Why This Navy Veteran is Proud to be a Caring Transitions Franchise Owner

Caring Transitions franchisee Noel Cajudo, who owns the business with his wife Rydell in Menifee, California, spent 27 years in the Navy before transitioning to entrepreneurship. During that time as a Naval Officer, Cajudo says he learned all about how to be a manager, the importance of problem-solving and his love for serving others. While he enjoyed the experience, he eventually found it was time for something else. 

“I was the only retired sibling out of seven, so I was taking care of my elderly parents, and my mother-in-law was also staying at my house at the same time,” said Cajudo. “I also volunteered at a senior community here, which was very fulfilling. Soon, I realized that helping seniors was really a calling, and I started looking for more ways to contribute. I received an email through the Disabled Naval Veterans group about franchises giving discounts to veterans, and one was Caring Transitions. The more I looked into it, the more it felt like I had been preparing for Caring Transitions ownership for the last few years.” 

Caring Transitions is the nation’s largest and most trusted total-solutions provider for seniors needing compassionate care during life’s challenging transitions. The company helps seniors relocate by spending time at their homes, helping them pack and organize their belongings, then moving those belongings to the new home and setting them up in a way that feels comfortable and familiar. Then, the team returns to the original location to arrange and host an in-person or online estate sale through its proprietary platform, CTBIDS. These equate to multiple profit centers and customizable client solutions that allow franchisees to scale their business and increase profitability.

The Cajudo couple officially opened their Caring Transitions in November of 2017 and haven’t looked back since.

“These past years have been so rewarding,” said Cajudo. “The turning point for us was after a year and a half when we broke even. Today, we have an amazing reputation for being a one-stop shop for seniors transitioning to a new home or senior living facility. They love us because they don’t have to deal with someone for each service. We also can leverage relationships with other providers in the community and share that with seniors, whether it be landscaping, moving or painting. We also help provide jobs for local people in the community. All of that has been very rewarding. We’ve been able to help hundreds of people.”

And with that reputation, Cajudo says sales continue to rise. “There are a lot of seniors downsizing to senior communities or moving out of their space following the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. “They had no one to turn to for help, so when realtors heard about us, they started promoting us. We doubled revenue in 2020.”

Now, Cajudo says growth is always something to strive for, and he hopes to continue expanding his Caring Transitions business. “Just by establishing our reputation, we have expanded almost triple the original territory we signed on for,” he said. “Overall, we’ve been able to help hundreds of people. That is the best part.”

VP of Franchise Development James Stapleton says the Caring Transitions brand is looking for qualified and compassionate entrepreneurs like Cajudo to help expand its footprint. The brand recently opened its 255th franchise unit and plans to reach 300 franchise units by the end of 2022. Much of Caring Transitions’ rapid growth can be attributed to the booming senior care market, which is estimated at $832.8 billion and projected to continue growing by 3.9% year over year through 2025.

“It is not hard to find great franchisee owners for this business,” Stapleton explains. “Savvy entrepreneurs are looking for a way into the senior care market, and we offer a lucrative pathway that requires no medical experience and little overhead. This is a senior service that isn’t necessarily top-of-mind until it is needed, which is why there are so few competitors. But we satisfy a problem that comes at a very stressful time for families. We can come in and reduce that stress. That is why a Caring Transitions franchise is a perfect opportunity to impact people’s lives, while also building a successful business.”

Start-up costs range from $58,912-$82,712, and franchisees have the opportunity to earn back their $44,900 franchise fee through its Winner’s Circle program by hitting a variety of key benchmarks. For more information, visit: https://www.caringtransitionsfranchise.com/