Caring Transitions, a franchise that helps seniors relocate to and from care facilities, has embarked on an ambitious development plan to reach 400 units in the next five years. This year the brand reached its 255th franchise unit and is now emerging as one of the premier franchise opportunities of 2022. Specifically, the team has identified South Florida — including Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and West Palm — as a prime target market for franchise development.

“We have a few locations in Florida, but it is such a highly populated area and there is major room for growth, especially in the south,” said VP of Franchising Development James Stapleton. “There are also a lot of seniors in Florida, and with more and more people moving south, there is a major need for our services in the state.” 

Florida is famous for its status as a retiree haven, with attractive qualities including warm weather, fiscal soundness and retirement-friendly income tax laws. That is why the state features some of the country’s highest life expectancy rates and median ages, with a whopping 8.6 million residents who are 50 and older — the second-largest population of this age in the country. Nearly 23% of Florida citizens are aged 60 or over, and this demographic comprises the state's second-largest economic sector, according to the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. 

And more people are flocking to Florida than ever. According to a recent U.S. Census report, Florida is one of the top states people are currently moving to. In fact, nine out of the 10 of the country’s most-moved-to cities can be found in The Sunshine State. 

Caring Transitions is uniquely well-positioned to leverage this influx of older movers. The brand helps seniors relocate by spending time at their homes, helping them pack and organize their belongings, then moving those belongings to the new home and setting them up in a way that feels “comfortable, familiar and delightful for the client,” Stapleton says. Then, the team returns to the original location to arrange and host an in-person or online estate sale through its proprietary platform, CTBIDS.

In the U.S. alone, senior care is projected to become a $225 billion industry by 2024, following a pandemic-fueled boom in demand. But even as opportunities sell out in saturated markets, there are very few businesses equipped to help seniors move from their homes to a care facility or to manage the relocation or sale of all personal belongings, which is how Caring Transitions has emerged as a leader in its segment. 

“One of the things that makes Caring Transitions unique from many other franchise organizations is that our owners can be confident that they will get referrals from other states,” said Stapleton. “In other words, if a senior from Ohio is moving to Florida, our franchisees will connect in both of those states to work through liquidations, downsizing and the rest of the process. Our goal is to put Caring Transitions where clients are coming from and going to, and one area that they are certainly going to is South Florida.”

Laura Bruce, a Caring Transitions franchisee located in Tampa Bay, agrees that the state is ideal for the brand’s unique business model. The native Floridian came to franchising after a 25-year career in the pharmaceutical industry. She says that she had no interest in business ownership until she was introduced to the Caring Transitions service while helping her aging father relocate from his house of 25-years to an independent living facility. Even though she didn’t consider herself entrepreneurial, she knew the opportunity to bring the brand to her home state of Florida was too good to pass up.

“The ‘Silver Tsunami’ continues to grow, and seniors are increasingly coming to Florida because we have no state income tax, beautiful weather all-year-round and a casual environment,” said Bruce. “On the flip side, there are also a lot of older people leaving the state to be closer to family because they could no longer live safely and securely on their own. Additionally, there are many older people who have winter homes here. If a medical situation or death arises, that vacation home needs to be liquidated. Caring Transitions has a proven business model in place that allows us to service all of those clientele, which is why the Florida market is so hot.”

Since opening her franchise last year, Bruce says she’s continued to build a robust portfolio of repeat and referral clients, but is most pleased with the rewarding nature of the work. 

“We have found a niche and it feels so great to help seniors and their families,” she said. “I love being that resource for them and alleviating a lot of the stress, concern and legwork that is associated with moving. The hope is that they feel like they are coming home, even though they just left their old house.” 

Now, Stapleton says the brand is looking for qualified and compassionate entrepreneurs like Bruce to help expand the Caring Transitions footprint. The team has identified room to add up to 40 territories in the South Florida area.

“It is not hard to find great franchisee owners for this business,” Stapleton explains. “Savvy entrepreneurs are looking for a way into the senior-care market, especially after COVID-19, and we offer a lucrative pathway that requires no medical experience and little overhead. This is a senior service that isn’t necessarily top of mind until it is needed, which is why there are so few competitors. But we are satisfying a problem that comes at a very stressful time for families. We can come in and reduce that stress. That is why a Caring Transitions franchise is a perfect opportunity to impact people’s lives, while also building a successful business.”

Start-up costs range from $58,912-$82,712, and franchisees have the opportunity to earn back their $44,900 franchise fee through its Winner’s Circle program by hitting a variety of key benchmarks.

ABOUT CARING TRANSITIONS:

Caring Transitions provides older adults and their families with the most trusted, respected and comprehensive downsizing, right-sizing, estate sales and online auctions, and move management solutions in the industry. Founded in 2006, the brand is committed to helping people in a compassionate and caring manner during life's many transitions while providing a total and easy solution for clients in their time of need. Through their proprietary online sales platform, CTBIDS, Caring Transitions also prepares clients for the process of liquidating assets through their own online estate sales auction site. With over 250 locations, Caring Transitions’ compassionate, experienced professionals minimize stress and relieve the burdens of life’s transitions. To learn more visit https://www.caringtransitions.com/.