Right at Home

After spending nearly 30 years as an occupational therapist in post-acute care,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-holton-7575251aa/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=right-at-home-columbus-franchise-holly-holton-2729510" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Holly Holton&nbsp;</a>found herself at a crossroads during the pandemic — burnt out, reevaluating her path, and searching for a way to make an even deeper impact. That moment led her to launch a&nbsp;<a href="https://rightathomefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=right-at-home-columbus-franchise-holly-holton-2729510" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Right at Home</a> franchise in Columbus, Ohio, in 2022 — a decision she says has been life-changing for both her and the families she serves.“My clients are very personal to me," Holton told 1851 Franchise’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/powills/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=right-at-home-columbus-franchise-holly-holton-2729510" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nick Powills</a> in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEJb5SDPUws&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=right-at-home-columbus-franchise-holly-holton-2729510" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">recent “Meet the Franchisee” interview</a>. “They chose my company for a reason. That’s when frustration hits — not with payroll issues or paperwork, but when I feel I’ve failed someone we care for.”&nbsp;With no resale and no existing client base, Holton started her business from the ground up — and it quickly grew. Her&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/rightathome/info">Right at Home</a> office has been named Employer and Provider of Choice every year since its opening, and in 2025, it was also recognized as a Leader in Experience.“People sometimes ask, ‘Why didn’t you just do this on your own?’ Yes, there are royalties and brand fund fees, but even now that things are running smoothly, I would not have done it differently,” Holton said. “The support Right at Home provides — the resources, my corporate coach — has been invaluable.”For Holton, success isn’t just about revenue or recognition — it’s about meaningful impact. Whether she’s helping a caregiver teach a 94-year-old how to text his great-grandkids or giving a family member the relief to attend their child’s football game, it all goes back to the same mission: improving lives.Her motivation? It’s not a single goal or outcome — it’s a constant drive to do more, serve more, and lead with heart.&nbsp;A transcript of Holton’s interview with Powills has been provided below. It has been edited for brevity, clarity, and style.Nick Powills: Holly, we're going to start off with what I call the easiest question — the only scripted one — and we’ll see where it goes. What’s your franchise's backstory? How did you accidentally fall into franchising?Holly Holton: My background is in therapy. I graduated as an occupational therapist and worked in therapy for 28 or 29 years, primarily in post-acute care with seniors — they've always been my passion. My first job was at the VA hospital in Chillicothe, Ohio, so veterans are close to my heart, too.I moved from staff therapist to rehab manager, regional manager, then VP of operations for a large therapy company. During COVID, everything changed. Outpatient therapy clinics shut down, and seniors were hesitant to go out. The company I worked for started developing an in-home Part B therapy program, and I helped lead that.As we began marketing the program, I targeted home care companies because their mission aligned with ours — keeping clients at home. Around that time, I was feeling burnt out. I had experience with private-duty care through my grandparents, and I saw firsthand how valuable that kind of in-home support was.I talked to my husband and said, "What do you think about me doing this?" Both of our kids were out of college, and he said, "Give it a go." A coworker and I started looking into different companies, including one we used for my grandparents, but Right at Home felt like the best fit. Their values aligned with mine, and I felt like they were genuinely interested in me, not just trying to sell a franchise.Ironically, a territory opened up near a good friend of mine. It felt like a sign. We purchased the territory in December 2021, and I opened my office in March 2022.Because of my background, it felt natural to connect with senior centers, nursing homes, and therapy providers. I understand the post-acute process and can be a resource not just for seniors, but for their families too. One of the things I love most is helping families — giving them a break so they can go to their kids’ football games or just breathe.I think of one client in particular. He took care of his wife with severe Alzheimer’s by himself for four years. After our first visit, he broke down and said it was the first time he got to see one of his kids play high school sports. That’s why I know I made the right decision.Powills: Thank you for sharing that. I have a lot I want to unpack. That was powerful. You’re clearly making an emotional impact on these families. But I imagine it’s also heavy for you. How do you keep going? How do you stay strong for others?Holton: Sometimes I think showing emotion is okay — it lets people know we care. I had two very different mentors during my therapy career. One was highly emotional and the other more business-minded. Both were excellent leaders, and I learned from watching how they managed tough situations.When things get overwhelming, I call my office manager and say, “Why is this happening? How do we handle it?” Then I step back, break things down, and remind myself why I’m doing this. That helps me reset and stay grounded. I try to keep emotions in check, but sometimes they come through — and I think that’s okay.Powills: It’s real. That emotion, that care — that’s the X factor. I once wrote a column called “Catch the Entrepreneur Before They Catch You,” and it was about how I gave everything to an employer, hoping they'd recognize it, but they never did. You gave so much to others for so long, and they lost you. That passion, that empathy — it’s what separates good businesses from great ones.Holton: When I get frustrated as a business owner, it's usually because I feel like I’ve let a client down — like when a caregiver is a no-call, no-show. I remind myself we're working with people, not machines. We can’t just stop and redo things tomorrow. We have to stay flexible.My clients are very personal to me. They chose my company for a reason. That’s when frustration hits — not with payroll issues or paperwork, but when I feel I’ve failed someone we care for.I still go out and do shifts, and my office staff does too. I'm very blessed with the team I have. We started as a brand-new territory in 2022 — no resale — which was a little scary. But we grew quickly and were recognized with Best of Home Care® awards as Employer of Choice, Provider of Choice in 2023, 2024, and 2025. This year, we were also recognized as a Leader in Excellence. Those recognitions confirm for me that I made the right decision.People sometimes ask, “Why didn’t you just do this on your own?” Yes, there are royalties and brand fund fees, but even now that things are running smoothly, I would not have done it differently. The support Right at Home provides — the resources, my corporate coach — has been invaluable. Even if I’m making the right decision, it’s helpful to have someone to call, to talk it through, to hear a different perspective. Franchising was 100% the better option.Powills: Let’s say you do a million in sales with a 10% royalty. That’s $100,000. For that, you get websites, hiring models, support systems — you couldn’t hire two people to build all that internally. People treat royalties like a negative, but if you're with the right brand, it's really just part of your infrastructure cost.Holton: Oh, absolutely. 