CarePatrol

Franchise fee ranges from $20,000 to $57,000 depending on territory size and population. The FDD discloses two royalty structures:

Standard offering: 10% of gross sales months 1–24, rising to 12% after month 25. Monthly minimums kick in at month 3: $300/month scaling up to $1,500/month by month 49+.

Reduced offering: 15% of gross sales (all months), with minimums of $475/month at month 3 rising to $2,350/month by month 49+. This sounds counterintuitive — higher royalty rate but described as 'reduced.' The reduced offering likely provides some other benefit (lower franchise fee, different territory structure) — confirm before signing.

Total investment is $64,920 to $135,770, making this one of the lower-capital franchise options in the portfolio. Most of the investment is working capital and pre-opening costs, not buildout.

CarePatrol's Item 19 covers 147 territories open for the full 2024 calendar year (out of 201 total territories — 41 were excluded for less than one year of operation, and 13 for other reasons). Average gross revenue: $346,301. Median: $191,874. That 81% gap between average and median tells you there's significant skew — a minority of high-performing territories are carrying the average up substantially.

Only 35% of territories exceeded the average — confirming the distribution is top-heavy. If you land in the median, you're looking at $191,874 in gross revenue. At a 10% royalty ($19,187) and $1,500/month minimum by month 49 ($18,000/year), your royalty burden is roughly $19,000–$20,000/year on median performance. With low overhead (home-based, no staff), a skilled operator can build reasonable income — but the revenue ramp is slow, and the monthly minimums create cash pressure in years 1–4.

CarePatrol's system is stable at 201 franchised territories as of 2024. The unit count has held roughly flat — this is not a hyper-growth brand, which in senior care is actually a positive signal. The sector demographics are favorable: the 65+ US population is growing faster than any other age cohort, and the complexity of navigating senior care options means the placement model has durable value.

CarePatrol is owned by CarePatrol Franchise Systems LLC (a subsidiary of Best Life Brands), which also owns Comfort Keepers. Having a large parent company in the care sector provides operational infrastructure and some stability — but also means decision-making may be slower than an independent franchisor.

The escalating royalty structure is the biggest financial risk. You're paying 10% in year one and two, 12% from year three forward. Add the monthly minimums ($1,500/month by year four = $18,000/year minimum royalty regardless of revenue), and your break-even point is pushed further out than it appears at first glance.

The median revenue of $191,874 is a sobering benchmark. After royalties (10–12%), the mandatory minimums, and operating expenses, the math gets tight for franchisees in the bottom half of the system. Ask existing franchisees about how long it took them to clear the monthly minimums from actual revenue — some territories take 3–4 years to reach self-sustaining royalty levels.

The 'Reduced offering' at 15% royalty needs careful examination. A higher percentage rate labeled as 'reduced' suggests there are structural differences (lower fee, geographic benefits) that the FDD doesn't fully explain in summary form. Review both structures with a franchise attorney before deciding which to sign.