Engineering and Operation Executive Brings Passion for Community and Aging in Place to New TruBlue Franchise

Steve Nardi, an engineer with a master’s degree in entrepreneurial business, has dedicated his career to the medical devices and biotech industries, helping small companies scale and grow. After years of developing medical devices and building manufacturing teams, Steve decided to pursue a business closer to home in Massachusetts that aligned with his passion for community service and aging in place. TruBlue, the senior-focused handyman and home maintenance franchise, proved to be the perfect fit.  

“I really believe in the business model,” said Steve . “It is set up to service the community and help not only aging folks stay in their homes, but also busy adults and families who just don’t have the time to maintain one of their most valuable assets. With the professional model that TruBlue offers and the multiple channels of revenue, I can develop a successful business while also giving back to the community.”

Steve aims to leverage his expertise in team building to grow his TruBlue franchise, providing essential services that help seniors and busy families maintain their homes safely and effectively.

Steve took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what he had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Steve Nardi: I am an engineer, but I have a master’s in entrepreneurial business. I have been in medical devices and biotech my entire career. I’ve worked for multi-billion dollar businesses and startup companies in that space, but I really enjoyed smaller companies, helping them scale and grow. Over the last 10 to 15 years, I have focused on helping small companies in manufacturing and R&D that have started some growth but needed help scaling. I’ve helped the founders develop the medical devices and build manufacturing processes, and operational teams to manufacture these products in-house.

My last two ventures were in Florida and Maryland, but since then, I left there and wanted to do something closer to home in Massachusetts. I wanted a business that gave back to the community. I identified an unmet need of helping aging adults maintain their house in a safe and quality manner. I believe people, as they age, should have a way to stay in their houses as long as possible. TruBlue’s business model addresses the need for people to age-in-place.

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?

Nardi: I was actually going to buy an existing company that already had positive cash flow, but then I stumbled across franchising. There are pros and cons to both, but walking into an existing business, you find that they have been stagnant and often key personnel are going to go with the owner. A lot of these businesses really weren’t focused on growth towards the end of their journey.

But when I came across this franchise, it was a relatively low investment and focused on the areas that really meant a lot to me, such as local communities. The learning curve is very short with a franchise as well, and the corporate team is pulling all this information on what works and what doesn’t. The franchising model is designed to keep best practices on the table and teach owners to be successful, which is 90% of the battle.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Nardi: I have aging family members and friends who want to stay in their homes as long as possible in a safe manner. TruBlue really checked all the boxes for me. After speaking with the CEO and the corporate office personnel, they had all the mechanisms in place to support a new franchise owner. I really believe in the business model. It is set up to service the community and help not only aging folks stay in their homes but also busy adults and families who just don’t have the time to maintain one of their most valuable assets. With the professional model that TruBlue offers and the channels of revenue, I can drive business growth using the proven business tools supplied by the franchise to achieve positive cash flow quickly while also giving back to the community.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?

Nardi: I have big plans for this. I am usually a hands-on person. I want to understand all aspects of the business in the beginning so that when I pass these tasks on to other team members as I hire them in the future, I fully understand what it takes. My goal is to be deeply involved for the first few months and then focus on hiring team members to take over for me, which is one area of my expertise.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Nardi: The ability for people to stay in their homes as long as they can has been an unmet need for a very long time, I believe. I don’t think there is a solution to that out there yet, even on the government side. Families and the children of elderly people know there is a need and they try to fill that gap as long as they can, but they don’t know exactly what to do — they are just solving one crisis at a time. When you go through these certifications, you really see all the things that go into making a home safer for a senior. The state governments are starting to recognize they need an alternate solution other than expensive assisted living facilities. I hear california is considering funding home safety improvements for aging home owners 

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Nardi: I’ve had the opportunity and the privilege to work with some incredible entrepreneurs. I’ve found that their unique trait is this: they always go in with a positive attitude and are confident they will be successful. Every venture has a risk, but it can be overcome with determination and hard work if you know in your heart that you are starting something that will help people. And making some money at the same time is an added plus.

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a TruBlue franchise ranges from $65,050 to $91,400. This includes $44,900 that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate. For more information, please visit https://1851franchise.com/trubluehousecare/info.

About TruBlue Home Service Ally:

TruBlue Home Service Ally® provides a unique and affordable approach to helping busy adults and seniors live a worry-free life by offering trustworthy handyman, home maintenance and senior modification services. Helping you maintain your home both inside and out, TruBlue’s services include handyman projects and to-do list chores, preventative home maintenance programs, kitchen and bath remodels, seasonal work, and senior modification services, all handled by professional, bonded and insured Tru-Pro® Technicians. TruBlue franchise owners are required to complete senior home safety certification programs through the NAHB and Age Safe America. As certified specialists, TruBlue franchisees are able to perform aging in place home safety assessments and can make recommended safety modifications as needed.