Experienced Home Care Entrepreneur Brings Right at Home to Asheville, North Carolina

Right at Home* franchisees Jon Campbell and his wife Kristi are no strangers to the world of senior care franchising. After successfully owning and operating a Home Instead Senior Care franchise in Tampa, Florida, for two decades, they decided to semi-retire and relocate to North Carolina. However, Jon’s entrepreneurial spirit couldn’t stay dormant for long. With a deep passion for serving seniors and extensive experience in both business and health care, the couple found the perfect fit in Right at Home, a trusted name in in-home care.

Jon sees this venture as a chance to combine his extensive background with a meaningful mission to support the aging population in Western North Carolina. With plans to grow their two territories and a strong emphasis on community relationships, the Campbells aim to make a lasting impact while continuing to build a legacy in the senior care industry.

1851 Franchise spoke to Jon about his franchise journey. 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?

Jon Campbell: We have an interesting story. My wife and I are starting a new Right at Home franchise here in Western North Carolina. Before this, we owned and operated a Home Instead Senior Care franchise in Tampa, Florida, for 20 years. We’re not new to home care or franchising. We sold our franchise in December 2022, moved to Western North Carolina in June 2023 and tried to semi-retire. But that’s not me — I need to be working on something, staying active. So, I decided to start a Right at Home franchise. Before that, I was a CPA by profession and owned and operated an accounting and audit firm for 15 years. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and have owned and operated several businesses, even outside of financial services.

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?

Jon: When we first ventured into franchising 22 years ago, it was an entirely new concept for us. Neither of us had any experience in health care, though we did have some financial background. Franchising appealed to us because it offered a business model that allowed us to learn and grow quickly, thanks to the support provided by the franchisor throughout the process.

Franchising lets you operate your own business with a degree of independence while following the established guidelines of the franchise system. The real benefit is not having to start from scratch — there are processes, marketing materials and other tools already in place to help you build and run your business.

We had a very positive experience overall with our first franchise. So, when it came time to start another business, it was an easy decision to return to franchising, this time with Right at Home.

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

Jon: Having been in the business for so long, I was very familiar with other franchise brands in the health care space. I knew several Right at Home owners in Florida and always felt they had a strong brand. Whenever I spoke with those owners, they were happy with the support they received, which stood out to me.

When we decided to stay in home care, I knew I didn’t want to return to Home Instead. They were purchased by a software company four or five years ago and started heading in a different direction. Right at Home, on the other hand, was a brand I felt very comfortable with.

Interestingly, a number of corporate staff from Home Instead transitioned to Right at Home, and I had a strong relationship with Rod Roberts, the chief operating officer at Right at Home. The culture at Right at Home felt similar to what I’d experienced in the past 20 years, which made it a great fit. It was a comfortable, supportive environment and an exciting opportunity for us.

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

Jon: I’m a Type A personality, so I always aim high. We currently have two territories in this area, and our plan is to grow them and potentially expand into additional territories once we get this up and running.

Our growth strategy is fairly traditional, focusing on developing relationships within the community, particularly with other health care providers and senior industry professionals. The goal is to create opportunities for mutual referrals. We’re also leveraging digital and marketing strategies to support our growth.

One of the biggest challenges in home care is attracting enough caregiving employees to meet the demand. With an aging population, the business opportunities are there if you can service them. Our focus is on building strong community relationships and creating a culture within our caregiving team. We want our caregivers to view their work as a profession rather than just an hourly job.

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

Jon: One thing about my story? Well, a lot of people — friends, colleagues and even other home care owners — probably think I’m a little crazy. Home care isn’t an easy business, and after having the opportunity to build one, sell it and step away, jumping back in might seem surprising.

This time, though, it’s about something bigger. My wife and I see this as part of a broader purpose — God’s plan for us to give back to the community. While serving seniors was always part of what we did, this feels different. Financial success is no longer the main driver for us. It’s really about giving back to the senior community and to the community as a whole. That’s what motivates us now.

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

Jon: If you’re entering a business where you don’t have much experience, franchising is absolutely the best choice. One of the biggest strengths of any franchise system is the support it provides — not just from the corporate side, but also through the network of other franchise owners. You’re never alone in this journey.

By building relationships with fellow franchisees, you can learn from their experiences and avoid having to figure everything out the hard way. Their insights can help you navigate challenges and make progress more effectively. Networking with others in the system is a resource you should really take advantage of — it’s invaluable.

ABOUT RIGHT AT HOME:

Founded in 1995, Right at Home offers in-home care to seniors and adults with disabilities who want to live independently. Most Right at Home offices are independently owned and operated and directly employ and supervise all caregiving staff. Each caregiver is thoroughly screened, trained, and bonded/insured before entering a client’s home. Right at Home’s global office is based in Omaha, Nebraska, with more than 700 franchise locations in the U.S. and four other countries. For more information about Right at Home, visit https://www.rightathome.net/ or read the Right at Home blog at https://www.rightathome.net/blog/.