Griswold Home Care

Franchise fee: $39,600 to $49,500, scaled by territory population.

Royalty: 4% of gross receipts, with a minimum of $100/week starting in year three (about $5,200/year minimum). This is the most competitive royalty rate among senior care franchises on this site — CarePatrol charges 10–12%, Senior Helpers and Comfort Keepers run 5–6%.

Total investment: $99,600 to $180,600. As with other home care franchises, the investment is weighted toward working capital, insurance, initial marketing, and pre-opening training costs rather than physical buildout.

Griswold's Item 19 covers franchised locations across the full 2024 reporting year. Average annual gross revenues: $2,131,036. Median: $1,672,644. These are the highest average and median figures in the senior care category on this site — outperforming FirstLight ($1.6M avg) and dramatically outperforming CarePatrol ($346K avg).

At the median ($1,672,644) and 4% royalty, annual royalties are $66,906. Griswold's low royalty rate means more of each dollar flows back to the franchisee at mature revenue levels. A $2M annual revenue operation paying 4% owes $80,000 to the franchisor; the equivalent 6% operator owes $120,000 — a $40,000/year structural advantage.

Griswold's caregiver registry model (independent contractors in states where it's permitted) can reduce workers' comp costs and employment overhead compared to W-2 employer models, though this varies by state and is subject to regulatory change.

Griswold operates 193 total units (182 franchised, 11 company-owned). The system is mature and compact — built for quality over quantity. Griswold's approach to territory exclusivity and franchisee selection means the system grows more slowly than brands focused on unit count expansion. For a buyer, this is a positive: fewer franchisees means less likelihood of territory disputes and potentially better corporate support per franchisee.

The brand was founded by Jean Griswold, whose personal story as a caregiver to her late husband gives the brand authentic positioning in a sector where trust is the primary product. This origin story resonates with both clients and caregivers.

The caregiver registry vs. employer model distinction matters significantly. In states with strict employment classification laws (California, New York, Massachusetts), the independent contractor model has faced legal challenges across the home care industry. Before investing in Griswold, research the specific caregiver classification rules in your target state — operating in a non-compliant classification exposes the franchisee to back taxes, workers' comp liability, and benefit claims.

With only 193 units, Griswold has less national brand recognition than Comfort Keepers or Home Instead in most markets. In home care, client and caregiver referrals often come through local relationships (hospitals, discharge planners, social workers) rather than national brand awareness — so the smaller brand footprint matters less than it would in QSR, but you'll need to invest more in local community presence.

The low royalty (4%) and strong revenue figures make Griswold's unit economics look attractive. But confirm with existing franchisees that the revenue averages are achievable in your specific territory demographics — senior care demand is heavily correlated with the 75+ population density in your service area.