100%.Powills: I talked to a franchisee recently who had a restaurant background but bought a flooring franchise. He went to the restaurant’s Discovery Days and just felt like they only cared about the P&amp;L — not about him. That’s why he changed industries. You mentioned culture was a big factor for you. How did you know Right at Home was the right fit? Was there a moment that solidified it?Holton: I grew up not far from where I opened, so that felt right. But when I spoke with other franchise options, I didn’t feel like they cared about me — just what I could produce and how fast I could scale.With Right at Home, I felt aligned. Seniors have always been my passion. It wasn’t just that home care was right — I knew Right at Home was right. I never got the sense that they were pressuring me with revenue targets. From the very first conversations with franchise development, I had no doubts. When the territory I wanted opened up, and I could go through the process with a close friend, it just confirmed it. I knew this was where I belonged.Powills: You gave the example of how emotionally tough it is when you can't deliver for a client — like a no-call, no-show. If I were buying a franchise in this space, that would be one of my biggest fears. The caregiver is such a critical asset, and I don’t think the industry as a whole has fully figured out how to transition them from hourly workers into part of a true culture. That starts with leadership. So, how do you apply guardrails when hiring to avoid those situations?Holton: We have very specific interview questions. Sometimes we get it right, sometimes we don’t. We're always willing to give someone a chance, but we also make sure they know the expectations up front. If they don’t, they won’t align with our goals.We go over our mission statement — Right at Home’s mission to improve the lives of those we serve — in every orientation. We ask specific questions to screen for alignment. One tool we use is a video created by CEO Margaret Haynes called “Welcome to Your New Career.” It’s short, but powerful.My recruiter watches the applicants' reactions during the video. If they smile, get emotional — great. If they’re distracted or on their phones, we don’t move forward. We also ask about comfort with dementia care or hospice care — we won’t place someone in a situation they’re not prepared for. It’s about setting expectations from the start and staying within our scope. If we can’t meet a need, we refer clients elsewhere.That mindset applies to both caregivers and clients. Not every client is easy, and we’re upfront with caregivers about what to expect in each case. Our goal is to get the best outcome for everyone involved.Powills: I think winning in business comes down to expectation setting more than anything. And I also think this industry has evolved significantly. I remember my grandparents being placed in facilities when their families could no longer care for them. That’s shifting — maybe not fully — but more caregivers are turning jobs into careers. As the industry matures, people are starting to return to real community care.Holton: Absolutely. The elderly population is living longer, and there’s a bigger push for services in the home. I saw this even during my therapy days. Some European countries are piloting hospital-at-home models. In the U.S., we now have in-home Part B therapy, home health therapy — all part of that trend toward staying at home.Our caregivers often become part of the family. That happened when we had caregivers for my grandparents. Some came and went — my grandma wasn’t always easy — but there were a few who stayed the full three years. One of them is still in contact with us, ten years after my grandmother passed.I had one caregiver teach a 94-year-old client how to text so he could connect with his great-grandkids. She even helped him build a memory book. One day she said, “I made a mistake — I gave him my personal number.” Now he texts her at 2:30 a.m. with ideas for the book!Just last week, I got a photo from one of my veterans in his late 90s. He was a chaplain and wanted to wear his uniform to a service. His caregiver helped him put it on. He was so proud.Every week, something like that happens — a text, a thank-you call. No matter how bad the day is, those moments remind me I’m exactly where I need to be.We try to bring that same culture to our staff. We’ve done bowling nights and family-friendly picnics. It’s about creating a family feel — not just in clients’ homes, but throughout the whole franchise.Powills: Weird question, but everything you’re doing — building a culture, creating impact — feels like it’s driven by something deeper. Is your North Star the fact that in your past career, something was missing? Is that what’s pushing you now?Holton: I don’t know if there’s one single North Star. I’m pretty competitive and never satisfied. I’m always asking, “What can I do better?”Maybe it’s not one star, but a whole galaxy — all the ways we can grow and make an impact. And I don’t mean growth as in more clients or more territories. I mean growing our communities and the lives we touch.My territory spans everything from rural farmland to inner-city metro areas. So we get to work with a wide range of people and needs. That’s what motivates me — not just one goal, but an ongoing effort to evolve and do more.Powills:&nbsp;Last question — when you first told your husband you wanted to do this, what does he say now?Holton: He knows seniors have always been my passion. He’s very supportive and happy for me. Sure, there are days I come home frustrated — we all have those — but he sees how much happier and more fulfilled I am. I’m passionate about this work, and I’ve been very blessed.Watch the full interview above or on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEJb5SDPUws&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=right-at-home-columbus-franchise-holly-holton-2729510" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">YouTube</a>.If you're interested in taking the next step in making a difference in your community as a Right at Home franchisee, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://rightathomefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=right-at-home-columbus-franchise-holly-holton-2729510" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://rightathomefranchise.com/</a>.

