From Supporting Families in Grief to Protecting Them at Home: Hospice Chaplain and Property Renovator Adam Davis Brings TruBlue to Columbus

Adam Davis knows his résumé looks a little different from that of a typical home services business owner. “I'm not a traditional handyman, and I don't have an MBA. I have a Master of Divinity,” he said.

For more than five years, Davis worked as a hospice chaplain, supporting patients and their families during some of the most difficult periods of their lives. Away from that work, he was building another set of skills. In 2017, he and the best man from his wedding started a small business working with Section 8 properties, and Davis spent years renovating and maintaining properties of his own.

Those two parts of his career rarely overlapped. When Davis began looking at TruBlue Home Service Ally, however, he saw a business where both could be useful. The home services franchise places a particular emphasis on helping older adults remain safely in their homes, giving Davis a way to draw on his renovation experience while continuing to work with a population he had come to know through hospice care.

That focus has become more deliberate as Davis has now opened TruBlue of Northwest Columbus. He has earned his Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist designation through the National Association of Home Builders and uses that training to help older adults and their families make their homes safer and more accessible.

His experience working closely with people also influences the kind of business Davis is running. After years in hospice care, he values direct relationships with the people around him. As a TruBlue owner, that includes his employees, who work directly with Davis rather than through layers of management.

Davis sat down with 1851 Franchise to discuss how his years in hospice care and property renovation led him to TruBlue and what it's been like owning a location in Northwest Columbus. Here’s what he had to say:

1851 Franchise: Tell us your story in one sentence.

Adam Davis: With more than 10 years of experience in property renovation and maintenance and as a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) through the National Association of Home Builders, I understand what it takes to maintain and improve a home, and I’m passionate about helping older adults and their families create safer, more accessible homes and lasting peace of mind.

1851: What was happening in your life that made you realize it was time to make a change?

Davis: Part of it was financial. I thought it was a good business decision and that it made sense. But it also had a lot to do with my own experience and the skill set I already had.

I'm not a traditional handyman, and I don't have an MBA. I have a Master of Divinity. I had already been a small business owner, doing a lot with Section 8 properties and renovating my own properties. I started that business with my best man from my wedding back in 2017, and we've been doing it ever since.

I had also spent more than five years working in hospice as a chaplain. When I looked at TruBlue, it felt like my skill set matched what the franchise was doing. It made sense from a business standpoint, but also from a personal and professional standpoint.

1851: Why did you choose this franchise over every other opportunity?

Davis: The more I got into TruBlue, the more I liked them. That wasn't always the case. Sometimes I'd look at an opportunity and the numbers didn't quite make sense, or I wasn't sure if the market could support it. Then a friend of mine recognized the auditing company TruBlue uses at his bank and felt it was a reputable, trustworthy source.

Overall, the more I learned while researching, the more I liked TruBlue.

1851: What is it really like owning a TruBlue Home Service Ally franchise?

Davis: There are operations that have to be established and cemented, employees who need to be vetted and interviewed, clients who need to be found and workflows that need to continue.

They say it's like drinking from a fire hydrant, and I don't think that experience stops after training. That's the honest assessment.

But it is worthwhile to be in business for yourself and to have a product that I can be proud of. I also really like having a direct relationship with my employees. They're not speaking to some distant manager who represents the owner's interests. My interests are their interests, and their interests are my interests. I really like that setup from a business standpoint.

1851: How has owning this franchise changed your life?

Davis: It's been a career change for me, but it's a career change that has made sense. I think TruBlue does a good job of supporting you through that change and giving you information, tools, direction and processes.

There are enough processes in place to help, but you do have to do it on your own. They say, "We can help you, but we can't do it for you," and I understand that.

Overall, it's been an adventure.

1851: If your best friend had enough money to buy this franchise tomorrow, what would you tell them?

Davis: I'd say, if you're exploring it, make sure it makes sense for you. I can't say exactly what the end product will be because I'm still in the early stages. But there is a roadmap, and enough other franchises have succeeded that I think you can trust some of that information.

I wouldn't tell somebody to just leap into it. I'd say to make sure your skills match the business. I think it helps to be a little handy. If you're coming from a background like business analysis and don't know anything about home renovation, make sure you have someone you trust to handle that part of the business.

As long as your skills match what the business needs, I think it's a good opportunity.

1851: What's the one thing you wish someone had told you before you bought this franchise?

Davis: One thing I wish I had known beforehand was that licensing requirements can vary by state. I think that's really part of each franchisee's due diligence, understanding what kind of work you can perform and what licenses are required in your specific market. That said, I felt TruBlue provided as much information as possible and was very forthcoming throughout the process.

About TruBlue Home Service Ally:

TruBlue Home Service Ally® provides a unique and affordable approach to helping busy adults and seniors live a worry-free life by offering trustworthy handyman, home maintenance and senior modification services. Helping you maintain your home both inside and out, TruBlue’s services include handyman projects and to-do list chores, preventative home maintenance programs, kitchen and bath remodels, seasonal work and senior modification services, all handled by professional, bonded and insured Tru-Pro® Technicians. TruBlue franchise owners are required to complete senior home safety certification programs through the NAHB and Age Safe America. As certified specialists, TruBlue franchisees are able to perform aging-in-place home safety assessments and can make recommended safety modifications as needed.

All locations are independently owned and operated. Service offerings, certifications and licenses vary by location.