TruBlue Home Service Ally

When&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/renzo-contreras-671b9646?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=renzo-contreras-trublue-franchise-senior-care-2729065" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Renzo Contreras</a> was offered early retirement after more than three decades at Verizon, he didn’t just see it as an end — he saw it as a sign. Around the same time, his 99-year-old grandfather passed away in a nursing home under circumstances that left the entire family shaken. The experience lit a fire in Contreras: he wanted to make sure more seniors had the chance to stay in their homes, surrounded by dignity and family — not institutional walls. That’s when he found&nbsp;<a href="https://www.trubluefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=renzo-contreras-trublue-franchise-senior-care-2729065" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TruBlue</a>, the senior-focused handyman and home service franchise. Now, Contreras is bringing that passion to Northeast Bergen County, New Jersey, where he recently launched his&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/trubluehomeserviceally/info">TruBlue franchise</a>. And as an Air Force veteran, one of his biggest goals looking forward is to support fellow veterans through his business.&nbsp;&nbsp; “It was the mission — helping seniors age in place — that sealed the deal for me,” said Contreras. “I knew this was something I could do and feel good about. I could lay my head down at night knowing that I made someone’s life easier and safer. That’s what makes it rewarding.” 1851 spoke with Contreras to learn more about his story, his decision to join the TruBlue franchise and his plans for the future.&nbsp;1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?Renzo Contreras: My grandfather passed away at 99 in a nursing home, and it was a bad situation. It was hard for the whole family. We all wished he could have spent those last days at home instead of with strangers. That’s what led me to start thinking about assisted living and looking into the senior care industry. When I came across TruBlue and saw that they provide handyman services to help seniors age in place, it all clicked. That’s how this journey started.1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Contreras:&nbsp;I worked at Verizon for 33 and a half years as a network engineer. They offered me an early retirement in February last year, and I took it. I always wanted to do something for myself, but when you're in corporate for that long, it’s hard to walk away from that steady income. But when the opportunity to retire came — and with everything that was happening with my grandfather — it just felt like the right time. Franchising gave me a roadmap, which helped me feel confident stepping into something new.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?Contreras:&nbsp;I had never owned a business, and the thought of going out on my own was intimidating. But franchising helped bridge that gap. It provided structure. There was already a system in place, answers already laid out. It’s still your own business, but you’re not doing it blindly.1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Contreras:&nbsp;It was the mission — helping seniors age in place — that sealed the deal for me. I knew this was something I could do and feel good about. I could lay my head down at night knowing that I made someone’s life easier and safer. That’s what makes it rewarding.1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?Contreras:&nbsp;I want to get the TruBlue name out there and make sure people know this resource exists. My primary goal is to help as many seniors as possible and build a strong community presence here in Bergen County. I want to grow intentionally and serve with integrity.1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?Contreras:&nbsp;I’m an Air Force veteran, and another big part of this for me is supporting fellow veterans. That’s an underserved area in so many communities. I want to be part of that solution too — helping vets when they come back from deployment or need support as they age.1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?Contreras:&nbsp;Follow your gut. Find something that truly matters to you. You can’t just do it for the money. If you’re passionate about what you do, it shows in your work. I did the corporate thing for decades — now I want to do something that’s fulfilling. I don’t want to work just to work. I want to make an impact.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.

Franchisee Spotlight with photo of Renzo Contreras and Tru Blue Logo

Renzo Contreras: Air Force Veteran Opens TruBlue Franchise for Senior Care

1851 Franchise

After a long career in engineering, Air Force veteran Renzo Contreras has opened a TruBlue franchise in Bergen County, New Jersey, to help seniors age in place.

Why This Long-Time Verizon Engineer Invested in a TruBlue Franchise to Help Fellow Veterans

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Tech Industry Veteran Turns to TruBlue Home Service Ally to Build a Legacy with Purpose in The Woodlands, Texas

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Why This Philanthropist and Pastor Is Starting a TruBlue Franchise in Wilmington, North Carolina

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Hollywood Roots, Home Safety Focus: How TruBlue’s Aging-in-Place Model Draws Purpose-Driven Owners

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Seasoned Entrepreneur Launches TruBlue Home Service Ally Franchise in East Lansing

