Health Care Industry Expert Opens Her Third Right at Home Territory

When Melanie Lawary left the hospital setting and her job as a nurse in 2005, she knew she wanted to follow her business ownership dream while helping seniors in her community. Franchising appealed to Lawary because it would allow her to apply her health care background with the support of a well-known brand. Right at Home*, the in-home senior care brand, and the founder’s background in health care really stuck out to Lawary. That same year, she opened her first Right at Home location in the D.C. area. She loved her experience with the brand so much that she bought her second location in 2014.

Lawary sold both locations by 2022, but her journey with the brand wasn’t over. Lawary recently opened her third Right at Home territory in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. The former nurse is looking forward to hiring more caregivers in the area to fully serve her community. 

1851 Franchise spoke with Melanie Lawary to learn more about her franchise journey with Right at Home.

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

Melanie Lawary: I obtained a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2000, and I worked as a registered nurse in various hospitals in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area. I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur. When I decided to start looking at business opportunities, I considered franchising because my sister and her husband opened a Tropical Smoothie franchise in 2004. Because of my interest in helping seniors in the community, I started researching franchise opportunities in that industry. 

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?

Lawary: I had the mindset that because I didn’t have a business background, but I did have a health background, franchising was a great choice for me. I wanted to be with an organization that had systems in place to support me as a new business owner. A lot of people have asked me why I would franchise instead of just doing it myself and that’s the exact answer I give them.

1851: What made you pick this brand?

Lawary: The people at Right at Home really stood out to me. I identified with the founder of the brand’s story. He was an administrator in a hospital setting before starting Right at Home. When I met the leadership team, they all had a background in health care, which was also important to me. The local owners that I met were also really great to work with and learn from. The way Right at Home franchisees operated was in a way I could see myself working.

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

Lawary: I want to grow to ensure we are covering all of the entire county we serve. Right now, there are areas of the county where we don’t have caregivers to serve. I want to change that and hire the right people for those areas. A big goal of mine is to continue hiring great caregivers and grow in that sense. I want to continue building relationships with the community, long term care professionals and professionals in skilled nursing and hospital facilities. 

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

Lawary: My background as a registered nurse helps me connect with clients and caregivers, as well as our administrative staff. I’ve been with this brand for 17 years. I started in 2005 in D.C. and then bought the southern Maryland territory in 2014. I’ve since sold both of those locations, but I’m excited and blessed to continue my Right at Home journey in Annapolis and surrounding areas.

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

Lawary: Make sure your heart is in this business to serve. I would also suggest you bring in an office team that has the same level of passion for helping seniors as your caregivers. 

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 600 franchise locations in the U.S. and seven other countries. For more information on Right at Home, visit rightathome.net or read the Right at Home blog at rightathome.net/blog.