How did you get into the industry Valerie?

In 2007 I started working for an agency that offered non-medical in-home care and placement services.  My role at the agency was to recruit caregivers and assigned the right caregiver to our clients needing in-home care.  In addition to caregiving staffing, I was also a part-time placement coordinator. Once a week my job was to go into various cities and obtain partnerships with both assisted living facilities and residential care homes.  Calling facilities ahead of time and scheduling appointments was always exciting because I got to tour properties from small 6 beds board and care homes to larger assisted living and memory care facilities. This part was very important and it helped me understand the various options for senior living facilities.  I became an expert in my area and had extensive knowledge of pricing, availability, contacts, the types of residents each community cared for, whether that property had a secured environment or had LVNs on staff or not etc.  In 2010 I helped my brother start a placement franchise called Assisted Transitions, I was involved in the development process and was also one of the field consultants for some of the franchisees by the year 2012 Assisted Transitions has 75 franchises nationwide.  It was very exciting to me to see some of the folks I helped and trained do really well for themselves.  Although my brother sold the Assisted Transition franchise business to CarePatrol I still remain friends with someone the franchisee I helped with their business development.  In 2012 I branched out my own and started Placement Helpers and have been in business and continue growing.  Today we have 15 senior living advisors throughout Southern California and Arizona.  We hope to continue our growth with franchise owners in other parts of California and in other states.

What’s New in the Business or in the Franchise Model for the Placement Helpers Franchise System?

The assisted living referral business has become one of the leading go-to for referral services in the industry offering a free referral service to its clients.  Such referrals range from assisted living facilities, board and care homes, Alzheimer’s and Dementia care, Home Health, Hospice and in-Home care referrals.  Our industry is accepted nationwide including in some states that require a special permit to operate a referral business.  More and more senior living chains like Sunrise Senior Living, Integral Senior Living, Atria and Brookdale Communities are open to a partnership and value our services and our local agents. We have better systems in place to get our referral notice to our partner communities.

Here at Placement Helpers have developed our own custom software, where we can store not only client information for also facility information as well all our referral sources. Our information is safely stored and Cloud base making it easy to access from any computer or smartphone.  We have introduced the Slack platform as a new form of communication and announcement with our team members.

Where do you See Opportunities or Challenges for the Franchise/Business Moving Forward?

Opportunities
Opportunities are everywhere, a new franchisee will have the opportunity to meet key individuals in the industry on an ongoing basis, daily, weekly, monthly etc.  Making partnerships and developing and more importantly maintaining those relationships is truly the KEY to running a successful and profitable referral business.

Challenges
Because technology is constantly changing and evolving as a franchisee you might have to occasionally compete with big online players like APFM, Caring.com, SeniorHomes.com to name a few.

Moving forward our goal is to establish partnerships with more online lead-generation companies such as Seniorly.com, AssistedlivingleadsonDemand.com, MyCaringPlan.com. We will guide and support our franchisees with all their available social medial platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Google, TikTok and YouTube.  As a franchisor, our graphic design team will create a library of resources available for all franchisees to use.

What is your Goal for the Business Moving Forward?

Our goal is to be one the most reputable and trusted assisted living referral services in the industry built by trust and great communication.  To have an infrastructure and systems in place that are second to none. To stay up to the algorithms of technologies so that our franchisees can thrive in their day-to-day operations.  We believe that each franchisee can develop their own teams within their territories and we will be here to support them.

Talk to us About Training and Support, How Do You Deliver?

Training will consist of 5 days at our corporate office in Pasadena. During those 5 days franchisee will learn the basics to operating a referral business.

  • establishing facility partnerships
  • touring facilities
  • referral agreements
  • talking to clients
  • sending out referrals
  • client follow-ups
  • finding referral sources
  • maintain referral sources
  • social media
  • marketing materials needed
  • software training
  • billing
  •  pre-opening procedures

These are some of the items we will be covering during our first 5-day training.

  1. On-going support will be available via phone /email / Zoom / Slack.
  2. We will also offer another 5 days in the franchisees business location
  3. A field representative will accompany each franchisee and begin training
    1. in-person facility tours
    2. in personal marketing
  4. Each franchisee is required to complete CSA Certified Senior Advisor program.

Define your Franchise Model:

A. Training and Support Model?

Placement Helpers franchise team works with franchisees to provide training and support at the corporate offices in Pasadena, California in addition to working in the field at the franchisees location.

B. What is the Fee Structure?

$45,000 for the franchise fee and 8% royalties 1% marketing fund

C.Territory Definition?

2400 beds available in each territory, we want franchisees to have big markets so they can grow with us.

D. Day in the life of a Franchisee?

We work with families and help them take care of their loved ones, it is extremely fulfilling and satisfying work.  We are busy because there is so much need, but isn’t that a good thing!?  🙂

Who is the Ideal Franchise Candidate for the Placement Helpers Franchise?

The ideal candidate is someone that is dedicated has good communication skills friendly and people person.  If you don’t like engaging with people this will not be a good fit for you.

The ideal candidate is someone driven, someone that likes helping others, and someone that is not shy to talk to people. Ex-real estate agents, anyone looking to start a new career in the healthcare industry.

What Goals Do You Have for the Franchise Model in the Future?

Our goal is to be one the most reputable and trusted assisted living referral services in the industry built by trust and great communication.  To have an infrastructure and systems in place that are second to none. To stay up to the algorithms of technologies so that our franchisees can thrive in their day-to-day operations.  We believe that each franchisee can develop their own teams within their territories and we will be here to support them.

For more information on the Placement helpers, senior placement franchise visits the corporate site placementhelpers.com