Juan Dominguez spent 30 years in the finance world, with the last two decades dedicated to capital risk management at JPMorgan. However, while managing an investment property for 15 years on the side, he grew frustrated with the constant challenge of finding reliable, efficient technicians who showed up on time. Dominguez also found himself stepping in to assist his wife's elderly parents with home maintenance tasks they could no longer handle safely on their own. 

Recognizing a growing demographic need for trustworthy services that allow seniors to age in place, Dominguez decided to leverage his corporate project management skills to launch his own business. He is now preparing to open TruBlue Home Service Ally in northwest Nassau, New York, this December, aiming to provide the same level of care and reliability to his community that he provides for his own family.

1851 Franchise spoke with Dominguez about his journey into franchising with TruBlue and his plans for the business. Here’s what he had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Juan Dominguez: I’ve spent the past 30 years working in finance, but recently decided that it was time for me to leave corporate life and start my own business. In the process of doing my due diligence, I took account of my life experiences and what types of businesses are needed in the community. I also own an investment property which I’ve managed for the past 15 years. I always had an issue with finding a reliable handyman that showed up on time and did the work efficiently. That experience showed me the need for good handyman services locally.

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Dominguez: I worked in capital risk management. I wanted a change at my stage of my life and decided to build a business that I could manage. I wanted to leverage the skills that I've learned over the last 30 years in corporate America.

From my experience working as a risk manager, I found franchising to be a less risky option for starting a business. You have the support of the franchise, their knowledge of onboarding new owners and having a proven business model that I could rely on should I get into trouble. The franchise provides a lot of resources like business coaching and the ability to leverage their existing partners. That support was a key attribute that made me choose franchising rather than starting something from scratch.

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?

Dominguez: I’ve always had a good opinion of franchising. I saw it as a proven business that was modeled and scaled. There’s an existing framework for the business plan and there are lots of people that are of similar mindsets to work with. Being a few months into this journey now, it lives up to my expectations. The corporate office has a lot of good support staff that let me pick their brains whenever I have any challenges. Having that support instead of stumbling through issues on my own is so valuable. I know that I always have someone that I could go to for help even though in the end, it's my decision as the business owner.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Dominguez: I was drawn to TruBlue specifically because of their focus on working with seniors who want to age in place. It's a demographic that's growing. My wife's parents are elderly and I was basically their handyman for the last 10 years. They need someone who can fix little things in their homes. It's harder for older folks to get up on a ladder and change a light bulb.

I really see the need for handyman and home modification services. I’m excited to have a presence in the community and provide services that will be impactful. There’s a great feeling of accomplishment being able to directly help people.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Dominguez: I'm definitely trying to follow TruBlue’s road map of targets that they've laid out. I feel confident that the franchise really cares about their owners and that they're supporting them. From a community perspective, I want to prioritize serving people locally. If there's a community-related event or project, I want to be the first one to raise my hand to help whenever it’s needed.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Dominguez: I try to take all the life lessons and challenges and learn from them so I can apply them to what I'm doing in a positive way. When you treat people the right way, good things happen.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Dominguez: Do your due diligence. It’s so important to understand exactly how the business would run day in, day out. Having a list of questions to ask other franchise owners within that franchise is very important. Those conversations are critical to understand the way the business runs. Take your time because it's a big step and it's a financial commitment. Give it the time you need to make that decision.

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.