Bee Hive Homes

Bee Hive Homes operates in assisted living, memory care, and respite care through a residential style model designed to give seniors personalized, home like care. Founder Twayne Walker created the company in Meridian, Idaho, in 1987 after seeking quality, individualized care for his grandmother. Dennis Toland later partnered with Walker and helped advance the family like care environment. Bee Hive Homes reported 199 total units in 2024, all franchise owned, reflecting an entirely franchised system. Other reports describe over 160 locations in 19 states, over 180 homes in twenty states, and over 200 locations, with nearly 33 years of operating experience as of 2019. The company operates only in the United States. Bee Hive Homes ranked #1 on Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 list three times and received recognition from Forbes magazine for 15 consecutive years. These figures provide context for buyers reviewing the brand, its operating history, and its presence in the senior care market.

Bee Hive Homes serves the homes for the elderly category, where demand is shaped by the aging population and the large Baby Boomer generation. More people are expected to need assisted living, memory care, and respite care as longevity increases. Medical advances also allow people to live longer with health conditions that may require specialized support. Seniors and their families increasingly seek smaller, residential settings instead of large institutional facilities. Bee Hive Homes is built around that preference, with a family like atmosphere and community focused care. Senior care demand is generally less discretionary because families require these services regardless of broader economic conditions. The market remains fragmented, particularly among smaller residential homes, even as large corporate providers operate expansive facilities. Bee Hive Homes was one of the first companies to combine assisted living homes with a franchise model, beginning franchising in 1996. That history places the brand in a specialized segment serving families seeking a more personal care setting.

A Bee Hive Homes franchise requires a substantial capital commitment because the model includes real estate development and construction. The initial franchise fee is $75,000. A 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document gives a total initial investment range of $3,400,000 to $5,100,000. The building is estimated at $2,875,000 to $4,500,000. Furniture, fixtures, and equipment are estimated at $120,000 to $150,000, while initial supplies and materials are estimated at $25,000 to $30,000. Required travel, meals, and lodging for training are estimated at $8,500 to $10,000. Insurance is estimated at $13,600 to $15,600. Architectural fees range from $40,000 to $44,000, and engineering fees range from $44,000 to $48,400. Healthcare licensing and certifications are estimated at $20,700 to $22,000. Other professional fees are estimated at $2,800 to $3,200. Utility deposits are estimated at $5,000 to $5,200, and miscellaneous opening costs are estimated at $9,500 to $10,000. Funds for employees and operating expenses during the first six months are estimated at $160,900 to $186,600. Other cited figures include approximately $1,500,000 to $2,200,000 from another 2026 FDD reference, $2 million and $4 million for total development cost as of August 2019, and $1,200,000 to $2,200,000 from 2016 FDD data. Land acquisition and building construction alone can range from $700,000 to over $2,000,000+, separate from other franchise expenses. Bee Hive Homes of America, Inc. is the parent company. It is an Idaho corporation incorporated on August 9, 1996, and based in Boise, Idaho. The investment level is suited to buyers with access to significant capital and an interest in a real estate intensive senior care business.

The operating model centers on smaller residential style homes that provide assisted living, memory care, and respite care. Franchisees oversee daily operations in a setting intended to provide individual attention, resident safety, and community integration. Staffing includes trained caregivers, medical professionals, and administrative personnel. Bee Hive Homes focuses exclusively on this senior living format. The system does not offer drive thrus, inline retail, or mobile units. Initial training includes travel, meals, and lodging costs of $8,500 to $10,000, reflecting an in person program covering operating standards and the brand's care philosophy. Bee Hive Homes of America, Inc., headquartered in Boise, Idaho, provides ongoing corporate support. The source does not provide specific information about field consultants or proprietary technology platforms, but describes support areas that can include operating practices, marketing guidance, and supply chain management. Territory agreements may define geographic exclusivity and limit internal competition. Gerald Hamilton joined Bee Hive Homes in 2005 and now operates nine locations in New Mexico and Nevada. His ownership history illustrates that the system can support multi unit growth. The hands on nature of resident care may suit an owner operator, while a capable management team could allow experienced operators to oversee multiple facilities and move toward a more semi absentee structure over time.

