BrightStar Care vs Right at Home
BrightStar Care vs Right at Home: BrightStar Care costs $132K to $235K to open; Right at Home costs $92K to $165K. BrightStar Care has 77 units, Right at Home has 123. SBA loan history: BrightStar Care = 106 loans (0.0% default); Right at Home = 153 loans (2.0% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
BrightStar Care vs Right at Home: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Right at Home requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($92K vs $132K for BrightStar Care), a 43% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $50K for BrightStar Care versus $50K for Right at Home, Right at Home has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 5.25% for BrightStar Care and 5% for Right at Home, giving Right at Home the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Right at Home operates 123 units to BrightStar Care's 77. Right at Home has been operating 31 years (founded 1995) versus 24 for BrightStar Care (founded 2002), a 7-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Right at Home has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 153 7(a) approvals compared with 106 for BrightStar Care.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for BrightStar Care and 2.0% for Right at Home, BrightStar Care has the cleaner SBA loss record by 2.0 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 68 (Strong) for BrightStar Care and 67 (Strong) for Right at Home, giving BrightStar Care the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 68/100 | 67/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 106 | 153 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 2.0% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $132K to $235K | $92K to $165K |
Franchise Fee | $50K | $50K |
Royalty Rate | 5.25% | 5% |
Ad Fund | 2.5% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | $150K | $150K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 77 | 123 |
Franchised Units | 77 | 123 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 20 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2002 | 1995 |
Franchising Since | 2005 | 1960 |
Years Franchising | 21 yrs | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | Gurnee, IL | Omaha, NE |
Category | Home Health Care Services | Home Health Care Services |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2024 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, BrightStar Care or Right at Home?
Lower upfront capital required
Right at Home
BrightStar Care: $132K starting · Right at Home: $92K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Right at Home
BrightStar Care: 106 SBA loans · Right at Home: 153 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
BrightStar Care
BrightStar Care: 0.0% · Right at Home: 2.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Right at Home
BrightStar Care: 77 units · Right at Home: 123 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Right at Home
BrightStar Care: 5.25% · Right at Home: 5%
More lender financing options
Right at Home
BrightStar Care: 33 unique lenders · Right at Home: 52 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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BrightStar Care vs Right at Home: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing BrightStar Care and Right at Home is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $92K to $235K.
BrightStar Care has 106 SBA loans on record and Right at Home has 153. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
BrightStar Care vs Right at Home, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, BrightStar Care or Right at Home?
How much does a BrightStar Care franchise cost compared to Right at Home?
Can I finance BrightStar Care or Right at Home with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, BrightStar Care or Right at Home?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; it does not lend, fund, or approve loans, and the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman