How Zahra Humecki Found a New Career As A Multi-Brand Franchisee Via Homewatch CareGivers and The Cleaning Authority

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How Homewatch CareGivers® Became the Wellness-Forward Home Care Franchise Built on 45 Years of Purposeful Human Interactions

How Homewatch CareGivers Is Rewiring In-Home Care for the Next 45 Years

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For&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/zahrahumecki/">Zahra Humecki</a>, the path to success in ownership has long been predicated upon the creation of a better life. After she immigrated to America in 1992, Humecki built a career in IT and software consulting until burnout began to set in. Seeking more control over her future and a way to do meaningful service in her community, Humecki connected with a franchise development professional to explore business ownership.“When I started 20 years ago, I worked in IT, consulting and building software. It was pretty rough. I was working 16 hours a day just coding. After five years, it burned me out. I decided I didn’t want to work with computers anymore. I wanted to do more service work and be part of the community,” Humecki said. “I worked with a woman from a franchise development background. She met with me, reviewed my resume and gave me a list of questions. She narrowed it from 100 types of businesses to 30, then to 10 and finally to five. That’s how I ended up gravitating toward home care.”Launching a&nbsp;<a href="https://homewatchfranchise.com/">Homewatch CareGivers</a> franchise in the northern suburbs of Chicago two decades ago would prove life-changing, giving Humecki greater control over her financial future. And branching out into multi-brand franchise ownership through another&nbsp;<a href="https://www.authoritybrands.com/">Authority Brands</a> concept,&nbsp;<a href="https://cleaningauthorityfranchise.com/">The Cleaning Authority</a>, has helped her build a legacy she can pass on to her children.&nbsp;<h2>Expanding Into a Second Brand</h2>Humecki’s decision to grow as a multi-unit franchise owner with Authority Brands wasn’t so much a pivot as it was the result of circumstance. More than a decade into running her&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/homewatchcaregivers/info">Homewatch CareGivers</a> franchise, a unique opportunity arose with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/the-cleaning-authority/info">The Cleaning Authority</a> that proved too good to pass up. After talking with her family, Humecki decided that expanding into a second brand sharing a similar customer base was the right next move.What she discovered in The Cleaning Authority was another brand built around a highly structured system. Already familiar with the level of support provided by Authority Brands, Humecki took the opportunity to grow as a multi-brand franchise owner.<h2>Support, Growth and a Multi-Brand Future</h2>Today, Humecki runs three Homewatch CareGivers territories and one The Cleaning Authority unit, employing more than 100 people through her franchise ownership.&nbsp;Navigating the COVID-19 pandemic as the owner of an in-home care franchise proved difficult. Adding to the challenge, Humecki opened a The Cleaning Authority unit early in 2020 as well. But strong support from Authority Brands made it all possible.“Both franchises have great support networks,” Humecki said. “If the support system wasn’t good, I wouldn’t do it. It’s challenging but manageable.”<h2>A Journey Marked by Independence and Opportunity</h2>Creating a new revenue stream by securing Medicaid certification for the Homewatch business, Humecki remains focused on further expansion as 2026 nears. Today, life as a multi-brand franchise owner delivers more than merely financial security, with Humecki able to end each work day fulfilled.Franchising didn’t just help Humecki ease the workplace burnout she was experiencing; it helped her grow a successful business she can pass on, giving her the rare luxury to step back and enjoy what she’s built.“I came to the U.S. in 1992 from another country. I had three jobs and worked hard. But franchising changed my financial situation. Being an owner makes me feel accomplished. I’ve built wealth and feel fulfilled,” Humecki said. “Now my kids are taking over, so I’m working less and focusing on coaching them. It’s a joy to see them grow and lead.”Ultimately, Humecki’s story shows that with persistence and clearly established priorities, franchising can make a difference on a number of levels. What began as a way to ease workplace burnout has evolved into a multi-brand franchise business that supports Humecki’s family, employees and community, while delivering a work-life balance which will allow her to step back from the business when that day nears. For Humecki, success in franchising isn’t defined by what she’s built, but by the fact that she can pass it on to the next generation with confidence and a foundation built to endure.&nbsp;

