staffing.

The initial investment ranges from $55,000 to $80,000. This includes a $25,000 franchise fee and frequently updated marketing materials. Also included is BrightStar’s proprietary cutting-edge web-based management system that integrates personnel management, payroll and billing, and sales. One of the system’s highlights is that it enables franchisees to bill insurance providers directly – improving an often difficult part of the healthcare process for clients.

The BrightStar system offers a flexible opportunity with low overhead, and is ideal for anyone with a business development or sales background and, according to Sun, “a drive to make a positive difference.” No medical experience is required for franchisees. Office hours are from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM and caregivers are accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Each location is initially equipped with two office staff members: one in charge of management including staffing, booking, and payroll; and the other responsible for referral-based selling. Management of each BrightStar location is Internet-based, enabling franchisees to do bookkeeping and recruiting from their homes in the evenings – an ideal situation for parents looking to own their own business.

A typical BrightStar location employs up to 50 field staff. Approximately 95 percent of BrightStar caregivers are medically trained and certified. Individuals who are not professionally certified are required to have at least one year of relevant experience and are not assigned to clients with medical needs.

Licensed to sell territories across the U.S., BrightStar is also looking for empire builders willing to develop large geographic markets that can only be served by having multiple offices.

About BrightStar Healthcare

Based in Chicago, BrightStar Healthcare is a full-service healthcare staffing agency that provides medical and non-medical private duty homecare and healthcare staffing to corporate clients. Our well-qualified, attentive caregivers provide peace of mind to clients and their families. We work to understand the needs of our clients and provide a customized care plan to match them with a qualified, pre-screened caregiver who is compatible with their needs. Serving the Chicagoland area for more than three years, BrightStar is one of the few home healthcare providers that offers both medical and non-medical homecare. BrightStar is available to all clients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In January of 2005 BrightStar Franchising was founded.