Comfort Keepers Ontario expansion kicked into high gear as demand for in-home services explodes

    /24-7PressRelease/ - RICHMOND HILL, ON, CANADA, March 30, 2007 - Comfort Keepers is the hands-down leader in their category, ranked #1 in Senior Care, and #68 Top Overall Franchise on the coveted Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list. Named Up & Comers; 100 Companies on the Verge in Franchise Times, this franchise network was also awarded the Franchise-50 Award for franchisee satisfaction by Franchise Business Review. And the accolades keep coming in....

A global franchise that is all about "giving back"

The Comfort Keepers' story began in 1997 when Kris Clum, a registered nurse in home healthcare, experienced the need first hand. Her patients' requests were often simple and from the heart - a helping hand with their housework and grocery shopping, and a few minutes of conversation to brighten their day. However, as a nurse, she was only allowed to tend to her patients' "medical" needs. Kris and her entrepreneurial husband, Jerry Clum Jr., knew they could provide a solution. They created Comfort Keepers to provide supportive care to seniors in their own homes as a dignity-reinforcing alternative to being cloistered in a residential facility. Comfort Keepers began offering franchises in 1999. In just a few short years, Comfort Keepers has matured into a truly global franchise - offering a wide menu of short- and long-term in-home caring solutions in over 500 franchised offices throughout the United States, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Peter Drutz, Chief Operating Officer of Comfort Keepers Canada states, "The appreciative smiles on the faces of customers who receive Comfort Keepers' supportive services make franchisees almost forget that they are running a successful business...ours is a business that "gives back" to the community members we serve their autonomy, freedom and dignity.. How many business owners can say they do that?"

Comfort Keepers seeking new franchisees in Ottawa and South Western Ontario

While Comfort Keepers has franchise territories available across Canada, , it is focusing for the time being on the Ontario market, particularly Ottawa, the Kingston-Belleville corridor and the London-Windsor corridor.

Consumer and investor demand for Comfort Keepers exploding

"Unlike many other industries facing a shrinking market, our primary senior market, which consists of 3.8 Million Canadians, is growing at the astonishing rate of 20% annually," remarks Drutz. In Canadian dollars, this represents a $3 Billion-Pie. "In fact, with our senior market expected to double within a few decades, the demand for our services is virtually exploding. But Comfort Keepers' services are not limited to seniors. There is a huge untapped demand for Comfort Keepers' caring solutions by new and working mothers, physically and mentally challenged children and adults, rehabilitation patients who are coming off a recent illness or injury as well as offering respite to family caregivers of all types. The consumer opportunities are endless for entrepreneurial franchisees within the Comfort Keepers network."

Lori Karpman & Associates Ltd. appointed to recruit new franchisees

Comfort Keepers Canada has appointed Lori Karpman & Associates to recruit new franchisees into their franchise family. "Lori and her group are franchise specialists," states Drutz. "They are helping us build and manage a strong system by recruiting strong candidates in selected markets across Canada.

"Comfort Keepers is an established, professional and dynamic organization," remarks Lori Karpman, President of Lori Karpman & Associates. "They provide a franchisee with fantastic training and support right from the Canadian head office, in addition to comprehensive operations manuals, ongoing training and field support and outstanding marketing tools. With these well-developed tools, new Comfort Keepers franchisees can launch their business in a booming industry with complete confidence." Franchisees need liquid capital in the range of $100,000-$125,000, (which includes the franchise fee), to launch their business. While franchisees come from a variety of professional backgrounds, compassion, sales and relationship-management skills are all necessary qualifications.

All franchise inquiries should be addressed to Lori Karpman (1-888) 888-3183 or Kim Divell (705) 326-8863.

Information about Comfort Keepers Canada can be obtained from www.comfortkeepers.ca.

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