At a time when more women are pursuing business ownership as a pathway to flexibility, fulfillment and financial independence, Caring Transitions stands out as a franchise where women consistently excel. Built around senior relocation, downsizing and estate sales, the brand’s mission-driven model naturally attracts women who want to build profitable businesses rooted in compassion, service and community impact.
For Dershie Kurtz, franchise owner of Caring Transitions of Boerne, Fredericksburg and Kerrville, the move into franchising was grounded in decades of service.
“I am a physical therapist, so I’m used to working with seniors,” Kurtz said. “We owned a pediatric home health company and did that for about 10 years, which is where I got my business experience from.”
After selling that company at the end of 2019, Kurtz initially stepped into retirement — but not for long. When she discovered Caring Transitions through a friend’s franchise, she immediately felt aligned with the brand’s purpose.
“I loved seeing her work with seniors and helping them move,” Kurtz said. “I loved the brand. I loved the people. Everyone seems to be in it for the right reasons.”
She launched her franchise in late 2022 and hasn’t looked back. “We started with our first house and really haven’t stopped since then,” she said. “We go from one house to the next. Sometimes we have two auctions up at one time.”
For many women entrepreneurs, one of the biggest barriers to launching a business is the fear of doing it alone. Caring Transitions’ franchise model directly addresses that concern.
“This has been a very supportive environment,” Kurtz said. “We have business coaches that we can call on anytime we need help, which is very helpful. Also, connecting with other owners is very helpful.”
She especially values the peer-to-peer connections within the network. “Sometimes I’ll gravitate to other women who are trying to run the business themselves,” she said. “We can talk and hash those things out together.”
Unlike her previous independent business, where she built everything from the ground up, franchising offered a different experience. “I never felt like there wasn’t somebody I could call to help solve the issue,” she said.
Her advice to other women considering the leap into business ownership is simple and direct:
“Don’t be afraid to take the leap,” Kurtz said. “You put in a lot of hours, but you are helping people so it is very rewarding. If you follow the steps, you are going to be successful at it. Anytime new people come on board, all of the franchisees try to help each other out.”
For Alissa Agnoli, owner of Caring Transitions of Oakland Macomb, the path to franchise ownership was shaped by a career rooted in relationships and empathy. “I spent about 20 years working as a residential interior designer, but I also worked with seniors and studied senior-specific design,” Agnoli said. “I always had a passion for it.”
After transitioning into marketing for a real estate team, she found herself working closely with people navigating moves and downsizing — and partnering with a local Caring Transitions franchisee.
“When that franchise sold, we wanted to still be able to service the clients in the same way,” she said. “One of our business partners and I realized our brand was really missing the full range of services that Caring Transitions offers.”
In 2022, she made the decision to bring the brand back to her market. “Caring Transitions really embodies everything that I want to follow in my own business,” Agnoli said. “We are very relationship-oriented. The services that we offer genuinely make a difference.”
For Agnoli, the alignment was deeply personal. “It really aligned with my beliefs as an empath and a giver,” she said. “We are a very big problem solver in helping clients navigate their issues. Helping them solve their problems and their stressors is why we went with Caring Transitions.”
Caring Transitions’ model — combining relocation services, downsizing support and online estate auctions — creates multiple revenue streams within a single, mission-driven business. But what truly differentiates the brand is the culture.
For Agnoli, fulfillment is central to the equation. “For me, it’s all about finding what fills your cup,” she said. “You have to be happy when you are working every day and running a business. You have to find something that makes a difference and makes you feel like you accomplished what you wanted.”
As Women’s History Month celebrates the trailblazers of the past, Caring Transitions highlights the women building the future — women who left corporate careers for more meaningful work, women who built businesses aligned with their values and women who are creating local impact through compassionate service.
“It’s all about helping people,” Kurtz said. “This business has been such a blessing — a way to use my experience and passion to really make a difference in people’s lives.”
Some days are joyful — meeting new clients and celebrating fresh starts. Others are emotional — helping families who have lost a loved one. But for many women franchisees, that meaningful work is exactly the point.
“It’s all about finding the right company and the right business to be able to grow as a woman in business,” Agnoli said. “Caring Transitions is a perfect fit.”
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/info.
