Griswold Home Care

Griswold Home Care entered the nonmedical home care industry in 1982, when Dr. Jean Griswold founded the business after experiencing life with multiple sclerosis and using a wheelchair. The death of an elderly woman from preventable complications linked to inadequate support helped motivate the company’s creation. It began as Overnight Sitting Service, became Special Care Inc., and adopted the name Griswold Home Care on April 26, 2002, its 20th anniversary. Dr. Jean Griswold’s husband, Reverend Dr. Lincoln T. Griswold, later joined the business full time. The family legacy continued after Dr. Jean Griswold died on January 28, 2017. One database lists 13 total units, all franchised and zero company owned, while other research reports growth from 103 franchises in 2009 to 168 units in 2017, 170 total units in 2023, and 193 total units in 2024, including 22 new franchises awarded across the U.S. that year. As of July 2025, Griswold Home Care reported 196 locations and operations in over 160 locations across 30 states, with some sources citing 32 states. The home care market is estimated to reach $666.9 billion by 2030, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 7.96%. Griswold Home Care is headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, while some sources mention Plymouth Meeting, PA. Its franchisor is Griswold International, LLC, which operates under Griswold Investors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company formed on December 13, 2013. Griswold Investors, LLC has its principal business address in New York, N.Y., and is led by CEO Michael Slupecki. Services include personal care, homemaking, companion care, respite care, live in and overnight care, hospice support, incidental transportation, and other supportive services for seniors, disabled adults, and people recovering from illnesses or injuries who want to remain independent at home.

Home care demand is being shaped by an aging population and a preference for receiving care at home. The market is projected to reach $666.9 billion by 2030 at a 7.96% Compound Annual Growth Rate. Approximately 10,000 Americans turn 65 each day. By 2030, 20% of the U.S. population is projected to be at least 65, and the number of older adults is expected to exceed 88 million by 2050. AARP reports that 96% of seniors want to age in their homes, while 80% believe their current residence is where they will always live. Families increasingly seek individualized care plans that support autonomy, clear communication, transparency, and compassion. Technology in the sector includes AI, smart monitoring devices, fall detection, medication reminders, scheduling software, mobile apps, and automated caregiver matching. Home care also serves needs that are generally not discretionary and can provide an alternative to institutional care as healthcare costs rise. The market remains fragmented, although Griswold Home Care describes itself as the World’s Oldest, Multi national, Nonmedical Home Care Company and was described in 2005 as the nation’s largest, privately owned nonmedical home care company. Technology advances and established brands continue to shape opportunities in the sector.

The initial franchise fee ranges from $49,500 to $54,500, based on the size and market potential of the territory, and is due when the franchise agreement is signed. Honorably discharged veterans and first responders receive a 20% discount, bringing the fee to $39,600 to $43,600. Estimated total initial investment ranges from $95,850 to $181,431. Listed costs include office lease and setup of $9,000 to $15,000, office equipment of $2,500 to $4,000, insurance for the first six months of $3,800 to $4,800, and licenses and permits of up to $7,500 depending on state and local requirements. Working capital for the first six months is estimated at $25,000 to $81,000. Reported liquid capital requirements range from $75,000 to $100,000, with other sources citing $70,000, $107,350 to $135,500, or $25,000. The stated minimum net worth is $350,000, while another source reports $150,000. Buyers should review the latest FDD for the applicable figures. Ongoing charges include a monthly royalty of 4% of gross receipts or a specified minimum performance requirement, whichever is greater. Other reported fees include a $15,000 transfer fee, or $5,000 for existing franchisees, remediation training at $500 per day per trainer plus expenses, an annual meeting fee of $475, local ongoing marketing or shortfall requirements of $12,000 per year, and late fees of $25 per week. Griswold Investors, LLC, formed in 2013, is the parent company.

Griswold Home Care requires active ownership and a physical office. Franchisees may interview every caregiver, monitor client needs, and adjust care plans, as described by franchisees Bruce McReynolds and Beth Copeland. Owners serve both clients and caregivers and must balance those relationships. Caregivers receive training that includes dementia care and proper use of gait belts. The brand seeks to keep each client with the same caregiver, although scheduling may require substitutions. Depending on the state, caregivers may be referred after screening or directly employed and supervised by the franchisee. Pre opening training covers state and local compliance, licensing, and insurance. The Home Care Academy provides two weeks of interactive training, with one week in the classroom and one week of field experience. The program includes 79 hours of classroom training, 50 hours of on the job training, and virtual modules. A launch support specialist assists from franchise agreement signing through office opening. Griswold Home Care also offers guidance on hiring, sales, and referral development, along with marketing materials, a recruiting manager, and a marketing tool. Compliance support addresses state regulations, licensing, and home care standards. Protected territories are generally based on 250,000 individuals or 25,000 senior citizens. The initial franchise term is 10 years, with renewal options in five year increments.

Average system gross receipts for Fiscal Year 2024 were $2,131,036. The 2025 FDD, which references 2024 financials, reports an audited net loss of nearly $3 million and increased current liabilities. It attributes part of this position to a $4.2 million arbitration award against Griswold Home Care for breach of contract with a franchisee. The FDD also describes litigation involving allegations from other franchisees that the business model was misrepresented, resulting in a $700,000 global settlement.

Griswold Home Care began franchising in 1984, two years after its founding, and became a $10 million, multi state business by 1989. In 2005, it was described as the nation’s largest, privately owned nonmedical home care company. The network reached 103 franchises in 2009, 168 units in 2017, 170 total units in 2023, and 193 total units in 2024. The 2025 FDD lists 125 total units, including 114 franchised owned and 11 company owned, while 196 locations were reported as of July 2025. During the first half of 2025, the brand awarded 12 new territories, opened 10 offices, and completed three franchise resales. It expanded into 13 states, signed 21 franchise agreements, and opened 16 locations, with North Carolina receiving four new franchise awards. The company aimed to award 20 new franchises in 2025 and approximately 23 new franchise locations in 2026, with Utah, Wisconsin, and Alabama identified as target states. Its stated advantages include more than four decades of operating history, an early role in nonmedical home care, brand recognition, training, support, and protected territories based on 250,000 individuals or 25,000 senior citizens. In 2024, Griswold Home Care announced a national strategic partnership with PocketRN to test a Medicare Dementia Care Model. Its 2025 strategy also included continued technology investment. The brand was named Franchisor of the Year by The American Association of Franchisees and Dealers in 2017 and 2019, appeared in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and was named a Top Workplace by the Philadelphia Inquirer for four consecutive years in 2025.