Serial Entrepreneur Carries on Family Legacy of Senior Care as Right at Home Franchisee

Daniel Nath has always been an entrepreneur. He started his career in real estate, managing and owning rental properties, before acquiring and fixing up a car wash. When his car wash business was so successful that a private equity company purchased it from him, he found himself in need of a new venture. This time around, Nath desired something meaningful that allowed him to serve others.

When he came across the opportunity to franchise with Right at Home*, the in-home care franchise with over 700 territories nationwide, he felt inspired by the brand’s mission. It offered him the ability to carry on his father’s legacy of providing senior care, as his father had owned several nursing homes in the early 1990s.

“My father was an early pioneer in the nursing home industry in the early ‘90s. He started his own nursing home business from out of his home, taking care of his own grandmothers. He grew that to quite a big operation, and I love that I am following in his footsteps. I remember going into his office when I was little and seeing him work. I am excited to ask him a lot of questions and ask for his advice,” said Nath.

Nath is motivated to give his caregivers an excellent work experience and make sure they are taken care of so that they can provide the highest quality of care to their clients. He feels incredibly motivated by the opportunity to have such a positive impact on so many people in his community. The three existing territories he acquired from a prior franchisee in mid-January 2024 cover Washington County, South Hills and the Greater Oakmont area in Pennsylvania.

1851 Franchise spoke with Nath about his journey into franchising and his plans for the future.

PROFILE QUESTIONS

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

Nath: I was in real estate and property development, managing rentals and owning a few properties. I then sold off a large portion of this portfolio. After that, I acquired a run-down existing car wash business. It required an extensive overhaul from the inside-out, including all new equipment, revamped menu, chemistry, a complete remodel of the parking lot and several upgrades throughout. The biggest factor of my success was pushing the subscription base model of membership from early on in my ownership. I was then approached by a private equity company that bought me out in June of 2022. That put me in a position where I needed to decide what to do next.

I had the luxury of either deciding to not do very much at all or do something meaningful. I wanted to find something purposeful, so I looked for about a year-and-a-half for my next project. Right at Home fell in my lap after I posted in a local community Facebook group page, believe it or not. After meeting the current owners of the business, I knew this is where I wanted to spend the next chapter of my life. Franchising never came across my mind, but it makes perfect sense looking back. The amount of support and team behind you is much greater and bigger than I have ever imagined.

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?

Nath: Coming from the private sector and already owning my own businesses, I perceived franchising as something I would never consider. I'm not exactly sure why. I never really looked at the actual value of the franchisor but just looked at the royalty payments that you had to pay them. Also pride and ego got in the way: “I can do it myself, I don’t need anyone else’s help!” 

After being an actual franchise owner, you need to have the opposite mindset and know it's a mutually beneficial relationship. When you utilize the existing model and follow the steps they give you, you're going to be very successful. You're using a model that works, just stick with it. I would want someone to know that if you have a franchisor helping you, don’t be afraid to jump in because it’s less of a risk than jumping into your own privately owned business. Go for an acquisition as opposed to a startup if you're nervous.

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

Nath: “Improving the quality of lives for those we serve” is the mission statement for our company. When it came down to it, I wanted to serve others and make an impact on other people. There are so many relationships within this business that you can change lives for the better — your clients, of course, but also your own caregivers and staff. If we can Serve First, then the rest will follow. I am excited most about answering the distress call of help from people who are in desperate need of assistance for their loved ones. For many calling, it is the first time they are dealing with a situation like this. I want to bring peace to their lives and provide a solution for them. I also am looking forward to bringing more joy into my staff's lives and bringing a culture of family to our team.

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

Nath: I want to achieve a reputation as a great employer and provide excellent quality of care. As I grow, I want to make sure we are not sacrificing quality of care just to make another dollar. My goal is to grow a steady base of caregivers as I increase the number of hours we are serving our clients. We will see just how big I want to grow; this may end as a big company if God leads me in that direction. But for now, if I can double or triple this business, I would be happy with that.

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

Nath: I have a beautiful wife of 10 years along with three children. We live on 12 acres of land that two cows graze on and we grow flowers on. We serve quite a bit at our local church; my faith is very fundamental to me and my identity. I think everything we are given is a gift from God, so we need to do the best we can with what we are given. I believe the needs of others are always higher than your own. 

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

Nath: Make sure you do your due diligence on the numbers. Make sure you have the right money going into it and recognize if there are needs for capital improvements. I am a big believer of buying existing businesses because you can see the statements and know if it can be a winner or not. 

Acquiring an existing franchise is a great way to get yourself into owning your own business because the relationship with the franchisor and franchisee is mutually beneficial. It’s in their best interest that you do well, so they want to provide you with resources and support. It’s hard to make the first step, but don’t be afraid. If you have the funds and something looks good, you should go for it. Ask for advice from successful people you know and ask a lot of questions.

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. For more information about Right at Home, visit https://www.rightathome.net or read the Right at Home blog at https://www.rightathome.net/blog/.