Caring Transitions
SPONSORED
In honor of Women’s History Month, Caring Transitions is celebrating the women who are redefining what modern entrepreneurship looks like.
At a time when more women are pursuing business ownership as a pathway to flexibility, fulfillment and financial independence, Caring Transitions stands out as a franchise where women consistently excel. Built around senior relocation, downsizing and estate sales, the brand’s mission-driven model naturally attracts women who want to build profitable businesses rooted in compassion, service and community impact.
For Dershie Kurtz, franchise owner of Caring Transitions of Boerne, Fredericksburg and Kerrville, the move into franchising was grounded in decades of service.
“I am a physical therapist, so I’m used to working with seniors,” Kurtz said. “We owned a pediatric home health company and did that for about 10 years, which is where I got my business experience from.”
After selling that company at the end of 2019, Kurtz initially stepped into retirement — but not for long. When she discovered Caring Transitions through a friend’s franchise, she immediately felt aligned with the brand’s purpose.
“I loved seeing her work with seniors and helping them move,” Kurtz said. “I loved the brand. I loved the people. Everyone seems to be in it for the right reasons.”
She launched her franchise in late 2022 and hasn’t looked back. “We started with our first house and really haven’t stopped since then,” she said. “We go from one house to the next. Sometimes we have two auctions up at one time.”
For many women entrepreneurs, one of the biggest barriers to launching a business is the fear of doing it alone. Caring Transitions’ franchise model directly addresses that concern.
“This has been a very supportive environment,” Kurtz said. “We have business coaches that we can call on anytime we need help, which is very helpful. Also, connecting with other owners is very helpful.”
She especially values the peer-to-peer connections within the network. “Sometimes I’ll gravitate to other women who are trying to run the business themselves,” she said. “We can talk and hash those things out together.”
Unlike her previous independent business, where she built everything from the ground up, franchising offered a different experience. “I never felt like there wasn’t somebody I could call to help solve the issue,” she said.
Her advice to other women considering the leap into business ownership is simple and direct:
“Don’t be afraid to take the leap,” Kurtz said. “You put in a lot of hours, but you are helping people so it is very rewarding. If you follow the steps, you are going to be successful at it. Anytime new people come on board, all of the franchisees try to help each other out.”
For Alissa Agnoli, owner of Caring Transitions of Oakland Macomb, the path to franchise ownership was shaped by a career rooted in relationships and empathy. “I spent about 20 years working as a residential interior designer, but I also worked with seniors and studied senior-specific design,” Agnoli said. “I always had a passion for it.”
After transitioning into marketing for a real estate team, she found herself working closely with people navigating moves and downsizing — and partnering with a local Caring Transitions franchisee.
“When that franchise sold, we wanted to still be able to service the clients in the same way,” she said. “One of our business partners and I realized our brand was really missing the full range of services that Caring Transitions offers.”
In 2022, she made the decision to bring the brand back to her market. “Caring Transitions really embodies everything that I want to follow in my own business,” Agnoli said. “We are very relationship-oriented. The services that we offer genuinely make a difference.”
For Agnoli, the alignment was deeply personal. “It really aligned with my beliefs as an empath and a giver,” she said. “We are a very big problem solver in helping clients navigate their issues. Helping them solve their problems and their stressors is why we went with Caring Transitions.”
Caring Transitions’ model — combining relocation services, downsizing support and online estate auctions — creates multiple revenue streams within a single, mission-driven business. But what truly differentiates the brand is the culture.
For Agnoli, fulfillment is central to the equation. “For me, it’s all about finding what fills your cup,” she said. “You have to be happy when you are working every day and running a business. You have to find something that makes a difference and makes you feel like you accomplished what you wanted.”
As Women’s History Month celebrates the trailblazers of the past, Caring Transitions highlights the women building the future — women who left corporate careers for more meaningful work, women who built businesses aligned with their values and women who are creating local impact through compassionate service.
“It’s all about helping people,” Kurtz said. “This business has been such a blessing — a way to use my experience and passion to really make a difference in people’s lives.”
Some days are joyful — meeting new clients and celebrating fresh starts. Others are emotional — helping families who have lost a loved one. But for many women franchisees, that meaningful work is exactly the point.
“It’s all about finding the right company and the right business to be able to grow as a woman in business,” Agnoli said. “Caring Transitions is a perfect fit.”
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/info.
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