Behind the Great Wealth Transfer: The Lifetime of Belongings No One Is Talking About

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Caring Transitions Ranks No. 358 on the Franchise Times Top 400 List for 2025

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Caring Transitions Marks the Opening of Its 400th Franchise

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Caring Transitions Celebrates a Strong Start to 2025 With 19 New Franchise Sales and Momentum-Building Training Events

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McKnights Home Care: Caring Transitions Aims To Simplify Moving Process for Downsizing Seniors

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How Home Service Franchises are Supporting Seniors

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Caring Transitions Franchisee in Myrtle Beach Wins Caring for a Cause Award

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Caring Transitions franchisee Carolyn Doerr - 1851 Franchise

Central Penn Business Journal: Mechanicsburg Entrepreneur Proves Perseverance Can Provide Success

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The Journal Record: How This Air Force Veteran Found a New Mission with Caring Transitions

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James Stapleton of Caring Transitions Reveals the Reasons Why Prospects Fall Out of the Sales Pipeline

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For prospective owners exploring&nbsp;<a href="https://www.caringtransitionsfranchise.com/">Caring Transitions</a>, a franchise specializing in senior relocation, downsizing and estate sales, one of the most important questions is also one of the most practical: Where do the clients come from?The answer, according to longtime franchisees&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-doerr-a2266a8">Carolyn Doerr</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarederfle">Jared Erfle</a>, is not a single channel but a system that blends relationships, digital marketing, brand tools and consistent community presence into a reliable engine for growth.<h2>Building a Referral Engine Through Relationships</h2>For&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/info">Caring Transitions</a> franchisees,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/what-makes-caring-transitions-the-premier-franchise-choice-for-senior-move-management-2730948">trust is the starting point for growth</a>. Much of that trust is built through relationships with senior living communities and local professionals who regularly work with families preparing for a major transition.Erfle points to these partnerships as the foundation of his growth, explaining how they evolve over time into consistent referral pipelines.“My wife, Victoria, one of the main things she does is marketing to senior living communities,” he said. “That is really the key — the relationships we’ve built with those communities through the years. For example, a new community is opening this summer with 400 units, so building that relationship will be very important. We’ve met sales reps who may move to other communities, but they stay with us because we deliver value: we solve a problem. Oftentimes, downsizing is the roadblock for the residents. They can’t imagine leaving the home that they’ve lived in for 40 years. We take away that roadblock and provide that solution to the senior living communities.”For Doerr, who has been in the business for more than a decade,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/what-the-first-90-days-look-like-as-a-new-caring-transitions-franchise-owner-2731944">that same approach starts as early as possible, even before officially launching.</a>“The most important part, when you start out, is to get to all the senior communities in your territory and outside your territory if they are unowned by someone else,” she said. “Go on all of those tours and provide as much info as possible to your community so they can refer you to others. They want to know that there is something in it for them as well.”That mindset extends beyond senior living communities into a broader ecosystem of referral partners. “It's also important to connect with real estate agents,” Doerr said. “Once they use our service, we’ve found that it is a good way to get extra business. Funeral homes, financial firms and elder care attorneys have also been helpful. Even churches have been a great resource for us.”<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/why-couples-are-choosing-to-own-a-caring-transitions-franchise-together-2731586">Franchisees who actively engage in their communities</a> through networking, partnerships and visibility tend to build trust faster and generate more referrals. And that trust is reinforced by the brand itself.“The Caring Transitions brand gives us a lot of credibility and that is really the key,” Erfle said.<h2>CTBids® as a Built-In Lead Generator</h2>A major differentiator in how Caring Transitions franchisees generate demand is&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/how-franchisees-can-tap-into-the-rising-trend-of-estate-sales-with-ctbids-2728327">CTBids</a>, the brand’s proprietary online auction platform. Unlike traditional marketing tools, CTBids actively brings new customers into the ecosystem, particularly through estate sales.“Probably about 75% of our business is through CTBids or a move with CTBids,” Doerr said. “That is really what gets us the attention and makes us different as a business.”Erfle echoes that impact, particularly in how CTBids integrates with digital outreach efforts. “A lot of our energy on social media with digital marketing goes to CTBids as well,” he said. “We have a lot of customers that come to us through the estate sales angle.”<h2>Digital Marketing Expands Reach</h2>While relationships and CTBids create a strong base, digital marketing ensures franchisees are visible when families begin searching for solutions.For Erfle, search visibility has become one of the most important drivers of inbound leads. “The other significant lead source is Google and pure SEO,” he said. “The home office has put in a lot of work to position our websites. Interestingly, over the last six months, another big lead source has been ChatGPT. We’ve had four or five clients come in because they found us through AI.”That visibility is reinforced by corporate-led marketing systems designed to capture and nurture leads over time. “At the corporate office, they have a safety net for nurturing leads. They have those email campaigns going out to support us. We do some email follow-up, but the team really has that on lock,” Erfle said.Doerr has seen similar results from those systems. “We get a lot of leads through the website and through corporate,” she said. “We also get a lot of leads through the email blast.”<h2>A System That Scales With the Owner</h2>What ties all of these elements together is&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/caring-transitions-a-recession-resistant-franchise-opportunity-for-entrepreneurs-2730712">the structure behind them</a>. Franchisees are supported by a system that includes coaching, shared best practices and ongoing marketing support.Doerr highlights how that support evolves over time. “Whenever questions arise, you have a coach who can answer any question for you,” she said. “They are pretty experienced in doing the same thing. There are always new ideas and new best practices coming in.”For prospective franchisees, the takeaway is clear: Caring Transitions provides a model where lead generation is not left to chance.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/info">https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/info</a>.

