The Great Franchisee: Ok Azie, Right at Home, Florida

When Ok Azie and his wife Kathleen decided to open a business, they were looking for something that would leverage both of their professional skill sets. Ok is a finance executive with a doctorate in business administration, and Kathleen is a family nurse practitioner. So when the couple discovered Right at Home*, the 645-plus-unit in-home senior care brand, they knew they’d found the perfect opportunity to take their careers to the next level.

We spoke to Ok 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?

Ok Azie: I grew up in Nigeria and moved to the United States for graduate school. I received a Doctorate degree at the University of Florida and have been a finance professional for the past twenty years. I currently serve as a Vice President of Finance and Treasurer for a multinational corporation, and I am also an Adjunct Professor of Finance at the University of South Florida. 

My wife, Kathleen, will be in charge of the operations as she has great expertise in the healthcare industry and has a master’s degree in nursing. Her clinical experience includes Geriatric Psychiatry, where she treated neurocognitive disorders in Elderly Residents in rehabilitation and long-term care communities. She has also managed a broad range of acute and long-term ailments as a Clinical Manager at the Walgreens Healthcare Clinic.

She has exceptional clinical and medical experience and will perform most of the hands-on work. 

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

Azie: It has always been my goal to purchase a business once I retired. My desire was inspired after interning at my parent’s hospital during my teenage years. My Dad was a physician and my mom a Nurse; both owned their hospital where I spent all summer working for them for extra pocket money. 

Upon doing some research, I narrowed my search to medical healthcare because I am familiar with the industry, and it is not seriously impacted by economic recessions.

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

Azie: I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to start my own health care business or franchise, but after doing some research, I realized that the “mom-and-pop” homecare providers will eventually be squeezed out by the bigger players, and it made more sense to go into franchising. 

1851: How did you perform your research? 

Azie: I horned in my search on home healthcare franchises, and Right at Home repeatedly came up as a well-liked franchise with incredible support to their franchisees. After speaking with the corporate team, I was sold on the brand and convinced I could help make a difference with the senior community in the area.

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

Azie: Brand name is key in the Franchise business. While I was researching home healthcare franchises, Right at Home kept surfacing as one of the most respected brands. The breadth of knowledge and support you get from their corporate team is exceptional. Yes, I pay a royalty fee, but the industry expertise and support I received far exceeds the cost. Not to mention the referrals received by just being a Right at Home family. I am excited to serve the senior community in the Tampa area with a Right at Home badge.

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

Azie: I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t already thinking about expansion. I plan to grow our current location by expanding into other untapped cities in our region and also providing skilled care services which we currently do not provide. After successfully growing our current location, we would like to purchase other Right at Home regions around the Tampa area. We are in this for the long run, and this is time for me to put into practice all the good stuff I learned in my doctoral program.

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

Azie: My number one advice is to purchase a reputable franchise organization with good support to their franchisees. One of the benefits of franchising is that it gives you the guide rails to run your business. It is important to make sure you get involved in a franchise that has a national brand and provides good business support. It is also vital to be aware of all the partnerships/affiliates the franchise has with referral sources. 

1851: What do you do in your personal time?

Azie: I am very active. My wife and I own a boat and usually go boating in the evenings. On Saturdays, I usually bike around 50 to 60 miles; and I also enjoy taking my 88-year-old mom for a walk or swimming. Additionally, I play ping pong (table tennis) and was a table tennis champion in college.

ABOUT RIGHT AT HOME

Founded in 1995, Right at Home offers in-home care and assistance 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 About Right at Home at https://www.rightathome.net. For more information on the local Right at Home office, visit https://www.rightathome.net/upstate.