Other operating information still offers context for evaluating the system. Bee Hive Homes grew from 155 franchised locations in 16 states in 2016 to 199 total units in 2024, all of them franchise owned. Other reports cite over 160 locations in 19 states, over 180 homes in twenty states, and over 200 locations, along with nearly 33 years of experience as of 2019. As of August 2019, the company targeted approximately 15 to 20 new franchise homes per year. Bee Hive Homes ranked #1 on Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 list three times and was recognized by Forbes magazine for 15 consecutive years. Gerald Hamilton's operation of nine locations also demonstrates the possibility of multi unit expansion. Those industry conditions, together with the brand's expansion and recognition, may indicate earning potential, but buyers should not treat them as a substitute for undisclosed unit level financial results. The high real estate investment also means return expectations must be evaluated against the amount of capital committed.

Bee Hive Homes began franchising in 1996, nearly a decade after its initial operations. Its 2016 FDD listed 155 franchised locations in 16 states, compared with 199 total units in 2024, all franchise owned. Other reports describe over 160 locations in 19 states, over 180 homes in twenty states, and over 200 locations, with almost 33 years of experience as of 2019. The figures indicate average net growth of approximately 5 to 6 units per year between 2016 and 2024. The stated target of approximately 15 to 20 new franchise homes per year as of August 2019 indicated a possible increase in development activity. The West was the largest region in 2016, with 122 locations. Gerald Hamilton is a co owner of Bee Hive Homes in New Mexico and Nevada, where he has nine locations. In 2021, he was elected Chair of the National Center for Assisted Living, or NCAL, Board of Directors, and he serves on the American Health Care Association Board of Governors. Bee Hive Homes' market position rests on its early use of franchising for assisted living homes, its focus on smaller residential style facilities, its family like care model, and its brand recognition. The company ranked #1 on Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 list three times and received recognition from Forbes magazine for 15 consecutive years. Its emphasis on personalized care and community focused settings addresses families seeking an alternative to larger institutional facilities.

A prospective franchisee needs meaningful financial capacity and a commitment to operating a residential senior care business. Experience in management, operations, or healthcare administration could be useful, although the source does not state that a particular industry background is required. The role calls for leadership, empathy, and the ability to manage caregivers and medical professionals. The system accommodates multi unit operators, as shown by Gerald Hamilton's nine locations, as well as single unit owners involved in daily operations. The growth pipeline targeted approximately 15 to 20 new franchise homes per year as of August 2019, creating potential opportunities across the United States, where the brand operates exclusively. The 2016 FDD identified the West as the largest region, with 122 locations. Opportunities may also exist in the 19 to 20 states where Bee Hive Homes has a presence and in new markets. Development can take 12 to 24 months or more because of real estate, construction, licensing, and related project requirements. The franchise agreement term is not publicly available. Standard industry practice for investments of this type often involves initial terms of 10 to 20 years with renewal options, though buyers must confirm the actual terms in the governing documents. Transfer and resale provisions would typically appear in the Franchise Disclosure Document and may establish a process for selling or transferring the business.

Bee Hive Homes merits detailed due diligence from buyers considering a high capital senior care investment. Its residential style model addresses demand for personalized senior living while its unit history shows expansion from 155 franchised locations in 16 states in 2016 to 199 total units in 2024. The opportunity also carries substantial real estate, construction, staffing, licensing, and operating requirements. PeerSense provides franchise research for this review, including SBA lending history, a Loan Activity Score, location maps with Google ratings, FDD financial data where available, and side by side comparison tools. PeerSense is a commercial capital advisory firm that introduces franchise buyers to SBA and conventional lenders. It is not a lender and does not fund or approve loans.