BrightStar Care Heads into Second Half of 2026 with More Than 20 Signed Agreements and 19 New Locations

BrightStar Care, a prominent player in nurse-led home healthcare, is preparing for an ambitious second half of 2026 following significant growth in the first half of the year. The franchise signed over 20 agreements and opened 19 new locations, indicating a robust expansion trajectory. This momentum reflects rising demand for in-home care, prompting interest among both first-time franchisees and experienced operators across various sectors, including healthcare.

The brand is notably leveraging its diverse service offerings, which encompass companion care, medical care, skilled care, and corporate medical staffing solutions, to attract prospective owners. Pete First, Chief Development Officer at BrightStar Care, emphasized the opportunity created by the surging demand, stating, “Demand for in-home care is creating real opportunity, and our job is to help owners capture it.” He also highlighted that almost half of their territories remain open for development, indicating further potential for growth.

In the past 18 months, the company has signed a total of 60 franchise agreements, underscoring sustained interest from a range of operators. The first half of 2026 also saw BrightStar Care receive multiple accolades, reinforcing its reputation for quality and franchise strength. Among these honors are the designation as an Enterprise Champion for Quality by The Joint Commission for the 14th consecutive year, recognition as the No. 3 brand in the Senior Care category in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 10 Franchise Industry Rankings, and a climb to No. 159 on the 2026 Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list.

Strengthening its corporate structure, BrightStar Care appointed Josh Wall as the new CEO, following Andy Ray’s transition to an advisory position. Wall, who previously served as COO of Unleashed Brands, brings over 20 years of franchise leadership experience, particularly in guiding brands through rapid expansions.

The strong pace of new agreements and openings signals a healthy and expanding franchise system, supported by effective leadership and growing market demand. Observers may want to monitor how BrightStar Care manages its ambitious growth strategy and if its new leadership can sustain this momentum through the latter half of 2026.