After spending two decades in corporate America, Kreisler Ng is preparing to open his first Right at Home location in Long Beach, California. His decision to venture into the senior care business was deeply influenced by his personal experience caring for his mother-in-law during the last years of her life. 

Now, as he transitions out of corporate life, Ng is focused on building a small, meaningful business that connects with the local community and provides intimate, personalized care for seniors.

1851 Franchise spoke to Ng about his franchise journey with Right at Home and his 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?

Kreisler Ng: I spent 20 years in corporate America, mostly in software and business consulting for Fortune 1000 clients. A few years ago, my mother-in-law was housebound for the last seven years of her life and I met her when her health wasn’t the greatest. When COVID hit, our caregiver gave us only two days’ notice, and it left my wife and I scrambling to care for her. We took care of her for the last two years of her life, and it meant a lot to me. The stress and emotions we went through had a big impact on me, especially with a young daughter. Around that time, corporate life was starting to feel empty. Right after my mother-in-law passed, I got laid off. It was a tough year, but I remembered her words: “Do good deeds, always help others and make clean money.” That really stuck with me.

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?

Ng: I thought I’d go back into corporate, but the opportunities weren’t there, so I started looking more local. I wanted a business that could impact the community. I looked at a lot of franchise concepts. Coming from corporate America, I was very risk-averse and liked being part of a bigger company. But it was time to break out of that mold. People go through the motions, and that’s fine, but I was tired of living in fear of change. Franchising offers a framework to follow, and there’s room to make it your own.

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

Ng: Right at Home aligned perfectly with what I was looking for. Everyone in the company, from the top down, wanted to help the world at the local level, which was exactly what I wanted. I explored a lot of options — recycling, junk removal, daycare — but I landed on in-home care because of my personal experience with my mother-in-law. We didn’t know a service like this existed, and a lot of people don’t until it’s absolutely necessary.

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

Ng: For me, it's about building something small but meaningful. I’m not aiming for an empire with 500 caregivers. If I have 100 people in the community who vouch for me, that’s the goal. I want intimacy with my clients and caregivers — it needs to be a match for everyone involved. We’re going to deliver the best and highest value we can.

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

Ng: I’m not surrounded by seniors in my personal life, but there’s so much wisdom in that generation. Right at Home is an opportunity for me to get closer to that wisdom. As a society, we often don’t look to our elders for the lessons they’ve learned. This business gives me the chance to learn about life, death, family and community through their stories and experiences.

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

Ng: Go with your gut, and remember nothing is ever perfect. You can model out financials and risks, but no one can guarantee anything. I was trying to get everything perfectly aligned at one point, but you need to accept there’s always a chance of failure. Do your research, but understand that at some point, you have to take the leap.

Learn more about franchising with Right at Home: https://1851franchise.com/rightathome/.

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/.