The brand offers a growth engine built on strategic relationships, referral networks, a proprietary CTBids platform, robust digital marketing and corporate support/coaching.

How Caring Transitions Franchisees Get Clients: Sales and Lead Generation Explained

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For many entrepreneurs exploring franchise ownership, one of the biggest questions is simple: What does the day-to-day actually look like?At&nbsp;<a href="https://www.caringtransitionsfranchise.com/">Caring Transitions</a>, the answer is anything but routine. It’s a blend of business ownership, team leadership and deeply meaningful client work, all wrapped into days that are fast-paced and constantly evolving.For franchise owners&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-dueck-4b7060151">Carrie</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-dueck-958467344">Alan Dueck</a>, no two days are exactly alike. “What originally led me to Caring Transitions was caring for my mom, who had dementia,” Carrie said. “It really opened up a world that I wasn’t aware of, which was senior care and everything you need to know and do when caring for an older loved one.”That experience shaped their perspective and ultimately their decision to become business owners.“When we started caring for her mom, we really saw the need that existed for families taking care of their older parents,” Alan said. “Seeing that need and seeing the opportunity to improve things was very exciting.”That combination of personal experience and professional skill set created a clear path forward.“Let’s do this through our own business so we can make a bigger impact,” Alan said. “It's been a great journey so far.” Through their experience, a clear picture emerges of what it takes and what it means to run a&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/info">Caring Transitions</a> business.<h2>Starting the Day With Strategy and Purpose</h2>Before the first client meeting or job site visit, the day begins with planning.“The first hour of the day, even before meeting with anyone, is spent on planning and strategizing,” Alan said. “Because we are a married couple in business together, we also have these conversations throughout the day.”That early focus on priorities sets the tone for everything that follows. As business owners, the Duecks are constantly balancing immediate client needs with long-term growth.“We try to fit in big-picture goals anywhere we can,” Alan said. “But it’s not uncommon for urgent needs to come up that we need to take care of.”That balance between working in the business and on the business is a defining part of the Caring Transitions ownership experience.<h2>Building Relationships in the Community</h2>A large part of any Caring Transitions franchise owner’s day is dedicated to building connections.“Most recently, this morning, I met with a referral real estate agent to develop a connection,” Carrie said. “We are always increasing our referral partner connections and deepening those relationships because we want to build strong relationships.”These partnerships with real estate agents, senior living communities and other local professionals are often the foundation of a franchisee’s growth. They create a steady pipeline of families who need help navigating major life transitions.<h2>Managing Operations and Leading a Team</h2>From there, the day quickly shifts into operations. “I’m going to go check on my team, who is at the warehouse producing an auction, do some auction editing and make sure it is ready to go live,” Carrie said.Caring Transitions franchisees oversee a wide range of services, from&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/how-franchisees-can-tap-into-the-rising-trend-of-estate-sales-with-ctbids-2728327">online estate auctions</a> to&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/caring-transitions-a-recession-resistant-franchise-opportunity-for-entrepreneurs-2730712">full-home cleanouts and relocations</a>. That means managing logistics, ensuring quality and keeping multiple moving pieces aligned.“After that, we will make sure that everything is in place to do the shipping from the last auction,” Carrie said.Behind the scenes, there is constant coordination, making sure teams are where they need to be, projects stay on track and clients receive a seamless experience. At its core, this is a leadership role. Franchise owners are not just completing tasks; they are building and guiding teams that deliver those services every day.<h2>Meeting With Families and Delivering Service</h2>While operations and strategy are critical,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/why-couples-are-choosing-to-own-a-caring-transitions-franchise-together-2731586">the heart of the business lies in client interactions</a>.“From there, I’ll go meet with a client today and do her rightsizing,” Carrie said. “Meaning we will walk through her current home and decide what she will do to her new home, which we will move her to on Friday.”These meetings are often deeply personal. Families are navigating major life transitions — downsizing, relocating or moving into senior communities — and they&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/how-caring-transitions-supports-adult-children-in-managing-their-parents-moves-2728833">rely on Caring Transitions to guide them through the process</a>.“After that, I have a consultation with another client who is 96 and decided that now is a good time to move to a senior community so she doesn’t have to cook and clean anymore,” Carrie said. “We’ll meet with her and her son and go from there.”For many franchisees, this is the most meaningful part of the day: helping families make decisions, reduce stress and move forward with confidence.<h2>More Than a Business</h2>At Caring Transitions, a “day in the life” is about more than tasks and schedules. It’s about impact.For franchise owners like the Duecks, each day represents an opportunity to serve families during some of the most important moments of their lives, while also building a business that can grow, scale and create lasting value.That combination of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/why-caring-transitions-franchise-stands-out-2727831">meaningful work paired with entrepreneurial opportunity</a> is what defines the Caring Transitions franchise model.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/info">https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/info</a>.