How Holly Holton Built a Purpose-Driven Right at Home Franchise

1851 Franchise

https://www.youtube.com/embed/TEJb5SDPUws

After nearly three decades in occupational therapy, Holton launched Right at Home in Columbus, Ohio, where her passion for seniors and a culture-first approach have led to growth and fulfillment.

From Therapy to Thriving Franchise: How Holly Holton Found Purpose in Senior Care

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Why This Mother and Daughter Team are Opening a Right at Home Franchise Together in Janesville, Wisconsin

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Long before she became a&nbsp;<a href="https://rightathomefranchise.com/">Right at Home</a> franchisee in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rightathome.net/janesville">Janesville, Wisconsin</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-villa/">Katie Villa</a> had spent much of her adult life as a caregiver. She started in the field during college and continued in patient care after becoming a nurse. This past year, she took care of her grandfather during his end-of-life hospice care.&nbsp;“That was very eye-opening and really showed me the importance of having seniors age in their home and providing them that dignity,” she said. “And also having caregivers in the home who are compassionate and provide quality care.”Katie began looking into in-home care, including hospice nursing, as a possible next step. Around that time, she came across a newspaper article about&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/rightathome/info">Right at Home</a> and sent it to her mom,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryjovilla/">Mary Jo Villa</a>. Mary Jo encouraged her to learn more, and before long, she was interested in the opportunity, too.Mary Jo spent her career in human resources and operations for a group of newspapers and radio stations, where she held almost every seat except the newsroom. Now, she works for a large holding company, where she supports 20 different companies with benefits work.&nbsp;“When Katie saw this article and sent it to me, my first piece of pride was, ‘Yes, she's still reading the newspaper.’ But I told her we should absolutely explore it,” Mary Jo said. “I have been so impressed with Right at Home. They were clearly selecting us, and we were selecting them.”From the early discovery process through onboarding, the Villas were impressed with how much structure and support the brand provided. The training programs and ongoing business coaching gave them confidence in the business.&nbsp;“Katie's only 30 years old, and so yes, she has me, but you need someone other than your mom validating what your mom says,” Mary Jo said. “So I’ve been extremely impressed with the expertise coming out of Right at Home corporate&nbsp;and how they bring new owners on.”<h2>What It’s Like Working as a Family</h2>Working with your mom, or any family member, isn’t for everyone. It can often be polarizing, with some people not recommending it at all, and some not being able to recommend it enough. Katie and Mary Jo see their different strengths, and the time they spend together, as part of what makes the partnership work.“I never could have imagined doing this without my mom,” Katie said. “Obviously, her knowledge and her expertise, but also her support. I think that we're so fortunate to have a close relationship. I've watched her my entire life. She's been a boss my entire life and this really embodies that and being able to continue that legacy in our family.”For Mary Jo, one of the most rewarding parts has been watching Katie step into her own expertise. Katie oversees the caregiving and client side of the business, while Mary Jo handles operations and strategy, giving the two a natural division of responsibilities.“I'm here and highly involved and working, but Katie is the principal operator,” she said. “I've worked in family offices my whole life. You just draw those boundaries. There are the things that you're going to make a mutual decision on and there are the things that you say, ‘No, this is your decision’ or 'This is my decision.’ And then you don't second-guess each other.”Because their skill sets are so different, the partnership has been easier to navigate. Katie leads decisions around care plans and client relationships, while Mary Jo takes the lead on business systems and financial structure.“We enjoy being together and we laugh a lot. We believe in hard work, but we have fun. There's nothing that is so profound that it would affect our mother-daughter relationship,” Mary Jo said.&nbsp;<h2>How They Are Building a Presence in Janesville</h2>The Villas are building their business with a strong focus on their community. Having lived and worked in the area for decades, Mary Jo sees that as a major advantage.“I've been established in the community for almost 40 years,” she said. “We consider our entire family a part of this, even if they won't be employed, so to speak. Our whole family is going to be in T-shirts at events. We'll be out as a public face in the community.”As a young owner, Katie plans to stay involved and continue building both the client base and the caregiver network. She sees Right at Home as an opportunity to serve seniors and create opportunities for people in the community who want to step into caregiving roles.“I want to be able to be the go-to person in this community for both our clients, for the seniors, but also for our caregivers,” she said. “Whether you're a student, whether you've been a caregiver for your family, whether you're retired and looking to help out somebody in the community, I really want to encourage people and empower the caregivers to do those things and come up with creative ideas to help grow the business.”If you're interested in taking the next step in making a difference in your community as a Right at Home franchisee, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://rightathomefranchise.com/">https://rightathomefranchise.com/</a>.&nbsp;

Why This Mother and Daughter Team are Opening a Right at Home Franchise Together in Janesville

Katie Villa’s experience caring for her grandfather during hospice showed her the value of dignified in-home care and inspired a new chapter with her mother, Mary Jo.