Families don’t just want “help at home” anymore — they want a partner who can keep loved ones safe, engaged and thriving where they’re happiest. That shift has turned the&nbsp;<a href="https://nchstats.com/us-home-care-industry-stats/#google_vignette">$107 billion in-home care industry</a> from a commodity into a sophisticated, tech-enabled wellness service. For entrepreneurs who want to build an enduring, impact-driven business with modern infrastructure and measurable demand,&nbsp;<a href="https://homewatchfranchise.com/">Homewatch CareGivers</a> is a compelling answer — especially right now.“I’m very entrepreneurial at heart,” said President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-houghton-811412b/">Todd Houghton</a>, who grew up with multi-unit franchisee parents and has spent over 40 years in franchising. “I’ve been in your shoes; I’ve been in your seat. You’re in business for yourself but not by yourself.” That philosophy has shaped the brand’s reinvention over the past three years — and the opportunity it now extends to new owners.<h2>A Legacy Brand, Evolved for the Next 45 Years</h2>Homewatch CareGivers has one of the longest legacies in the home care industry, tracing its origins back more than four decades. The company began offering home care services in 1980, long before in-home assistance became a major national movement. As demand grew, the brand began franchising in 1996 under Homewatch CareGivers, a Colorado-based company that helped establish the model of compassionate, person-centered care that still defines the brand today.Over the years, Homewatch CareGivers expanded steadily across the United States. Its growth was driven by a commitment to quality and by early recognition of key industry trends — such as aging populations, chronic disease management and the increasing preference for in-home care over institutional settings.In 2021, the brand entered a new era of growth when it became part of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.authoritybrands.com/">Authority Brands</a>, one of the leading multi-brand home service franchisors in the U.S. This move provided the company with access to Authority Brands’ expansive resources, shared operational infrastructure and multi-brand support ecosystem — a platform that includes other respected service brands such as&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/the-cleaning-authority/info">The Cleaning Authority</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/benjamin-franklin-plumbing">Benjamin Franklin Plumbing</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquito-squad/info">Mosquito Squad</a>. Today, Homewatch CareGivers stands as both a legacy brand and a forward-thinking franchise, combining more than 45 years of experience with a modern infrastructure built for long-term, scalable growth<h2>The Wellness Hub Model: Total Care Solutions and Homewatch Connect Driving Differentiation</h2>When Houghton took the helm in 2022, he and the company’s equity partners set out to “right-size” systems and processes for scale. “Where we were all supposed to be serving strawberry ice cream; we had some serving vanilla, chocolate and 31 flavors,” he said. “We quickly dove in and brought processes in place.”&nbsp;The team rebuilt the operating playbook, aligned the network and launched a differentiated care model — all within the first 12 months — laying the foundation for rapid, healthy growth.“The home care space has changed dramatically in just the last five years,” Houghton said. “Margins are thinning quickly, so you have to have differentiators.”&nbsp;The brand continues to evolve its offerings, integrating technology like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.homewatchcaregivers.com/homewatch-caregivers-total-care-solutions/homewatch-connect/">Homewatch Connect and expanding its Total Care Solutions model</a> as a part of a larger wellness hub,&nbsp;to address a wider range of needs. Homewatch CareGivers’ Total Care Solutions meets clients anywhere in their journey — from proactive Active Care to Wellness Care and more complex needs — while Homewatch Connect supplements in-person support with an in-home tech stack that combats isolation, improves engagement and extends length of stay. That future-ready positioning is already influencing outcomes and expectations as adult children — today’s decision-makers — demand more sophisticated, personalized solutions.The commitment to owner success is reinforced through a comprehensive training and support ecosystem. Beyond the foundational training for new owners and the ongoing network support, Homewatch CareGivers provides advanced tools like the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)—a new strategic framework designed to help franchisees clarify, simplify, and achieve their business vision—and dedicated financial and acceleration training. This focus on equipping owners with robust business management skills is complemented by an expanded care model that now includes Homewatch CareGivers Skilled Nursing Services. These skilled services, which meet the rigorous standards of Community Health Accreditation Partners (CHAP), allow franchisees to offer a higher level of in-home clinical care, such as medication management, wound care, and chronic condition management.<h2>Systems First: The Playbook Owners Want</h2>Under Houghton, the brand rebuilt the platform franchisees run on — adding structure, coaching and tools that make the core business clearer and the ramp faster.&nbsp;Today, owners operate with clear KPI visibility and business intelligence to diagnose issues and spot opportunities, a robust learning ecosystem through Homewatch CareGivers Academy to continually upskill teams, and streamlined practice management software to run day-to-day operations. The Homewatch Connect device packages, which are part of the wellness hub, further enhance safety and engagement in the home, turning technology into a true force multiplier for care.All these differentiators translate into an attractive investment opportunity. According to the brand’s most recent FDD, Homewatch CareGivers reports $2,552,023 average gross revenue per franchisee for 2024 across the locations that operated a full year, alongside a median of $1,144,985. The estimated initial investment ranges from just $121,640 to $177,830 depending on market, licensing and ramp.*<h2>Why Now: Demand, Differentiation and Market Design</h2><a href="https://www.aarp.org/home-living/home-and-community-preferences-survey-2021/">Based on The North American Community Hub Statistics, 90% of seniors prefer to age at home rather than in facilities</a>. With an aging population and a growing need for wellness-focused solutions, Homewatch CareGivers is positioned for long-term growth.At the same time, the buyer has changed. “Today, it’s a much younger person looking to build a portfolio.” They want an asset that can scale across territories and a brand that’s thinking ahead. Homewatch CareGivers is also addressing where the market is going — not just seniors.&nbsp;“We made the strategic move to drop ‘Senior Care’ from the name… we take care of pediatrics through geriatrics,” Houghton said, noting services for individuals with autism and younger cohorts who also want the dignity of living at home with support.&nbsp;<h2>Who Thrives With Homewatch CareGivers?</h2>You don’t need a clinical background to succeed as a Homewatch CareGivers franchisee, Houghton says, but you do need leadership, drive and a community mindset.&nbsp;“If you want an organization to grow, you’ve got to have that entrepreneur-mind spirit — that’s being a risk-taker,” Houghton said. The ideal franchisee is someone who follows the playbook, invests in people, works closely with referral sources and embraces the tech-plus-care model. If they do that, they can build a business that’s both attractive and personally meaningful.If you’re looking for a franchise that blends mission with modern operations — with an established investment range, clear fee structure — Homewatch CareGivers offers a thoughtful path into a resilient, expanding segment.“Dig deeper. Ask the right questions. Know what the future looks like for you within the brand,” Houghton said.&nbsp;For entrepreneurs ready to lead with heart and execute with discipline, now is an excellent time to take that next step. Development target markets include Boston, Des Moines, Jacksonville, Nashville, Phoenix, Richmond, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Francisco.For more information on franchising with Homewatch CareGivers, visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://homewatchfranchise.com/">https://homewatchfranchise.com/</a>.*See Item 19 of the 2025 Homewatch Caregivers Franchise Disclosure Document for sales, costs and profits or losses.

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