Anthony Runnels was in the midst of growing his career in corporate finance when he began to search for a business model that better fit his personal and professional goals. Despite his corporate success, he felt a persistent desire to help others in his community. When facing challenges with family members who were in need of assistance to age safely and comfortably in their homes, Runnels began to consider owning a business of his own that might offer a solution.

Runnels began exploring home service options after seeing his mother and other relatives in need of more support to live safely at home. He found TruBlue Home Service Ally and liked that the model delivers senior-focused handyman services without a brick-and-mortar location. He now owns TruBlue Home Service Ally serving Coastal South Bay and hopes to offer reliable help to local seniors. 

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

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

Anthony Runnels: I started my career in public accounting, where I worked at EY and received my CPA license. I worked my way up in a lot of senior corporate finance roles. During most of that time, I always had this itch and this yearning to do something more to serve people and to help out in the community.

I ended up trying a year as an investment adviser doing financial planning, but the problem was I wasn’t helping the people in the way I wanted. That feeling never went away, and I never quite could put my finger on what kind of business I wanted, though I knew it was what I wanted.

In early 2025, I stumbled across this podcast where there was a gentleman talking about franchising as a good way to take a step toward owning your own business. Truthfully, the best part of this business is going out and servicing people, seeing the reviews and hearing how professional we are and how much they love our service. It feels rewarding to see that.

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

Runnels: When I went into private industry, I handled a lot of SEC reporting and managing investor relations, dealing extensively with Wall Street investors and trying to take companies public. I eventually found my niche in startup and smaller sized companies primarily in media / entertainment and technology.

I had experience in multiple kinds of business structures and eventually started looking for something that was AI-resistant in a growing kind of market, and something that I felt good about doing that would be a service to people. Franchising made sense as a good way to take a step toward owning your own business, but without the risk of doing everything from the ground up.

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?

Runnels: I knew about other franchises like fast food, dry cleaning or laundromats, but didn’t realize how expansive they could be and how many industries are available. I always assumed franchising was a brick-and-mortar business that required a lot of capital to invest.

I soon found out that franchising could be home-based. Now I have a little office of my own, but I work with handymen directly from their own home bases. I also wasn’t aware of the support you get from the corporate office and the training provided.

I couldn’t imagine having started this business on my own, especially because I’m from a corporate finance background and am not a handyman by trade. The support they provide accelerates your ability to scale.

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

Runnels: TruBlue actually was a competitor that popped up while I was researching other franchises. I liked that they offered handyman services to seniors. Once I talked to the TruBlue folks, I was sold.

Every single person I talked to really had this passion for seniors and helping them age in place and prevent falls or accidents. It just really hit me at the core of who I am and felt right. 

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

Runnels: My goal, even before we opened, was to be the most prominent home service company in the Los Angeles area and definitely in the senior market for aging in place services. I am already a certified Aging in Place specialist, and all of my technicians are senior home safety specialists.

That higher standard of service and care, and the way we communicate, is what will distinguish us. I am already thinking of expanding into more territories and want to be top of mind for people when they think about needing a home service company.

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

Runnels: My personal life really drove my decision to move in this direction. My mom, who is in her later 60s and recently divorced, lives on her own. I realized these were the services she needed.

I remember hearing her smoke alarms beeping, and she told me she didn’t trust just anybody to come over. That made me realize that I may not even be able to go over there and take care of what needs to be done in the way I would want.

We also had another family member who had a really bad fall in her garage, and all of these instances kind of pushed me toward getting the franchise. Being able to do very simple modifications, like putting in grab bars, makes it more comfortable for people to stay at home, which is really where they want to be anyway. 

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

Runnels: Take your time, do your research, and talk to as many people in the industry as possible. With TruBlue, I found a consistency with the messaging and a real passion that you felt, whether I was talking to current owners or the CEO.

When looking into any franchise opportunity, try to get a feel for whether this company is really who they say they are. Franchising is a decent-sized investment, and you want to make sure you are getting into a business that feels like a good fit.

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.