CHICAGO—BrightStar Care, a provider of nurse-led home healthcare, skilled care and medical staffing, announced it is heading into the second half of 2026 having signed more than 20 franchise agreements and opened 19 new locations in the first six months of the year.
The company said its growth in 2026 continues to reflect rising demand for in-home care, which is raising awareness of the opportunity among prospective owners.
"Demand for in-home care is creating real opportunity, and our job is to help owners capture it," said Pete First, chief development officer at BrightStar Care. "Prospective owners are drawn to a model that combines purpose, community impact and multiple revenue streams, and the momentum we are seeing at the midpoint of 2026 reflects that pull. With roughly half of our territories still open for development, there is meaningful room to grow."
In addition to its high number of franchise agreements, the company said it has also:
- Was named an Enterprise Champion for Quality by The Joint Commission for the 14th consecutive year
- Ranked No. 3 in the senior care category in Entrepreneur Magazine’s inaugural Top 10 Franchise Industry Rankings in June 2026
- Ranked No. 159 on the 2026 Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list, climbing nearly 30 positions from the prior year for its 16th consecutive year on the list
BrightStar also named Josh Wall as CEO. Wall succeeds Andy Ray, who transitioned to an advisory role with the brand. Wall most recently served as chief operating officer of Unleashed Brands and brings more than two decades of franchise leadership experience, with a track record of strengthening franchise systems and guiding brands through periods of rapid expansion.
The brand also introduced new tools powered by AI across scheduling, sales and marketing and daily operations. The company said the tools are designed to take friction out of everyday operations while maintaining care quality.
"Our model is built around hands-on care, clinical oversight and trust, which makes it resilient even as AI reshapes other industries," said First. "We are investing in technology that removes friction from everyday operations for our owners and the clients they serve, so their teams can spend more time on what matters most, the people in their care."