Physical Therapist Finds New Passion with Right at Home Franchise in Riverside, CA

Peter Carrillo’s true passion is helping seniors and improving their quality of life. “Instead of thinking of [aging] as a transition to the end,” he says, “we should focus on enjoying what time we have left.” That’s why, after 18 years of running his own private practice, he decided to leave the field of physical therapy and make the move to senior care as a Right at Home* franchisee.

For Carrillo, building a profitable business isn’t his ultimate goal, but rather a means to an end. He views his foray into franchising as an opportunity to connect with the community while providing care for the seniors in his charge and offering training to family caregivers. He feels Right at Home, an in-home care franchise with over 700 territories nationwide, is a good fit for his goals. He opened his first location in Riverside, CA, in February 2023 and wants to take a little time to get his “recipe for success” down. Ultimately, he wants to build his own unique brand in the Right at Home system and expand into other territories.

1851 Franchise spoke with Carrillo about his franchising journey with Right at Home and what he hopes to achieve through his business. 

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

Carrillo: I’d been a physical therapist for 22 years and owned a private practice, Cure Physical Therapy, for 18. I felt like I had maximized my growth in that industry, and I wanted to get out, so I sold my practice in May 2023. I quickly discovered I didn’t enjoy sitting around and doing nothing, so I did some research and found the Right at Home franchise system, which interested me almost immediately. I could get away from physical therapy but continue caring for individuals. I spoke to some of the other owners and decided it would be a good fit.

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?

Carrillo: Well, I’ve used franchises in the past but, other than that, I had no real expectations. I did my due diligence and talked to some of the other Right at Home franchisees. I asked them how they felt about the brand, and they expressed far more positives than negatives.

I started my previous business from scratch, so I’m really excited to be in a franchise system for this one. Right at Home has provided such great support through the whole process. They really make an effort and provide outlets to make sure you’re going to succeed.

There’s a family mentality with the other franchisees. I’ve reached out to them and they’ve invited me in, answered my questions, and guided me through my opening. It’s been very positive. They know what you’re going through so they’re great about offering help. It’s not about competition; it’s about boosting each other up. If I can make a good name for my franchise, it will reflect well on Right at Home overall.

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

Carrillo: I looked into several franchise systems and spoke to the owners, but I felt a greater connection to Right at Home. I felt like they were in line with my ideas on how to facilitate and grow this business. Plus, they had a territory right in my hometown, which was a really big factor.

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

Carrillo: I want to be a fixture in the community, helping seniors. I worked with seniors for 22 years as a physical therapist and I love the demographic. I want to be involved in doing education for seniors – exercising with high blood pressure, fall safety, things like that. I’d like to become an expert at senior care and at presenting that information to the community at large. 

I’m going to take a year to get acclimated to the business and get the recipe down for success, but eventually I want to expand into more territories; I want to build my specific brand of Right at Home. Part of my job used to be training family caregivers in the safety and movement required for physical therapy. I won’t be doing physical therapy at Right for Home, but my plan is to bring a brand of training and expectation from the physical therapy world to the sector of senior care.

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

Carrillo: I’m passionate about the work and the senior community. There’s not one person who isn’t affected by aging, whether it’s their own or a loved one. I feel like I’ve had a closeup view of this journey and it’s instilled in me a compassion for seniors and their families. I guess my one true desire is to help this demographic and improve their quality of life; instead of thinking of it as a transition to the end, we should focus on enjoying what time we have left.

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

Carrillo: Lead with your heart. I’m not a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve – I mean, I do have financial obligations. But without financial success, it doesn’t matter what your passion is. You need drive for business and success, but that’s driven by passion for the job and a desire to help people. Sure, there are going to be times of challenge, but a true passion will always drive success in every other avenue.

For more information on franchising with Right at Home, visit: https://1851franchise.com/rightathome/info

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/.