More than 20 years ago, David Coker took what many considered a risky leap. In his late 20s, with a pregnant wife and no experience in senior care, he left a successful career in insurance sales to buy a Comfort Keepers® franchise in South Carolina.
Today, Coker has built one of the brand's long-standing operations, expanded into multiple offices, developed a strong leadership team and established a growth strategy centered on people, technology and servant leadership. Looking back, he credits Comfort Keepers with helping him build a successful business and giving him lessons that have shaped every business venture since.
"I was young and crazy. Late 20s buying a franchise," Coker said. "Didn't know what I was doing. My wife was pregnant. People thought I was crazy. It's been one of the best moves I've ever made."
Before joining Comfort Keepers in 2003, Coker spent his days traveling and selling insurance. "I was selling student health insurance, traveling all over the Southeast, kind of working for a family business," he said. "I was a pre-med major originally and decided not to go that route. I was always looking for something that was a good balance of business while still helping people."
His wife, Julie, worked as a neonatal intensive care nurse, and together they wanted to build something with long-term purpose.
Around that same time, Coker's grandmother suffered a fall and broke her hip, giving his family firsthand experience with the challenges of caring for an aging loved one. "My mom and my aunt were taking care of her," Coker said. "At the same time, I saw Comfort Keepers ranked in Entrepreneur magazine's top franchises. I drove up to Dayton, Ohio, for Discovery Day, and it just made sense."
Unlike selling insurance, senior care offered something far more meaningful. "I always say you didn't get thank-you cards selling insurance," he said. "This is a business where you definitely get thank-yous. That's the kind of business I was looking for."
When Coker entered the home care industry, it looked dramatically different than it does today.
"It was still a pretty new industry," he said. "Back then, hospitals just had lists of names. They didn't really have agencies the way they do today. It just felt like there was a void that we could fill. I definitely knew I could build it to a level where it would support my family and do well. I never thought the industry would become as big as it is now."
His existing relationships throughout South Carolina also gave him confidence. "I already had good relationships with discharge planners, hospital CEOs and health care leaders throughout South Carolina," Coker said. "I felt like there was an opportunity to serve people in a way that wasn't really being done."
As the business expanded, Coker realized growth would depend less on his own efforts and more on developing leaders around him.
"I'd say that's probably the biggest thing I've learned over the last 20-plus years," he said. "Learning how to delegate and finding a team that you can really trust underneath you. That's basically the biggest reason we've been able to grow. Without that, I think every office eventually hits a ceiling. I think the biggest thing is understanding everybody's strengths and weaknesses, understanding what makes them successful and figuring out how I can complement them.”
Today, he takes particular pride in watching members of his leadership team develop into confident leaders themselves. "I get more excited seeing my leadership team come on board and learn what I've learned over the years," Coker said. "If I can do that, then they'll take care of the caregivers."
Like many home care providers, recruiting and retaining caregivers remains one of the industry's biggest challenges. Coker believes the solution begins long before hiring.
"It starts internally," he said. "One hundred percent it starts internally. Our business runs on caregivers. It's not just clock in and clock out. It has to be relationship-based. You've got to care. That empathy side is the most important part."
Over the years, experience has refined his hiring process. "I've made mistakes and learned from them," he said. "The longer I'm in the business, the more I know what we're looking for."
Even after more than two decades, Coker says his team continues looking for ways to improve. "Our plan is to add at least one office a year," he said. "That means we're always looking for good talent."
Coker said the brand’s openness to new technology has also helped the business grow. "I'm really proud that we've always been at the forefront of technology and trying new things instead of just being stuck doing things the way they've always been done," Coker said. "That's been a big part of our growth."
Outside of work, Coker remains active in his church, community organizations and mission work. Those experiences, he says, reinforce many of the same leadership principles he practices in business.
"I don't think any businessperson can be 100% business," he said. "You've got to have a work-life balance. The leadership lessons I've learned through Comfort Keepers have helped me make a difference in the community too."
After more than 20 years, Coker says one of the greatest surprises about Comfort Keepers has been just how much it has taught him as an entrepreneur. He describes home care as one of the most operationally demanding businesses a franchise owner can run.
"Everything has to be working together," Coker said. “Recruiting, retention, leadership, caregivers, sales, marketing — it's all connected. Some businesses can get away with missing one piece. This is one where you can't.”
For Coker, that's precisely what has made the journey so rewarding. Comfort Keepers gave him the opportunity to build a successful business while making a lasting impact on families, caregivers and employees across South Carolina.
More than two decades after taking what many considered a leap of faith, he has no regrets.
"It's been one of the best moves I've ever made," he said.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/comfort-keepers.