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<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-sjoberg-375732b/">Kami</a> and&nbsp;<a href="http://linkedin.com/in/scottsjoberg">Scott Sjoberg</a> have spent more than 15 years building their&nbsp;<a href="https://rightathomefranchise.com/">Right at Home</a> franchise into a strong, growing business, recently earning the&nbsp;<a href="https://franchisebusinessreview.com/post/excellence-award-express-employment-franchise-2-3/">2026 Franchisee Excellence Award from Franchise Business Review</a> for their performance and company culture.&nbsp;After Kami was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Scott became her primary caregiver, giving them a firsthand understanding of how meaningful quality in-home care can be for both physical and mental health.That experience led them to franchising with the goal of improving the lives of seniors and families in their community.&nbsp;“We felt the&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/rightathome/info">Right at Home</a> brand truly stood out,” Kami said. “Both the team at the corporate office and the existing franchise owners were open, easy to talk to and spoke highly of one another. Their responses felt genuine, which gave us confidence in the culture and support behind the brand.”They have worked with thousands of clients and caregivers across Kansas and Michigan as the business has grown. Much of that growth comes back to how they run their team day to day. They put effort into making caregivers feel connected, whether that is through simple office touches, recognition or keeping things consistent across locations. They were also quick to bring in programs like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rightathome.net/south-dallas/services/specialty-care/guide-program">GUIDE</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rightathome.net/rhome/services/specialty-care/technology-enhanced-care">RightAssist</a> so their staff has the tools they need to do the job well.In 2025, their business reached nearly $3 million in annualized revenue while providing more than 1,500 hours of care each week. As they continue to grow, the Sjobergs are increasing their involvement with the VA, working to make care more accessible for veteran clients in the communities they serve.Read the full article and Q&amp;A&nbsp;<a href="https://franchisebusinessreview.com/post/excellence-award-express-employment-franchise-2-3/">here</a>.&nbsp;If you're interested in taking the next step in making a difference in your community as a Right at Home franchisee, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://rightathomefranchise.com/.">https://rightathomefranchise.com/.</a>&nbsp;

Right at Home Franchisees Awarded Franchisee Excellence Award by Franchise Business Review

After turning a personal caregiving experience into a business mission, Kami and Scott Sjoberg have spent more than a decade building a high-performing Right at Home franchise. 

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Right at Home Franchise Owner Stephanie Humphries to Share Journey From Physical Therapy to Multi-Unit Growth

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Why This Telecom Engineer Chose Right at Home and Built a 20-Year Legacy in Senior Care

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<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremystarkel/">Jeremy</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-starkel-941880112/">Kristen Starkel</a> built their careers in Omaha, but both came from smaller communities in rural Nebraska. Over time, they began thinking about what it would look like to return and build something in the places where they grew up, close to family, friends, and the people they knew best.“We were really drawn back to home,” Jeremy said. “This is where we were born and raised, where our friends and family are. We wanted to do something that would give back to the community and align with our skills and our passion, whether that was healthcare from a staffing standpoint or more hands-on patient care.”That decision led them to&nbsp;<a href="https://rightathomefranchise.com/">Right at Home</a>, where they now operate five locations across northeast and central Nebraska, serving a wide range of rural and farm-based communities.<h2>Meeting a Real Need in Rural Markets</h2>Many residents in rural areas live miles from the nearest hospital or clinic, with limited options in some cases. This creates a real challenge for older adults who want to remain at home.