Marie Paul recently opened her Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise, an in-home senior care and services business, on January 27, 2025. Serving the Pee Dee area of South Carolina — including Chesterfield, Kershaw, Darlington, Florence and Marlboro Counties — Paul’s franchise aims to make a meaningful impact on her community by providing companionship, support and assistance to seniors. Her path to franchising was driven by a desire to do more than build a business — she wanted to create something deeply personal and impactful.

With 22 years of experience in health care, Paul brings a wealth of knowledge to her new role as a business owner. “I was a health information management major and had been working in the health care revenue cycle since 2006,” she said. “Last year, I reached a stage in my career where I wanted to do something more meaningful. I knew I wanted my own business but wanted one that made an impact on the community, not just generated income.”

Paul was introduced to franchising by a LinkedIn message from a franchise advisor. Though her knowledge of the business model was limited, she embraced the opportunity to learn. “To be honest, I didn’t know much about franchising beyond the fast-food industry. I’m a person of faith, so I prayed about it,” she said. “I checked out the company, confirmed it was legitimate and was blown away by what this industry is all about,” she said. 

Among the options presented to her, Seniors Helping Seniors® stood out for its unique mission and personal resonance. “When I heard about Seniors Helping Seniors® and how they hire mature individuals like my mom to keep them active and engaged, it resonated with me. There’s a real need for this kind of service in the community because America is aging. That’s what drew me to this brand — it’s personal, impactful and meets a growing demand.” 

As her opening date approaches, Paul is focused on building her business to serve the Pee Dee area and plans to expand further into other territories in the future.

1851 Franchise recently sat down with Paul to learn more about her franchising journey, her partnership with Seniors Helping Seniors® and her plans for the future. Here’s what she had to say.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Marie Paul: Believe it or not, I worked in health care for 22 years. I was a health information management major and had been working in the health care revenue cycle since 2006. I started as a record custodian in the health information management industry. My last position was as a director for a consulting company where we handled revenue cycles for hospitals. We would go in, identify their needs and optimize revenue based on the codes placed on the charts.

Last year, I reached a stage in my career where I wanted to do something more meaningful. I knew I wanted my own business but wanted one that made an impact on the community, not just generated income. To be honest, I didn’t know much about franchising beyond the fast-food industry. I’m a person of faith, so I prayed about it. Then, a franchise advisor reached out to me on LinkedIn. I checked out the company, confirmed it was legitimate and was blown away by what this industry is all about. After some conversations, I was presented with three options. One of those was Seniors Helping Seniors®. After carefully vetting each company, I decided on Seniors Helping Seniors®. It’s been an incredible journey.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchise owner, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Paul: Before diving into franchising, my perception was limited. To me, franchising was just Burger King, McDonald’s, Wendy’s or Chick-fil-A. I didn’t realize how many businesses in America are franchises. Even doctor's offices can be franchises, which amazed me. As I started learning more, I subscribed to Entrepreneur magazine to educate myself about the industry.

Now that I’m in franchising, I think it’s a fantastic avenue, especially for first-time entrepreneurs like me. Franchising provides a structure, including vendors and a playbook. Even with that support, it’s still a lot of work, so I can only imagine how much more stressful it would have been to start from scratch. I’ve been telling my friends to consider franchising if they’re exploring entrepreneurship.

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

Paul: Let me share a quick story. My mother is past retirement age but still works. When she turned 65, I had a conversation with her about her plans and how I might need to contribute to her expenses. She told me she didn’t want to stop working because having something to do gives her a purpose. She enjoys staying active, even if her job doesn’t pay much.

When I heard about Seniors Helping Seniors® and how they hire mature individuals like my mom to keep them active and engaged, it resonated with me. There’s a real need for this kind of service in the community because America is aging. That’s what drew me to this brand — it’s personal, impactful and meets a growing demand.

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

Paul: I’m starting with one territory in the Pee Dee region. My goal is to grow the business beyond this region and acquire more territories. There aren’t many big competitors here, so I see an opportunity to make a significant impact. Ultimately, I’ll consider myself successful when people in the community, whether at the chamber of commerce or in household conversations, recognize that Seniors Helping Seniors® is making a difference in their lives.

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

Paul: I love to travel. I’ve been to six continents, and my goal was to visit all seven. I planned to get to Antarctica in 2020, but COVID disrupted those plans. It’s still on my bucket list, and I’ll get there one day.

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

Paul: For those considering Seniors Helping Seniors®, I’d advise taking your time and going through the process. For anyone thinking about franchising in general, I recommend talking to a franchise advisor. My advisor guided me through a process that included tests and conversations to match me with the right franchise. That process was invaluable, and I’ve enjoyed every step of the journey so far.

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 Kiran moved to the U.S. in 1995 and married 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 homecare 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 200-plus locations, 125 franchise partners in 30-plus states and international markets. For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care, visit seniorshelpingseniors.com.