Aging Population Presents Opportunities For Franchise Model

The Dallas Morning News:

What McDonald’s legend Ray Kroc once did for burgers and fries, Dallas-area entrepreneur Jack West hopes to do for retirement living.

Franchising has been used to sell everything from fast food to maid service to child care. Now Mr. West’s company, Country Place Living, is using it to help bring assisted-living centers to small-town America.

‘If you’ve lived in the same town all your life, you shouldn’t have to leave it for the big city when you can’t care for yourself anymore,’ he said. ‘You should be able to grow old with your family and friends nearby.’

Mr. West founded the company 5 years ago and has opened 5 assisted-living centers and 2 group homes in small Kansas towns.

The privately held company has relocated its main office to Irving and set its sights on expanding in Texas and other states.
Country Place will build a number of assisted-living centers on its own in North Texas and elsewhere to ‘prime the pump’ and introduce the brand, but most of its expansion will be through franchises.

Since its franchising push started early this year, Country Place Living has received four applications from Texas.

Full article.

Photo: Elizabeth M. Claffey / Special Contributor.