From Classroom to Caregiving: Why This Retired Teacher is Opening a Seniors Helping Seniors Franchise

Jennie Lowe, a retired teacher with 30 years of experience, is gearing up to open Seniors Helping Seniors, an in-home senior care franchise, in her community including Pilot Mountain, King, Winston, Yadkin and Davie counties.

During her last year of teaching in Surry County Schools (2023-2024), Lowe found herself searching for a new purpose to fill the upcoming years.. At 54, she knew she wasn’t ready to fully retire, but she also didn’t want to return to teaching. After connecting with a franchise broker, Lowe discovered a new world of possibilities in franchising. 

“It was a world I never expected would be open to me,” said Lowe. “I began looking at FDDs [franchise disclosure documents] and realized the prospect of making more than a teacher’s salary was exciting. This could be a very fruitful opportunity for me and I could also help so many people at the same time.”

Drawn to Seniors Helping Seniors, a brand that aligns with her desire to make a meaningful impact, Lowe is now preparing to open her own operation in September. With plans to hire fellow retired teachers and seniors from the community, achieve financial freedom, and leave a lasting legacy for her family, Lowe is excited to bring her passion for service to the senior community of Winston and beyond.

1851 Franchise spoke with Lowe to learn more about her story, her path to franchising and her plans for the future. 

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

Jennie Lowe: I am a 30-year veteran of teaching, and I just retired in June. I was wondering what I was going to do in my retirement. I knew I needed to find a second career because I wasn’t ready to stop working at 54. I did my research, but I wasn’t sure how to present myself as anything other than a teacher. Eventually, a franchise broker from FranChoice contacted me and suggested that I might be a good candidate for franchising. He sent me several options, all service-oriented, and I started exploring.

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?

Lowe: I never expected that I would fit the profile of a potential franchisee. I’ve worn all the hats of a teacher, but none of those made me think I could be a business owner. However, I was intrigued and started working with a franchise coach, narrowing down the options. It was a world I never expected would be open to me. I began looking at FDDs and realized the prospect of making more than a teacher’s salary was exciting. This could be a very fruitful opportunity for me and I could also help so many people at the same time.

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

Lowe: I leaned towards Seniors Helping Seniors because I’m becoming a senior myself and I see the extra needs my father has as he ages. After working with kids for so long, I wanted to help a different demographic.  I love the concept of hiring seniors to help seniors so that both parties are served through mutual understanding.  Additionally, I was really impressed with Seniors Helping Seniors average annual gross revenue when I looked at their FDD. I asked myself if I wanted to do something simple and easy or something more meaningful. I chose the latter, and I’m okay with that. There is so much potential to build something that will benefit many people — both the seniors who need assistance and those who provide it. And if I do this right, I’m going to have more net revenue than I ever imagined;  I need this to provide a comfortable retirement for me and my husband.  Anything that I gain more than I need, I will use to help others.  One of my favorite taglines is “Do good and make money®.”  I also love the extreme level of support SHS provides. I could never do this from the ground up on my own.

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

Lowe: I would love to hire fellow retired teachers and pay them what they deserve. It would be amazing to hit the million-dollar mark in my first year. Eventually, I hope to take my family out of debt within five years and pass this business down to my children one day.

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

Lowe: This is a business my husband and I are going to do together, and his support has been essential. We hope that he’ll be able to retire from his job in five years and help me full-time. I have a rare eye condition with slowly progressive deterioration, and over the next couple of decades, I will lose my central vision. One of my main goals is to do as much good as I can before I’m the one who needs help.

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

Lowe: If you want to be a business owner, franchising is the best way to go. They’ve worked out the process, and they know what works — they want you to be successful. My biggest advice is to do what they tell you to do. They’ve seen it work, and they know what to do.

ABOUT SENIORS HELPING SENIORS:

Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise system was founded by husband-and-wife duo Kiran and Philip Yocom. Kiran, who grew up in India, later worked to advance humanitarian efforts alongside Mother Teresa. After Kiran moved to the U.S. in 1995 and married her husband Philip, the Yocoms felt called to provide loving care to seniors and to cultivate an exchange of gifts at every generational level. Together, the Yocoms founded Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home services in 1998, opening the brand up to franchising in 2006. With a mission to be the most respected and rewarding homecare provider in the U.S., Seniors Helping Seniors® locations stand apart from competitors as the only company that prioritizes hiring active seniors to provide care services to their less-active counterparts. Seniors Helping Seniors® service aligns caregivers and care recipients based on the abilities and needs of both by offering a wide range of care services. Seniors Helping Seniors® network has grown to 200-plus locations, 125 franchise partners in 30-plus states and international markets. For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care, visit seniorshelpingseniors.com.