Carrie and Alan Dueck’s workdays move from planning and referral-building to client visits, estate auctions and hands-on support for families.

A Day in the Life of a Caring Transitions Franchise Owner

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For many aspiring franchise owners, the first few months after signing an agreement can feel like the biggest unknown. What happens between becoming a franchisee and launching a fully operational business?&nbsp;At&nbsp;<a href="https://www.caringtransitionsfranchise.com/">Caring Transitions</a>, the onboarding process is designed to remove that uncertainty, guiding new owners through a structured ramp-up period that blends training, operational preparation and early client acquisition.<h2>Days 1-30: Training, Strategic Start and Building the Foundation</h2>The first month focuses heavily on training and preparation. New franchisees complete onboarding programs designed to teach the&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/info">Caring Transitions</a> service model, including downsizing services, relocation support, estate sales and online auctions through the brand’s&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/how-franchisees-can-tap-into-the-rising-trend-of-estate-sales-with-ctbids-2728327">proprietary CTBids platform</a>.This period also introduces franchisees to the brand’s Strategic Start framework — a structured approach to launching a new location. Strategic Start helps owners establish the operational and marketing foundation they need before serving their first clients. That includes everything from understanding pricing and job workflows to learning how to market services locally. For franchisees like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/petelankarge">Pete Lankarge</a> in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.caringtransitions.com/locations/newport-ri">Newport, Rhode Island</a>, the structured support system made it possible to hit the ground running.“What was great from the perspective of the Caring Transitions corporate team was that they provided so much guidance to be properly launched and let us hit the ground running,” Lankarge said.Equally important during this phase is building the initial team and tools required to operate efficiently. Caring Transitions provides franchisees with resources that simplify hiring and workforce management.For Lankarge, one of those tools helped him quickly assemble a team capable of handling early jobs. “For example, we have a partnership with a company called&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jazzhr.com/">JazzHR</a>,” he said. “That is how most of our employees have come in. That is one example of how we found staff members, which is how we were able to pull off the jobs that we had.”With operational systems in place and hiring underway, franchisees spend the latter part of the first month preparing for their initial marketing efforts.<h2>Days 30-60: Building Community Connections and Generating Leads</h2>Once the operational foundation is in place, the focus shifts to generating awareness in the local market. Caring Transitions businesses are deeply rooted in their communities, so relationship-building is critical to early growth.New franchisees begin connecting with local organizations, senior living communities, real estate professionals and other referral partners who often encounter families navigating downsizing or relocation decisions.“I went out and quickly joined the Newport Chamber of Commerce,” Lankarge said. “A couple of our jobs have come from that group in particular. The networking and generating word-of-mouth buzz was a big piece of that. Just helping get the word out.”Corporate support also helps franchisees amplify those efforts through established partnerships and brand credibility. “That is a big benefit of the franchise model,” Lankarge said. “You are not by yourself. It makes it much easier as a start-up entrepreneur.”For franchisees operating in markets where Caring Transitions already has a presence, referral pipelines may develop even more quickly.<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-lee-davis-540004155/">Jamie Davis</a>, owner of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.caringtransitionsofgilbertaz.com/">Caring Transitions of South Gilbert, Arizona</a>, quickly found that community relationships played a major role in her early growth.