TruBlue Home Service Ally

For Alexa Martinez and Rogelio Godoy, starting a business in the United States wasn’t just about another financial opportunity — it was about following the American Dream and building something meaningful that helps people. After years of experience in the tire industry and handyman services, the couple knew they wanted to bring a fresh approach to home maintenance.That vision led them to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.trubluefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=entrepreneurs-from-mexico-bring-trublue-franchise-to-north-houston-2728787" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TruBlue Home Service Ally</a>, a home service and handyman franchise that aligned perfectly with their goals. The couple recently moved from Mexico to Houston, using an E-2 Visa to start their business. Throughout the process,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/trubluehomeserviceally">TruBlue</a> provided invaluable support, helping them navigate everything from business banking to legal requirements.Now, just weeks after relocating to Houston, Martinez and Godoy are officially launching TruBlue in North Houston, bringing reliable handyman services and senior home maintenance solutions to their new community.1851 spoke with the duo to learn more about their journey to the U.S., their decision to franchise with TruBlue and their plans for the future.&nbsp;1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?Alexa Martinez: We are both from Mexico. Before coming to TruBlue, I owned a beauty studio in Guadalajara, and we both worked together at a tire company. Rogelio also worked as a handyman. We’ve always wanted to own our own business, and we knew we wanted to move to the U.S. to do it — specifically to Houston, where I have family.That’s why we started looking for a handyman services business, but we wanted to do it differently. We just moved to Houston a few weeks ago! We used an E-2 Visa to start this business, and TruBlue was incredibly supportive every step of the way. When we had issues setting up our business bank account from Mexico, they even went to the bank on our behalf to help us resolve it. That level of support made a huge difference.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?Martinez: When we worked at the tire company, it was an independent business, and we saw firsthand how difficult it was to build everything from the ground up — hiring employees, developing procedures and setting up operations.With a franchise, we have a step-by-step guide, and that was especially important for us since we were starting in a completely new country. We knew we needed the extra support and guidance, which is why we focused on franchising from the beginning.1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Martinez: We wanted to offer handyman services in a different way — a way that truly helps people. Rogelio is passionate about the handyman side of the business, and I love working with people and providing great customer service.From the moment we started looking into TruBlue, we could tell that the team was dedicated to supporting us every step of the way. During training, we saw firsthand how responsive and helpful they were, answering every question we had. That kind of support gives us the confidence to know we’re in the right place.1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?Martinez: We’re focused on growing our business here in Houston and becoming a trusted name in the community. Once we establish ourselves, we’d love to expand and purchase additional territories in the future.1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?Martinez: Be patient. The process can be complex, especially when moving from another country, but with the right support, it’s worth it. Take your time, ask questions, and trust the process.For more information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/trubluehousecare/info">https://1851franchise.com/trubluehousecare/info</a>.&nbsp;About TruBlue Home Service Ally:&nbsp;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.&nbsp;

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Alexa Martinez & Rogelio Godoy and TruBlue logo

TruBlue Franchisees Alexa Martinez and Rogelio Godoy Bring Handyman Services to Houston

1851 Franchise

With a passion for service and a vision for growth, Alexa Martinez and Rogelio Godoy are providing reliable home maintenance solutions while fulfilling their dream of business ownership in the U.S.

Entrepreneurs from Mexico Use E-2 Visa to Bring TruBlue Franchise to North Houston

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How TruBlue Empowers Career-Changers to Become Business Owners

Turning Your Passion for Helping Others into a Profitable Business with TruBlue

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Step-by-Step: What the First Year of Owning a TruBlue Home Service Ally Looks Like

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A Booming Industry: The Future of the Home Service Market and Why TruBlue Is Poised To Lead

