What happens when essential autism support isn’t available? Families are left overwhelmed, and children miss out on the early interventions that are vital for developing communication, learning, and social skills. Autism, a complex developmental condition, requires timely and consistent care—but access is often limited. Today, a major shortage of ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) clinics adds to the challenge.
This gap has widened as autism diagnoses have risen significantly, while the certification process for professionals remains lengthy and demanding. As a result, many families—especially in underserved regions—face long wait times and limited options. In response, values-driven franchising is emerging as a powerful solution. Recognized among the Best of the Best, these franchise models are more than businesses—they’re lifelines. By combining empathy with strong operational systems, they increase access to quality care, deliver consistency across locations, and create lasting impact in communities.
SOS Franchising is a leading example of this approach. It enables local entrepreneurs to run full-service autism treatment centers under the Success On The Spectrum brand, offering ABA, speech, occupational therapy, and social skills training for children aged 18 months to 18 years. These services support day-to-day development and help children gain independence, build confidence, and connect with others, while providing families with clarity and hope.
What makes the model truly impactful is its owner-operated structure, often led by individuals with personal ties to autism—bringing deep empathy to the care provided. Backed by standardized training, regular audits, and strong operational support, each center maintains high-quality, compassionate care. Since its launch in 2018, and under the leadership of Nichole Daher, CEO and Founder, SOS Franchising has served over 4,000 families and became the first autism treatment franchise in the U.S.
In contrast to profit-driven models, SOS focuses on quality, ethics, and long-term impact. With plans to expand into adult services and build academic partnerships, SOS continues to redefine what autism care should look like—accessible, empathetic, and life-changing.
Stepping into Autism Care Through Family
Nichole was inspired to enter the autism treatment space after becoming the stepmother of a child with autism in 2014. With no background in special needs care, she took parent training classes at her stepdaughter’s ABA therapy clinic to learn how to better support her. Although the child was making strong progress, services were suddenly discontinued when she turned seven. Nichole soon discovered that most ABA clinics only serve children up to that age and often lack the additional therapies many autistic children require.
Troubled by the lack of comprehensive, long-term care, she recognized a serious gap in the system. This experience sparked her determination to create something better. In 2015, she founded Success On The Spectrum, a full-service autism treatment center offering ABA, speech, and occupational therapy for children up to 18 years old—driven by the goal of expanding access to meaningful care for families who need it most.
Mission-Aligned Franchise Partners
Launching the first autism treatment center in 2015 came with a unique set of challenges for Nichole, especially as she introduced a new franchise model in a highly specialized field. One of the biggest hurdles was building a consistent brand experience across multiple locations while still allowing franchise owners the flexibility to operate independently. Developing strong operational systems, ensuring high standards of care, and finding qualified franchisees who truly understood and believed in the mission were all critical steps.
Nichole also had to navigate the legal complexities of franchising, adapt to the needs of different regional markets, and raise awareness about the model in an industry unfamiliar with franchising. Maintaining quality control while growing in a thoughtful, mission-driven way required careful planning, dedication, and a clear vision for long-term impact.
Scalable Solution to a Widespread Problem
The decision to expand into franchising with SOS Franchising was driven by a growing need that could no longer be met by just two centers. After opening two clinics in Houston, the overwhelming demand for quality autism care quickly became clear, as long waitlists began to form and families continued to seek help. Nichole felt a deep sense of responsibility, knowing that many children were still without access to the support they needed.
Realizing that one person or a single organization couldn’t meet this need alone, she set out to create a scalable solution. This led to the founding of SOS Franchising—with the mission of helping other entrepreneurs open their centers and expand access to comprehensive, compassionate autism care across the country.
America’s First Autism Treatment Franchise
SOS Franchising stands out as the first autism treatment franchise in the United States. What makes it truly unique is its community-rooted model—each center is independently owned, and nearly half of the franchise owners are parents or siblings of individuals with autism. These personal connections bring deep empathy and dedication to the care they provide.
Each center supports children (18 months to 18 years) through a full spectrum of therapies, including:
- ABA therapy
- Speech therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Social skills classes
At the heart of these services is a play-based ABA approach. This method uses playful activities to help children learn essential life skills in a fun and engaging way. Whether they’re building with blocks or engaging in pretend play, children naturally develop communication, cooperation, and social interaction while working toward therapeutic goals.
Family involvement plays a vital role as well. Every center features a parent viewing room with live video access, allowing caregivers to observe sessions in real time. Weekly training includes video clips that help families reinforce the same strategies at home—creating a strong, consistent support system for the child.
