Training & Support Overview
A Place At Home has developed a comprehensive franchise support
model designed to guide owners from their initial franchise award
through business launch, early growth, and long-term expansion.
Rather than relying on a single training event, our system combines
dedicated onboarding management, structured virtual education,
immersive headquarters training, strategic vendor partnerships,
hands-on business coaching, in-market support, and direct
collaboration with experienced franchise owners.
Our philosophy is straightforward: franchise owners should
receive the training, resources, relationships, and ongoing
guidance necessary to develop the skills required to operate and
grow a professional senior care business.
Phase 1: Dedicated Onboarding & Pre-Opening Support
Immediately following the execution of a franchise agreement,
each new owner is assigned a dedicated Onboarding & Training
Manager who serves as their primary point of contact throughout the
pre-opening process.
The onboarding program provides a structured roadmap to opening,
helping franchisees navigate the many responsibilities involved in
launching a home care agency. Rather than requiring new owners to
independently coordinate every component of their startup, A Place
At Home provides direct guidance, accountability, and access to
established resources.
Key areas of onboarding support include:
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State-specific home care licensing requirements and application
resources
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Licensing preparation, documentation, and compliance
education
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Office site selection and operational setup
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Technology implementation and systems training
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Vendor selection, introductions, and account setup
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Business planning and pre-opening preparation
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Caregiver recruitment and hiring processes
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Office staffing and organizational development
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Insurance, administrative, and operational readiness
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Initial marketing strategy and business development
preparation
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Home care industry education and operating standards
A Place At Home also maintains relationships with key
third-party vendors and service providers that support franchisees
through the startup process. These partnerships help new owners
identify appropriate resources for technology, financing,
insurance, recruiting, and other operational requirements.
Phase 2: Comprehensive Virtual & Headquarters Training
Franchisees participate in dozens of hours of structured
training delivered through a combination of instructor-led virtual
classes, systems demonstrations, educational resources, and
practical assignments.
Training covers the essential functions of operating a home care
business, including client intake, caregiver recruitment,
scheduling, service delivery, compliance, financial management,
leadership, and business development.
The onboarding experience culminates in an immersive, weeklong
training program at A Place At Home's headquarters in Omaha,
Nebraska.
During this training week, franchisees work directly with
corporate leadership and departmental specialists to reinforce
their knowledge, practice operational workflows, and prepare for
the realities of running their businesses.
A particularly valuable component of headquarters training is
the opportunity to apply business development strategies in a real
market. Franchisees actively practice outreach and
relationship-building in the Omaha community, gaining firsthand
experience with the consultative selling approach they will use in
their own territories.
Our objective is not simply to teach franchisees how the systems
work. It is to help them develop the confidence and practical
skills to use those systems in a functioning senior care
business.
Phase 3: Consultative Sales & Referral Network Development
Business development is one of the most important
responsibilities of an A Place At Home franchise owner, and our
training reflects that priority.
A Place At Home teaches a sophisticated, consultative approach
to business development focused on establishing trusted referral
relationships with healthcare professionals and community
organizations.
Franchisees learn how to identify, qualify, approach, and
develop professional referral partners, including:
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Hospitals and discharge planning teams
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Skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities
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Physicians and medical practices
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Senior living communities
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Social workers and case managers
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Home health and hospice organizations
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Other professionals serving older adults and their families
Training emphasizes understanding the needs of referral
partners, communicating the value of A Place At Home's services,
building professional credibility, and developing long-term
relationships.
This approach is particularly valuable for franchisees entering
the senior care industry without an established healthcare referral
network.
Rather than depending exclusively on consumer advertising,
owners are trained to become recognized resources within their
local healthcare communities.
Phase 4: Dedicated Franchise Business Coaching
Following Grand Opening, franchisees transition from the
onboarding team to a dedicated Franchise Business Coach.
While onboarding focuses on preparing the business to open,
coaching focuses on helping the owner operate effectively,
establish consistent business development activity, strengthen
financial performance, and pursue long-term growth.
Franchise Business Coaches work directly with owners to evaluate
their progress, identify operational challenges, establish
priorities, and develop actionable business plans.
