BrightStar Care vs Synergy Homecare
BrightStar Care vs Synergy Homecare: BrightStar Care costs $132K to $235K to open; Synergy Homecare costs $52K to $201K. BrightStar Care has 77 units, Synergy Homecare has 550. SBA loan history: BrightStar Care = 106 loans (0.0% default); Synergy Homecare = 77 loans (5.2% 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 Synergy Homecare: 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
Synergy Homecare requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($52K vs $132K for BrightStar Care), a 155% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $50K for BrightStar Care versus $53K for Synergy Homecare, BrightStar Care has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 5.25% for BrightStar Care and 5% for Synergy Homecare, giving Synergy Homecare the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Synergy Homecare operates 550 units to BrightStar Care's 77, roughly 7× the system size. Synergy Homecare has been operating 25 years (founded 2001) versus 24 for BrightStar Care (founded 2002), a 1-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
BrightStar Care has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 106 7(a) approvals compared with 77 for Synergy Homecare. BrightStar Care's peak SBA year was 2025 (23 loans); Synergy Homecare's peak was 2015 (14 loans). BrightStar Care's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. BrightStar Care has the most SBA funded units in NJ, with 12. Synergy Homecare leads in TX, with 11. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded BrightStar Care deals is $558K vs $268K for Synergy Homecare, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for BrightStar Care and 5.2% for Synergy Homecare, BrightStar Care has the cleaner SBA loss record by 5.2 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 68 (Strong) for BrightStar Care and 65 (Strong) for Synergy Homecare, giving BrightStar Care the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 68/100 | 65/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 106 | 77 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 5.2% |
Peer Tier | major | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $132K to $235K | $52K to $201K |
Franchise Fee | $50K | $53K |
Royalty Rate | 5.25% | 5% |
Ad Fund | 2.5% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | $150K | $50K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $150K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 77 | 550 |
Franchised Units | 77 | 550 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 5 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2002 | 2001 |
Franchising Since | 2005 | 2005 |
Years Franchising | 21 yrs | 21 yrs |
Headquarters | Gurnee, IL | Tempe, AZ |
Category | Home Health Care Services | Home Health Care Services |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2024 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, BrightStar Care or Synergy Homecare?
Lower upfront capital required
Synergy Homecare
BrightStar Care: $132K starting · Synergy Homecare: $52K starting
More SBA lender confidence
BrightStar Care
BrightStar Care: 106 SBA loans · Synergy Homecare: 77 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
BrightStar Care
BrightStar Care: 0.0% · Synergy Homecare: 5.2%
Larger system & brand presence
Synergy Homecare
BrightStar Care: 77 units · Synergy Homecare: 550 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Synergy Homecare
BrightStar Care: 5.25% · Synergy Homecare: 5%
More lender financing options
Synergy Homecare
BrightStar Care: 33 unique lenders · Synergy Homecare: 34 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 Synergy Homecare: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing BrightStar Care and Synergy Homecare is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $52K to $235K.
BrightStar Care has 106 SBA loans on record and Synergy Homecare has 77. 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 Synergy Homecare, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, BrightStar Care or Synergy Homecare?
How much does a BrightStar Care franchise cost compared to Synergy Homecare?
Can I finance BrightStar Care or Synergy Homecare with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, BrightStar Care or Synergy Homecare?
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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; 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