Strong referral relationships, ongoing support from the franchisor and a commitment to developing caregivers have helped drive growth for Home Halo, the personalized in-home care franchise, in Plano, Texas. Mark Fletcher, co-owner of the Plano location, joined Home Halo after a career in ministry and hospice chaplaincy. Looking for a career transition, he connected with Home Halo CEO Dan Deak and saw an opportunity to continue serving people while building a business.

"Seeing the need for caregiver support in both of those worlds, it kind of made this dovetail right into a gratifying new venture,” Fletcher said. “I still wanted to help people. It’s a people-focused opportunity with a good upside for long-term returns. It’s a perfect match in a lot of ways.” 

Fletcher still brings that same focus on helping people into his work today. His background in ministry influences how he works with caregivers and supports their growth.

“In my role as a pastor and my philosophy of the way that I approach church life was always that of investing in people,” Fletcher said. “And so it became a natural part of what we’re doing here. Having a coach, being a coach, those are the rules of thumb I try to go by.”

Fletcher said the Plano location has grown significantly since opening, with caregiver coaching hours increasing from about 50 to more than 400 within 8 months of launching the business. This was right after the team secured several key referral partners and began serving clients with more extensive care needs.

Building Trust With Families

Fletcher believes growth begins long before care starts. The first phone conversation often sets the tone for the relationship, particularly when families are facing difficult situations involving aging loved ones. Listening carefully, validating the efforts family members have already made and clearly explaining the next steps can help build trust from the outset.

"When you get somebody on the phone, really showing some compassion and empathy for their situation," Fletcher said. "They're not in a situation they want to be in. I think setting people at ease on the phone helps us set up those assessments and builds trust right off the bat that we're hearing them and we're listening to them.” 

Once services begin, maintaining that trust depends on consistent performance and responsiveness.

Leveraging Corporate Support

Fletcher also credits Home Halo's leadership team for providing consistent support as the business grows. The same emphasis on coaching and development extends beyond the local team, with franchise owners receiving regular guidance and support from leadership.

"We have a weekly call with our CEO and COO," Fletcher said. “We also have a monthly sales call where all of our VPs get together to review what we're doing and receive coaching from the corporate team. There's also ongoing support throughout the organization. If we need support or have questions, everybody is available to help.”

That level of communication has helped create a support system that allows franchise owners to access guidance when needed while continuing to focus on serving clients. 

Developing Future Leaders From Within

Fletcher plans to focus on building more referral relationships and helping caregivers grow within the organization as the business grows. He hopes to create opportunities for team members who show leadership potential.

"I’m looking to keep them long term and promote from within," Fletcher said. “ I want to keep helping our clients maintain their independence, but also keep caregivers working. I'd say both of those things go one and the same.”

To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/home-halo.