How This TruBlue Franchisee Built a Strong Book of Business Within the First Two Months of Ownership

When Robert Rash discovered TruBlue Total House Care, the franchise that provides subscription-based home maintenance and handyman services for seniors and families, he was shocked to find that the brand wasn’t already in his Martin County, Florida community. So, Rash decided to take his destiny into his own hands and be the one who introduced the business to the east coast of Florida. Since opening his location only a few months ago, he has continued to thrive thanks to the support and backing of TruBlue’s proven business model.

Rash is a Navy veteran and served as a nuclear power plant operator and mechanic. He also has 23 years of experience in commercial power plant maintenance, inspection and repair, which fueled a detail-oriented, outcome-driven approach to service.

“I’ve been interested in owning my own business for quite a while,” said Rash. “When COVID-19 hit, it was clear that I wasn’t going to work for someone else anymore. I had been looking at different franchises, including restaurants, employment agencies and auto shops. I have tried to start my own business in the past, but I failed miserably because I didn’t have a plan. That was one of the things that first attracted me to the idea of franchising in general. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel.”

One of the franchise opportunities that stood out to Rash was TrueBlue Total House Care. As Rash learned more about the business model, he knew it would be an ideal fit for his market.

“A big part of TruBlue is senior care, and in Florida, there are definitely a lot of seniors,” said Rash. “I knew there was a big market there. When I talked to some of my friends in the healthcare industry about TruBlue before making the jump, every single one of them said it was a great idea. As far as the general handyman services go, there is also a huge demand among a growing number of busy homeowners.”

Florida is famous for its status as a retiree haven, with attractive qualities including warm weather, fiscal soundness and retirement-friendly income tax laws. That is why the Sunshine State features some of the country’s highest life expectancy rates and median ages, with a whopping 8.6 million residents who are 50 and older — the second-largest population of this age in the country. According to the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, nearly 23% of Florida citizens are aged 60 or over, and this demographic comprises the state's second-largest economic sector. 

TruBlue services help these seniors remain at home by performing safety assessments before modifying the space accordingly. The modifications made to the home create a safer and more comfortable space for seniors, reducing the risk of falls and other health hazards.

Additionally, Florida’s population has exceeded 22 million and is expected to grow to over 26 million by 2030. Florida is also one of the top states people are currently moving to, with five out of the 10 of the country’s most-moved-to cities. That is partly why the number of new residential homes built last year rose 234% in Florida over the previous year. 

TruBlue offers a range of customizable, subscription-based handyman services that customers — whether they be seniors or just busy families — can bundle, depending on their unique needs and their unique home. 

Since opening his Martin County location two months ago, Rash says the demand is proving to be even greater than he expected. “I’ve really tapped out my employees and maxed out what I can do capacity-wise,” he said. “There is definitely a huge untapped demand here. It has been very rewarding to modify seniors’ homes and help ensure they can utilize their houses again. One customer, in particular, comes to mind. She is a nice little old lady who doesn’t have anyone around to help her — no family around in the immediate area. We were able to assist her with some home projects she just couldn’t do by herself. That was super rewarding.”

Looking ahead, the TruBlue team hopes to partner with more qualified and passionate franchisees like Rash to help reach their goal of 100-plus locations by the end of 2022.

“We’re really excited about the growth we’ve seen by partnering with franchisees like Robert Rash, but even more excited about what they’ve been able to provide for seniors and busy families,” said Sean Fitzgerald, TruBlue’s President. “We want to ensure the home environment is as safe as it can be and well-maintained. We believe that if we focus on our customers and provide them with the best service possible, growth will organically follow. So far, that’s exactly what we’ve seen.”

TruBlue is actively seeking new franchise owners in markets across the country and has identified Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville and Naples, Florida, as well as Dallas and Austin, Texas, as key development markets.

The total investment estimate for a TruBlue Total House Care franchise ranges from $65,050–$91,400. To learn more about franchising with TruBlue, please visit https://trubluefranchise.com/.