1851

For Rochelle and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rrza/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=rochelle-and-ryan-zapanta-honor-their-heritage-with-griswold-franchise-2729053" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ryan Zapanta</a>, caring for the elderly isn’t just a business — it’s personal. Each raised by their respective grandparents, the couple saw firsthand the importance of providing seniors with dignity, comfort and a high quality of life. When their grandparents passed, they knew they wanted to build something that honored the people who had shaped them.After exploring various business opportunities, they discovered&nbsp;<a href="https://www.griswoldcare.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=rochelle-and-ryan-zapanta-honor-their-heritage-with-griswold-franchise-2729053" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Griswold</a> and immediately connected with the brand’s mission and values. Now, as new franchise owners set to open their Griswold office in Yorba Linda, California, they are focused on making a meaningful impact in their community while building a legacy for their family.1851 spoke with Ryan to learn more about their story, what drew them to&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold/info">Griswold</a> and their plans for the future.&nbsp;1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?Ryan Zapanta: My wife and I were both raised by our grandparents. When hers got older, she took care of them, ensuring they had a comfortable and fulfilling life in their later years. Unfortunately, they both passed a few years ago.We’ve always wanted to own a business, but we wanted to do something that really spoke to our heritage and upbringing. That’s when we started researching different ways to serve the elderly and came across Griswold. When we read about Jean Griswold and the company’s history, we immediately connected with their values.1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Ryan: My background is in engineering — I managed backend systems for video games like “World of Warcraft” and “Starcraft.” Eventually, I transitioned into sales roles with companies like Oracle and Google, but my goal was always to move into something more fulfilling.My wife worked in accounting before she left her career to take care of her grandparents. We both wanted to transition into something that allowed us to serve others while building something meaningful for our family.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?Ryan: We actually tried to open a laundromat two or three times, thinking it would be a great passive income opportunity. But each time, something fell through — a deal didn’t work out, or someone backed out at the last minute.We’ve always had traditional careers that provided stability, but long-term, we knew we wanted to be our own bosses and build something that we could pass down to our children.The idea of working with a reputable franchise was appealing because this is our first business endeavor. There’s so much involved in starting a business, and even if you think you’re prepared, there are things you don’t even realize you need to know. That’s why we did extensive research before making a decision.1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Ryan: Griswold stood out because of its strong reputation, and the more we learned about Jean Griswold’s legacy and how the company has maintained its culture, the more we were drawn in.What really stood out was that it didn’t feel like a transaction. It felt like they were interviewing us just as much as we were interviewing them, making sure there was a mutual fit. It was clear that they had a vested interest in our success, and since joining the franchise, they’ve lived up to that every step of the way.1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?Ryan: We have three daughters, and my wife has two sisters who also have three children each. Our mindset is to support our families as much as we possibly can.We are the first ones in our family to start our own business, and we’d love to grow it in a way that allows our family members to join us. Down the road, we hope to expand into additional territories so we can continue to serve more families while building something sustainable for future generations.1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?Ryan: It’s good to feel nervous and have a lot of questions — if you don’t, you may not be thinking things through properly.Take your time, do as much evaluation as you need and talk to as many people — especially franchisees — as possible. Gather as much objective data and input as you can to make sure it’s the right decision for you. If you do that, you’ll feel confident in your choice.About Griswold Home CareWith 196 locations across 31 states, Griswold is one of the country’s top home care companies, providing professional, compassionate Caregivers 24/7. Griswold’s “Live Assured” promise gives both clients and their loved ones peace of mind, so they can live without the weight of worry. Griswold helps adults maintain quality of life despite advanced age, onset of illness, or post-surgery recovery through services including companion care, home services, personal care, and respite care. Founded by the late Jean Griswold in 1982, the company has maintained its founder’s profound sense of empathy for older and disabled adults and those living with chronic conditions. In 2024, Griswold was ranked #206 on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 and named a 2023, 2024 and 2025 Best of Home Care® Endorsed National Provider. For more information, visit www.griswoldcare.com or call 215.402.0200.

