April and Paul Mery always knew they wanted to build something meaningful, but they never anticipated just how far their impact would reach. After watching loved ones struggle with aging care, they saw an opportunity to make a difference through Right at Home. Now, after successfully operating in San Antonio, they’ve expanded their territory to ensure more seniors and families have access to trusted, compassionate home care.

With Right at Home, the Merys are aiming to create a stronger, more connected community. By securing this additional territory, they’re solidifying their commitment to providing reliable home care services while also supporting caregivers in building fulfilling careers. With their eyes set on continued expansion, the Merys are proving that when business meets passion, the results are truly life-changing.

1851 Franchise spoke to the couple about their franchising journey with Right at Home, their aggressive expansion in San Antonio and their plans for the future. 

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

April Mery: My husband is a consummate entrepreneur and I've worked in corporate business for a long time. We just love to build things and make them better than they were before. As for my background, I was actually in the wine industry. I spent 15 years managing wineries across the country for several different companies, and I loved it — it was wonderful. But I traveled a lot, and we also have young kids, so we wanted something that would allow me to be home and have some flexibility.

We were looking for a business we could really sink our teeth into and feel passionate about. When Right at Home came as an opportunity, it struck a chord with our hearts. We've watched our own parents take care of aging family members and saw how hard it is. We've also had friends who have had rough experiences with it. So, we thought this was the perfect opportunity — something we could jump into, feel good about and build in the community while helping people. It's been really interesting because the impact we’ve been able to make has gone beyond what we ever expected.

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

April: Right at Home has an outstanding reputation. They've been around for 35 years now. We liked that the business came with a safety net — a support group, a business coach. You were able to connect with other owners, so you didn’t feel like you were taking on something alone or stranded on an island.

Like I tell everyone, I feel like we didn’t start a restaurant — we bought something like a Chick-fil-A, a well-oiled machine with standards, good people and trusted practices. That’s what really made us choose them over anyone else.

1851: Why are you expanding?

April: I think the main reason we're expanding is that when we bought the franchise — I don’t know if you’re familiar with San Antonio as a whole — we purchased the majority of the area, including Boerne and New Braunfels, which are neighboring communities. Then, another owner came in and bought a territory south of us, which was exciting because it provided more coverage.

We also realized there was a very valuable part of San Antonio, a smaller area to the west, that was unowned. We already had clients there and were doing a lot of business in the area, investing time, marketing and working with some really great independent living facilities. Then, we realized we didn’t own that territory yet, meaning other people could come in and buy it.

So, it was truly a defensive strategy to continue building our business in the area we represent. We thought, "We're already doing business there — we need to secure it and protect our investment."

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? Do you have any more plans for growth?

April: We have really aggressive growth goals. Everyone said we could buy Right at Home, build it for five years and then sell it. But we feel like we’re barely scratching the surface of what’s possible.

Paul Mery: We want to grow year over year by at least 7%. 

1851: What is hiring going to look like?

April: That's the beauty of this third territory we bought. Like I said, we were already operating there, so the additional investment in headcount is minimal. Of course, we're always hiring caregivers, but we already had that area covered.

We did recently add one more person to our office staff to help manage the influx of calls and potential business growth. We also hired her with the intention of training and building a strong bench in case we decide to open another office. So for now, the only addition to our team has been one more office staff member. 

1851: What has your experience been so far? What successes have you’ve experienced? 

April: Our success is truly tied to adjusting to this new territory. What it has allowed us to do is confidently market that we now cover all of San Antonio, making us a stronger force in home care. Many of our competitors are fragmented, only covering specific areas — northwest, southwest or other small sections. But we get to go in and say, “We serve all of San Antonio.”

Paul: The territory is huge, and so is the potential. We could actually use another salesperson, but we don’t want to be too top-heavy. For now, we’re just going with the flow and seeing where things take us.

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

April: I think Paul and I are really passionate about people. One thing I want everyone to know about us and our journey with Right at Home is that we had no idea how many lives we would be able to impact through what we do every day.

We knew we would be doing good, but we underestimated just how far that impact would reach. Initially, we were focused on the clients — the elderly individuals we would be caring for. But what we didn’t anticipate was how much this job would enrich the lives of our caregivers. We’ve seen firsthand how this work has transformed people’s lives, and it’s been incredible to witness. It’s something that truly motivates me, along with our office manager and HR manager. Knowing that we’re making a difference in people’s lives is what makes us excited to show up every day.

Paul: It’s such a good feeling — like when you go pick someone up from a rehabilitation center. I went on a call and did that once, and I helped her get in the car. You should have seen her face when she was leaving. Just seeing that joy — knowing we were getting her back home where she wanted to be — was incredible. It’s moments like that that make this work so rewarding.

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

April: Do your homework — really, really do your homework. Whoever you're buying from is selling for a reason, and they’re not always going to be upfront about why. It could be that they weren’t able to succeed or manage it properly.

If you can get to the "why," it will give you valuable insight. I’d also recommend researching competitors in the area before making a purchase. Studying your competition will teach you a lot about what you’re getting into — sometimes more than you’ll learn during the buying process itself. So, do your homework, research the market and understand your competition before making a decision.

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.

If you're interested in taking the next step in making a difference in your community as a Right at Home franchisee, visit http://rightathomefranchise.com or to read more about franchise ownership, visit our blog at: https://rightathomefranchise.com/forc/.