Caring Transitions

REPORTED ROI (Item 19): $410,246.04 per owner (represents the average across 223 owners who were in full time operation in 2025)

Caring Transitions is the nation's leading provider of senior relocation, downsizing and estate sale services. The brand stands out for combining practical solutions with compassionate care, offering franchisees the opportunity to build a business that helps families during one of life’s most difficult transitions.

Caring Transitions was founded in 2006 to serve a growing need: seniors and their families needing support with downsizing, estate sales and transitions to assisted living. With aging Baby Boomers and increased demand for compassionate relocation services, the brand has grown to become the largest senior move management franchise in the United States.

Mission: To serve seniors and families with care, dignity, and respect during difficult life transitions.

Vision: To be the most trusted name in senior relocation and transition services nationwide.

• Comprehensive relocation, downsizing, and estate sale services in one package

• National recognition as a trusted senior services provider

• Proprietary online auction platform: CTBids

• Compassionate, client-first approach that builds community trust

• A turnkey service that appeals to both aging individuals and their families

• Low overhead and fast ramp-up business model

• Recurring revenue potential through estate sales, household cleanouts and relocations

• Proven systems and processes honed over nearly 20 years

• Extensive initial and ongoing training

• Access to proprietary auction platform (CTBids) and digital tools

• Opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives

For more information, candidates are invited to download Caring Transitions’ Franchise Opportunity Guide.

Initial Costs: The estimated initial investment required to begin operation of a Caring Transitions franchise ranges from $75,760 to $123,150. The 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) breaks these costs down as follows:

Initial Franchise Fee: Franchisees pay an initial franchise fee of $58,900 for a standard territory of 175,000 to 200,000 people, due upon signing the franchise agreement. A $5,000 nonrefundable deposit can be used to reserve a territory for up to 30 days and is applied toward the total fee, while a second territory requires a $10,000 deposit.

If a territory exceeds 200,000 in population, the fee increases by $500 for every additional 1,000 people. The brand offers limited discounts, including up to 10% off additional franchises purchased within the first 24 months and up to 10% for qualified veterans through the VetFran program. Only one discount may be applied per franchise, and all initial fees are nonrefundable.

Ongoing Fees: According to the 2026 FDD, Caring Transitions franchisees are responsible for the following ongoing payments and fees:

ROI Potential: According to the 2026 FDD, there were 423 Caring Transitions franchises (each franchise consists of a single franchise territory) in operation as of December 31, 2025, which were owned by 296 franchise owners. Of these, 223 franchise owners were in operation for the entire year. Presented below are historic gross revenue and gross profit percentage figures for certain franchise owners for the one-year period ending December 31, 2025.

The data is presented by quartile and then cumulatively.

First Quartile of Franchise Owners

Second Quartile of Franchise Owners

Third Quartile of Franchise Owners

Fourth Quartile of Franchise Owners

Cumulative Franchise Owners

Caring Transitions provides dedicated onboarding and launch coaching to help franchisees prepare for opening, including guidance on initial setup and early-stage business planning.

Franchisees attend a five-day training program at the brand’s corporate headquarters in Cincinnati, where they learn operations, marketing, sales, staffing and service delivery. This training is reinforced with online modules, webinars and ongoing coaching throughout the first year. Franchisees will also attend a five-day session at an Onsite Training Center working with a current owner to see the operations hands-on.

Franchisees receive ongoing support through marketing playbooks and toolkits, business coaching, KPI tracking and access to a peer network, along with opportunities to connect at annual conferences.

Caring Transitions equips franchisees with the CTBids online estate sale and auction platform, CRM and scheduling software, digital marketing systems with automation, website management and SEO tools, as well as localized landing pages for each territory.

• Liquid Capital: $60,000

• Net Worth: $100,000

No prior industry experience required. Compassionate, organized, and community-minded individuals encouraged to apply.

Financing partners are available to assist with the franchise fee and start-up costs.

Franchisees are required to designate a full-time owner-operator or manager to oversee daily operations. While semi-absentee ownership is possible, it typically occurs only after the business is fully ramped up and staffed. Franchisees must also complete the required training program and actively participate in the brand’s initial marketing launch.

The brand is also listed on funding platforms such as Guidant Financial and Tenet, providing additional pathways to secure capital. Qualified franchisees may take advantage of veterans discount programs, and ROBS (retirement rollover) options are available as an alternative funding method.

“I really love the ability to use different talents. I love that you have the opportunity to support people. I always did employee communication, but a lot of time in corporate you get so busy doing business that it’s hard to focus on the people.

This is more of an opportunity to help people and provide a service that they really need. You’re not trying to sell them on something they don’t need. You’re actually helping people.

I also love treasure hunting, and I think Caring Transitions does a great job helping people find things online. That’s an exciting hobby for collectors or young people setting up a home. The big things were sustainability and supporting seniors.”

• Erin Schaeffer, Franchisee — Bellevue West/Federal Way, Washington (read her story here)

“It had multiple revenue streams. So if the relocation portion is slow, maybe the downsizing side picks up. There are a lot of different areas to the business. As the market changes, we’re in a position to capitalize on that. I’m not just selling chicken fingers — it's a variety of services, and that was already built into the model.”

• Marc Moore, Franchisee — North Dallas Suburbs, Texas (read his story here)

The U.S. population aged 65 and older is expected to reach 80 million by 2040, creating an urgent demand for senior-focused services. Downsizing, estate liquidation and transitions to care communities are increasingly common — and emotionally complex — events.

According to IBISWorld, the estate sales and senior relocation sector continues to grow, fueled by Baby Boomer retirements and multigenerational housing shifts.

Caring Transitions stands out for its all-in-one service model, combining estate sales, relocation, and decluttering under one brand. Primary competitors include:

• Local estate sale companies

• Independent senior move managers

• Online auction platforms (non-franchise)

Few offer the turnkey approach, proprietary tools and trusted brand name Caring Transitions brings to the table.

1. Schedule an Exploratory Call: Connect with the team to discuss your goals and determine if the opportunity is the right fit.

2. Review the Franchise Opportunity: Review the opportunity with a Franchise Director to understand the model, costs, expectations and the Franchise Disclosure Document.

3. Select Your Territory: Work with the brand to identify and secure a market that fits your growth plan.

4. Align on Ownership Fit: Evaluate your goals, territory and timing to confirm alignment before moving forward.

5. Complete Onboarding and Training: Once you pay the Franchise Fee and sign the Franchise Agreement, you will go through training, systems setup and operational preparation before launch.

6. Build Your Local Presence: Set up marketing, partnerships and local outreach to begin generating demand.

7. Launch Your Business: Open and begin operations with support from the corporate team.

8. Grow and Scale: Continue building the business with ongoing coaching, systems and support.

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