TruBlue Home Service Ally

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-kear-755a73a/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-one-entrepreneur-followed-in-his-brothers-footsteps-to-open-a-trublue-total-house-care-franchise-2718606" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nathan Kear</a> has always been a problem solver and a do-it-yourselfer. The former led him to a 23-year career as a mechanical engineer with Cooper Tires, the latter to taking the lead on projects such as building his family’s home in San Antonio, Texas, hiring subcontractors and doing much of the work himself.&nbsp;So early in 2021, when he decided he was tired of sitting in meetings all day and he was ready for something different, Kear solved his problem by identifying an opportunity that put his engineering background and DIY, handyman mindset to good use: <a href="https://trubluefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-one-entrepreneur-followed-in-his-brothers-footsteps-to-open-a-trublue-total-house-care-franchise-2718606" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TruBlue Total House Care</a>.“It just made a lot of sense,” said Kear. “I knew going into it that there’s just not a lot of reliable premium services in the handyman service industry. So I knew there was an opportunity there, and that if I could deliver high-quality service, people would respond.”TruBlue is the only franchise system focused on home maintenance and handyman services for busy families and seniors who are aging in place. And while TruBlue provides an array of services for all its clients, it was the senior-services aspect that appealed most to Kear.“As an engineer, I always look at the numbers,” he said. “And the one stat that really got me was that every year about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/falls/data/falls-by-state.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-one-entrepreneur-followed-in-his-brothers-footsteps-to-open-a-trublue-total-house-care-franchise-2718606" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">one in four seniors</a> falls, and many of those falls result in serious injury — sometimes even death. The ability to help seniors by providing TruBlue’s services is what really pushed me over the edge and made me think, ‘Yeah, I’ve got to do this.’”TruBlue’s senior services begin with an extensive home-safety assessment through which it identifies potential dangers both inside and outside the home. This is followed by a list of specific recommendations to make the home safer, such as installing grab handles in bathrooms, eliminating clutter to make the home more easily navigable and even addressing overgrown exterior walkways where weeds and grass can pose a tripping hazard.&nbsp;TruBlue also provides everyday handyman services, allowing seniors to stay on top of routine maintenance with recurring appointments. This includes around-the-house tasks ranging from regularly changing air filters, light bulbs and smoke detector batteries to draining the water heater — anything around the house that seniors cannot easily do themselves or that could put them at risk.While still working his full-time engineering job, Kear launched his TruBlue franchise in&nbsp;<a href="https://trubluehousecare.com/nwsa?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-one-entrepreneur-followed-in-his-brothers-footsteps-to-open-a-trublue-total-house-care-franchise-2718606" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Northwest San Antonio</a> in June 2021. That same summer, Kear, his wife and his two children traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee, to celebrate his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. His parents drove down from the family’s native Ohio and his older brother,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-kear-a63b486/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-one-entrepreneur-followed-in-his-brothers-footsteps-to-open-a-trublue-total-house-care-franchise-2718606" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jason</a>, hosted the family at his house on Fort Loudoun Lake. The brothers spent the weekend wake surfing, tubing, paddle boarding and just spending time on the water and catching up. Living more than 1,000 miles away from each other means the brothers don’t get to connect as often as they’d like.Nathan talked about his new business venture and his excitement about the opportunity with TruBlue. Jason didn’t think much of it at the time aside from being happy for his brother. But in the weeks and months after that visit, the gears started turning in Jason’s head.“I had always had an entrepreneurial itch,” said Jason, who, like his brother, comes from an engineering background. He has worked his entire career in the medical field and has spent the last 10 years building, renovating and maintaining radiopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities across the United States. “I hadn’t heard of TruBlue until my brother mentioned it that day. I thought it blended well with my background, and over time, I thought about it more and more. Eventually, that September, I reached out to TruBlue to do my own due diligence. Then I called my brother and asked how it was going for him.”At the time, Nathan had two trained handymen and had no trouble keeping them busy. He could feel the demand for TruBlue’s services early on. Jason saw the potential demand in Knoxville, too, a metropolitan area that as recently as 2017 was named&nbsp;<a href="https://www.magnifymoney.com/blog/featured/best-places-retire-early-2017/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-one-entrepreneur-followed-in-his-brothers-footsteps-to-open-a-trublue-total-house-care-franchise-2718606" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">the No. 1 place in the U.S. to retire early</a>.For the next few months, Jason called his brother about once every couple of weeks, picking his brain about his business and how it was progressing.Then, in March 2022, Jason officially launched his own TruBlue franchise in&nbsp;<a href="https://trubluehousecare.com/west-knoxville?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-one-entrepreneur-followed-in-his-brothers-footsteps-to-open-a-trublue-total-house-care-franchise-2718606" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">West Knoxville</a>.“I've been extremely happy with the franchise,” said Jason. “They've done everything I could have expected and more in helping me get set up, and I’ve been impressed with the leadership team from a vision standpoint. I can see them building partnerships and putting in work for us. So I’ve been very, very happy with everything.”While Jason gets his TruBlue franchise off the ground, Nathan is making moves in San Antonio. He hired a third employee in February and recently hired a fourth. And now he has taken perhaps the biggest step in the life of his young business by leaving his full-time engineering job to focus solely on growing his TruBlue franchise.“I have a vision of expanding beyond just Northwest San Antonio,” said Nathan. “There are TruBlues all around the country, and in bigger cities, there's usually more than one. Right now, I'm the only one in San Antonio. I would love to be successful enough to continue to expand and own the entire San Antonio territory. That’s my long-term goal.”Both Nathan and Jason have been a part of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/trubluehousecare/trublue-enters-2022-with-record-breaking-sales-sparked-by-a-wave-of-new-partnerships-2717629">a record stretch of growth</a> for TruBlue. The brand doubled its year-over-year revenue in 2021 for the second straight year, and that momentum has continued early in 2022, as TruBlue is on pace early to reach its year-end goal of opening 40 new locations for a total of 100 units in operation.“There is such a high demand for a quality experience when it comes to home services,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/seancfitzgerald/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-one-entrepreneur-followed-in-his-brothers-footsteps-to-open-a-trublue-total-house-care-franchise-2718606" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sean Fitzgerald</a>, TruBlue’s president. “And it’s exciting to see what we’ve been able to do, especially for seniors, with the handyman services we offer. I believe that TruBlue is the missing piece in the equation that will allow seniors to successfully and safely age in place, and it’s Nathan, Jason and our incredible franchisees across the country who are helping us fill those gaps.”As Nathan focuses on growing his business and Jason gets his going, the brothers talk more now than they have in years, they admit. Jason calls at least every few weeks with a question, tapping into Nathan’s experience to help grow his business. Nathan is just happy to be there for his brother.“We touch base more now, for sure,” said Nathan. “There's always something to talk about, so it just gives us an opportunity to connect more because now we have something else in common.”“It definitely gives us something to talk about,” said Jason. “It's a reason to pick up the phone or drop an email and just check in, which is something we didn't do as often as we should have before. So that's been a real positive for us. I’m just happy for him and his success and excited for what’s ahead for both of us with TruBlue.”For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://trubluefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-one-entrepreneur-followed-in-his-brothers-footsteps-to-open-a-trublue-total-house-care-franchise-2718606" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://trubluefranchise.com/</a>.

How One Entrepreneur Followed In His Brother’s Footsteps to Open a TruBlue Total House Care Franchise

1851 Franchise

Brothers Nathan and Jason Kear live more than 1,000 miles apart, but now they’re closer than ever as they build their respective TruBlue businesses.

This brand page has been paid for by TRUBLUE HOME SERVICE ALLY. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

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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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