“We have a lot of retirees here, and those communities are very ingrained in what we do,” Davis said. “I have gotten a lot of my work from referrals - I have a few clients who have recommended me to their neighbors or their friends. It’s nice that my clients are so happy that they feel comfortable sharing.”<h2>Days 60-90: Landing First Clients and Learning in the Field</h2>By the third month, many franchisees are actively serving their first clients. Those early projects often become the most valuable learning experiences as owners put their training into practice and refine their operational systems.For Lankarge, the momentum started quickly after his initial team orientation. “We were fortunate to land a very large client two weeks after training,” he said. “Immediately, we got to have the whole team dive in.”The project became an immersive training opportunity for his team. “From that one client, we had a massive home cleanout and ran three separate estate sales from it,” he said. “It launched us to train the team in the field, essentially.”Those early jobs also demonstrate&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/10-reasons-why-caring-transitions-stands-out-among-other-franchises-2727831">the scale and variety of work Caring Transitions franchisees handle</a>. “The project itself was very meaningful - it was a Navy veteran who passed away,” Lankarge said. “They had a lifetime of collecting and a lot of really cool antiques, designer clothing, jewelry and artwork.”For many new owners, the first few months reveal how quickly the business can grow once systems and referrals are in place. “Once we got that big client, I saw why we needed staff assistance,” Lankarge said. “I was able to be the team lead on the project in the field, but the vision down the road is to have others in place who can run the projects.”<h2>Building Systems for Long-Term Growth</h2>As operations ramp up, franchisees begin refining their approach to staffing, marketing and project management. Davis, who opened her Caring Transitions business in July 2025, quickly expanded her team to support growing demand.“I started out with two employees and I now have seven employees,” she said. “I have a business development rep that is connecting with the community, and I also have a social media manager that I brought in part-time. I am also hiring three more people soon.”For Davis, the ability to adapt has been one of the biggest advantages of the franchise model. “A lot of franchises are very cookie-cutter,” she said. “What I like about Caring Transitions is that they have given me tools but really allowed me to adapt them to my strengths and how I want to use the tools.”<h2>A Structured Start With Purpose</h2>While every franchisee’s first 90 days will look slightly different, the overall roadmap remains consistent: training, foundation-building, networking and early client work. With each step,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/the-benefits-of-owning-a-caring-transitions-franchise-why-entrepreneurs-are-choosing-the-senior-services-industry-2731583">Caring Transitions provides the support systems</a> necessary to help new owners succeed - from operational guidance and hiring tools to marketing resources and coaching.“It’s been amazing - I’ve learned a lot,” Davis said. “It’s hard work at times, but it’s been so rewarding on so many levels that I’m really happy I made this jump.”By the end of the first three months, new franchisees typically have the fundamentals in place: a trained team, an emerging referral network and real experience helping families through some of life’s most emotional transitions. From there, the focus shifts from launching the business to scaling it by continuing to build relationships, serve clients and grow a purpose-driven operation within the community.For entrepreneurs considering franchise ownership, the first 90 days with Caring Transitions demonstrate something important: while the journey requires dedication and hard work, franchisees are never navigating it alone.For more information about franchising with Caring Transitions, visit<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/">&nbsp;https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/</a>.

From training and Strategic Start to landing first clients and building community partnerships, the first three months set the foundation for a purpose-driven business.

