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HomeWell Care Services says it has sold 33 franchise deals so far in 2026, a record for the company, and is on track to finish the year with 40 new owners. CEO Crystal Franz says winning home-care clients has become more demanding, prompting the company to give franchisees market data and consider expanding dementia care support.
HomeWell Care Services has sold 33 franchise deals so far in 2026, a record for the company, nine months after private equity firm Main Post Partners acquired it. CEO Crystal Franz said the company is still seeing strong demand for home care, but agencies have to work more deliberately to win clients through referral relationships.
Franz told Home Health Care News that referrals remain relationship-based, but a familiar approach such as visiting a referral partner’s office with refreshments is no longer enough on its own. HomeWell agencies need to understand what local partners are trying to achieve and explain how their services can help. Franz said some partners focus on measures such as hospital readmission rates and want agencies that can support patients recovering at home.
The Burkburnett, Texas-based company provides companion care, personal care and specialty care through franchises. HomeWell said it is on track to finish 2026 with 40 new owners. The company also appeared on the Inc. 5000 list in 2026 for the sixth consecutive year, according to the report.
Franz described three parts of HomeWell’s growth strategy: selling franchises, helping current owners grow, and bringing in new owners the company considers high-quality. She said the business continues to see room for expansion, though the report did not give a market-size estimate or a breakdown of the 33 deals by location or type.
Growth Depends on Stronger Local Referrals
HomeWell’s record franchise sales point to continued interest in its business model, while Franz’s comments highlight a separate operating challenge: franchise growth does not automatically produce a steady flow of care clients. Agencies must build referral relationships around partners’ needs and show how their services fit those goals. That can affect how quickly new and existing franchise owners build their local businesses.
The company’s plan to give franchisees more information about local referral markets may help them decide which partners to approach and how to describe their services. HomeWell has an exclusive partnership with Trella Health, which Franz said will provide franchisees with healthcare market intelligence. She said the company expects the partnership to help agencies acquire clients more effectively; no results from the initiative were reported.
Investment Adds Data and Care Initiatives
The record comes nine months after Main Post Partners acquired HomeWell. Franz said the investment has helped the company launch initiatives and will support further technology investments. She described those tools as a way to gain more insight into data and make decisions about how to approach home care. The report did not specify the amount invested, the platforms planned or when they will be introduced.
HomeWell is also considering ways to expand its support for clients with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Franz said the company already has an Alzheimer’s and dementia care support program and may examine new brand programs or recommendations for caregiver licensure. She linked this work to HomeWell’s existing care management approach, which she said has differentiated the brand since its inception. The company has not announced a specific program or timetable.
““They’re not falling on your doorstep.””
— Crystal Franz, HomeWell Care Services CEO, speaking to Home Health Care News
Client Results and New Programs Unreported
The report gives no figures for client acquisition, referral volumes or readmissions, so it is not possible to assess whether HomeWell’s new market intelligence is improving outcomes for franchisees or patients. It also does not define how the company counts a franchise deal or new owner, or detail how the 33 deals compare with prior years.
HomeWell has not disclosed which technology platforms it plans to adopt, how much it will spend, or whether dementia-related services will lead to a new program or caregiver licensing recommendations. Franz described these as areas the company is considering, rather than completed changes. The full-year total and progress toward 40 owners remain to be seen.
HomeWell Tracks Full-Year Franchise Target
The next reported milestone is whether HomeWell reaches its stated target of 40 new owners by the end of 2026. The company’s progress on that goal should show whether the current pace of franchise sales holds through the rest of the year.
HomeWell also plans to develop its use of local market data through Trella Health and assess further support for dementia clients. The report does not provide launch dates or performance targets for either effort. More information on those plans and client outcomes would clarify how the company’s growth strategy is changing day-to-day work for franchisees.
Key Questions
How many franchise deals has HomeWell sold in 2026?
HomeWell said it had sold 33 deals so far in 2026, which it described as a record for the company. The report does not give a year-by-year comparison.
What is HomeWell’s target for the end of 2026?
CEO Crystal Franz said HomeWell is on track to finish the year with 40 new owners. That is a company target, not a reported final result.
Why does HomeWell say client acquisition has become trickier?
Franz said referrals still depend on relationships, but agencies need to understand referral partners’ business goals and explain how home care can help. She cited readmission rates as one measure partners may consider.
What is the Trella Health partnership for?
Franz said HomeWell franchisees will have access to healthcare market intelligence to better understand local referral markets. HomeWell expects the information to help with client acquisition, but no results have been reported.
Has HomeWell announced new dementia care services?
No new service was announced in the report. Franz said HomeWell may explore additional dementia care support, such as new brand programs or caregiver licensing recommendations.
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