How This Nurse Is Bringing a New Kind of Care to Eden Prairie, Minnesota, with Caring Transitions

After two decades in nursing, Ernise Beckel knew one thing for certain: caring for others would always be at the heart of her career. But when she was ready to step away from the traditional health care path, she searched for a new way to make an impact. That’s when she found Caring Transitions — a business that felt aligned with her values and familiar to the kind of work she had done for years. With a deep understanding of seniors’ needs and a desire to make a difference in her local community, Beckel officially opened Caring Transitions of Eden Prairie on July 7, serving Chanhassen, Chaska, Delano, Excelsior, Eden Prairie, Maple Plain, Mound, St Bonifacius, Spring Park, Victoria and Waconia. Now, she’s building a business that blends personal purpose with professional growth — and offering compassionate support to local families along the way.

1851 spoke with Beckel to learn more about her path to Caring Transitions and her plans for the future. 

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

Ernise Beckel: I’m a registered nurse and have been caring for people for over 20 years, but I was ready to step away from the traditional health care industry a bit. I still wanted to do something that felt adjacent to what I was doing — something where I could continue helping people in a hands-on, meaningful way. The name “Caring Transitions” really resonated with me. Caring is what I’m all about. I loved that it was focused on the community and giving back. I also talked to a lot of other franchisees, and everyone genuinely loved what they were doing. That made a big impact on me. It really feels like a franchise family where people lift each other up.

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

Beckel: I started out in home care nursing, going from house to house. That’s actually why this franchise felt so familiar to me — I’ve seen the need firsthand. A lot of seniors don’t have family around or just need help with the basics like organizing or cleaning. I’ve worked in assisted living, skilled nursing, and now I’m on the Medicare side handling payment reviews. I’ve seen how quickly a fall or something small can cause a decline in health. So this model really hit home.

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’re in it?

Beckel: My husband and I actually bought another business from an independent owner before, and we didn’t have any support — it was all on us. We’d also looked into starting something from scratch, but there’s so much red tape. That’s what’s so great about franchising: the support. As a new business owner, you don’t know what you don’t know. With Caring Transitions, they give you the playbook — how to market, how to get set up, what to do step-by-step. That kind of guidance is invaluable.

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

Beckel: What I love about Caring Transitions is how flexible it is. Every franchise can operate a little differently. You can bring your own style to how you manage things, and you don’t feel boxed in. There are people in the franchise from all different backgrounds — nurses, realtors, people who run warehouses. It’s very customizable based on your strengths, and that was really appealing to me. It still feels like your own business, but you’re supported every step of the way.

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

Beckel: Right now, we’re operating with a small team — mostly family and a few contractors. I want to scale up gradually and eventually hire employees. The main focus right now is building brand awareness and letting people in the community know who we are. I’m also excited to learn from other franchisees and keep growing from there.

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

Beckel: Put in the time upfront. Start your marketing right away — don’t wait. As soon as you sign your agreement, begin reaching out to local realtors and senior placement agencies, and get your flyers out. Trying to juggle all the last-minute pieces right before launch — training, marketing, setup — it’s a lot. If I could do it over, I would’ve started that process earlier so the launch felt less stressful. Planning ahead really makes all the difference.

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/.