TruBlue Home Service Ally

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernando-degwitz-202227202/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=trublue-franchisee-fernando-degwitz-miami-2731107" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fernando Degwitz</a> grew up in Venezuela and built his career in civil engineering and real estate development before moving to Miami to pursue an MBA at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. As he dug into entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) opportunities, he realized the heavy leverage involved did not match the level of risk he was comfortable taking.A friend introduced him to franchising as a way to bypass startup risks without taking on massive debt. Initially skeptical, Degwitz quickly saw the value: a proven brand, strong support systems and the ability to combine his construction expertise with a personal mission — helping families care for aging loved ones, inspired by his own mother’s struggles with mobility.In October, Degwitz officially launched his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.trubluefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=trublue-franchisee-fernando-degwitz-miami-2731107" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TruBlue Home Service Ally</a> franchise, bringing professional home maintenance and aging-in-place solutions to the Miami market. His vision is to grow a $30 million business while creating meaningful impact for families throughout South Florida.Degwitz took the time to chat with the 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what he had to say:1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?Fernando Degwitz:&nbsp;I am originally Venezuelan, born and raised. I went to an American high school, which is where I learned how to speak English. Once I graduated, I went to college in Boston — Tufts and then MIT — where I did civil engineering and economics. When I graduated, I went back to Venezuela where I did real estate development and construction. I did all sorts of projects from residential to industrial, retail and commercial.It became difficult to operate any of my business lines in Venezuela. I started to look outside and began a real estate development project in Panama. At the same time, I started doing my MBA at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, which has a campus here in Miami. I moved to Miami and then the pandemic hit. I finished the MBA virtually and, last year, started investigating franchises1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Degwitz:&nbsp;When I was doing my MBA, there was a concept that is really popular in MBA schools right now called “entrepreneurship through acquisition” where you essentially buy a company that's already operating to get past the startup risk. I did a lot of research, went to the ETA conference and interviewed brokers. As I was doing it, I realized that other buyers were willing to take much bigger risks than I was.I realized that buying an existing business replaces "startup risk" with "leverage risk." In Miami, you would need to buy a larger company to make a decent living, meaning you take on a significant amount of debt and put in a personal guarantee without really knowing what you are buying. A friend of mine from Kellogg was really into franchising and started to talk to me about it. I started to look at it as another way of getting past the startup risk without having the leverage. You don't have the operation in the location you are trying to open, but you do have that brand experience at a national level1851: 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?Degwitz:&nbsp;Honestly, my own sense of franchising was that it is entrepreneurship for people who don't have the experience. I kind of looked down on it initially. This might be affected by my experience in Latin America. Once I was here in the U.S., and perhaps through my MBA experience, I started to understand the importance of a brand and not having to create it yourself. It took me a while to understand that my way of looking at it was completely wrong. The value in joining a franchise and not having to take that startup risk is immense.Now that I am in it, I would say that the day-to-day is very similar operationally to running your own business, because you are. It feels just as exciting as running your own thing, but it removes a lot of the negative emotions that come from the uncertainty of not knowing if you are doing the right thing, especially in marketing.1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Degwitz:&nbsp;Beyond the economic sense tied to my construction background, I wanted to do something valuable for the community. On a personal level, my mother lives in Europe and has recently suffered falls. It is difficult to make modifications to her rental unit from so far away. I wanted to be in a business where I could make a difference for families in similar situations.&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/trubluehomeserviceally/info">TruBlue</a> offers that perfect combination of operating a successful business while "doing good" for society.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Degwitz:&nbsp;My vision is to expand from our current location in Pinecrest all the way North to West Palm Beach with professional management in place. To achieve that, I am focused on two key elements: finding the right people, starting with technicians and eventually office staff, and implementing the right systems and operational processes.1851:&nbsp;Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?Degwitz:&nbsp;Family is the most important thing to me. If I can help families take care of their homes, I believe that creates happier families. That is my personal and professional mission1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?Degwitz:&nbsp;Do a lot of validation calls. You need to understand how current franchisees feel about the brand. Don't get discouraged by one bad call, as it might just be a bad match for that specific person; instead, look for the general sentiment. I personally "dodged a couple of bullets" by doing thorough validation calls.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.

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TruBlue Franchisee Fernando Degwitz Brings Senior Home Safety to Miami

1851 Franchise

After exploring acquisition entrepreneurship, Degwitz decided that franchising offered the best path to scale a business while minimizing risk.

Civil Engineer and MBA Grad Fernando Degwitz Combines Business and Community Impact With TruBlue Franchise

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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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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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Civil Engineer and MBA Grad Fernando Degwitz Combines Business and Community Impact With TruBlue Franchise

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