Paul Wheeler, creator of Cartridge World, is about to re-enter the Australian franchise network with Senior Helpers, an in-home care franchise for the elderly.

After a short stint in semi-retirement, Wheeler has joined forces with former Cartridge World managing director, Mike Fuller and established an international franchise consultancy, Group Seven and Senior Helpers is the first of their new international franchise opportunities to be introduced to the Australian market.

Wheeler expects that Senior Helpers will be an attractive business proposition for potential franchisees in Australia and is hoping to establish 12 franchises across the country this year.

“We have an ageing Australian population which is growing at a phenomenal rate,” he said. “People want to stay in their homes. They want to be as independent as they can. It’s not always possible for families to provide the full extent of that support and Senior Helpers is a fabulous business designed to help do just that by offering trained essential companion and personal services.”

Senior Helpers franchisees are not carers themselves, but rather employ carers within their exclusive territory, and this territory, according to Wheeler, is determined by the number of people living there that are over 65 years old.

The franchise was born in the US in 2001 and now has more than 300 franchise operations. It is the fastest growing home care company in the world and has been named as one of the top 10 franchise businesses in Entrepreneur Magazine.

The first Australian Senior Helpers franchise is being launched in Adelaide next week, and Wheeler told Franchising that the response has been promising with four parties already expressing interest.

The turn-key cost for a Senior Helpers franchise is between $75,000 and $85,000, which includes $25,000 of working capital. Franchisees and carers are also provided with ongoing training and business development.

“We’re serious about the continual education of our carers and … we have developed a 24 module online training course. this will be completed as ongoing training by our carers ensuring we are giving the highest quality of care at all times,” Wheeler explained.