The Great Franchisee: Doug Campbell, Right at Home, Frisco, CO

Doug Campbell has made a career out of his concern for public health. Now, he’s leveraging that passion for a new chapter as a franchise owner within 654-unit in-home care franchise Right at Home*.

Campbell spent a quarter-century as an executive working in drug discovery research. After watching his grandmother suffer through dementia in a nursing home, he decided to shift his focus towards providing options for people to receive care at home. That’s what inspired Campbell to partner with Right at Home.

We spoke with Campbell to learn more about his journey to franchising and his experience with Right at Home.

1851 Franchise: Tell us your story — what did you do before franchising?

Doug Campbell: During my 25-year career in the drug discovery and development industry, I spent nearly seven years in clinical development and almost four of those years as a clinical program manager. I got hooked on helping improve the quality of life for others with the products we were providing. Towards the end of my career, I found I no longer had any contact with the patients. I started to figure out what I wanted to do and decided I wanted to spend the rest of my career working to improve the healthcare system in America. America has the best healthcare system in the world if you are rich, which is a problem. I went back to school to get my master's degree in public health (MPH) and graduated in August 2019 with honors. When I assisted with the care of a friend who had advancing Alzheimer’s disease, I saw firsthand the unmet need for in-home care and the heroic work being done by caregivers.  

1851: How did you initially find out about franchising and what was your perception of franchising before becoming a franchise owner?

Campbell: One of the Right at Home franchise recruiters reached out to me. I had no idea that franchises could be involved with public health. After a thorough interview process, he identified Right at Home as a franchise opportunity he thought would interest me. 

1851: How did you decide you wanted to be a franchisee?

Campbell: My original dream for earning an MPH was to work in hospital management to improve healthcare for individuals in the surrounding area.  While investigating the Right at Home opportunity, I learned how important home care is to America’s healthcare system. I discovered I could improve healthcare within the beautiful mountain community I have chosen to live in. I am not in this to make money; I want to improve people’s lives. 

1851: How did you perform your research?

Campbell: I spoke to other Right at Home franchisees. I was very interested in the business model and read it top to bottom. I went and visited a nearby Right at Home franchise to experience it firsthand. Everyone at Right at Home was very open about what to expect and gave me great advice. I liked that every single franchisee I spoke to was in it for the passion of helping others.

1851: Why did you pick Right at Home? What excited you most about the potential?

Campbell: I am big on improving the lives of caregivers as well as clients. As part of my investigation of the home care industry, I learned how poorly paid caregivers are in general and that many have a lower socioeconomic status. I saw a chance with Right at Home to address this social imbalance. 

I am also excited about the potential to improve the quality of life for seniors, disabled adults, and individuals recovering from disease or injury. I firmly believe a person’s home is the best place for them to age or recover. I have ensured that my 80-plus-year-old mother has been able to age at home happily. She jokes that there is only one way she is leaving her place. Also, as a teenager, my grandmother with dementia was forced into a nursing home. I remember how quickly her health deteriorated after she was admitted. Whenever I visited her, she would beg me to take her home. She would have been so much happier at home. I want everyone to have the option of staying at home. The culture of Right at Home is to help them do that, and that is all I want to do. 

1851: What are your dreams with the business? What does the future look like?

Campbell: There is a substantial unmet home care need in my territory, and there are few options. I want to provide care to as many people as possible, including those with a lower socioeconomic status. I have plans to open several branches in other parts of the Rockies. For caregivers, I will be an owner that pays a living wage and provides them with a career ladder. I also want to help raise funding for dementia research. My overall goal is to establish an organization that positively impacts the health and wellbeing of the communities we serve. 

1851: What advice would you have for others looking at buying a franchise?

Campbell: My advice is to do your due diligence. There are so many opportunities out there. Make sure you know what you are getting into and that you are prepared to put in some long hours getting a franchise up and running, particularly if you are opening a new territory. I would also advise you to find a franchise that provides a service or product you are passionate about. 

1851: What do you do in your personal time?

Campbell: My favorite sports are skiing, mountain biking, golf, and tennis. I used to play a lot of basketball. I am an avid football and soccer fan, and I love the mountains and being outdoors. 

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 600 franchise locations in the U.S. and seven other countries. For more information on Right at Home, visit www.rightathome.net or read the Right at Home blog at www.rightathome.net/blog.