“We serve a lot of the farm communities, the gravel roads, the cornfield areas of Nebraska where people don’t have access to care as much,” Jeremy said. “We don’t have a lot of nursing homes or hospitals in some of these areas, so people have to drive a long distance. It’s nice to be able to go to them and help them in their homes.”In many of these communities, home care is one of the only consistent options available, especially for seniors who are not ready or willing to relocate. That creates a steady, often urgent demand for&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/rightathome/info">Right at Home</a>. It also allows providers to step in as a reliable solution where other parts of the healthcare system may be harder to reach.“So it’s really rewarding to be able to give people that option,” Jeremy said. “There just aren’t a lot of choices out here, and if someone wants to stay home, we can help make that possible.”<h2>Overcoming Logistics and Building Scale</h2>Operating in rural markets comes with its own unique challenges. Travel distances are longer, hiring can take more time and scheduling requires flexibility across a wide geographic area.“It’s not unusual for someone to drive 45 minutes to an hour to get to a client,” Jeremy said. “We have to set that expectation upfront with our care staff. The clients are there and they need the care, but you might not have someone right next door, so you have to be willing to drive.”Having coverage in more remote areas can also be a challenge, especially when caregivers are not available nearby right away. But the team works to coordinate care as soon as possible, sometimes even collaboratively with other providers.&nbsp;“You might not have a caregiver in those areas already, so it can take a little bit of time to get care lined up,” Kristen said. “At the end of the day, we want to make sure the client gets taken care of one way or another.”<h2>The Advantage of Small-Town Trust</h2>Though it can be more logistically challenging in rural areas, these areas offer trust that’s usually difficult to replicate in larger markets. Reputation spreads quickly in small towns and relationships carry even more weight.&nbsp;“A lot of it is word of mouth,” Jeremy said. “If you have a good reputation in a small community, people talk. We’ve built trust over time by providing quality care, and people share their experiences with neighbors, friends, and family. That’s been a big driver of our business.”That has allowed the Starkels’ locations to expand without relying heavily on traditional advertising. New clients often come in having already heard about the brand from someone they trust.<h2>A Business That Feels Personal</h2>In rural markets, the work often feels more personal because of how closely connected communities are. Many clients are not strangers but people the Starkels and their team already know.“I’ve taken care of school teachers of mine, and we’ve worked with friends’ parents and grandparents,” Jeremy said. “When people need help, they already know we’re here and they know they can call us. That’s a really neat part of being in a small community.”The team also actively participates in local events, partners with organizations and volunteers their time to support the people they serve. That involvement helps strengthen relationships and keeps the business closely connected to the communities it serves.“We do a lot of volunteering and community involvement, whether it’s working with senior centers, partnering with the VA or helping with local fundraisers,” Kristen said. “We’ve been fortunate to be where we are, so we want to give back and be part of the community, not just operate a business in it.”<h2>Why Rural Markets Are Worth the Investment</h2>Rural markets may not always be the obvious choice for starting a franchise. Population size and geography can raise questions about scalability, but the Starkels’ experience shows that those concerns are often outweighed by opportunity.“When we were first looking at it, people might say a market like Norfolk, Nebraska isn’t big enough or doesn’t have the population to support it,” Jeremy said. “But I think we’re a testament that that’s not necessarily true. It’s really what you make of it.”In rural areas, where options can be limited, Right at Home provides a path for individuals to remain in their homes and communities. For many families, that option would not otherwise exist.“For a lot of people here, especially farmers, they don’t want to leave their homes,” Kristen said. “Being able to provide that option, to help them stay where they’re comfortable for as long as possible, is incredibly rewarding.”If you're interested in taking the next step in making a difference in your community as a Right at Home franchisee, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://rightathomefranchise.com/">https://rightathomefranchise.com/</a>.&nbsp;