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For new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.trubluefranchise.com/">TruBlue Home Service Ally</a> owners, the journey starts with a strong foundation of training and support. Before the first job is booked,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/trubluehomeserviceally/info">TruBlue’s</a> onboarding process ensures franchisees feel confident and equipped to launch.<h2>Signing, Training and Launching</h2>For&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-smith-50780b364">Michael Smith</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-phillips-298502107">Jodi Phillips</a>, owners of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.trublueally.com/culpeper">TruBlue of Culpeper</a> in Virginia, that process began as soon as they signed their franchise agreement.“We spent a week in the in-person training session and that was very informative and helpful,” Jodi said. “There were also multiple calls twice a week, and we felt it was very important to go through those things independently. We both got different things from each section. There was a lot of coaching and support to get things set up.”With her background as a licensed physical therapist assistant, Jodi was looking for a concept that aligned with her experience. “The addition of the senior and aging in place services really sealed the deal for us,” she said. “It seemed like an obvious choice.”For Michael, who spent years in federal investigation work and grew up around construction, the decision was about combining skill and purpose.“The aging population is going to be huge and there isn’t much out there helping,” he said. “We like to help people on a personal level, and TruBlue gives us a way to do that.”The pair purchased their franchise in May, completed training and onboarding in June, and officially launched operations in July. “We had our soft launch in June, reaching out to friends, family and neighbors,” Michael said. “That gave us time to test everything before our official opening.”They funded their business through a 401(k) rollover (ROBS), a common financing path for new TruBlue owners. “It was the right move for us,” Michael said. “We’ve far exceeded expectations in our first four months.”<h2>Building Your First Team and Client Base</h2>Once open, the first 90 days are all about momentum, building the right crew, booking early jobs, and becoming a known presence in the community.For&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/trublue-denver-west-bottoms-family-2729944">Miles and Cassondra Bottoms</a>, who own&nbsp;<a href="https://www.trublueally.com/denver-west/About-Us">TruBlue of Denver West</a> in Colorado, the early months were a whirlwind.“It’s a lot of hours, around 60 a week,” Cassondra said. “We’re getting used to our processes, drinking from the fire hose. But we’ve been very conscious about doing things the right way.”The Bottoms quickly learned that hiring strategically would be key to growth. “We’ve already hired an assistant,” Cassondra said. “Some people don’t think it’s a value they can afford, but we realized we couldn’t afford&nbsp;not to have someone helping us. It freed us to go out and sell more business.”Miles agrees that building a reliable team is step one. “There’s a big misconception that you open the business and are immediately out there running,” he said. “Initially, it’s all about getting a team you can sell, one you’re confident can deliver what you promise. Once you dial that in, everything else follows.”Their daily routine became a balance of scheduling, quoting, job management and relationship-building. “You have to know what a successful day looks like,” Miles said. “Otherwise you’ll just bury yourself. It’s about prioritizing and adjusting.”<h2>Community Engagement and Local Marketing</h2>As operations stabilize, TruBlue owners begin shifting focus toward relationship-driven marketing, the backbone of long-term success.Cassondra and Miles discovered that&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/trubluehomeserviceally/be-a-community-hero-how-trublue-franchisees-are-changing-lives-beyond-business-2730484">local engagement</a> pays off quickly. “We’ve been really intentional about being part of the community,” Cassondra said. “Whether it’s going to a gala, sponsoring a silent auction or joining the Chamber of Commerce, we’ve made those connections a weekly priority. The payoff is real. We’re already seeing organic leads come in.”By taking estimating off her plate and focusing on relationship-building, Cassondra found they could grow more efficiently. “We want to be a vendor of choice,” she said. “If we can work with the VPs of operations in our community, we know that will lead to recurring business.”For Michael and Jodi,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/trubluehomeserviceally/trublue-and-lifewise-partner-to-deliver-safer-healthier-homes-for-seniors-2730494">TruBlue’s national marketing systems and partnerships</a> provided a strong boost early on.“The franchise path really allowed us to jump three years ahead in business planning,” Michael said. “TruBlue already has national partnerships, the marketing is already there, we don’t have to worry about anything. We just plug and play into our personal vision.”<h2>Scaling, Streamlining and Looking Ahead</h2>By the end of year one, most TruBlue franchisees are focused on growth, adding subscriptions, expanding their team and planning for future territories.“Our goals are adjusting on a day-by-day basis,” Jodi said. “We currently have one territory, but we’re already thinking about expanding into multiple territories — even exploring other brands.”For the Bottoms, culture has been central to scaling. “We have a motto of hiring slow but firing fast,” Cassondra said. “We have Monday morning meetings every week so the guys feel part of the team. Everyone has something that matters to them, and we’re learning what motivates them.”And while every new business comes with challenges, both franchisee teams agree that&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/trubluehomeserviceally/how-trublue-helps-franchisees-create-lasting-businesses-2728925">TruBlue’s network of support</a> has made the first year smoother.“When we have questions or concerns, we have someone we can reach out to anytime,” Cassondra said. “The biggest help has been talking to other franchise owners. Everyone shares advice, it’s like having a community behind you.”Michael echoes that sentiment. “It’s definitely lived up to our expectations,” he said. “The model works, and we’ve been able to exceed goals faster than we imagined. The support and structure make a huge difference.”<h2>A Year of Hard Work, Growth and Purpose</h2>The first year of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/trubluehomeserviceally/trublue-franchise-a-unique-and-profitable-opportunity-for-entrepreneurs-2728388">owning a TruBlue franchise</a> is packed with learning, growth and connection. Between training, hiring, community building and delivering meaningful services to seniors and families, new franchisees quickly see how the business can align with their personal and professional goals.It’s a year that requires drive, but one that rewards every ounce of effort with progress and purpose.“It’s amazing to set your own standards,” Michael said. “It’s our product at the end of the day. All of our work goes toward it, and I don’t think I’ll ever go back.”For more information, visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/trubluehomeserviceally/info">https://1851franchise.com/trubluehomeserviceally/info</a>.

