Right at Home vs Senior Helpers
Right at Home vs Senior Helpers: Right at Home costs $92K to $165K to open; Senior Helpers costs $75K to $1.1M. Right at Home has 123 units, Senior Helpers has 110. SBA loan history: Right at Home = 153 loans (2.0% default); Senior Helpers = 156 loans (3.2% 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.
Right at Home vs Senior Helpers: 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
Senior Helpers requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($75K vs $92K for Right at Home), a 23% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $50K for Right at Home versus $70K for Senior Helpers, Right at Home has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 5% for Right at Home and 5% for Senior Helpers, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Right at Home operates 123 units to Senior Helpers's 110. Right at Home has been operating 31 years (founded 1995) versus 25 for Senior Helpers (founded 2001), a 6-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Senior Helpers has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 156 7(a) approvals compared with 153 for Right at Home.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 2.0% for Right at Home and 3.2% for Senior Helpers, Right at Home has the cleaner SBA loss record by 1.2 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 67 (Strong) for Right at Home and 81 (Excellent) for Senior Helpers, giving Senior Helpers the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 67/100 | 81/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Excellent |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Stable |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 153 | 156 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 2.0% | 3.2% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $92K to $165K | $75K to $1.1M |
Franchise Fee | $50K | $70K |
Royalty Rate | 5% | 5% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 1% |
Liquid Capital | $150K | $80K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $200K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 123 | 110 |
Franchised Units | 123 | 110 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 20 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1995 | 2001 |
Franchising Since | 1960 | 1960 |
Years Franchising | 66 yrs | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | Omaha, NE | ARLINGTON, TX |
Category | Home Health Care Services | Home Health Care Services |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Right at Home or Senior Helpers?
Lower upfront capital required
Senior Helpers
Right at Home: $92K starting · Senior Helpers: $75K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Senior Helpers
Right at Home: 153 SBA loans · Senior Helpers: 156 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Right at Home
Right at Home: 2.0% · Senior Helpers: 3.2%
Larger system & brand presence
Right at Home
Right at Home: 123 units · Senior Helpers: 110 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Right at Home: 5% · Senior Helpers: 5%
More lender financing options
Right at Home
Right at Home: 52 unique lenders · Senior Helpers: 44 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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About These Franchises
Right at Home vs Senior Helpers: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Right at Home and Senior Helpers is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $75K to $1.1M.
Right at Home has 153 SBA loans on record and Senior Helpers has 156. 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.
Right at Home vs Senior Helpers, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Right at Home or Senior Helpers?
How much does a Right at Home franchise cost compared to Senior Helpers?
Can I finance Right at Home or Senior Helpers with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Right at Home or Senior Helpers?
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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