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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 finding clients is becoming more demanding, prompting the company to invest in market intelligence, data tools and potential dementia care support.
HomeWell Care Services has sold 33 franchise deals so far in 2026, setting a growth record for the company nine months after its acquisition by private equity firm Main Post Partners. CEO Crystal Franz told Home Health Care News that client acquisition has become more demanding, even as demand for home care grows, and said the company is turning to market intelligence and data to help franchisees reach clients and referral partners.
The Burkburnett, Texas-based company provides companion care, personal care and specialty care through its franchise network. HomeWell is on track to finish 2026 with 40 new owners, Franz said. The report does not specify how many of the 33 deals sold so far have already opened or begun serving clients.
Franz said referrals still depend on relationships, but agencies need a clearer understanding of what referral partners are trying to achieve. She cited goals such as reducing readmissions and helping patients recover at home. Building those partnerships now involves understanding partners’ business needs, she said, rather than relying on a routine visit to a referral source.
HomeWell’s growth strategy has three parts, according to Franz: franchise development, growth among existing owners and recruiting new high-quality owners. She said the company sees room to expand and that its mission-focused service model appeals to prospective owners. The company also earned a place on the Inc. 5000 list in 2026 for the sixth consecutive year, according to the source report.
Growth Meets Tougher Client Outreach
The record number of franchise deals points to continued expansion in a sector serving people who need help at home. But selling franchises and acquiring care clients are separate challenges: a growing owner network does not by itself establish how many clients agencies serve, how quickly they can reach them or whether the new locations are financially successful.
Franz’s account describes a shift in the work required to secure referrals. HomeWell says agencies must show how their services support a partner’s objectives, including patient recovery outside the hospital. That may affect how franchisees spend time and resources on local outreach. The report offers no figures for client growth, referral conversion or readmissions, so it does not quantify the effect of the changing approach.
The Main Post investment is also enabling new initiatives, HomeWell said. Its exclusive partnership with Trella Health gives franchisees access to healthcare market intelligence about local referral landscapes. The company expects this information, along with further technology investment, to support more data-informed decisions. Whether those tools improve client acquisition remains to be seen.
Investment and Local Referral Data
HomeWell was acquired by private equity firm Main Post Partners nine months before the September 2026 report. The source does not provide the acquisition price or describe changes to the company’s ownership structure beyond the acquisition. Franz connected the new investment with initiatives intended to give the franchisor and its owners more information for planning.
The Trella Health partnership is one such initiative. HomeWell franchisees can use its healthcare market intelligence to examine local referral patterns, Franz said. The company has also discussed investing in technology platforms that could give it and franchisees more data for decisions about how to approach home care. The report does not name other platforms or provide a launch schedule.
HomeWell already has an Alzheimer’s and dementia care support program. Franz said the company is considering ways to expand support for clients with these conditions, potentially through new brand programs or caregiver licensing recommendations. She also identified care management as a longstanding differentiator for the company and said specialized dementia support could build on that role.
““They’re not falling on your doorstep.””
— Crystal Franz, HomeWell Care Services CEO, speaking to Home Health Care News
Client Results Remain Unreported
The report provides no client acquisition totals, franchise revenue figures or comparison with prior years’ deal sales. It also does not say how many of the 33 franchise deals represent operating locations, or how many clients those locations serve. The company’s stated record is specifically a record for deals sold in its own history.
HomeWell has described the Trella Health partnership and planned technology investments, but the report does not give a timeline, cost or measured result for either. It is also unclear whether the proposed dementia care additions will become new programs, licensing recommendations or both. Franz presented them as possibilities under consideration, not as finalized plans.
Tracking the 2026 Growth Target
The next near-term milestone is whether HomeWell reaches its stated goal of 40 new owners by the end of 2026. The company may also provide more detail on how many franchise deals have moved into operation and whether the Trella Health partnership has changed local outreach or referral outcomes.
HomeWell is continuing to examine ways to expand its Alzheimer’s and dementia support, Franz said. The company’s stated priority for franchisees is to track data as specialty care expands, so agencies can make more informed decisions about pursuing clients and referral relationships. The report does not set a date for any new dementia program or specify when the company will report results from its data initiatives.
Key Questions
What growth record did HomeWell report?
HomeWell said it had sold 33 franchise deals so far in 2026, a record for the company’s history. CEO Crystal Franz said it was on track to finish the year with 40 new owners.
Why does HomeWell say client acquisition is harder?
Franz said clients are not simply arriving through routine outreach. She said agencies need to understand referral partners’ goals, which can include helping patients recover at home and reducing readmissions.
What is the Trella Health partnership?
HomeWell franchisees have access to healthcare market intelligence about local referral landscapes through an exclusive partnership with Trella Health, Franz said. HomeWell expects the information to help agencies approach client acquisition more effectively; the report gives no measured results.
Is HomeWell launching a new dementia care program?
Not yet, based on the report. Franz said HomeWell is considering ways to build on its existing Alzheimer’s and dementia care support program, potentially through new brand programs or caregiver licensing recommendations. No finalized plan or launch date was reported.
Source: rss
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