With more than 1,500 in-network providers caring for more than 6 million patients a year in 29 states, American Family Care has set a goal of expanding to 500 clinics within the next five years.
With over 245 franchise locations, Purple Square Management Company has built an impressive franchise portfolio, mainly on the strength of popular QSR brands.
After recently acquiring six existing American Family Care franchise locations in the Tampa area, with a commitment to open 18 more locations in the region in the next five years, the multi-unit franchisee has assured continued growth with its first healthcare-focused brand.
“We wanted to further diversify our portfolio and found that healthcare was the most attractive opportunity that we researched, especially going forward,” said Vik Patel, CEO of Tampa, Florida-based Purple Square Management, which owns and operates 97 Dunkin’/Baskin Robbins dual-brand stores in Florida and Alabama and 38 Popeyes in the Atlanta market. “It was also meaningful for us to contribute to the community by providing more access to affordable healthcare. AFC allowed us to check both of those boxes so it was a win-win. I’m very excited about the future growth of AFC and our role with the brand.”
Vik Patel, CEO of Purple Square Management
Patel and his team at Purple Square Management—which also owns 64 Rent-A-Center locations in Arizona, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio, and 28 RimTyme locations in the South and Midwest— did their due diligence when finalizing a partnership with American Family Care. As a franchised urgent medical care services provider, AFC is on a fast-track trajectory that saw the brand open 41 clinics last year and 29 in 2021.
The franchisor opened its 300th location in 2022, and now AFC is on pace to open 60 this year and 60 more in 2024, according to Paige Robinson, vice president of franchise development for AFC.
Of the 319 AFC units now open in 29 states, 240 of them are franchisee operated and 79 of them are corporate owned, she said. New Jersey currently has the largest concentration of franchised locations for the brand, with 30 clinics there, while Alabama, where the company is based, has the most corporate locations with 40.
With more than 1,500 in-network providers caring for more than 6 million patients a year in 29 states, AFC has set a goal of expanding to 500 clinics within the next five years.
Paige Robinson, vice president of franchise development for AFC
“There is a real need for urgent care in this country, and that became really clear during COVID when primary care facilities and hospital emergency rooms were overwhelmed,” Robinson said. “And now, in a post-Covid world, people have better understanding of the services we offer, and they are taking advantage of it.”
Related: How American Family Care Clinics Stormed the COVID-19 Field
Founded by the late Dr. Bruce Irwin in 1982, Birmingham, Alabama-headquartered American Family Care offers non-critical emergency medical care as an alternative to hospital emergency rooms. AFC medical providers treat and diagnose illnesses like the flu or a cold, COVID-19, injuries and accidents, including broken bones, and help patients manage a variety of health conditions ranging from arthritis to diabetes to high blood pressure. AFC also offers pre-employment physicals, drug screening and treatment of work-related injuries.
“Our rule of thumb is if you cut your finger, come to us. If you cut finger off, go to the emergency room,” Robinson said.
The AFC healthcare model, which the company touts as recession resistant, is getting the attention of multi-unit franchisees interested in diversifying their portfolios and lured by the brand’s growth potential. Robinson said, “The lion’s share of our franchisees do not have a healthcare background, but rather have a strong business acumen in the customer-service sector and are focused on meeting their community’s needs and want to save lives.”
Purple Square Management, she said, checked off all the important boxes for AFC.
“Vik and his team are wonderfully adept at building and scaling multi-unit businesses, and we were thrilled when we found out they were excited about expanding and diversifying their portfolio with us,” she said.
To open an AFC location, the initial investment range is between $114,500 and $1.5 million. According to Robinson, the average annual unit revenue was nearly $3 million.
Founded by the late Dr. Bruce Irwin in 1982, Birmingham, Alabama-headquartered American Family Care offers non-critical emergency medical care as an alternative to hospital emergency rooms.