Alex Vaughn has always been hands-on. From decades spent in construction to his time managing facilities at a rehabilitation center, he’s built his career around hard work and helping others. But when he discovered  Caring Transitions through  CTBids years ago, he saw something different: a path to entrepreneurship that could combine his personal interests with a meaningful mission. In August, Vaughn launched his  Caring Transitions franchise in North Aurora, Colorado, investing everything — even refinancing his home — to make it a reality. Now, he’s ready to give back to the community that raised him by offering seniors and families compassionate, full-service support during life’s most difficult transitions. 1851 spoke with Vaughn to learn more about his story and what drew him to the Caring Transitions family.  1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know? Alex Vaughn: My wife and I were working ourselves up for nothing — blue collar, pretty much raised from nothing. This is definitely the biggest venture I’ve ever made on my own. We took out a second mortgage and refinanced our house to raise the money to pay the franchise fees and start the location. This has more community involvement than anything I’ve ever done. 1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you? Vaughn: I worked as a facilities manager for an alcohol and drug rehab facility. But it was time for me to come back into my own and join a company that was involved in bettering the lives of others who really need it. I also worked in construction for about 25 years — I have a construction management background. Before that, I was a handyman. 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? Vaughn: I don’t really have a business background, and this was a sure way to make sure I had all the right paperwork, the right insurance — just to make sure I was on the right path to opening a successful business. It’s one part company ownership and one part business school. 1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company? Vaughn: I’m a bit of a collector, and I found Caring Transitions through CTBids. I had already developed a strong liking for auctions and decided I really loved the business model. I discovered CTBids about five years ago and was hooked into the online auction portion of it. I realized there’s a big future in online auctions. I love the combination of auctions and estate sales. You don’t have to pick a price in auctions — it’s realized by the bidders. With estate sales, you can help somebody downsize. Between the two, you’re reaching a lot of potential customers and getting a great price for the item. 1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? Vaughn: I know the model is good and the namesake is in place — there are already franchisees here. But the territory I’m in hasn’t really been tapped into much yet. We’ll see where we are 10 years out. If the opportunity comes up to buy a new territory, we might put in a bid. Or we might want to sell — I’ll be 64 by then and both kids will have graduated college. So we’ll see how it goes over the next couple of years. 1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know? Vaughn: We really do consider ourselves an important part of the community. We’re looking to give back to the people who live in the area. This is also our home, and we’re really excited to be a part of this industry. It’s going to be a great opportunity for ourselves and a lot of other people. We’re available for anybody going through a transition. 1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners? Vaughn: It’s never too soon to start looking. Figure out what direction you want to go, how to fund it and then make a final decision. You need to vet your business decisions. No matter how certain I was that I was making the right decision, you always second guess. At this point, I’m in it — but make sure you’re in a business and a model you can work with. Also make sure the training is ongoing. 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/ .