Comfort Keepers
SPONSORED
In his late 20s, David Coker left insurance for senior care and spent the next 20 years growing a Comfort Keepers® franchise through strong relationships and people-first leadership.
More than 20 years ago, David Coker took what many considered a risky leap. In his late 20s, with a pregnant wife and no experience in senior care, he left a successful career in insurance sales to buy a Comfort Keepers® franchise in South Carolina.
Today, Coker has built one of the brand's long-standing operations, expanded into multiple offices, developed a strong leadership team and established a growth strategy centered on people, technology and servant leadership. Looking back, he credits Comfort Keepers with helping him build a successful business and giving him lessons that have shaped every business venture since.
"I was young and crazy. Late 20s buying a franchise," Coker said. "Didn't know what I was doing. My wife was pregnant. People thought I was crazy. It's been one of the best moves I've ever made."
Before joining Comfort Keepers in 2003, Coker spent his days traveling and selling insurance. "I was selling student health insurance, traveling all over the Southeast, kind of working for a family business," he said. "I was a pre-med major originally and decided not to go that route. I was always looking for something that was a good balance of business while still helping people."
His wife, Julie, worked as a neonatal intensive care nurse, and together they wanted to build something with long-term purpose.
Around that same time, Coker's grandmother suffered a fall and broke her hip, giving his family firsthand experience with the challenges of caring for an aging loved one. "My mom and my aunt were taking care of her," Coker said. "At the same time, I saw Comfort Keepers ranked in Entrepreneur magazine's top franchises. I drove up to Dayton, Ohio, for Discovery Day, and it just made sense."
Unlike selling insurance, senior care offered something far more meaningful. "I always say you didn't get thank-you cards selling insurance," he said. "This is a business where you definitely get thank-yous. That's the kind of business I was looking for."
When Coker entered the home care industry, it looked dramatically different than it does today.
"It was still a pretty new industry," he said. "Back then, hospitals just had lists of names. They didn't really have agencies the way they do today. It just felt like there was a void that we could fill. I definitely knew I could build it to a level where it would support my family and do well. I never thought the industry would become as big as it is now."
His existing relationships throughout South Carolina also gave him confidence. "I already had good relationships with discharge planners, hospital CEOs and health care leaders throughout South Carolina," Coker said. "I felt like there was an opportunity to serve people in a way that wasn't really being done."
As the business expanded, Coker realized growth would depend less on his own efforts and more on developing leaders around him.
"I'd say that's probably the biggest thing I've learned over the last 20-plus years," he said. "Learning how to delegate and finding a team that you can really trust underneath you. That's basically the biggest reason we've been able to grow. Without that, I think every office eventually hits a ceiling. I think the biggest thing is understanding everybody's strengths and weaknesses, understanding what makes them successful and figuring out how I can complement them.”
Today, he takes particular pride in watching members of his leadership team develop into confident leaders themselves. "I get more excited seeing my leadership team come on board and learn what I've learned over the years," Coker said. "If I can do that, then they'll take care of the caregivers."
Like many home care providers, recruiting and retaining caregivers remains one of the industry's biggest challenges. Coker believes the solution begins long before hiring.
"It starts internally," he said. "One hundred percent it starts internally. Our business runs on caregivers. It's not just clock in and clock out. It has to be relationship-based. You've got to care. That empathy side is the most important part."
Over the years, experience has refined his hiring process. "I've made mistakes and learned from them," he said. "The longer I'm in the business, the more I know what we're looking for."
Even after more than two decades, Coker says his team continues looking for ways to improve. "Our plan is to add at least one office a year," he said. "That means we're always looking for good talent."
Coker said the brand’s openness to new technology has also helped the business grow. "I'm really proud that we've always been at the forefront of technology and trying new things instead of just being stuck doing things the way they've always been done," Coker said. "That's been a big part of our growth."
Outside of work, Coker remains active in his church, community organizations and mission work. Those experiences, he says, reinforce many of the same leadership principles he practices in business.
"I don't think any businessperson can be 100% business," he said. "You've got to have a work-life balance. The leadership lessons I've learned through Comfort Keepers have helped me make a difference in the community too."
After more than 20 years, Coker says one of the greatest surprises about Comfort Keepers has been just how much it has taught him as an entrepreneur. He describes home care as one of the most operationally demanding businesses a franchise owner can run.
"Everything has to be working together," Coker said. “Recruiting, retention, leadership, caregivers, sales, marketing — it's all connected. Some businesses can get away with missing one piece. This is one where you can't.”
For Coker, that's precisely what has made the journey so rewarding. Comfort Keepers gave him the opportunity to build a successful business while making a lasting impact on families, caregivers and employees across South Carolina.
More than two decades after taking what many considered a leap of faith, he has no regrets.
"It's been one of the best moves I've ever made," he said.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/comfort-keepers.
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