New Franchisee Turns Personal Loss Into Community Impact With New Caring Transitions in Riverview, Florida

Antoine Johnson knows what it’s like to be left picking up the pieces. After losing both of his parents, his grandparents and his wife, he faced transition after transition — alone. Now, he’s using that deeply personal experience to serve others. With a background in probate real estate and a passion for helping families navigate the overwhelming process of downsizing, estate sales and relocations, Johnson is launching Caring Transitions in Riverview, Florida, this August. 

“After going through my own transitions several times, I found this business and thought, ‘If I’d had this during those experiences, it would have made everything much easier.’ It just made sense,” Johnson said. “It also fit naturally into my real estate services — I could become full-service for families going through similar things.”

1851 spoke with Johnson to learn more about his background and his path to Caring Transitions ownership. Here’s what he had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Antoine Johnson: I have a background in real estate — specifically probate real estate — and I got involved in Caring Transitions because I’ve gone through a lot of transitions in my own life. I lost both parents, grandparents and a wife, and I was left to pick up the pieces by myself. That was very difficult.

After going through my own transitions several times, I found this business and thought, “If I had had this during those experiences, it would have made everything much easier.” It just made sense. It also fit naturally into my real estate services — I could become full-service for families going through similar things.

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Johnson: I went to college for criminal justice and then transitioned into the transportation industry. I owned a trucking company for a few years before eventually moving to Central Florida in 2018 and getting into real estate.

Franchising made sense for me because I’m not someone who wants to reinvent the wheel. If I see a system and it works, I’d rather follow that model instead of learning through trial and error. With Caring Transitions, I saw a product that was polished and finished — and that really appealed to me.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Johnson: I think a lot of people view franchising as rigid, but I’ve come to realize that it can actually be very empowering — especially when it’s a model that already works. For someone like me who values structure and proven systems, it’s been a great fit.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Johnson: I had never seen anything like Caring Transitions in the estate sales space. I loved the idea that you could help clients through every aspect of the transition — not just one piece of it.

The auction website is actually what drew me to the brand originally, but once I dug deeper and saw everything else they offer — relocations, clean-outs, organizing and more — I knew it was a match.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?

Johnson: Big picture, I want to be a real asset to the community and serve the senior population. From there, I definitely want to scale and branch out to serve a larger region. It’s not just about growth for the sake of growth — it’s about expanding impact.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Johnson: I would tell myself — and anyone else — “Hurry up.” Learn everything you can and move quickly. If you’ve found something that speaks to you and it’s a good fit, don’t wait too long. Take action.

For more information about franchising with Caring Transitions, visit: https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/.

ABOUT CARING TRANSITIONS:

Caring Transitions provides older adults and their families with the most trusted, respected and comprehensive downsizing, right-sizing, estate sales and online auctions, and move management solutions in the industry. Founded in 2006, the brand is committed to helping people in a compassionate and caring manner during life's many transitions while providing a total and easy solution for clients in their time of need. Through their proprietary online sales platform, CTBIDS, Caring Transitions also prepares clients for the process of liquidating assets through their own online estate sales auction site. With more than 350 locations, Caring Transitions’ compassionate, experienced professionals minimize stress and relieve the burdens of life’s transitions. To learn more visit https://www.caringtransitions.com/.