Cynthia Perthuis has built one of the strongest and most disciplined businesses within the Senior Care Authority system and was awarded the Franchisee Excellence Award in 2026 for delivering sustained growth while modeling operational excellence.
Cynthia helped her parents navigate complex care decisions, balancing in-home care, assisted living options, full-time work, and the needs of her own family for 7+ years before starting her business.
After a 25+ year career on Wall Street, Cynthia reached a defining moment. She made the decision to build a future rooted in purpose and independence, one where her livelihood would not be dictated by economic cycles or age.
Senior Care Authority offered both the opportunity to own her own business and the ability to transform personal hardship into meaningful service.
Today, Cynthia brings empathy, structure, and calm leadership to every family she supports. Her personal experience allows her to anticipate concerns, guide difficult conversations, and advocate with clarity and compassion. Families trust her not only because of her expertise, but because she understands their journey firsthand.
Her practice generates mid to high six-figure annual revenue, with 31% growth in 2025, reflecting both strong market demand and Cynthia’s ability to scale effectively without sacrificing service quality. Her success is rooted in structure, consistency, and a data-driven mindset shaped by decades of professional experience.
Read Our Q&A With Cynthia Perthuis, Franchise Owner at Senior Care Authority
When did you start your business?
I’ve owned the Southwest Florida location of Senior Care Authority since 2018.
During your research, what made your franchise brand stand out?
I was drawn to the Senior Care Authority franchise model based on the strength of the brand and the history of a genuine love for the client as embodied in the actions of the founder, Frank Samson.
How did your franchisor help you to prepare for and launch your business?
The franchisor gave me the freedom to define my business model while supporting my entrepreneurial spirit with training and software tools. I liked that there was a combination of both – entrepreneurship is important to me, but I also receive the benefits of a proven brand and operating system.
What advice would you give potential franchisees considering your brand?
I would encourage potential franchisees to participate in all the opportunities to learn from the growth-minded spirit and strong management team, as well as other successful franchisee teams. There are a lot of resources available when it comes to becoming a franchise owner – use them!
What specific things set YOUR franchise apart?
My franchise is successful due to the team of advisors and support staff that I have gathered together and the way we all participate in each and every opportunity to see and be seen in the community while educating ourselves on all aspects of the industry. I am only a cog in this wheel of our success. My job description is to fly above the noise and find ways to make it easy for the team to be successful.
What specific things contributed to your success?
My background and the COVID closures in 2020 are the strongest components of my success. After I came out of a depressive stupor within the first two weeks of the pandemic, I realized that not only had the world changed, but my business was going to change in a big way.
My business changed – we were not moving a client into a community, but instead we were helping the family work through a plethora of questions and pains to solve a problem with a variety of players with their own agendas. At the conclusion, most solutions do not look like any of us thought they would.
What unique strengths and skills do YOU bring to your franchise?
From my first job at age 13 selling snow cones at the neighborhood pool, I have been selling a product, services, or myself. I have to sell myself to my clients every day because they have to be comfortable telling me their most treasured secrets and fears. We work with families in times of stress and crisis, and my background and flexibility give me the information to connect with anyone within a quick period of time.
What is something that might surprise people about franchise ownership?
I was surprised that I would have the autonomy that I do. I thought that a franchisor might put me in a box and give me an exact roadmap that was non-negotiable. But I have a lot of autonomy as to how I run and lead my business.
The Senior Care Authority Franchise Opportunity:
Senior Care Authority is a leading elder care consulting and senior placement franchise founded by Frank Samson in 2009 in Sonoma County, California.
The franchise specializes in helping families navigate complex senior care decisions, offering two distinct revenue streams: Senior placement services (assisted living, memory care, independent living), and exclusive eldercare consulting services, including family coaching, skilled nursing facility selection, caregiver selection, and advocacy services such as “Beyond Driving with Dignity.”
Each year, Senior Care Authority uses the FBR franchisee satisfaction survey to gain unbiased insights into their franchisees, and they have ranked highly on our unbiased awards lists for many years, including:
Interested in Becoming a Senior Care Authority Franchise Owner?
The franchise provides comprehensive training from industry specialists (nurses, geriatric care experts, elder law attorneys), proprietary technology systems, ongoing mentoring for the life of the franchise, and the ability to generate business in as little as 6-8 weeks.
As the senior population is projected to grow from 55 million to nearly 95 million by 2060, with 70% of individuals over 65 requiring some form of long-term care, Senior Care Authority offers franchisees a recession-resistant opportunity to build a financially rewarding business while making a meaningful difference in their communities.
