Orangetheory Franchise Owners Expand Portfolio With 8 Seniors Helping Seniors® Territories

With over a decade of experience in franchise ownership, Steve and Kristin LeClair, who own three Orangetheory Fitness studios in California, began looking for growth and increased purpose. While Orangetheory’s model offers a niche, valuable service to consumers, and Kristin’s work in clinical research was rewarding in its own right, business ownership in a new industry brought even more meaning.

Having both cared for their own parents — including Kristin’s mom, who had Alzheimer’s — and seeing the challenges associated with aging, the LeClairs were attracted to the opportunity to bring more compassionate care to their communities while offering more fulfillment for providers.

The LeClairs recently launched their Greater Sacramento Seniors Helping Seniors® business and have onboarded multiple caregivers and over a dozen receivers. As they continue to grow, the pair is excited to become the premier provider in their communities, creating opportunities and increasing quality of life for everyone involved.

The LeClairs took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what they had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Steve LeClair: We’re the proud parents of five adult sons who now live across the country — from Texas to Idaho and Colorado — which certainly keeps us on our toes. Like many families in this stage of life, we’ve found ourselves caring for aging parents in different ways over the years. Those personal experiences, combined with our background in business and community engagement, are what led us to Seniors Helping Seniors®. Our goal is to build this national brand at a regional level, with the hope that one or more of our boys will one day participate in its growth if they choose to do so.

Seniors Helping Seniors® gives us the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others while continuing to invest in the values that matter most: family, service, and community.

 Kristin LeClair: Getting involved with Seniors Helping Seniors® was part of a deeply personal journey. I found myself searching for what I truly wanted to do — something that would make the rest of my career not just successful, but fulfilling.

Both my husband and I cared for our parents, and those experiences shaped us in profound ways. My dad passed away suddenly, and my mom battled Alzheimer’s before passing last year. Walking with her through that journey opened my eyes to the emotional and practical challenges so many families face.

When I’d visit my mom, I noticed how even something as small as a warm smile or a simple “hello” could brighten someone’s entire day. That stuck with me. Many seniors are longing for connection — not just care, but companionship.

That’s why Seniors Helping Seniors® resonated so deeply with me. This franchise is unique in its approach — it focuses on hiring mature adults, often 40 and older, who are not only capable but motivated to give back. These caregivers often share similar life experiences with the clients they serve, which creates an incredible sense of trust, understanding, and connection.

This isn’t just a business — it’s a calling. It allows me to bring kindness, comfort, and dignity to people who need it most, while also giving others a meaningful way to serve their communities.

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Steve: Before I became involved in franchising, I spent over 20 years in corporate America, working in the commercial insurance industry. By 2014, I felt that chapter had run its course. I was ready for something more entrepreneurial, more fulfilling. During my time in insurance, I worked with a wide variety of fitness facilities — gyms, health clubs, and boutique studios — and I learned a lot about the value of having a clear niche.

That insight led me to Orangetheory Fitness, which had a strong niche within the fitness space and a business model that really clicked with me. It became my escape route from the corporate world. We’ve had a great run with Orangetheory, and I’ve developed a manager-run, semi-absentee model that now supports three successful studios in the Sacramento area.

The flexibility of that model created space for me to explore other opportunities — ones that could align more deeply with my personal values. Seniors Helping Seniors® stood out as something both meaningful and operationally compelling. It offered the chance to do work that matters, while still incorporating the systems and support that come from a strong franchise model. My past experiences have taught me how powerful the right franchise system can be in building a successful, lasting business — and I’m excited to bring that same level of purpose and execution to senior care.

Kristin: I’ve spent over 25 years overseeing clinical trials — a career I’ve been proud of, especially while raising a family. But over time, I started looking for something more meaningful, something that aligned more closely with my values and desire to make a direct impact.

My husband Steve has a strong business background, and we’ve spent the last 10+ years gaining experience as small business owners, so franchising felt like a natural next step. Seniors Helping Seniors® stood out to me as the right fit — it blends purpose with a proven model. Steve thrives on the business side, and I’m passionate about helping the aging population as well as operational and structural aspects of business, so it felt like the perfect partnership, both professionally and personally.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchise owner, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Kristin: For a long time, I had zero interest in owning my own business. I was happy going to work, doing my job, and collecting a steady paycheck. Steve was the opposite — he’s always been entrepreneurial. Eventually, we had a meeting of the minds, and I started to see the appeal.

What I’ve come to appreciate about franchising is that it offers the best of both worlds: the freedom to run your own business, but with a framework and support system already in place. With the right concept — like Seniors Helping Seniors® — you can focus on making an impact in your community without having to reinvent the wheel.

Steve: Before I got into franchising, I saw it the way many people do — as a more rigid or “plug-and-play” type of business. But what I’ve come to appreciate is that the right franchise doesn’t limit you — it equips you. The biggest difference between franchising and running an independent business is the structure, support, and branding you gain access to. And that all feeds directly into consistency, scalability, and customer trust.

When it’s the right system, the franchise fee and royalties aren’t just a cost — they’re an investment into something that accelerates your success. You still have to execute, lead, and make smart decisions — but you’re doing it with the backing of a model that’s already been proven.

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

Steve: As I mentioned before, I believe in having a niche. What stood out most to me with Seniors Helping Seniors is their niche and how it is executed — hiring mature caregivers and offering a true peer-to-peer model. It’s a big differentiator. In all the research I’ve done, no one else in the space really has a defined caregiver niche, let alone a model like Seniors Helping Seniors®.

Kristin: I see that niche as a real win-win. The caregivers often get just as much out of the relationships as the people they support. While the clients receive much-needed help, many don’t realize how deeply fulfilling the experience is for the caregivers. Whether it’s taking someone to get their nails done, cooking a meal, or simply sitting and chatting — these moments of connection are incredibly meaningful for everyone involved.

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

Steve: We’re building something that lifts people up on both sides — If we can make life better for both caregivers and receivers, that’s a win every single day.

Kristin: We’re excited to create a vehicle where both caregivers and receivers get more out of life. We want to put a smile on people’s faces and offer a better quality of life for everyone we work with.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Steve: I’ve raised five boys, run marathons, built a successful corporate career, and opened multiple businesses — and somehow, I have more energy than ever! We’re genuinely excited about this next chapter in our lives. With everything we’ve learned and everything we’re putting into it, I know this will be something special.

Kristin: We feel very lucky to have the opportunity.

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 moving to the U.S. in 1995 and marrying 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 home care 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 400 territories nationwide and over 200 franchise partners in 37 states. For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care, visit https://seniorshelpingseniors.com/.