After decades in corporate and educational roles, Willie and Khristian King found themselves called to a business built around helping others. When Willie received an email about franchise opportunities during his job search, the couple never expected that one of them would so closely align with their values. But as soon as they heard the TruBlue Home Service Ally pitch, they knew it was the right fit. 

“The moment I really knew we were doing something special for the community was when my husband was talking to my aunt — she’s in her 80s, and her house needs a lot of work,” Khristian said. “When she heard about TruBlue, she literally jumped in his arms, so excited. Just knowing that we’re thinking about her, and seeing that kind of joy — that’s what this is all about. We want to multiply that feeling.”

With personal family experience in senior home modifications and a shared commitment to community care, the Kings are now on a mission to help seniors in the Buffalo region live safely and independently at home. 

1851 spoke with the Kings to learn more about their backgrounds and what drew them to the TruBlue brand. 

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

Willie King: How this all started was that I was searching for a new job. I had worked for an insurance company for 25 years and got hurt, and they let me go due to my injury. I started applying for new positions — over 100 of them — and then one day I got an email about opening a franchise in the area. I finally took the call, and they pitched me a lot of different franchises, but TruBlue was the one that really stuck with me.

I had an uncle who was a double amputee and a war veteran. The VA came in and made his house livable so that he could live alone — widened doorways, opened up the bathroom, all that. So when TruBlue was pitched to me, I immediately thought, “This is the one I want to do.”

Khristian King: I come from a huge family, and a lot of my relatives are realizing their mobility is going down. We've seen people in our family needing support and being taken advantage of. There’s this fear when someone comes into your home — we want to be a company that says, “We specialize in senior home safety. You can trust us.”

I still work at a local college, and service has always been part of my career. One thing that really inspired me about TruBlue was not just helping seniors, but also being able to help them get access to grants and resources. We see how much of an impact this can have.

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

Khristian: Since my son was eight, he's always talked about being an entrepreneur and starting his own business. I had never been able to be an example of that for him — so doing this felt important.

I had never really thought about franchising before, but one thing that was attractive to me was all the support. It felt like we were opening in a positive way and really setting ourselves up for success. I work for the state, so I’m used to a structured environment, and the franchise model provided the perfect balance — we had support, but also autonomy.

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

Willie: The team at TruBlue is great. You can call at any time, and they’ll get back to you with the answer. The other franchise owners are also incredible — everyone is so quick to connect. Everybody works together really well.

Khristian: The passion is definitely there. I never felt like they were trying to “sell” us. They wanted the right people who actually wanted to help. From our recruiter to the trainers, it was clear that this culture of support wasn’t just for customers — it extended to franchisees, too.

Before we even purchased, we had the chance to speak with current owners and leadership. That really stood out to us.

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

Khristian: We’re definitely looking to spread into the greater Buffalo region. Our big goal is to be the number one resource for senior home safety and care. We want people to think of TruBlue first — whether it’s adapting a bathroom, widening doorways or just general home maintenance. We want to be a regional household name. Whatever care folks need to stay in their homes, we want to be their first call.

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

Khristian: The moment I really knew we were doing something special for the community was when my husband was talking to my aunt — she’s in her 80s, and her house needs a lot of work. When she heard about TruBlue, she literally jumped in his arms, so excited. Just knowing that we’re thinking about her, and seeing that kind of joy — that’s what this is all about. We want to multiply that feeling.

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

Willie: I’m skeptical about everything — but if you really listen to what people are saying, you’ll see there’s nothing to worry about here. This isn’t a scam. This is a good group of people who have been doing this for a long time and will help you through the process. It’s not just about the money. They walk you through everything, and it never felt like they were just trying to sell us.

Khristian: They also tested us to make sure we were the right fit — we had to align on goals and values. That meant a lot. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. I asked a lot of questions — it became a running joke with our recruiter — but no one was ever intimidated by it.

There’s also a ton of engagement beyond initial training. We have a coach we meet with weekly, and monthly meetings on marketing, hiring and more. Really look into what that support looks like — it makes a big difference.

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.