What the First 90 Days Look Like as a New Caring Transitions Franchise Owner

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Launching a new business is never simple, but for many&nbsp;<a href="https://www.caringtransitionsfranchise.com/">Caring Transitions</a> franchisees, the early days are defined less by uncertainty and more by momentum. Across the system, new owners are finding ways to ramp up quickly, build strong teams and establish themselves in their communities by leaning into the brand’s systems, support and mission-driven work.For franchisees like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-mcelrath-31004319/">Jay McElrath</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristin-luebben-fishel-11938b16b">Cristin Fishel</a>, success didn’t come from waiting for business to arrive. It came from taking action early, learning fast and fully committing to building a real business from day one. Their experiences highlight five key lessons for new&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/info">Caring Transitions</a> owners looking to hit the ground running.<h2>1. Treat It Like a Real Business From Day One</h2>McElrath came into ownership with growth in mind. He treated the launch as the start of a larger operation and made early decisions around staffing, space and structure with that goal in view. “I felt that was going to be the most beneficial for me,” he said. “Really focusing this on being a business and not a side gig.”That mindset translated into immediate action. From hiring early to securing warehouse space, McElrath built infrastructure quickly to support demand. “I’ve been staying very busy since I started, which is a blessing,” he said. “I’ve had to expand my resources with hiring additional people. I also just recently leased out an office warehouse space and a flex warehouse.”Fishel echoed that same level of commitment, especially when transitioning from a completely different industry. “It’s hard in the beginning going from knowing every aspect of an industry my whole life to completely transitioning into a different industry,” she said. “Lots of lessons learned in the beginning.”For both owners, success started with fully stepping into the role of business owner from day one.<h2>2. Build the Right Team Early</h2>Fast starts require strong support, and both franchisees prioritized building capable teams right out of the gate.“One of my bigger assets was having a business development rep on my team,” McElrath said. “I hired one right out of the gate. She has over 20 years of marketing experience. That has helped tremendously.”He also built a well-rounded team across operations, including an operations manager, a team leader with estate sale experience and even caregivers he trusted from personal experience. “They are wonderful hard workers. That was the base of my team,” he said.Fishel took a similarly intentional approach, focusing on understanding her team members as individuals. “I really tried to focus on getting to know them as individuals so I could identify their strengths,” she said. “Being able to delegate opportunities has been great so they could flourish and expand.”The takeaway is clear: early investment in people creates the capacity to grow faster and serve clients better.<h2>3. Get Involved in Every Aspect of the Business</h2>While building a team is critical, both franchisees emphasized&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQGANkvTvCU">the importance of hands-on involvement</a>, especially early on.“I felt like the best thing that I could do to be successful was to just be involved straight out of the gate, doing every aspect of every job,” Fishel said. “Understanding every aspect, from the auction to the home cleanout and consolidation.”That deep involvement not only helped her learn the business quickly but also positioned her to lead effectively as she scaled. “I knew it would be important to understand what I am asking people to do and what the job really is,” she said.Looking back, she even sees more opportunity for hands-on learning. “Don’t be afraid to get out there and get your hands dirty and understand more about the service you are taking on and how it works,” she said.McElrath stayed close to the day-to-day work as the business got off the ground, including contracts and administrative tasks. That early involvement gave him a clearer view of where the operation needed support as demand increased.<h2>4. Prioritize Business Development and Community Connections</h2>A fast start also requires steady outreach. McElrath and Fishel both focused early on building referral sources, meeting local contacts and making sure people in the community knew what Caring Transitions offered.“On day one, I went around to open houses and went to every one that I could find and met every realtor that was there,” Fishel said. “Within seven to nine months, I started getting referrals from new clients who were referred to me by some of our first clients.”McElrath also emphasized the importance of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/scaling-with-purpose-why-caring-transitions-owners-keep-growing-2729104">visibility and consistent outreach</a>. “Spreading the word and talking with everybody that I can is important,” he said. “Social media has been a big help in flooding the market.”From digital marketing to in-person networking, both franchisees demonstrate that early momentum comes from proactively building awareness and trust in the community.<h2>5. Lean Into the System and the Franchise Network</h2>Finally, neither franchisee built their business alone. Both highlighted the importance of learning from others within the Caring Transitions system.“I’ve taken a lot of pages from a lot of other owners, putting bits and pieces of that together,” McElrath said. “Reaching out and talking to other owners was really beneficial to me.”Fishel also recognized the value of learning — both through the brand’s onboarding and through additional hands-on experience. “If I could start over again, I would spend even more time doing the work with some of the other local owners and building those relationships,” she said.Combined with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/what-the-first-90-days-look-like-as-a-new-caring-transitions-franchise-owner-2731944">Caring Transitions’ structured onboarding, coaching and tools</a>, this collaborative network helps new owners shorten the learning curve and avoid common pitfalls.<h2>Building Momentum With Purpose</h2>McElrath and Fishel took different paths, but both moved quickly once they launched. They hired early, stayed involved in the work, built local relationships and used the support available through the Caring Transitions system.The result is not just early momentum, but meaningful impact. For many Caring Transitions franchisees, success is defined by&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/why-caring-transitions-culture-stands-out-for-franchisees-2727941">the ability to help families navigate some of life’s most challenging transitions with compassion and care</a>. And for those willing to take action early, the path to hitting the ground running is already mapped out.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/info">https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/info</a>.

