As Guru Balasubramanian worked from the United States with his brother in India to coordinate care for their father, he found himself thinking, “Wow! What if we had someone to help?” Around the same time, he began to think about what it could mean to work for himself. Even with nearly two decades of tenure at Microsoft, he still felt he was not in full control of his time or future with the company. When a franchise consultant reached out to him about exploring opportunities, Balasubramanian decided it couldn’t hurt to hear him out.

After discussions about Balasubramanian’s passions and skills, he was presented with four potential investment opportunities. Seniors Helping Seniors®, the 400-unit home care franchise, stood out immediately. Now, Balasubramanian has launched his business in the Charlotte, North Carolina community, and he aims to continue facilitating valuable relationships between caregivers and receivers as the business grows.

Balasubramanian took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what he had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Guru Balasubramanian: I’m an IT guy. I have a computer science degree, and I’ve worked for Microsoft for almost 20 years. As I progressed in my career, I started to feel like I needed to do something different. My dad is the trigger for all of that. We live in the U.S., and he lived in India. He was a heart patient. He had an aortic valve replaced, so he needed to be constantly monitored. I would fly over to take care of him, and my brother, who lives in India, would drive to take care of him. It was chaos. That is where I thought, “Wow! What if we had someone to help?” This is what started my journey.

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Balasubramanian: As I was thinking through how nice it would be to have help with my dad, I was also proceeding through my corporate career. It’s good money, but it’s a big job. I give my whole day and my whole week to them. I’ve done this for 19 years, but I’m still not in control. New leaders come, and my ideas get redirected.

I told myself I wanted to do a small business. I wanted to be in control and make my own decisions. I thought about IT-type ideas, but I decided against that because if it got big enough, it would just start to feel like the corporate world again.

Right as I’m thinking through this facet, I get this email from a franchise consultant. He’s not going to charge me, so I thought, “Why not see what he has to say?”

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?

Balasubramanian: Before I got in touch with the franchise consultant, I was debating between franchises and starting my own business. It’s a lot of work to start something alone, though. Franchising is safer, I feel. I’m expanding their brand. I own my business, but I’m expanding on a brand that’s already established, and I’m following systems that have already been built. I’m really good at following systems!

I was presented with four franchise options. Some seemed like they might have the potential to be more profitable than Seniors Helping Seniors®, but I think it’s important to go with your heart. We will still make a profit, but it’s not a crazy profit — and I also don’t have to make such a large investment or deal with such complex logistics.

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

Balasubramanian: I love that I’m helping both sides of the spectrum. They’re all seniors, but the uniqueness of Seniors Helping Seniors® makes it even better. Seniors can connect better with other seniors. They have similar life experiences and can share stories.

It’s a true companionship. And we’re there to facilitate it.

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

Balasubramanian: I’m most excited about facilitating the companionship. We don’t just place anybody with anybody. We study both people to find out whether it’s a good match. 

I feel that if you do the right thing and you do it with passion, the money will come. Money is the byproduct.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Balasubramanian: We take care of people with dementia and Alzheimer's. If seniors are reluctant to go into a facility, we want to keep them in their home and let them grow older where they like it. Just because they can’t do a few things by themselves doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to stay in their homes.

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

Balasubramanian: For all the people in the corporate world: your company is not your life. When you’re there, you get your salary. But the salary is like a drug to keep you there forever. Get out of that. Do what you have to do. You likely are not making what you could make outside of the corporate world. 

I don’t think everyone should quit their jobs right now, but it’s worth exploring the opportunities and seeing how it goes.

ABOUT SENIORS HELPING SENIORS®:

Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise system was founded by husband-and-wife duo Kiran and Philip Yocom. Kiran, who grew up in India, later worked to advance humanitarian efforts alongside Mother Teresa. After moving to the U.S. in 1995 and marrying her husband Philip, the Yocoms felt called to provide loving care to seniors and to cultivate an exchange of gifts at every generational level. Together, the Yocoms founded Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home services in 1998, opening the brand up to franchising in 2006. With a mission to be the most respected and rewarding home care provider in the U.S., Seniors Helping Seniors® locations stand apart from competitors as the only company that prioritizes hiring active seniors to provide care services to their less-active counterparts. Seniors Helping Seniors® service aligns caregivers and care recipients based on the abilities and needs of both by offering a wide range of care services. Seniors Helping Seniors® network has grown to 400 territories nationwide and over 200 franchise partners in 37 states. For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care, visit https://seniorshelpingseniors.com/.