Following a 40-plus-year career in the private sector, Donn Kramer found himself at a career crossroads. With retirement approaching, a financial advisor asked about his plan for the future. Kramer thought about consulting, returning to the corporate world, or taking the leap with a business. He began to research in-home care franchises — a journey that led him to Right at Home, where he’s spent the past decade building a top-performing business in the Cleveland area.

Kramer will join 1851 Franchise Publisher Nick Powills to share his journey in in-home care, reflect on his growth as an entrepreneur, and offer insights for prospective franchisees in an upcoming webinar on Thursday, August 28th, 2025, at 1:00 pm ET.

Ready to start your franchise ownership journey? Join us on Thursday, August  28th, 2025, at 1:00 pm ET, for our upcoming webinar: Sign up for the webinar here.

After Kramer’s wife beat a 10-year battle with cancer in 2009, he had a clear vision of the value of in-home care. He also helped care for his mother-in-law through advanced stages of dementia, which made the prospect of entering the in-home care field especially meaningful. As he explored different franchise opportunities, Right at Home quickly distinguished itself thanks to its experienced leadership, hands-on training, robust operating system, and strong potential for long-term growth.

“The team at Right at Home stood out,” he said. “They weren’t just franchise professionals. They all had healthcare backgrounds. They knew what franchisees would need to succeed as franchisees and as leaders in the in-home care space. I was also impressed by the training program. We weren’t just sitting through PowerPoint decks. We were actually experiencing what it meant to run the business.”

Since launching in 2015, Kramer’s business has seen double-digit growth every year, including 10% in 2020 and 12.4% in 2021, with remarkably low turnover rates among both clients and caregivers. Crediting his hiring approach for much of his success, Kramer explained that the majority of interviews focus on soft skills like communication, adaptability, and problem solving.

“If we can get the interpersonal side right, the rest usually falls into place,” he said. “That’s how we’ve kept our caregiver turnover below 10% each year.”

Kramer’s team has also earned several key accolades, including being named an Employer of Choice by Activated Insights and ranking among the top 100 agencies in the country on Caring.com.

With a current team of about 40 caregivers, Kramer is looking toward continued growth with plans to reach the 80-caregiver mark in the next few years.

“I’ve always treated this like a business with long-term value,” he said. “Part of that was making sure we had two adjoining territories from the beginning. It required a bigger investment upfront, but it gave us room to grow and build a foundation for the future. For anyone looking to get into the industry, I’d suggest considering the same. Make sure you have enough space and the demographics are right, and ensure you have enough cash on hand for the early years.”

With a strong presence in Ohio, Right at Home is looking to continue filling out the state with up to 13 new units. Currently, the team is looking to partner with dedicated franchisees to expand in Cleveland, Dayton, Youngstown and Akron.

Join Kramer and Powills for the upcoming webinar to hear more about Kramer’s journey, his advice for other owners and the opportunities that exist for entrepreneurs in the Right at Home franchise system.

Sign up for the webinar here.

If you're interested in taking the next step in making a difference in your community as a Right at Home franchisee, visit https://rightathomefranchise.com/.