After decades spent running his family business and working for others,  Michael Marchand found himself at a crossroads at age 60. He had just been let go from a corporate role — the first time he’d ever been unemployed — and instead of retreating into retirement or scrambling to find another job, he saw it as a chance to finally take control. “My father was an entrepreneur and I grew up in his business,” Marchand said. “By the time I was 40 years old, I was the president of the company. I left when the demands for income became more than the company could provide, and for the next 20 years, I worked for other people. When I was let go, my wife and I talked and decided it was time to finally start a business of my own.” But Marchand wasn’t interested in just “buying himself a job.” He wanted something bigger — a business he could scale and eventually step away from, something with structure and support, and most importantly, something personally rewarding. “I didn’t want to start from scratch again, like I had growing up. I needed the support of a franchise behind me,” he said. “And I wanted something that wasn’t dependent on me to succeed — I wanted to build a business that could exist without me.” That mindset led him to  Caring Transitions , the nation’s leading provider of senior relocation, downsizing and estate sale services. From the beginning, what stood out wasn’t just the brand’s model, but the heart behind it. “I investigated a number of franchises, and I was amazed at how many people I spoke to from  Caring Transitions who said the work was incredibly rewarding. That really closed it for me,” he said. A Business That Fits Life — Not the Other Way Around Marchand launched his  Caring Transitions of Tewksbury, Massachusetts franchise in 2021, but he was intentional from the outset about doing it on his own terms. “I had the mindset that I wanted to enjoy my life at this age. I didn’t want to be so engrossed that I couldn’t enjoy my time with my wife or my granddaughter,” he said. “In the first year, it was a lot of work, which is normal. But I took my time to learn the business and get good at it. Then we started putting in place people who could really make things happen.” Now 65, Marchand operates multiple territories and spends much of his time traveling and enjoying life — knowing the business is in good hands. “Every Tuesday, I pick up my granddaughter and take her on adventures,” he said. “We’ve been to Mexico, Italy and Florida just in the last year. I’m fortunate to have a crew I can rely on.” His experience is a testament to the flexibility of the  Caring Transitions model , which is designed to be scalable to match the owner’s personal and professional goals. Some franchisees invest heavily right away and grow fast while others, like Marchand, build more gradually. “You can approach it from multiple angles depending on what you need from the business,” he said. “I did mine on a shoestring budget and took my time because I could. But I know franchisees who made significant investments and hit incredible numbers in the first year or two. My intention was to build something solid that I could retire from and sell over the course of five years. I wanted to spend time with my family — and that’s what I’m doing.” Support To Do It Your Way Caring Transitions backs franchisees like Marchand with  robust systems and support . “Corporate gives you the guidelines, the tools, and they definitely give you the support to do it how you want to do it,” he said. That includes everything from operations and marketing to training and technology — including  CTBids , the brand’s proprietary online auction platform with more than 600,000 users. Combined with services like space planning, downsizing, estate sales and relocation support, franchisees have multiple ways to generate revenue while serving a rapidly growing market. With the aging population driving demand for senior transition services, Caring Transitions has expanded to more than 400 locations nationwide. And for many franchisees, that growth is about more than just profits — it’s about purpose. A New Chapter, Built With Purpose For Marchand, the decision to invest in a Caring Transitions franchise wasn’t just about starting a business. It was about writing a new chapter — one filled with purpose, freedom and the ability to give back. “At 60 years old, I had a much different attitude,” he said. “I didn’t want something that would just make me rich — I wanted something that made me feel like I was doing good every day. Caring Transitions gave me exactly that.” Now, as he looks ahead to the future and begins planning for succession, Marchand is grateful for a business that gives him both peace of mind and personal fulfillment. “It is truly what you make it,” he said. “And for me, it’s been everything I hoped for.” For more information, visit:  https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions .