A Day in the Life of a TruBlue Home Service Ally Franchisee

Born into a family of carpenters and experienced in a host of corporate roles, Rick James has never shied away from pursuing new challenges in his everyday life. Now, as a TruBlue Home Service Ally franchise owner, along with his wife Nancy in Hendersonville, North Carolina, the James’ spends their days ensuring seniors and busy families have access to reliable and professional handyman services, paving the way for an independent and comfortable lifestyle. The James’ embody the drive, resilience and dedication that makes TruBlue's network of premium franchise owners a force to be reckoned with.

A Diverse Background and a Passion for Helping Seniors

Rick’s journey to franchising wasn't a straight path. "I come from a background of a family of carpenters, so I’ve always been around building houses," he said. His experiences took him from helping build homes with his brothers in 2005 to working in corporate roles at major Fortune 500 companies like Anheuser Busch and Coca-Cola. Yet, as he got deeper into the corporate world, he found himself yearning for a more entrepreneurial journey.

“I started getting a headache around bureaucracy,” said Rick. “With these big companies, you can feel like just a number. Instead of making others money, we wanted to make ourselves money." 

When considering a business to start on their own,the James’ turned their attention to the senior community of Hendersonville, where over 35% of the population is 65 and over. "We knew we could dominate in the area in terms of handyman services and senior home modifications," Rick added.

When the James’ discovered TruBlue, they were instantly drawn to the support infrastructure provided by the franchisor. “My last role in corporate America was in sales and marketing, and I really believe that is a key to success in all business,” Rick said. “That is why we wanted to invest in something that was already professional and proven from the start. That is really key for exposure and ramping up the business quickly.”

A Day in Rick's Shoes

In October 2020, the James’ officially launched their TruBlue of Hendersonville franchise, working out of their home. After several years into their franchising journey, the James' usual responsibilities often change depending on the day, but everything they do is meant to oil the machine that is their business and make it run more smoothly. 

“It's a learning curve — you have to figure out what works and what doesn’t work,” said Rick. “We are still learning. When you are an entrepreneur first starting as a small business owner, you are the dispatcher, the office admin, the I.T. person, the chief financial officer and the payroll administrator. For the first year, you wear a lot of hats.”

Now, Rick says his primary focus is on recruitment as they continue to build a diverse team of individuals with varying skill sets and expertise. 

“A day in my life is really about hiring,” James said. “Overall, as a franchisee, your day-to-day life shouldn’t be impacted by back office administration. You need to hire a team who can handle that so you can spend your days taking care of clients and growing your team.” 

Grassroots marketing also plays a big part in their daily operations, James says. In addition to digital marketing efforts, Rick works with the Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce, where he is an active board member. Every Friday night, he joins in serving ice cream to locals, a testament to his dedication to community involvement.

“Being active in the community is an essential part of running this business every day,” Rick added.

Eyes on the Future

In terms of future growth, Rick says he spends a good portion of his days with his sights set on expansion, while Nancy spends her time managing the administrative and back end office duties.

"Thinking about growth is also part of the day-to-day," Rick said. “We want to own a larger territory and potentially open up remote offices in other territories, all while improving SEO and lead generation efforts to tap into organic growth. We are very excited for what the future holds.”

TruBlue President Sean Fitzgerald expresses equal excitement about the James' enthusiasm and ambition. "Rick and Nancy are a great example of the type of franchisees we are proud to have in the TruBlue family,” he said. “We look forward to supporting their efforts to expand their business and bring our much-needed services to more seniors in their community."

Overall, the James' story echoes the sentiment of many TruBlue franchisees — a desire to help others, a drive for success and a commitment to the communities they serve. Now, the TruBlue team is looking for passionate and driven individuals like Rick and Nancy to expand into new markets, including Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville and Naples, Florida, as well as Houston and Dallas, Texas. Dedicated, professional, and enthusiastic franchisees are needed across the country — so all are welcome to connect.

To learn more about franchising with TruBlue, please visit https://trubluefranchise.com/.