Coaching areas include:
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Business development strategy and referral network expansion
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Financial management and key performance indicators
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Caregiver recruitment, retention, and workforce development
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Client acquisition and service quality
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Office staffing and organizational structure
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Leadership development and accountability
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Operational efficiency and process improvement
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Strategic planning and long-term growth
Coaching is not limited to a franchisee's first year. Owners
maintain access to Franchise Business Coaching throughout their
time in the A Place At Home system.
Phase 5: In-Market Coaching & Field Support
A Place At Home recognizes that some of the most valuable
training happens inside the franchisee's own market.
Within approximately 60 days of Grand Opening, each new
franchise owner receives an in-person visit from their Franchise
Business Coach.
During this visit, the coach works directly with the owner and
their team to evaluate operational readiness, reinforce training,
address early challenges, and help implement effective business
development strategies.
These visits provide an opportunity to translate classroom
education into practical execution, with guidance tailored to the
franchisee's local market, staffing structure, and business
needs.
The objective is to help owners establish strong operating
habits, develop confidence in their leadership responsibilities,
and build momentum during the critical early stages of business
ownership.
Phase 6: Franchisee Mentorship & Peer Collaboration
One of the most valuable resources available to new A Place At
Home owners is the experience of the franchisees who came before
them.
A Place At Home encourages collaboration throughout its
franchise network and provides opportunities for owners to learn
directly from experienced operators.
Through franchisee mentorship, peer relationships, systemwide
meetings, and ongoing communication, owners can exchange ideas,
discuss operational challenges, share best practices, and learn
from the experiences of fellow franchisees.
New owners benefit from access to professionals who understand
the practical realities of building a senior care business,
including the challenges of recruiting caregivers, developing
referral relationships, managing client needs, and leading a
growing team.
This collaborative culture allows franchisees to benefit from
the collective knowledge of the network while maintaining
responsibility for their own local businesses.
Phase 7: Franchisee Advisory Council & Systemwide
Collaboration
A Place At Home believes franchisees should have a meaningful
voice in the continued development of the franchise system.
Our Franchisee Advisory Council provides a structured
opportunity for franchise owners to share feedback, communicate
operational priorities, and contribute perspectives on initiatives
affecting the broader network.
The Council helps strengthen communication between franchise
ownership and corporate leadership while encouraging collaboration
on opportunities to improve systems, resources, and franchisee
support.
This commitment to franchisee representation reinforces a
culture of partnership and continuous improvement.
Long-Term Support & Growth
A Place At Home's support model is designed to evolve alongside
the franchisee's business.
As owners progress beyond the startup phase, their needs
naturally shift from learning foundational operations to developing
management teams, strengthening financial performance, expanding
referral relationships, and evaluating future growth
opportunities.
Through ongoing business coaching, corporate leadership
resources, vendor relationships, franchisee collaboration, and
systemwide educational opportunities, A Place At Home remains
actively engaged in supporting franchisees throughout their
ownership journey.
Following the February 2026 acquisition by Dovida, A Place At
Home also benefits from the resources and strategic perspective of
a larger international home care organization, creating additional
opportunities to strengthen infrastructure and support future
system growth.
Our goal is to develop capable, confident franchise owners who
can lead strong organizations, deliver exceptional senior care, and
build meaningful businesses in the communities they serve.
Other Information
Financial Assistance Provided: No
A Place At Home does not provide direct financing. However, we
maintain relationships with third-party financing resources,
including lenders and franchise funding specialists, who can assist
qualified candidates in evaluating available financing options.
Site Selection Assistance: Yes
Our Onboarding & Training Manager guides franchisees through the
process of identifying an appropriate office location,
understanding operational requirements, and preparing their
physical location for business operations.
Lease Negotiation Assistance: No
While A Place At Home provides guidance on office requirements
and site selection, franchisees remain responsible for negotiating
and executing their commercial leases.
Recruiting Assistance: Yes
A Place At Home provides caregiver recruitment resources, job
posting templates, applicant tracking technology, interviewing
guidance, and best-practice training for building and retaining a
quality care team. Franchisees receive instruction on caregiver
sourcing, prescreening, interviewing, onboarding, and developing a
workplace culture that supports employee retention.
Co-operative Advertising: No
Franchisees benefit from corporate brand marketing resources,
approved marketing materials, and guidance on executing local
marketing strategies.