A Place At Home Bets on Buying Back Its Franchisees

A Place At Home, the Omaha-based in-home senior care franchisor acquired by global provider Dovida in February, is turning franchise buybacks into a core growth lever. Co-founder Dustin Distefano told Home Health Care News the company will acquire high-performing locations outright and form joint ventures in which franchisees keep a minority stake.

Why royalties are no longer enough

Distefano was blunt about the math. Adding 20 franchise units grows royalty income, but a converted corporate location consolidates the full profit. Franchising produces about 60% of revenue today, and he expects that to flip to roughly 70% corporate and 30% franchise over time.

A guaranteed exit as a sales pitch

The company frames buybacks as a recruiting tool: every owner who grows a location gets a defined path to sell back when age, life changes, or fatigue set in. Five corporate conversions are planned by year end. The first, in Jacksonville, Florida, nearly doubled in size after conversion in July, which Distefano credits to corporate sales and caregiver recruiting.

Growth targets still lean on franchising

The buyback push runs alongside unit growth, not instead of it. A Place At Home expects 10 more openings and 17 franchise deals in 2026, with a goal of 20 new franchise locations in 2027. Live-in care and referral partnerships are the operating priorities feeding both channels.

What operators should weigh

A built-in exit raises resale certainty, but it also concentrates buyer power in the franchisor, which will set the price. Prospective owners should ask how valuations are calculated, what performance bar triggers an offer, and whether joint venture terms limit their control as general managers.