TruBlue Home Service Ally

For 17 years, Matt Haddox worked in the corporate world as an accountant, managing teams in manufacturing and furniture industries. However, sitting in an office left him feeling unfulfilled and he wanted to do something that actually helped his community. When his grandfather fell, forcing his grandparents to move out of their lifelong home and into assisted living, he witnessed the emotional strain this transition placed on his family firsthand.&nbsp;Through his relationships with older neighbors in the community, he realized that many of them desperately want to remain in their homes. Now, as the owner of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.trubluefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=matt-haddox-trublue-west-county-2731018" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TruBlue Home Service Ally</a> of West County in Missouri, he is able to provide the safety modifications and handyman services seniors need to age in place comfortably.1851 Franchise spoke with Haddox 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?Matt Haddox:&nbsp;I grew up in a somewhat small town — Washington, Missouri. From there, I went to college and I actually studied psychology for three years. I did a complete 180 and decided to go into accounting. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in accounting and jumped right into the corporate world, where I’ve been for the past 17 years. I’ve always been interested in business ownership and I decided now was finally time to pursue that.1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Haddox:&nbsp;I worked for a company that manufactured electrical transformers for five years. Then I went to another company that does ready-to-assemble furniture. I did that for the past 11 or 12 years. I realized I knew how to run those teams, but to try to run my own company, I'd be very out on an island. The franchise system provides support and helps jump-start the process. If I was doing my own thing right now, I'm sure I'd probably still be in the first stage. That support system is what I was looking for.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?Haddox:&nbsp;Franchising is something that’s been on my mind for a long time. The first few months have been very busy.&nbsp;As a franchisee, you wear a lot of hats like HR, marketing and operations. When you’re navigating this as an owner, it’s so helpful to call someone else for support who’s been through the process.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Haddox: I wanted to do something with purpose that would help the community. I wanted to provide services that people would actually need. My grandparents had to move into a home because of my grandpa's fall and I saw the strain that it put on my parents. It aligned with my desire to help seniors stay in their homes. A lot of seniors don't want to move out of their homes as they age. When I heard about the brand’s emphasis on serving seniors, I knew it was the right brand.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Haddox:&nbsp;My goal is to be the one-stop shop for anything people need in their homes. I want them to know that&nbsp;we're the ones that can help them out. The senior focus is what I'm really passionate about because I want to support seniors aging in place. I think that's where I really see the potential and the growth for this business. I have noticed that there's a lot of people out there that just want someone to help, so I think this business is something that I can naturally grow in this area.1851:&nbsp;Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?Haddox:&nbsp;My wife and I actually looked into opening a small grocery store 16 years ago, but ultimately decided to stick with the jobs we had at the time. I’ve been considering business ownership again recently and when I found&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/trubluehomeserviceally/info">TruBlue</a>, it felt like a great opportunity.1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?Haddox:&nbsp;It's probably going to feel overwhelming, but once you get into it and you start seeing things come together, it's very fun and fulfilling. For people who are considering a franchise, you're probably going to second-guess things, but you have to pursue it. Make sure it's something you're passionate about. That's probably the number one thing. When I saw the senior modification aspect of the business, I knew it was something that I could care about long term.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.

1851 Franchisee Spotlight with Matt Haddox headshot and TruBlue Home Service Ally logo

Family Crisis Inspires New Business in West County

1851 Franchise

After his grandfather’s fall and move to assisted living, Haddox left corporate life to launch TruBlue Home Service Ally of West County, focused on safety upgrades and services for seniors.

Matt Haddox Leaves Accounting World To Pursue Mission of Helping Seniors Maintain Their Independence With TruBlue of West County

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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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Matt Haddox Leaves Accounting World To Pursue Mission of Helping Seniors Maintain Their Independence With TruBlue of West County

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