When Albano Mahilaj and his wife, Rafaela, launched their Ohio Right at Home franchise, they knew it would be more than a business. For them, it was a personal mission rooted in their own experience as caregivers. Now, after about a year and a half of operations, the Mahilajs are making a notable impact on their community while building a valuable business to support their future.

“Every time we see the number of families we’re helping, it reminds us why we started this,” Albano said. “This is about giving back to the community and supporting people who need someone by their side, whether that’s seniors, adults with disabilities, or their families.”

Albano will join 1851 Franchise Publisher Nick Powills in an upcoming webinar on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 10 a.m. ET, where he will discuss his path from working in hospitals and running a cleaning business to operating a successful in-home care franchise and share insights for prospective franchisees.

Ready to start your franchise ownership journey? Join us for our April 15, 2025 upcoming webinar at 10 a.m. ET: Sign up for the webinar here.

Before opening his Rocky River Right at Home business, Albano had built a diverse professional foundation. However, his experience caring for his aging parents and his son with autism gave him a clear understanding of the challenges families face with providing or securing quality, compassionate care.

When the opportunity came to not only build an asset for the family but support other families like his own, Albano was excited to join the Right at Home system. “Right at Home stood out to us because it supports not only seniors but also adults with disabilities,” he said. “That really resonated with us.”

Since launching, the Mahilajs have worked diligently to build strong teams and expand the clientele, growing from the first client to the first 100 service hours and so on. While every win has been hard-earned, Albano says the support offered by the franchise system has been invaluable.

By joining Right at Home’s Performance Groups, Albano has collaborated with fellow franchisees, boosting strategy and gleaning additional insights to support his continued growth.

In addition to the support offered by the franchise system, Albano says the focus on adults with disabilities has allowed them to take hold of a key market segment.

“Adults with disabilities are often underserved, and this was a population we already connected with through our own experiences,” he said. “That connection has also been very beneficial to the business. With these populations, the care tends to be longer-term, and it often extends into the community with things like trips to the gym or grocery store.”

As they continue to scale, Albano says the team is looking to partner with the right kinds of caregivers to support the business’s success.

“Many caregivers are looking for work that feels purposeful,” he said. “That’s what we offer here. Our team is built around empathy. We can train for skills, but compassion is something that has to be there from the start. We say ‘serve’ instead of ‘work with,’ and that’s intentional. This is a people-first business.”

With growing demand in Ohio, Right at Home is looking to partner with similarly dedicated entrepreneurs to expand in key markets. With plans to bring 13 more offices to the state, the team is specifically targeting growth in Cleveland, Lorain, Elyria, Akron, Youngstown, Warren, Canton, Massillon, Mansfield, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Middletown, Dayton, and Springfield.

Join Mahilaj and Powills for the upcoming webinar to hear more about the Mahilajs’ journey into franchising, advice for prospective owners, and insights on the future of the in-home care industry and Right at Home franchise system.

Sign up for the webinar here.