About the Business

Our franchises offer outstanding services for children aged 18 months to 6 years old on the Autism Spectrum. We bring a unique therapy model to communities that prepares children for the rest of their lives! With us, you’ll learn how to collaborate with a team of Board Certified Behavior Analysts, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Occupational Therapists to provide individually tailored therapy sessions for children. 

Industry Overview

The demand for Autism Treatment Centers far outpaces supply. The most recent data from 2021 reveals that 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with autism, a number expected to increase within the next ten years (Anthes, 2023). Additionally, while there are 6.8 million adults and children with Autism in the US, there are only 1,656 non-profit and for-profit treatment centers and schools as of 2022. This demand is expected to experience sustained growth within the next five years (LaRosa, 2022).

At Essential Speech and ABA Therapy, we’re bringing essential services to communities. As a franchisee, your center will help children across the US access vital care that improves their quality of life! 

Differentiators

Everything we do is with one main goal in mind: being the gold standard of ABA.

​Many parents spend endless hours coordinating care and driving to different facilities to ensure that their child has the best possible experience. At Essential Speech and ABA Therapy, we house three different specialists in one facility. With us, there’s no sitting in traffic, stressing about your child’s next appointment - we have a team of dedicated therapists located in one building!
 
As a parent, receiving an autism diagnosis can feel overwhelming. To this end, we provide parents with support, resources, and a pathway to explore the next chapter of their lives. 

The Essential Difference

At Essential Speech and ABA Therapy, your child has a team behind them - our licensed Speech Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and ABA Therapists create a customized treatment plan that fits each child’s needs and therapy goals.

Our facilities offer daycare services in a natural environment: which means that your child is exposed to indoor gyms, classrooms, playgrounds, and large group meals long before they’re enrolled in elementary school! 

Our goal is to help your child acclimate to school settings and become independent learners.

Our Core Values

Excellence in Care: We are called to make a difference, maximize outcomes, learn from experience, and share what we learn. We stand up for what our clients need and implement best practices.

​Empathy: We put our clients, families, and teammates first, recognizing them as individuals with unique needs and challenges.

​Integrity: We adhere to moral and ethical principles and do the right thing. We are honest and transparent with our staff and clients/families.

​Collaboration: We achieve great things when we collaborate with our teammates, families, and communities.

Our Relationship

 "In business for yourself, but not by yourself" - Ray Kroc

AS THE FRANCHISOR, WE ARE:

The biggest misconception about franchising is that the franchisor will run the business; that is not the case. Think of us as a coach for your business: we provide a playbook with guidance to help outline the structure. We provide guidance in advertising, branding, operations, policies, and compliance. Additionally, through our affiliate billing company and 3rd party partners, we will provide you guidance in sorting through medical billing and credentialing.

AS THE FRANCHISOR, WE ARE NOT:

While our model allows you to hire key personnel to assist in the day-to-day, we are not an absentee owner franchise. Additionally, we are not the owner of your business - you ultimately will reap the fruits of your labor and effort! It is also important to outline the divide between where our guidance starts and will end. We are not an attorney or accountant for your business, and we are not an employee. Ultimately, we are not a financially liable party or liable for issues stemming from billing fraud. Our goal is to provide you with that playbook for navigating this playing field and hopefully avoid these negative outcomes, but again, this is ultimately your business.

FAQs

What do your financials look like? How long until I am profitable?

Franchises are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the FTC is specific about financial performance presentations. We are bound only to discuss what is disclosed within Item 19 of our FDD, which you will receive after the intro call. As a step in our process, you will however have a chance to speak with existing franchisees who can share with you their business information.

How long does it take to open a facility? How do I finance the opening on ramp?

Under Item 11 in our FDD, we discuss items such as time to open. We estimate it will take between six and nine months to open a facility from the time you sign a franchise agreement. However, this timeframe is only an estimate and may be shorter or longer depending on any number of variables. There are several options to finance your business, and we will connect you with our contact at FranFund who can consult your options.

How do I staff my facility?

We will coach you on strategies that have previous success in finding staff for your facility, included templates for job descriptions, offer letters, advertising jobs, etc in order to hire qualified applicants.

Do I need experience in healthcare management or medical billing?

Absolutely NOT - the skills we are looking for in franchisees are generally more soft and interpersonal skills. We are looking for compassionate individuals who want to bring quality care for the autism community in their area. Our franchise team will provide guidance on operating the business for any technical skills you may not already possess; all you need to bring is a good attitude and excited about the business.