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Rochelle & Ryan Zapanta and Griswold logo

New Griswold Franchisees in Yorba Linda Bring Personal Passion to Home Care

1851 Franchise

A personal connection to senior care inspired the couple to start a business dedicated to supporting families and preserving independence in Yorba Linda, California.

How Rochelle and Ryan Zapanta Are Honoring Their Heritage Through Business Ownership with Griswold

rochelle-and-ryan-zapanta-honor-their-heritage-with-griswold-franchise

Preservan

How to Read the Preservan 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document

how-to-read-the-preservan-2025-franchise-disclosure-document

Woodhouse Spas

Why Woodhouse Spas Is in a Class of Its Own: Comparing the Franchise Opportunity Across the Wellness Industry

why-woodhouse-spas-is-in-a-class-of-its-own-comparing-the-franchise-opportunity-across-the-wellness-industry

Shuckin' Shack

Photo of person holding oyster and Shuckin' Shack hot sauce bottle

Shuckin’ Shack Looks Toward Columbus to Grow Georgia Presence

shuckin-shack-columbus-ga

BooXkeeping

Graphic with person sitting on bar chart, surrounded by coins and pie charts

Why Franchise Brokers Should Take a Closer Look at BooXkeeping

franchise-brokers-booxkeeping-investment

Franchise Bookkeeping Mistakes That Put You on the IRS Radar — And How BooXkeeping Helps You Avoid Them

franchise-bookkeeping-mistakes-that-put-you-on-the-irs-radar-and-how-booxkeeping-helps-you-avoid-them

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Dave’s Hot Chicken Sold to Roark Capital in $1 Billion Deal to Fuel Global Expansion

daves-hot-chicken-sold-to-roark-capital-in-1-billion-deal-to-fuel-global-expansion

Homebuyers Keep Buying — And That’s Good News for Home Service Franchises - 1851 Franchise

Homebuyers Keep Buying — And That’s Good News for Home Service Franchises

homebuyers-keep-buying-and-thats-good-news-for-home-service-franchises

AI Could Push Unemployment to 20% — Fueling a Surge in First-Time Franchise Buyers - 1851 Franchise

AI Could Push Unemployment to 20% — Fueling a Surge in First-Time Franchise Buyers

ai-unemployment-impact-white-collar-job-loss

How To Sell Just One Franchise: What You’ll Learn at FranCamp NJ 2025

how-to-sell-just-one-franchise-what-youll-learn-at-francamp-nj-2025

Sola Salons Franchisee Grows Salon Freedom Into a Multi-State Powerhouse 

sola-salons-franchisee-grows-salon-freedom-into-a-multi-state-powerhouse

Dan Yangas Brings Family Flooring Legacy Full Circle With Footprints Floors Franchise in Naperville 

Dan Yangas Brings Family Flooring Legacy Full Circle With Footprints Floors Franchise in Naperville, Illinois

dan-yangas-brings-family-flooring-legacy-full-circle-with-footprints-floors-franchise-in-naperville-illinois

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Sean Phelan & Caring Transitions logo

From Tech to Transitions: Why This Caring Transitions Franchisee Left the Corporate World To Help Families Navigate Life’s Hardest Moves

sean-phelan-caring-transitions-franchise-austin

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Raj Pingili and Paris Baguette logo

How a Family Vacation Inspired Raj Pingili to Bring Paris Baguette to Towson, Maryland

how-a-family-vacation-inspired-raj-pingili-to-bring-paris-baguette-to-towson-maryland

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

The Ultimate Guide To Selling Franchises: How To Budget Properly

how-franchises-can-budget-their-finances-properly

The Ultimate Guide To Selling Franchises — How To Build Webinars

how-franchisors-can-build-effective-webinars-to-reach-prospective-franchisees

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Position Your Value Proposition

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Position Your Value Proposition — Point of Differentiation

how-to-position-your-value-proposition-with-a-point-of-differentiation

How Rochelle and Ryan Zapanta Are Honoring Their Heritage Through Business Ownership with Griswold

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS