Former McDonald’s Operations Leader Becomes Franchisee With Right at Home

After transitioning out of McDonald’s as an operations leader, Jobin Mathai has officially launched his Right at Home* franchise serving East and South Dallas, Texas. With prior knowledge of caregiving, he already understood the importance of the 700-plus-unit, in-home-care franchise. 

After 23 years of experience working his way up from a crew member to corporate leadership team member, Mathai also had plenty of experience in the franchising space. This time around, he was looking to take the leap into ownership.

The Dallas-area business had its soft opening on August 21, and Mathai is already getting involved in the community with local organizations and other senior care groups. Before expanding to other communities, he plans to perfect operations and service in the territories he owns.

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

Mathai: I worked in the restaurant industry for the last 23 years with McDonald’s. I started as a crew member. When I left, I had worked my way up to director of operations. The biggest motivator for us to look at becoming a franchise owner was to do something for ourselves. I had been working for a very long time. I wanted to create something that allowed me to give back, help the team that would be working with me and provide opportunities for my kids later on down the road if they would like to be a part of the business.

We did some self-assessments and looked into the options and our compatibility. With Right at Home, we loved the financial evaluation, franchisee support and reputation of the brand. It was an easy decision.

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?

Mathai: McDonald’s is one of the biggest franchises, and I had worked on the corporate side for a good period of my time there. I did a lot of franchising-related stuff. With Right at Home, the expectation was the same in terms of the team being able to support us and provide guidance for how we should operate. 

I would want people to know that franchising is the best way to go because you have all the necessary support. You’re not there on your own trying to figure things out. There are policies in place to help you with onboarding, hiring, training, advertising and marketing. Time is precious, and the franchisor support helps you to close that gap. They have the support resources and can guide you.

It truly is a partnership. You can share what you need help with, and they can give you the resources.

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

Mathai: I have a passion for helping. Providing home care is deeply fulfilling, and being able to see the positive changes and improvement in a client’s well-being due to our care can bring a strong sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. I knew I could make an impact on the community for both clients and caregivers. As I was doing my research, Right at Home was the best one in the field.

The whole process has been so great. From the moment I started my inquiry until now, the willingness of the Right at Home team and franchisees to help has been so impressive, and I haven’t seen that kind of support anywhere else.

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

Mathai: We want to focus on the bird we have in [our] hand right now. We have two territories, so we’re pretty well spread out. Once we are up and running and have maximized our potential within the markets we currently have, we might consider opening more territories to provide more services. Our biggest thing is to excel at what we have before we try to grow. Once we feel like we’re fully established with caregivers, office staff and clients, then we’ll look into growth.

Currently, we’re getting out into the community with other agencies. We have workshops and other events set up with rehab centers, hospice teams and an Alzheimer’s support group. We just want to see how we can help and support, even if that comes in the form of Bingo calling or helping out during lunch.

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

Mathai: Having the personal experience of providing care, I understand how important it is. I’m proud to have a great team to provide those services. I know how important it is to be reliable and be there for our clients when they need us.

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

Mathai: There’s never a “right moment.” Just jump in. Do the research. Make sure it’s what you really want to do, then go for it. If your personal beliefs and the business values bridge, you know it’s the perfect combination.

The estimated initial investment to begin the operation of a Right at Home franchise is $88,719-$157,669. If you're interested in taking the next step in making a difference in your community as a Right at Home franchisee, visit rightathomefranchise.com.

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 six other countries. If you're interested in taking the next step in making a difference in your community as a Right at Home franchisee, visit rightathomefranchise.com.