You do not have to purchase a franchise to be successful – but you do need people behind you who are financially motivated to help you grow.

Questions You Should Be Asking About The Home Care Industry

Q: What is AHI Group? Are you a franchise? Why do you charge less than a franchise – what’s the catch?
Q: Will you help me get clients from long term care insurance companies that everyone else is signed up with? How will you help me get picked over and above all the other home care agencies already signed up with trusted relationships in place?
Q: What do Companions and Aides (caregivers) do?
Q: How much does it cost to start a home care business? Can I start it in a home office?
Q: Do I need a healthcare industry background to start a private duty (non medical) home care business?
Q: Do caregivers I hire need licenses or certifications to provide care services and do you provide a Certified Senior Care Aide® (CSCA) Training Program in house at no extra cost?
Q: Do I need a license to operate a private duty (non medical) home care agency?
Q: What type of people do I hire to be caregivers?
Q: Why ten days of initial “Boot Camp” Training?
Q: Will I be able to use the name “AHI Group”? Will I get to display the “AHI Member ” icon on my web site?
Q: Will I get a territory and do you protect it? Will my web site be the same as other AHI Group Member web sites?
Q: What type of coaching and mentoring does AHI Group offer after we launch our agency? Who exactly is will be my assigned coach/mentor after I open my doors for business? Have they owned a multi-million dollar home care agency? Can I call them on the phone? What reports will I need to fill out and send in to report my numbers?
Q: How much competition is in this business already?
Q: A Franchiser told me I would receive leads from their web site – how will I get leads with your option?
Q: A franchiser told me that they allow their franchisees to communicate and learn from each other – do you allow that with your customers?
Q: A franchiser told me they have software for time keeping, employee logging in/out, accounting, etc. that saves the administrator time and money. Do you have this type of thing?
Q: A franchise wants to charge me $37,000 for a small territory and then pay 5% of my gross sales in royalties. I asked why they charge so much and was told that, quote, “You get what you pay for. If you want quality you have to pay for it.” How does your company charge so much less and still provide a quality program and ongoing support? What’s the catch?
Q: What exactly am I getting for my money?
Q: How much does the AHI Group – StartupHomeCare – membership cost?
Q: Why choose AHI Group Membership Organization?
Q: Are payment arrangements an option? Are you accredited by the BBB?
Q: A franchise told me that they are “Joint Commission Accredited” and that only 10% of other non medical home care agencies out there have this accreditation and that I will win more business due to having this accreditation. Is this something I should get for my agency to help me win business?
Q: What is special about your organization? What sets you apart from others doing what you do?
Q: What is this unique “Veterans Pension Benefit Program” I heard your organization provides?
Q: What type of Business License do we need? Are there any states you don’t offer AHI Memberships?
Q: How do I obtain my employees and clients?
Q: Is this service only for seniors? How do seniors pay for care services?
Q: Where do I receive my training and why do you limit your training Boot Camp class sizes to a small group?
Q: Is the senior care industry right for me?
Q: How much money do I need to start this business?
Q: What coaching and mentoring do you offer once I open my doors for business?
Q: A Franchiser told me that they spend thousands of dollars per year on marketing and that having their name will give me access to a lot of potential clients who have seen that advertising, is that correct?
Q: A franchiser told me their franchisees sell ‘mobile alert devices’ that their patients wear on their wrists and can push if need assistance and are in trouble when a caregiver is not around. Do you offer this optional product?
Q: A franchise told me that they offer expert marketing training that will help my business grow quickly – what do you offer?
Q: Do you offer discounts on background checking software? Do you provide back end office management software to manage our employees, referral sources, clients, scheduling, billing, payroll, etc?
Q: Do we use your AHI Group, Inc name or do we create our own agency name?
Q: Do you offer access to discounted professional liability insurance to save us money on premiums?
Q: Do you offer any other ‘snap-on’ business solutions like assisted living community placement services?
Q: I understand that each participant in your Boot Camp gets the Certified Senior Care Manager® (CSCM) certification included in your Lifetime Membership Fee?
Q: Why should I choose AHI Group Membership Organization instead of buying policies and procedures and some marketing materials online for only $1,500?
Q: What percentage of your home care agencies have gone out of business in their first two years? What were the reasons?
Q: Marketing is essential to a business’ survival. How will my assigned coach/mentor help me with that after I open my doors for business? How much will that cost me?

AHI GROUP OFFERS A SMART ALTERNATIVE TO PURCHASING A NON MEDICAL HOME CARE FRANCHISE OR PAYING A CONSULTANT. Why pay franchise royalties and be restricted to a small territory? Why hire consultants who offer a 3-4 day seminar and then leave you with no assigned, seasoned, coach/mentor to meet with you regularly, keep you accountable, and help you make it through your critical first year? AHI Group gives you the benefits of BOTH a franchise and a consultant without the downside. Please visit our FAQ page for more questions about the home care industry, our model, and our answers.