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For decades,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-dawes-09067411/">John Dawes</a> has successfully built businesses from the ground up. Most recently, it was his work in bathroom safety remodeling that shifted his perspective. While helping seniors modify their homes for safety, Dawes saw firsthand the immense relief and joy his work brought to families.Now, at 60 years old, Dawes isn't looking to retire, he is looking to continue making a difference. Determined to spend the next decade doing meaningful work, Dawes has launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.trubluefranchise.com/">TruBlue Home Service Ally</a> in Sioux Falls. By pivoting to franchising, he is skipping the "start-up" headaches he faced in previous ventures to focus entirely on what drives him: providing peace of mind to the Sioux Falls community and helping neighbors stay safe and comfortable in their homes.1851 Franchise sat down with Dawes to discuss the launch of his new business. Here’s what he had to say:1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?John Dawes: I've been in sales and management for most of my career. I bounced around from the auto industry to the mortgage industry, then onto the advertising agency world. I owned a mortgage company for many years here in Sioux Falls. Then I became their national sales trainer and their sales manager for 34 locations. I also owned an auto dealership leads and credit repair company called The Right Track Solution for five years.For the last year and a half, I headed up a national bathroom remodeling company. About 75% of my business was working with seniors, and I really enjoyed seeing firsthand how we impacted our customers and the new peace of mind our services provided for them. This really motivated me to open a business centered around seniors. I still have 10 to 15 years left to work, so I thought, “Why not open a senior service-centered business?”1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Dawes: My first two businesses that I owned, there was not really a model to go by. So, you pretty much had to do everything from figuring out your CRM and your marketing approaches. I did not want to go down that road again because it takes a lot of work and a lot of time. What really attracted me to franchising is that they've already got everything completed for you. It’s like a turnkey business. You go in, follow the instructions and here you go.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?Dawes: I have a lot of friends that own franchises in different industries, so a lot of my perception of franchising comes from their experiences. Some of them were given a ton of freedom and leeway, others not at all. I thought initially that the franchisor would give me everything, but it turned out that they did give me some decision-making power, and I really appreciate that.1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Dawes: When I found&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/trubluehomeserviceally/info">TruBlue</a> it was just a perfect match. I've always had a heart for helping people, especially seniors. With what they get for compensation and then the amount of things that they give you and the amount of support they give you, there really aren’t any franchises out there like them. They go above and beyond what many other companies do.1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?Dawes: I grew up in North Dakota in Grand Forks, so there might be possibilities of expanding to my home areas. I would definitely like to expand further south, maybe to Sioux City. There aren’t too many TruBlue territories in this area, so there is plenty of opportunity to expand.1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?Dawes: I've always had just a passion for helping people and treating them how they should be treated. With my sales background I always aimed to not put a ton of pressure on customers to purchase or not purchase.Also, I've played racquetball for probably 40 years, 50 years, and I’m a new grandparent! I have one grandchild right now, with 2 more on the way. A lot of my time is spent with my family these days.1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?Dawes: I would definitely say that if you've got the inkling that franchise ownership is something you want to do, then you should do it. The nice thing about franchising is that there's always going to be help and support at the ready for you. If you have the drive to succeed, you will succeed.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.

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