Comfort Keepers

Our Franchising History
The Comfort Keepers story began in 1997 when Kris Clum, a Registered Nurse in home healthcare, experienced the need first hand. Sometimes the requests were simple – a loaf of bread or a quart of milk. Other times, it was simply a request for a few minutes of conversation to brighten the day.

However, as a nurse, she was only allowed to tend to her patients’ “medical” needs. Kris and her entrepreneurial husband, Jerry Clum, Jr., knew in their hearts and in their minds they could provide a solution.
Today, that solution is known as Comfort Keepers. Comfort Keepers provides non-medical, in-home care to thousands of people across the United States, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong.

A Comfort Keepers franchise provides companionship/homemaking services such as meal preparation, medication reminders light housekeeping, errand services, laundry and linen washing as well as assistance with the activities of daily living by providing, bathing, incontinence care, and transferring and positioning.

Overview of Senior Care Industry
According to Entrepreneur Magazine, the aging population is having a tremendous impact on the franchising industry. The number of Americans turning 65 continues to rise – in fact, it is expected to nearly double to 70 million in the next two decades. Research also indicates that in 2005, approximately 37 percent of all U.S. workers faced more concern in caring for a parent than caring for a child.

Many large companies now recognize both the financial and emotional impact senior care related issues are placing on their employees, as well as the financial burden to their own company. Comfort Keepers has aligned themselves with several companies to provide a solution to this ever increasing issue and is dedicated to becoming the first considered, in–home care alternative for the elderly and those needing care.

Most importantly, the majority of seniors would prefer to maintain their independence by staying in their own home even if they need assistance.

Our Growth Strategy
Comfort Keepers opened its first franchise in March of 1999 in Springfield, Ohio. The company planned its initial growth in the Ohio, Indiana and Illinois areas as they were geographically close to the first office in Springfield and to the corporate headquarters in Dayton, Ohio.

Comfort Keepers has targeted the top 25 markets in the United States with a potential of adding approximately 200 additional territories in the United States. The company intends to add 52 new domestic units this year with additional expansion internationally. The company’s growth plan includes expansion in urban as well as rural markets. Also in 2006, Comfort Keepers will target multi-unit operators in metro-markets in which the company does not currently have a presence.

Comfort Keepers’ territories are exclusive and designed by zip codes to achieve a total population of approximately 175,000 people. The company also assists franchise owners in evaluating the demographics of the zip codes in their territory based on senior population over 65 and average household income using the U.S. Census Bureau information.

Minority Program
Approximately 20-25 percent of Comfort Keepers current franchises are owned by minorities. Similar to the company’s Vet Fran program, Comfort Keepers has created the Minority Fran program to help potential owners establish their businesses.

The unique benefits provided under the MinorityFran Program are as follows:

• One year subscription to New Horizons Learning Center for franchise owner and staff
• Credit of $250 for initial order of business cards, letterhead and CK stationary
• Credit of $500 for initial order of CK promotional products and logo attire

The MinorityFran program is administered through the International Franchise Association for all member franchise systems who establish benefits specifically for minorities. Comfort Keepers understands the value of diversity and will continue to pursue and promote opportunities for minority-owned franchises.

Ongoing Support
Comfort Keepers franchise owners receive ongoing support from the company; starting with a grand opening marketing program that includes marketing and public relations support in the local market. Marketing support continues with professionally designed, frequently updated print advertisement templates. Owners have access to branded radio commercials with pre-approved scripts for local customization and ready-to-order marketing collateral materials. Business forms and business card templates are made readily available to owners on the Comfort Keepers Intranet.

Comfort Keepers provides pre-training information to assist in the initial set-up of new franchise offices. This training consists of a one-week, intensive program for owners and their managers at the company headquarters. New owners are given a set of seven operations manuals to assist in the daily operations of their business. The manuals provide assistance in the areas of human resources, client assessments, personal care services, HIPPA training, marketing and networking, administrative operations, and caregiver safety training.

Each Comfort Keepers franchise owner receives a web-site, email support and unlimited access to the Comfort Keepers Intranet. The Intranet includes a library of resource tools, as well as contact information for the corporate offices, approved vendors and other franchise owners. The site also offers security for the sharing of proprietary information to the Comfort Keepers system of owners. .

Comfort Keepers currently employs eight regional operations managers who work in the field to provide unlimited, ongoing operational support, including recommendations on staff management, operations, client service levels, caregiver recruiting and training, and business development. The regional operations managers establish and maintain excellent communications between the franchisor and the franchisee as well as help each franchisee to implement the recommended programs and services best suited to their market potential.

All franchise owners are invited and encouraged to attend annual local, regional and state meetings and are highly encouraged to participate in the annual national convention. While all of these events offer numerous opportunities, the national convention provides networking opportunities with fellow franchisees, break out sessions on best practices, and industry-related speakers to enrich their knowledge and enhance their ongoing operations.

Why Comfort Keepers?

Comfort Keepers has ranked as one of the top three franchises in senior care Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 for the past four years. Also in 2006, Comfort Keepers:

• Won a Franchise 50 Award for franchisee satisfaction from Franchise Business Review
• Ranked as one of the Top 100 Franchises on the Fast Track to Growth in Entrepreneur Magazine
• Was recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine as one of America’s Top 100 Global Franchises
• Ranked 20th on the Top 101 Homebased Franchises list in Entrepreneur Magazine
• Ranked 23rd in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top Low-Cost Franchises

And in 2005, the company landed on the Franchise Honor Roll in Black Enterprise Magazine’s as one of the Best 20 Franchising Opportunities for African Americans and was named in the Up & Comers 100 Companies on the Verge in Franchise Times’

Most importantly, a Comfort Keepers’ franchise is a business of caring. The company strongly believes there is nothing more rewarding than being able to positively touch and enrich people's lives. Entrepreneurs can find franchises that provide services, but it is not every day that they find a business that can provide the personal rewards that a Comfort Keepers franchise offers.

Comfort Keepers is very committed to becoming the premier provider of non-medical, in-home care services in the United States and around the world.