Fort Collins Entrepreneur Opens Handyman Service for Seniors to Safely Age in Place

Matt Bryant has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. He has run various businesses such as a school bus contracting business, an auto part store, a property development company and a charter bus company. When he made the decision to move to Fort Collins, he wanted to further his career so he accepted a position as the transportation director for the local school district and was then promoted to chief operations officer.

He then decided it was time to work for himself again. As he watched his own aging parents struggle with security and safety issues in their home, he decided that TruBlue Total House Care, the handyman service focused on helping busy families and seniors age safely in place, would fill a much-needed void in the community. In addition to this, Bryant is skilled when it comes to handyman services. He has worked on projects such as basement remodels, flooring and more. 

TruBlue opened in Fort Collins on March 13 and services Fort Collins, Timnath, Wellington, Loveland, and Severance. Bryant hopes to give back to the community and eventually lead community projects to help aging seniors and low-income families. 

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

Bryant: My career started as an entrepreneur and business owner. I started out in a school bus contracting business with one of my brothers. Two years later, we brought our other brother in the business and bought another one. Along with those, I opened two auto part stores, a property development company and a charter bus company. I then made the decision to leave the family business to further grow my career. I moved to Fort Collins to become the transportation director for the local school district, then I was promoted to chief operations officer. Now, I am at a time in my life where I am ready to run my own business. I’m currently working with my aging parents and watching the struggles they go through firsthand when it comes to aging in place. It was eye opening for me how widespread the issue is. I have always been into handyman work and I wanted to help the community, so this business was great for putting the two together. 

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?

Bryant: I didn’t have much of a prior perception aside from the fact that I felt more opportunity for growth with support from corporate, especially with marketing and already having a business plan in place. 

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

Bryant: Watching my aging parents struggle with safety and security in their home in addition to my love for handyman work made this the perfect brand for me. I want to give back to the community, and I can do that while doing something I enjoy. My free time is always spent reconstructing something, whether that’s working on vehicles or helping my friends and family repair things around the house. I did my own basement remodel flooring for myself and others, and even built offices inside of buildings. I always like to involve myself in some type of construction project.

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

Bryant: I hope to grow into another territory in Northern Colorado and Southern Wyoming area. I’d love to take it to another step with some type of service organization in the community. It would be great to lead some community projects to help low-income families and be able to sponsor some of that work. 

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

Bryant: I have a strong connection with this brand, and I’m really focused on giving back to the community in any way possible.

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

Bryant: Do your homework. It’s always helpful to spend some time with a growth coach to talk about where you are in life personally and professionally. Then, go into it knowing that it's hard work. There will be ups and downs, but it’s easier to navigate those when you are aware of your strengths and weaknesses. Also, it’s great to start a business with a franchise instead of starting alone because there is so much support from corporate and existing franchisees. There is already a proven business model in place as well.