From word-of-mouth referrals to gaps in care access, rural markets offer both purpose and long-term opportunity for home care providers.

Why Rural Areas Make Great Communities for Right at Home

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<a href="https://rightathomefranchise.com/">Right at Home</a>, a franchise brand focused on in-home care services, ranked No. 5 on Entrepreneur’s 2026 list of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/directory/top-low-under100k-ranking">Top Franchises Under $100,000</a> after climbing 10 spots from the previous year.The annual ranking highlights franchise systems that offer a lower initial investment threshold while still delivering strong brand support, growth potential and operational performance. Entrepreneur evaluates brands based on factors including costs and fees, franchisee support, brand strength, financial stability and growth trajectory.The ongoing success of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/rightathome/info">Right at Home</a> is a result of its steady expansion and continuous investment in the tools and infrastructure that support its franchisees. The brand has made it a priority to keep system entry attainable while still delivering great performance at the unit level, a smart approach that has really connected with both new and seasoned operators.As more families look for in-home care options,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/rightathome/right-at-home-franchise-resale-benefits-2731823#featured">Right at Home has room to keep growing</a> with franchise owners who share its focus on people and care.To view the full ranking, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/directory/top-low-under100k-ranking?type=multisearch&amp;data1=randomize:false,rankId:tl100&amp;sort=f500&amp;sortMethod=global&amp;globalLimit=25">Entrepreneur’s Top Franchises Under $100,000 list</a>.If you're interested in taking the next step in making a difference in your community as a Right at Home franchisee, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://rightathomefranchise.com/">https://rightathomefranchise.com/</a>.

The in-home care franchise makes a significant jump thanks to strong system performance and a growing demand for senior care services.

