Becky Perdaems knows what it means to start over. After building a successful business with an online skin care company for over a decade, she lost her income in an instant when the company changed business models. Determined to keep her entrepreneurial spirit alive — and do something that made a real difference — she turned to Caring Transitions. Inspired by her sister, a franchisee in Denver, Perdaems saw a need in her own North Dakota community, where aging residents often don’t have family nearby. She’s now opening Caring Transitions of North Dakota SW to offer families the support they need during life’s biggest transitions — while building a legacy business for her own children in the process.
1851 spoke with Perdaems to learn more about her story, what drew her to the brand and her plans for the future.
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Becky Perdaems: I’m a single mom. I’ve been a public health nutritionist, a teacher and a stay-at-home mom. But the biggest thing I’ve done was building a large team with an online skin care brand. I did that for about 12 years. I loved being an entrepreneur — helping people, guiding a team and being in control of my income. When that company changed its business model, I lost all of my income overnight. I started asking myself, “How can I keep pursuing my entrepreneurial dreams, provide for my family and do something meaningful?” My sister, Jennifer Freeman, owns a Caring Transitions franchise in Denver, and we talked a lot about it. It felt like the perfect fit. Here in North Dakota, we have a large older population and a lot of young people moving away — families are often far apart, and people need help. So I quit teaching and decided to go all in.
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?
Perdaems: I loved the idea of having company support and infrastructure already in place. A lot of the partnerships are built and the systems are already proven. It’s not like starting from scratch. Caring Transitions has shown it can work in both urban and rural markets. You can make a good living and a meaningful impact on your community — and you don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Perdaems: After I lost my income with the skin care company, a lot of people reached out with different ideas — sell insurance, try this or that. But with those, you’re usually competing with your neighbors for every client. That’s how it was in the skin care business, too. What I love about Caring Transitions is the territory-based model. It feels more like a partnership than a competition. That really stood out to me — it fosters a sense of teamwork instead of rivalry.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Perdaems: I plan to retire in 10 years and potentially sell the business to one of my kids. I’d like to expand into a second territory and become a great employer — build a strong, supportive team that serves people across a few cities.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Perdaems: North Dakota has a small-town, neighbor-helping-neighbor vibe. People genuinely want to help each other, and I’ve already gotten so many messages from people who are interested in what we’re doing. It’s “North Dakota nice” — and this brand, this company, is the perfect way to be part of that.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Perdaems: My situation was a little different because I had talked to my sister so much that I already knew I wanted to do it. But my advice is to talk to as many people as you can. It takes a leap of faith, but if you’re open to the possibilities, it can create something amazing for your family and yourself.
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/.
Caring Transitions
Inspired by her sister, who is also a franchisee with Caring Transitions, Becky Perdaems is combining her leadership skills and small-town values to bring a meaningful new service to her community.
Becky Perdaems knows what it means to start over. After building a successful business with an online skin care company for over a decade, she lost her income in an instant when the company changed business models. Determined to keep her entrepreneurial spirit alive — and do something that made a real difference — she turned to Caring Transitions. Inspired by her sister, a franchisee in Denver, Perdaems saw a need in her own North Dakota community, where aging residents often don’t have family nearby. She’s now opening Caring Transitions of North Dakota SW to offer families the support they need during life’s biggest transitions — while building a legacy business for her own children in the process.
1851 spoke with Perdaems to learn more about her story, what drew her to the brand and her plans for the future.
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Becky Perdaems: I’m a single mom. I’ve been a public health nutritionist, a teacher and a stay-at-home mom. But the biggest thing I’ve done was building a large team with an online skin care brand. I did that for about 12 years. I loved being an entrepreneur — helping people, guiding a team and being in control of my income. When that company changed its business model, I lost all of my income overnight. I started asking myself, “How can I keep pursuing my entrepreneurial dreams, provide for my family and do something meaningful?” My sister, Jennifer Freeman, owns a Caring Transitions franchise in Denver, and we talked a lot about it. It felt like the perfect fit. Here in North Dakota, we have a large older population and a lot of young people moving away — families are often far apart, and people need help. So I quit teaching and decided to go all in.
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?
Perdaems: I loved the idea of having company support and infrastructure already in place. A lot of the partnerships are built and the systems are already proven. It’s not like starting from scratch. Caring Transitions has shown it can work in both urban and rural markets. You can make a good living and a meaningful impact on your community — and you don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Perdaems: After I lost my income with the skin care company, a lot of people reached out with different ideas — sell insurance, try this or that. But with those, you’re usually competing with your neighbors for every client. That’s how it was in the skin care business, too. What I love about Caring Transitions is the territory-based model. It feels more like a partnership than a competition. That really stood out to me — it fosters a sense of teamwork instead of rivalry.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Perdaems: I plan to retire in 10 years and potentially sell the business to one of my kids. I’d like to expand into a second territory and become a great employer — build a strong, supportive team that serves people across a few cities.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Perdaems: North Dakota has a small-town, neighbor-helping-neighbor vibe. People genuinely want to help each other, and I’ve already gotten so many messages from people who are interested in what we’re doing. It’s “North Dakota nice” — and this brand, this company, is the perfect way to be part of that.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Perdaems: My situation was a little different because I had talked to my sister so much that I already knew I wanted to do it. But my advice is to talk to as many people as you can. It takes a leap of faith, but if you’re open to the possibilities, it can create something amazing for your family and yourself.
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/.
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