To hit the ground running, new Caring Transitions franchisees committed fully, built infrastructure early, fostered strong teams and used the franchise's support system.

5 Lessons from Caring Transitions Franchisees Who Hit the Ground Running

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With 19 new locations opened in Q1 alone and a 25% surge in leads,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.caringtransitionsfranchise.com/">Caring Transitions</a> is converting its record-breaking 2025 momentum into a dominant start to 2026. This rapid expansion and heightened consumer engagement signal a defining year for the senior relocation leader.“Q1 has been one of the strongest in Caring Transitions' history,” said Brand President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-lewandowski-822b5011">Joe Lewandowski</a>. “In 2026, we want to expand our footprint, we want to help owners scale, dominate the marketplace and continue to advance the tech stack.”A key driver of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/info">Caring Transitions</a>’ early-year success has been its continued franchise expansion. “We trained and opened 19 locations in Q1, which is amazing,” Lewandowski said. “Our first location in Vermont — we are very excited about that.”This expansion not only increases the brand’s national footprint but also positions Caring Transitions to better serve a rapidly growing senior population, a demographic trend that continues to fuel long-term demand for relocation, downsizing and estate sale services.Beyond unit growth, Caring Transitions is investing heavily in the systems and people that support franchisee success. One of the most notable additions this quarter is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nanhayes">Nan Hayes</a>, who joined the brand as director of training and coaching. The brand is also enhancing its operational toolkit with new resources designed to help franchisees improve efficiency and profitability.“We are also working with Caring Quote to help our owners with pricing and productivity,” he said. “We are also adding coaches to help owners expand.”These initiatives reflect a broader strategy of helping franchisees move beyond day-to-day operations and build scalable businesses within the system, giving owners a meaningful advantage as they pursue multi-territory growth.“From a marketing standpoint, we are dominating the conversation — we have a 25% increase in leads in the first quarter and our web traffic is up as well,” Lewandowski said. “Everything is firing on all cylinders.”Another major contributor to the brand’s momentum is its proprietary online estate sale platform,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/how-franchisees-can-tap-into-the-rising-trend-of-estate-sales-with-ctbids-2728327">CTBids</a>, which continues to deliver strong performance across multiple metrics.“From a CTBids standpoint, we are focused on shipping and creating a consistent experience for customers across all locations,” Lewandowski said. “We are getting ready to launch a new integration we’ve been working on, starting in Q2.”The platform’s Q1 results reinforce its growing importance to the system:<ul><li>New registrations increased 22%</li><li>Premier membership participation increased 240%</li><li>Online auction sales climbed 23%</li><li>Average sale value increased 8%</li><li>Total CTBids sales grew 30%</li><li>Total items sold rose 24%</li></ul>“Everything is really coming together — over a million visits to the website, over a million active users now,” Lewandowski said.These gains not only enhance revenue opportunities for franchisees but also strengthen the overall ecosystem that differentiates Caring Transitions from competitors.“Looking ahead, we are continuing to focus on many of the same things, targeting people who make good owners,” Lewandowski said. “We are looking at Northern California, Miami, Idaho, New Mexico.”By mixing smart market growth with a steady focus on tech, training, and marketing, Caring Transitions is setting itself up to keep that momentum going strong all through 2026 and beyond.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 its 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 more than 425 locations, Caring Transitions’ compassionate, experienced professionals minimize stress and relieve the burdens of life’s transitions. To learn more visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.caringtransitions.com/">https://www.caringtransitions.com/</a>.

With new locations, rising consumer demand and continued investment in technology and training, the senior relocation leader enters 2026 with strong systemwide growth.