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On a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bbU1xPK_gI">recent episode of the “Pursuit of Profit” podcast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.trubluefranchise.com/">TruBlue Home Service Ally</a> President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/seancfitzgerald">Sean Fitzgerald</a> unpacked why aging in place has quickly become one of the most urgent—and underserved — needs in America. Older adults overwhelmingly want to remain in their homes, but the typical home environment often isn’t maintained or designed to support safe independence.Fitzgerald shared how his leadership path through major franchise brands—and his personal experience losing his mother and later his father-in-law after a catastrophic fall—deepened his commitment to&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/trubluehomeserviceally/info">TruBlue’s</a> mission. He positioned TruBlue as far more than a handyman concept, explaining that the brand’s niche is helping older adults stay safer at home through a three-step approach:&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/trubluehomeserviceally/trublue-home-service-ally-offers-free-home-assessments-for-fall-prevention-month-2727190">home safety assessments</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/trubluehomeserviceally/why-trublue-is-the-no-hassle-way-into-the-senior-industry-2729582">senior modifications</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciA12NuaFVg">ongoing maintenance</a> that reduces risk over time.“I believe that most of the falls that seniors experience are due to the home environment not being well-maintained or they’re trying to maintain it,” Fitzgerald said.Throughout the episode, Fitzgerald emphasized that TruBlue wins trust by acting like a long-term partner rather than a one-off service provider — especially for the homeowners 50 and older who make up a majority of customers. The brand’s “Home Service Ally” identity reflects that relationship-first positioning, where small jobs create the credibility to earn larger projects and lifelong customer value.&nbsp;“There’s no job too small,” Fitzgerald said, noting that once a homeowner trusts TruBlue, repeat business follows—and so do referrals from families, neighbors, and even senior care organizations and medical networks seeking reliable in-home support.Watch the full episode&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bbU1xPK_gI">here</a>.&nbsp;For more information visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/trubluehomeserviceally/info">https://1851franchise.com/trubluehomeserviceally/info</a>.

Fitzgerald explains how TruBlue’s assessments, modifications and ongoing maintenance model helps older adults stay safer at home—while creating recurring, trust-driven demand for franchise owners.

TruBlue’s Sean Fitzgerald on Aging in Place, Fall Prevention and Building a “Home Service Ally”

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<a href="https://www.trubluefranchise.com/">TruBlue Home Service Ally</a>, the national franchise dedicated to helping busy adults and seniors age in place safely and comfortably, closed out 2025 as the strongest year in the brand’s history. Fueled by record franchise development, rising systemwide revenue, and increasing demand for aging-in-place solutions, the brand enters 2026 positioned for even greater expansion.“We had by far our best year ever,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/seancfitzgerald">Sean Fitzgerald</a>, president of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/trubluehomeserviceally/info">TruBlue</a>. “We’ve seen tremendous growth in not only new franchise owners, but also in growth and revenue systemwide. We more than doubled our new franchise agreements signed in 2025, and we’ve seen over a 25% increase in systemwide revenue.”According to Fitzgerald, the momentum goes beyond the numbers. TruBlue is attracting a new caliber of franchise owners — professionals with strong leadership, sales and marketing backgrounds who recognize the long-term opportunity in the aging-in-place sector.“Overall growth is really overshadowing any other big developments,” Fitzgerald said. “A lot of new professionals are joining TruBlue with really impressive backgrounds. The level of business acumen of our new owners coming into the system has been very impressive.”As TruBlue’s footprint expands nationwide, the brand is unlocking new opportunities to serve seniors and their families through broader partnerships and programs aimed at supporting safe, independent living.“Because we’ve grown so rapidly and we have much more coverage than we did even a year ago, we’re beginning to develop more strategic partners and programs,” Fitzgerald said. “There’s nothing new about aging in place, but the demand for our services is becoming more and more pronounced.”That demand, Fitzgerald explained, is being driven by a critical gap in the marketplace, one TruBlue is uniquely positioned to fill.“There are not a lot of options for people who need simple and minor senior modifications like grab bars or handheld showers,” he said. “Durable medical equipment companies focus on large installations and don’t want to mess with small projects. Seniors are left struggling to find trustworthy people for these services, and that’s our sweet spot.”As insurance and subsidy models evolve, more age-driven services are becoming eligible for coverage, further accelerating demand.“Historically, health insurance only covered services prescribed by a doctor,” Fitzgerald said. “Now, more services are age-driven instead of need-driven, which is fueling demand. Our opportunities are going to increase because we’re happy to do these minor senior modifications. Our business model is to build long-term customer relationships and not just a transactional business.”Looking ahead, TruBlue’s leadership team sees its expanding coverage as the final piece needed to unlock even more national partnerships.“The only thing holding us back from developing more national partnerships in the past was coverage,” Fitzgerald said. “The demand is there, we just need good operators in more markets. It’s almost an ‘I told you so’ moment. The senior aging-in-place wave is here. It’s no longer coming — it’s evident, and it’s fueling our growth.”As TruBlue prepares for 2026, the brand continues to seek franchise partners who are natural community builders and storytellers.“We’re really looking for people with a sales and marketing mindset,” Fitzgerald said. “Our owners are creating awareness, connecting to the community and becoming the local authority on aging in place. We’re looking for people who can build teams, network and tell the story of why our services matter.”With record-setting growth behind it and powerful demographic trends ahead, TruBlue enters the new year confident in its position at the forefront of the aging-in-place movement.“Our owners have been doing a great job connecting with their communities,” Fitzgerald said. “This trend is only going to continue, and we are well-positioned for it.”To learn more about franchise opportunities with TruBlue Home Service Ally, visit: <a href="https://1851franchise.com/trubluehousecare/info">&nbsp;https://1851franchise.com/trubluehousecare/info</a>.

The home maintenance, repair, and senior modification franchise caps its strongest year ever, driven by rapid franchise expansion, systemwide revenue gains, and surging market demand.

TruBlue Home Service Ally Closes Out 2025 With Record Growth and Accelerating Demand for Aging-in-Place Services

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Why This Long-Time Verizon Engineer Invested in a TruBlue Franchise to Help Fellow Veterans

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