Medical Professional Takes Leap into Franchising with Right at Home

Kari Janes worked in the medical field for many years, but had always wanted to go into business for herself. She was partially inspired by her grandmother, who lived to be 104 and was able to live such a long and happy life because she was able to stay in her own home, which was made possible by the family making the proper arrangements and ensuring someone could assist in providing care. 

“She was happy in her home. She loved sitting on her back porch, reading books, watching the bird feeders and chatting with the neighbors,” said Janes. “People from her church community would come by and visit her, and it was just a very positive experience for our family; having someone come in to assist her was really reassuring for all of us.”

Having a background working in health care facilities, Janes knew that workers in this industry could be stretched thin, but that quality care can have a major impact and provide someone going through their aging journey a lot of comfort. She decided to take on business ownership within the senior care industry in 2020, and now she has expanded to four territories in St. Lucie County, Florida with Right at Home*, the in-home care franchise with over 700 units.

1851 Franchise spoke with Janes to hear more about her journey into franchising with Right at Home and her plans for the future. 

PROFILE QUESTIONS

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

Janes: Before franchising, I was working with a group of interventional radiologists and neuro interventional radiologists in northern California. I've been in the medical field for quite a while, having previously helped set up vascular screening programs and educate referring physicians and the general public about what the IR’s do. For example, with women, I was trying to educate them on what fibroid embolization is and to see if it would be a consideration versus a hysterectomy. 

At some point, I felt ready to look at making some changes. I had a grandmother who lived to be 104. She lived in her own home in New Jersey, and she had been there for over 60 years or so. As she got older, she really wanted to stay in her own home. For that reason, my family made the proper arrangements, and I think that's why she lived such a long happy life. She was happy in her home. She loved sitting on her back porch, reading books, watching the bird feeders and chatting with the neighbors. People from her church community would come by and visit her, and it was just a very positive experience for our family; having someone come in to assist her was really reassuring for all of us. 

So when I felt it was time to make a career change, I knew I wanted to go into business for myself, and I stumbled upon Right at Home. The brand felt like such a natural fit for my personality and my experience. 

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?

Janes: I hadn't really thought too much about franchising. It wasn't until later in life that I realized, for example, that McDonald's and all these other companies are franchised and not just owned by one big corporation. 

I think it's a great way for a business owner to launch into a business that has shown positive results. I started in 2020 which had its challenges with the pandemic, but all in all starting any business isn't easy. Starting up a home care business in Florida really has its challenges because of all the rules and regulations and licensing. Having not had the support from the corporation would have made it so much harder, so I’m glad I went that route. There is still a lot of work on a local level building a network, but it is nice to have the brand name recognition.

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

Janes: I noticed that the brand had such a good reputation. There was no negative feedback about Right at Home anywhere, which was really convincing for me.

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

Janes: I think the hardest part of a business, especially in the first three years, is getting the licensing, really understanding how the business works and getting a really solid team in place that can help you run the business. Once you have that, growth is much more plausible. 

When you take a step back and you realize what you've accomplished in terms of how much you've helped people, the thank you’s that you get, the jobs that you've provided so many families in the community, it puts the challenges you’ve faced into perspective and makes it worth it. Being able to expand and provide additional services, especially up in Indian River County and Vero Beach where there aren't as many agencies and a lot of need, feels good to help people find solutions. 

I'm not looking for further growth at the moment because I recently acquired the Vero Beach and Indian River County territories earlier this year. I have a lot of work to do getting established in both those counties. My focus right now is just getting those up and going and continuing to grow my current territory by making sure I have a very strong team in place.

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

Janes: In this world where people are aging and experiencing different types of healthcare, whether it's in the hospital or rehabilitation, the margins are tight. People are working hard, but there's usually not enough staff. 

With my company, we work really hard to make sure that our clients are happy and safe. We always answer the phone; we really want them to know that we care and that we're dedicated. It really makes a difference because I have been to other places, and it's not that they don't care, they're just overwhelmed. We can make a positive difference for people along the way in their aging route. 

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

Janes: Everyone looks at the financials, but I would really take a look at the day-to-day requirements. You get out of it what you put into it. The other thing that you have to remember is that as a new owner, especially with a new territory, you have to be willing to wear every hat. There are a lot of ups and downs, so prepare yourself for that.

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 five other countries. For more information about Right at Home, visit https://www.rightathome.net or read the Right at Home blog at https://www.rightathome.net/blog/.