Right at Home Ranks No. 5 on Entrepreneur’s 2026 Top Franchises Under $100,000 

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AMES, Iowa&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="http://rightathomefranchise.com">Right at Home</a>, the industry-leading in-home care franchise with more than 750 locations across the United States and four other countries, is targeting&nbsp;<a href="https://rightathomefranchise.com/available-territories/franchise-opportunities-in-iowa/">Ames</a> for its next phase of strategic growth, with a focus on smaller communities and nearby rural areas where families often have fewer local care options. The brand plans to open 1 new unit across Ames, Marshalltown, Fort Dodge, and surrounding communities to meet the growing demand for in-home support for seniors and adults with disabilities who want to remain at home.For local entrepreneurs, the opportunity is clear: build a relationship-driven business in markets where assurance travels fast and dependable care can make an outsized impact. In many rural communities, families face longer drive times, limited provider choice, and fewer resources to help loved ones age in place.&nbsp;<a href="http://1851franchise.com/rightathome/info">Right at Home’s</a> model is designed to help franchisees bring consistent, professional care closer to where people live while creating a resilient local business rooted in the community.“We see real opportunity in Ames. Families here need reliable care, and there are local leaders who want to step up and provide it,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennychaney/">Jennifer Chaney</a>, Senior Vice President of Franchise Development and Sales. “We’re excited to meet people who care about their community and want to build a business that makes a difference.”Right at Home enters 2026 after a steady year of development and progress. The company awarded 24 new territories in 2025 and completed 22 resales, with nearly 30 new offices opening across the country, many tied to territories sold in 2024. “It’s been a really fantastic year,” Chaney said. “Territory sales and resale activity have both been very consistent with years past. There haven’t been any curveballs or unforeseen circumstances that got us off track — it’s just been a solid, steady year for our system.”Ames presents a strong opportunity for in-home care services, with an 65+ aging population of 40,489, and 5,000 of those seniors being over the age of 85. A high percentage of aging adults, along with the growing desire for older Americans to age in place, presents a strong opportunity for in-home care services.Right at Home strengthened its franchisee tool kit in 2025 with major technology rollouts, including a systemwide Zoho CRM launch to support functions from client management to day-to-day scheduling, and a new Encapture partnership that produced a custom app to make daily operations easier by streamlining onboarding, training and document sharing. The brand also expanded family-facing support through RightAssist, a discreet monitoring bracelet and mobile app, and deeper involvement in Medicare’s GUIDE (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) program to better serve families caring for loved ones with dementia.The company’s reputation for quality continues to be recognized across the franchise industry. Right at Home has been ranked on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list for the 23rd consecutive year and was named a 2026 Top 10 Senior Care Franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine. The brand also received the Culture100 Award from Franchise Business Review and was named to Franchise Business Review’s 2026 Hall of Fame. In 2025, Franchise Business Review celebrated Right at Home with several major honors, including Top Overall Franchise, Most Profitable Franchise, and recognition for culture, veteran opportunities, and franchisee satisfaction.Right at Home is dedicated to helping seniors and adults with disabilities live independently through personalized in-home care. Its services range from companionship and personal care to assistance with everyday activities. Each locally owned office employs thoroughly screened and trained caregivers who are insured and committed to delivering peace of mind to the families they serve.“Our focus is on giving franchise owners the tools and guidance they need to thrive,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallory-hoskinson/">Mallory Hoskinson</a>, Senior Director of Growth and Engagement. “Whether it’s lead generation, operations, or long-term strategy, we’re here to help them build strong, lasting businesses.”To learn more about franchising with Right at Home, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://rightathomefranchise.com/">https://rightathomefranchise.com/</a>.ABOUT RIGHT AT HOMEFounded 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 780 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:&nbsp;<a href="https://rightathomefranchise.com/forc/">https://rightathomefranchise.com/forc/</a>.

Right at Home Targets Ames and Nearby Rural Communities for In-Home Care Growth

Backed by a 750-plus-unit system and momentum from 2025, the in-home care franchisor is focusing on smaller markets where seniors need reliable support close to home.