Beyond clinical care, Success On The Spectrum fosters inclusion through its community outreach program, hosting free public events that encourage social interaction and create joyful, supportive experiences for families.
Strong Standard Of Excellence
SOS Franchising ensures quality and consistency across its franchises by upholding a strong standard of excellence. Each location undergoes detailed clinical and administrative audits twice a year, allowing the organization to monitor and maintain high-quality care and operational efficiency across all centers. This structured approach helps deliver a consistent experience for every family, no matter the location.
Rise of Private Equity in Autism Services
Between 2017 and 2022, private equity firms drove 85% of autism company buyouts, significantly shaping the industry. While they offer financial resources and strategic support, concerns are growing that their profit-driven focus can compromise care quality. As Jon Bailey from the ABA Ethics Hotline points out, putting profits first can weaken the strong ethics needed to provide quality autism care.
In contrast, owner-operated franchises often deliver more compassionate, community-centered care. Many are led by individuals personally connected to autism, allowing for deeper understanding and trust with families. These owners are committed to long-term relationships and personalized support, free from external profit pressures. They’re also more adaptable, able to implement evolving approaches as research progresses. As the demand for autism services rises, it’s vital to prioritize values-driven models that focus on long-term impact and genuine care.
Centralized Support Systems
SOS Franchising addresses the growing demand for autism care by offering a scalable, community-focused model that ensures accessibility and consistency through the following key approaches:
- Rapid Expansion: Franchising allows a company to expand into new regions more quickly than building company-owned locations. Franchisees invest their capital, reducing the financial burden on the company.
- Community Connection: Franchisees are often local to the area, which helps them understand the unique needs of their community and build stronger trust with families and clients.
- Consistent Quality: Standardized training and operational systems ensure that every location delivers the same high level of care, no matter where it is.
In addition to these strengths, SOS provides robust support to its franchisees. This includes access to centralized services like marketing campaigns, billing systems, and insurance credentialing. Regular quality assurance checks maintain consistency across all locations, while business development resources help franchisees expand their client base and succeed within their communities.
Strength in Unity
Balancing entrepreneurship, leadership, and autism advocacy means helping others grow while maintaining personal well-being. For Nichole, leadership is about empowering others, and franchising allows her to support passionate individuals who share her mission. She believes her franchisees’ shared dedication strengthens the organization’s impact. Acknowledging the need for self-care, Nichole now prioritizes her personal life—especially after getting married—and finds balance through her passion for racing, which helps her recharge. Over time, she’s learned a key leadership lesson: she can’t do everything alone. Trusting her team, embracing continuous learning, and valuing feedback have been essential to her growth and the company’s success.
Focus On Building A Strong And Reliable Network
Nichole advises aspiring women entrepreneurs, especially in healthcare and franchising, to focus on building a reliable network, as the right team can significantly influence long-term success.
She encourages women to:
- Embrace their unique perspectives
- Innovate boldly
- Stay resilient, even through failure
Ethics and Quality Come Before Profit
Nichole believes success in the autism treatment industry requires a deep commitment to quality, compassion, and ethical care. SOS believes that by consistently prioritizing quality over profit, treatment centers can build lasting trust with families, deliver better outcomes for children, and create a sustainable model that stands strong even as the industry becomes more profit-focused. This values-driven approach is what sets SOS Franchising apart and positions it to thrive long-term, beyond the limitations of private equity-driven models.
Vision for Higher Standards in Autism Care
In the next five years, Nichole aims to see a shift in the autism treatment industry where quality becomes the top priority across the board. By maintaining a strong focus on delivering high-standard care, SOS Franchising hopes to set an example that encourages other ABA providers to elevate their practices. The ultimate goal is to inspire positive change throughout the field—ensuring that every child receives the exceptional care they need and deserve.
Join SOS Franchising in reshaping autism care—where compassionate therapy meets consistency, access, and lasting impact.
Contact: (832) 975-1999
Nichole Daher’s 5 Powerful Business Mantras
- Purpose Drives the Model: Build businesses that fill real gaps in society—when you lead with empathy and purpose, profits follow naturally.
- Quality Over Quantity: Scale with intention. Never sacrifice care or consistency in the pursuit of growth.
- Empower Through Franchising: Franchising isn’t just expansion—it’s a way to uplift communities by enabling local, mission-aligned leaders.
- Lead with Ethics, Not Ego: Long-term trust and sustainability come from putting ethics and compassion before financial gain.
- You Can’t Do It Alone: Surround yourself with passionate people, stay open to learning, and trust your team to carry the vision forward.
