HOUSTON, TEXAS – Able Autism Therapy Services, a Georgia provider of applied behavior analysis (ABA), announced September 18 that it plans a franchise clinic in the Clear Lake/Webster area of greater Houston. At least three private equity-backed chains already operate centers in the area.
Stephanie Lugo-Velez, a managing partner, will direct the clinic, and franchise partner Alvaro Montelongo Jr. will handle community outreach and site selection, the company said. The announcement did not include an address or opening date.
Austin-based Action Behavior Centers, backed by Charlesbank Capital Partners since 2022, operates a center on Clear Lake City Boulevard and said in June that it had more than 400 locations. Behavioral Innovations announced its Webster opening on the same road in October 2025, after Shore Capital Partners sold the chain to Tenex Capital Management in June 2024. KKR-backed BlueSprig operates another center in Webster.
Able Autism is far smaller. Founder Idris Demirci opened its first clinic in Alpharetta, Georgia, in late 2021. A March 2025 profile by the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center said the company had signed its first franchise by late 2024 and aimed to sign 10 more by the end of 2025.
The company reports seven locations: two company-owned clinics in Georgia and five franchises. As of September 28, its location directory listed street addresses for five, with details still pending for Minneapolis and Pearland, a Houston suburb. Those listings do not establish that all seven clinics are open. The directory has no Clear Lake or Webster entry, and the announcement does not say whether the planned clinic is the Pearland franchise or an additional one.
The company says franchise partners receive training, marketing support, an operating model, and an exclusive territory.
Able Autism says it built CognixHealth in-house to handle scheduling, insurance eligibility checks, claims, and clinical data collection. “We believe this platform is a big differentiator for us,” Demirci said in the announcement. The company also markets the software to independent practices.
Demirci called Texas a primary focus and said he hopes the new clinic will “help us expedite our footprint in Houston and, on a larger scale, throughout Texas.” The company says it is recruiting franchise partners through Atlanta-based Franchise Marketing Systems and targeting Tennessee, Colorado, Arizona, and Nebraska.
AT A GLANCE
| Houston clinic: | Planned for Clear Lake/Webster; Stephanie Lugo-Velez to direct it; September 18 announcement gave no address or opening date |
| Company location count: | Company reports 7 locations: 2 company-owned in Georgia and 5 franchised. As of September 28, 5 had listed street addresses. Operating status is not confirmed for all 7. |
| Advertised franchise terms: | $40,000 initial franchise fee; 5% royalty on gross sales; exclusive territory based on 100,000 people or a 5-mile radius |
| Target markets: | The company names more of Texas, plus Tennessee, Colorado, Arizona, and Nebraska |
| PE-backed centers nearby: | Action Behavior Centers (Charlesbank), Clear Lake City Blvd., Houston; Behavioral Innovations (Tenex), Clear Lake City Blvd., Webster; BlueSprig (KKR), Professional Park Dr., Webster |
SOURCES & REFERENCES
| 1. | Able Autism Therapy Services. “Able Autism Expands Into Houston as Franchise Network Continues to Grow.” Press release, EIN Presswire. September 18, 2026. https://www.einpresswire.com/article/943366666/able-autism-expands-into-houston-as-franchise-network-continues-to-grow |
| 2. | Action Behavior Centers. “ABA Therapy in Nasa Clear Lake.” Location page. Accessed September 28, 2026. https://www.actionbehavior.com/location/texas/nasa-clear-lake |
| 3. | Charlesbank Capital Partners. “Action Behavior Centers.” Current portfolio page. Accessed September 28, 2026. https://www.charlesbank.com/investments/action-behavior-centers/ |
| 4. | Action Behavior Centers. “Action Behavior Centers Launches Comprehensive Design Standard Across 400+ ABA Therapy Locations.” Press release, ACCESS Newswire. June 2, 2026. https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/action-behavior-centers-launches-comprehensive-design-standard-across-1172841 |
| 5. | Behavioral Innovations. “Behavioral Innovations Marks 100th Center with Grand Opening in Webster, TX.” Press release, EIN Presswire, republished by The National Law Review. October 13, 2025. https://natlawreview.com/press-releases/behavioral-innovations-marks-100th-center-grand-opening-webster-tx |
| 6. | Behavioral Innovations. “ABA Therapy in Webster, TX.” Location page. Accessed September 28, 2026. https://behavioral-innovations.com/locations/webster/ |
| 7. | Shore Capital Partners. “Shore Capital Partners Announces Sale of Behavioral Innovations.” Press release, Business Wire. June 6, 2024. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240606629167/en/Shore-Capital-Partners-Announces-Sale-of-Behavioral-Innovations |
| 8. | Tenex Capital Management. “Our Portfolio,” Behavioral Innovations entry. Current investment; initial investment June 2024. Accessed September 28, 2026. https://www.tenexcm.com/portfolio |
| 9. | BlueSprig. “ABA Therapy Center in Clear Lake.” Center page. Accessed September 28, 2026. https://www.bluesprigautism.com/centers/texas/bluesprig-clear-lake/ |
| 10. | KKR Private Equity Conglomerate LLC. Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026. August 12, 2026. “Recent Developments—Portfolio Company Activity,” p. 39. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1957845/000195784526000071/kkr-20260630.htm |
| 11. | Rebecca Ayer. “Building a lifeline for families: UGA SBDC helps autism therapy service grow.” University of Georgia Small Business Development Center. March 10, 2025. https://georgiasbdc.org/able-autism-therapy-services/ |
| 12. | Able Autism Therapy Services. “Autism Therapy Locations.” Location directory. Accessed September 28, 2026. https://www.ableaba.com/locations |
| 13. | Able Autism Therapy Services. “Autism Therapy Franchise Opportunities.” Advertised fees, territory, and support. Accessed September 28, 2026. https://www.ableaba.com/franchise |
| 14. | Breaking News ABA Editorial Team. “Franchise Systems Transform ABA Practices Like Dental DSOs.” BreakingNewsABA. May 5, 2026. https://breakingnewsaba.com/business/franchise-systems-transform-aba-practices |
| 15. | Able Autism Therapy Services. “Our Technology – Cognix Health.” Accessed September 28, 2026. https://www.ableaba.com/technology |
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