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Buying a resale franchise within the&nbsp;<a href="https://rightathomefranchise.com/">Right at Home</a> system can offer a practical way to enter the in-home care industry. Instead of launching a new office from the ground up, resale buyers step into an established location that already has caregivers, clients and day-to-day processes in place. That structure allows new owners to focus on learning the business and building relationships while continuing to serve the community.From the brand’s perspective, resale opportunities are designed to give new owners a head start while preserving what has already been built.“It’s a way for entrepreneurs to purchase something that is already well established,” said Angela Young, Director of Resales for&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/rightathome/info">Right at Home</a>. “They can benefit from the relationships with clients, caregivers and referral partners that are already in place and step in to take the business to new heights.”Resale opportunities can be especially appealing to entrepreneurs who want to grow an existing operation rather than start from scratch.&nbsp;<a href="http://linkedin.com/in/erica-celeste-carlisle">Erica Carlisle</a> took that path when she purchased a Right at Home resale location in the San Francisco Bay Area.“I was planning to acquire an existing business. I wasn’t looking to do a startup,” Carlisle said. “It seemed like a better fit with my background, skills and experience, which have been more along the lines of building companies and scaling them up.”<h2>An Existing Client Base and Team</h2>Buying a resale location also means stepping into a business that already has staff in place and clients who are actively receiving care. That can make the transition smoother for families and give the new owner a better sense of how the operation runs day to day.In the early weeks after taking over the business, franchisees can focus on getting to know the people connected to the office.“It’s a completely different thing than trying to start up from scratch,” Carlisle said. “Your days are filled with trying to get to know the caregivers, get to know the clients and their families and the existing office team.”Spending time with clients and caregivers helped her quickly learn the rhythm of the business while maintaining relationships already established within the community. That continuity also extends beyond daily operations.“They’ve already set up processes in the office and built strong teams,” Young said. “It’s very advantageous to retain that staff and step into a business where people are already doing the job.”<h2>A Smooth Transition Between Owners</h2>The transition often includes a brief period where the previous owner works alongside the new franchisee. That time allows the new owner to learn the systems and routines that keep the business running day to day.“For the first few weeks, the seller and I worked side by side so he could teach me critical things like how to run payroll and the processes that need to keep going with no errors,” Carlisle said.That hands-on transition helped her understand the day-to-day responsibilities involved in operating the office. The transition is also supported at the system level to help ensure stability for both clients and staff.“The owners have put a lot of time and effort into this, and they really care about their clients and the people who work in their communities,” Young said.&nbsp;<h2>Established Processes Help Owners Learn Faster</h2>A resale franchise also comes with systems that are already functioning. Recruiting, scheduling, payroll and billing processes are typically in place before the new owner arrives.&nbsp;The office team already understands those workflows, which can make the learning process easier for a new franchisee.“Most of the core processes the team knew how to do,” Carlisle said. “You have to rely on the team for a while to say ‘OK, you're going to do it to that point, and then I'm going to do this piece.’”That collaboration allowed her to gradually learn each step involved in hiring caregivers, managing schedules and handling administrative responsibilities.<h2>Training, Coaching and a Strong Franchise Network</h2>Even though resale buyers are stepping into an existing business, they still receive the same support offered to new franchisees across the Right at Home system. That support includes formal training, coaching and ongoing guidance from the franchisor.New owners attend a week-long training program at the company’s headquarters in Omaha. Franchisees also work with a coach who meets with them frequently in the early stages of ownership. Even for resale buyers, the onboarding process mirrors what new franchisees experience across the system.“If you’re new to the system, you still go through our Right Start training and learn the fundamentals of home care,” Young said. “You also have coaches and subject matter experts supporting you in everything from operations to marketing.”In addition to coaching, franchisees have access to topic-specific calls, marketing guidance and a network of fellow owners who can share insights and advice.&nbsp;“Other owners are super helpful,” she said. “People in the corporate headquarters in Omaha have been really supportive and full of expertise and information that has helped.”These resale opportunities give prospective franchisees the chance to acquire an established business while benefiting from the brand's training and support. For many buyers, that combination creates a more stable path into ownership. Once they're ready to sell, Right at Home supports them through that transition as well, helping ensure a smooth handoff to the next owner.“We support our franchisees all the way through their journey,” Young said. “We want the selling of their business to be that grand finale of this very fruitful journey they've had with Right at Home.”&nbsp;If you're interested in taking the next step in making a difference in your community as a Right at Home franchisee, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://rightathomefranchise.com/.">https://rightathomefranchise.com/.</a>&nbsp;

Why Buying a Right at Home Resale Can Be a Smart Entry Into Owning a Senior In-Home Care Franchise

Right at Home resale opportunities allow new franchisees to take over an established operation while receiving training, coaching and ongoing support from the brand.

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