TruBlue Home Service Ally

Rich Robert, the latest franchisee to join the fast-growing handyman franchise&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/trubluehousecare/info">TruBlue&nbsp;Home Service Ally</a>, has big plans for his new business, set to open in the&nbsp;Centre County area of Pennsylvania in August 2023.&nbsp;Having dedicated more than two decades of his life to corporate America, specifically human capital management and benefits, Rich decided it was time for a new adventure. He was ready to take control and venture into entrepreneurship, an aspiration motivated by the noticeable gap in professional handyman services within his locale. Rich sought to fill this void with reliable, trustworthy, and customer-centric services, something he felt was largely lacking in the existing market.&nbsp;After exploring several handyman concepts, Rich found a perfect fit with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.trubluefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=usaf-veteran-to-open-trublue-home-service-ally-franchise-of-happy-valley-2723156" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TruBlue Home Service Ally</a>. TruBlue's commitment to top-tier customer service and quality work echoed his own values, and their focus on cultivating trustworthy relationships with clients resonated with his vision. An added bonus was the brand's emphasis on family, ensuring that Rich, a family man himself, wasn't just another faceless franchisee.Rich is committed to making his TruBlue franchise the top choice for handyman services in Pennsylvania, both for individuals and commercial businesses. His growth plans involve expanding into other territories and increasing the size of his team.Rich is a United States Air Force (USAF) veteran and former corporate employee with a passion for entrepreneurship and a dedication to service. Beyond the desire for business success, Rich's decision to invest in TruBlue of Happy Valley, a handyman and senior home modification business, was motivated by a genuine desire to make a positive impact on people's lives. He recognizes the importance of having a safe and comfortable home and aims to provide reliable, trustworthy, and high-quality services that customers can depend on.1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us.&nbsp;What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Rich Robert: I have worked my entire career in corporate America. I worked for over 20 years at a company that handles human capital management, payroll and benefits.. It was a great experience, but I was ready for a new challenge and adventure in my life. I wanted to run a business on my own terms, while also providing the type of high quality handyman services that are not being offered in my area. Professional services, for lack of a better word.&nbsp;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?Rich Robert: I am a person who likes to have a plan in place. A franchise provides that. I can start quicker with a team behind me since they can offer me support, recommendations, best practices, etc. If I started on my own, it would be a lot of guesswork. Here, I am guided by a group of individuals who know what works, every time. I can feel more confident in the steps I am taking to grow the business quickly.1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Rich Robert:&nbsp;I&nbsp;looked at several handyman concepts, but came to TruBlue after seeing their mission and focus on customer service. As an entrepreneur, making sure that clients are satisfied with the quality of work is critical. So is maintaining a good relationship with your clients. That is the best way to grow your business. Establish a client base that knows they can trust you. The rest falls into place after that.&nbsp;The TruBlue company also focuses on family, which is important to me. I am not just another face in the crowd.&nbsp;After I spoke with Sean Fitzgerald, President of TruBlue, and saw his excitement for the company, and after I spoke with other franchisees, I knew this was the right franchise for me.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Rich Robert:&nbsp;My mission is to become the go-to handyman franchise for this area. When people think of a handyman, I want them to think of TruBlue. Whether it be an individual or a commercial business, I want to be on the top of their mind. I also eventually want to expand into other territories and grow my team.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?Rich Robert:&nbsp;I am married with three college and high school boys. They are all supporting me in this endeavor, which is great. They will be around to eventually take part in it at some point, which was a big reason behind starting a business in the first place.1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?Rich Robert:&nbsp;Definitely take advantage of the time when they encourage you to reach out to other franchises. Look them up yourself and give them a call. Get the facts on what a day in their life looks like, what they went through when they started up, how the corporate team supports them.&nbsp;To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/trubluehousecare">https://1851franchise.com/trubluehousecare/info</a>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 and home maintenance services. Helping you maintain your home both inside and out, TruBlue’s services include: handyman projects and to-do list chores, preventative home maintenance, seasonal work, and senior modification services, all handled by a professional, bonded and insured TruBlue Home Service Ally Technician. TruBlue franchise owners are required to complete the Certified Aging In Place program through CAPS and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). As certified specialists, TruBlue franchisees are able to perform Certified Aging in Place Home Safety Assessments and can make recommended safety modifications as needed.

USAF Veteran to Open TruBlue Home Service Ally Franchise of Happy Valley

1851 Franchise

From corporate America to entrepreneurship, Rich Robert is on a mission to establish a trustworthy, family-centric handyman franchise in the Centre County of Pennsylvania community.

This brand page has been paid for by TRUBLUE HOME SERVICE ALLY. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

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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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USAF Veteran to Open TruBlue Home Service Ally Franchise of Happy Valley

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