Caring Transitions Opens 19 New Locations in Q1 2026 as CTBids Sales Climb 30%

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For prospective owners exploring&nbsp;<a href="https://www.caringtransitionsfranchise.com/">Caring Transitions</a>, a franchise specializing in senior relocation, downsizing and estate sales, one of the most important questions is also one of the most practical: Where do the clients come from?The answer, according to longtime franchisees&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-doerr-a2266a8">Carolyn Doerr</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarederfle">Jared Erfle</a>, is not a single channel but a system that blends relationships, digital marketing, brand tools and consistent community presence into a reliable engine for growth.<h2>Building a Referral Engine Through Relationships</h2> For&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/info">Caring Transitions</a> franchisees,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/what-makes-caring-transitions-the-premier-franchise-choice-for-senior-move-management-2730948">trust is the starting point for growth</a>. Much of that trust is built through relationships with senior living communities and local professionals who regularly work with families preparing for a major transition.Erfle points to these partnerships as the foundation of his growth, explaining how they evolve over time into consistent referral pipelines.“My wife, Victoria, one of the main things she does is marketing to senior living communities,” he said. “That is really the key — the relationships we’ve built with those communities through the years. For example, a new community is opening this summer with 400 units, so building that relationship will be very important. We’ve met sales reps who may move to other communities, but they stay with us because we deliver value: we solve a problem. Oftentimes, downsizing is the roadblock for the residents. They can’t imagine leaving the home that they’ve lived in for 40 years. We take away that roadblock and provide that solution to the senior living communities.”For Doerr, who has been in the business for more than a decade,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/what-the-first-90-days-look-like-as-a-new-caring-transitions-franchise-owner-2731944">that same approach starts as early as possible, even before officially launching.</a>“The most important part, when you start out, is to get to all the senior communities in your territory and outside your territory if they are unowned by someone else,” she said. “Go on all of those tours and provide as much info as possible to your community so they can refer you to others. They want to know that there is something in it for them as well.”That mindset extends beyond senior living communities into a broader ecosystem of referral partners. “It's also important to connect with real estate agents,” Doerr said. “Once they use our service, we’ve found that it is a good way to get extra business. Funeral homes, financial firms and elder care attorneys have also been helpful. Even churches have been a great resource for us.”<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/why-couples-are-choosing-to-own-a-caring-transitions-franchise-together-2731586">Franchisees who actively engage in their communities</a> through networking, partnerships and visibility tend to build trust faster and generate more referrals. And that trust is reinforced by the brand itself.“The Caring Transitions brand gives us a lot of credibility and that is really the key,” Erfle said.<h2>CTBids® as a Built-In Lead Generator</h2> A major differentiator in how Caring Transitions franchisees generate demand is&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/how-franchisees-can-tap-into-the-rising-trend-of-estate-sales-with-ctbids-2728327">CTBids</a>, the brand’s proprietary online auction platform. Unlike traditional marketing tools, CTBids actively brings new customers into the ecosystem, particularly through estate sales.“Probably about 75% of our business is through CTBids or a move with CTBids,” Doerr said. “That is really what gets us the attention and makes us different as a business.”Erfle echoes that impact, particularly in how CTBids integrates with digital outreach efforts. “A lot of our energy on social media with digital marketing goes to CTBids as well,” he said. “We have a lot of customers that come to us through the estate sales angle.”<h2>Digital Marketing Expands Reach</h2> While relationships and CTBids create a strong base, digital marketing ensures franchisees are visible when families begin searching for solutions.For Erfle, search visibility has become one of the most important drivers of inbound leads. “The other significant lead source is Google and pure SEO,” he said. “The home office has put in a lot of work to position our websites. Interestingly, over the last six months, another big lead source has been ChatGPT. We’ve had four or five clients come in because they found us through AI.”That visibility is reinforced by corporate-led marketing systems designed to capture and nurture leads over time. “At the corporate office, they have a safety net for nurturing leads. They have those email campaigns going out to support us. We do some email follow-up, but the team really has that on lock,” Erfle said.Doerr has seen similar results from those systems. “We get a lot of leads through the website and through corporate,” she said. “We also get a lot of leads through the email blast.”<h2>A System That Scales With the Owner</h2> What ties all of these elements together is&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/caring-transitions-a-recession-resistant-franchise-opportunity-for-entrepreneurs-2730712">the structure behind them</a>. Franchisees are supported by a system that includes coaching, shared best practices and ongoing marketing support.Doerr highlights how that support evolves over time. “Whenever questions arise, you have a coach who can answer any question for you,” she said. “They are pretty experienced in doing the same thing. There are always new ideas and new best practices coming in.”For prospective franchisees, the takeaway is clear: Caring Transitions provides a model where lead generation is not left to chance.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/info">https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/info</a>.

Caring Transitions Employee with Customer