TruBlue Total House Care, the emerging home maintenance and senior service franchise organization, is eyeing Tampa, Florida, for development.

As the so-called “silver tsunami” of Baby Boomers is already hitting retirement age, the senior population is growing fast. In Tampa, the population of those aged 65 and over is 12.8% and as the city's population continues to grow at over 1% annually, so will the demand for senior care services. 

“Florida favors our services for multiple reasons,” said Sean Fitzgerald, President of TruBlue. “In addition to a healthy population of aging adults, it makes a great market for our subscription services. Not just because of routine maintenance but also because so many Florida residents live there half the year. TruBlue can actually take care of their homes in the summer when they go back up north. Tampa is a huge opportunity in the state, and we’re excited to bring our services to its residents.” 

In general, Florida is one of the most highly desirable states for retirees — with nearly 23% of its citizens aged 60 or over. Attractive features such as warm weather, fiscal soundness and retirement-friendly income tax laws continue to bring more older adults to the state. In fact, on a recent list from U.S. News and World Report titled “Best Places to Retire in the U.S. in 2022-2023,” Florida captured nine of the 25 spots. Tampa ranked high on the list at number four, making it a perfect opportunity for those looking to capitalize on the growing senior care industry–which is expected to reach $225 billion by 2024. 

Not only are there a growing number of seniors, but today’s seniors are different from past generations. More Americans are choosing to age in place, preferring to stay in their familiar surroundings. For example, an April 2022 report by the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation found that 88% of adults aged 50–80 “felt it is important to remain in their homes for as long as possible.” 

As the senior population goes up, so does the expense of senior and assisted living communities. The cost of care is quickly becoming out of reach for many seniors, and staying in their homes has become the only available option. As the only franchise concept focusing on home maintenance and senior support services both in and outside the home, TruBlue is positioned to capture a large portion of the market. 

“As a country, we are experiencing a change in how and where people want to grow old,” said Fitzgerald. “Plenty of companies have identified the growing desire from seniors to remain at home and, as a result, these companies have started offering more advanced in-home care services that address the medical needs that come with aging at home. However, almost no one is offering home maintenance and modifications specifically for seniors, despite staggering demand. We’re virtually alone in this segment, and we’ve seen tremendous growth as a result.”

For low startup costs ranging from $65,000 to $91,000, TruBlue franchisees in Tampa–and around the country–can leverage a streamlined operational model to provide three in-demand services to their community: traditional handyman services, subscription-based home maintenance programs, and senior home modification services.

The franchise offers seniors services starting in the form of a free home assessments, and then allowing franchisees to provide a quote and complete any necessary safety modifications such as installation of ramps and grab bars, widening of doorways, and more. TruBlue owners also offer quick fixes and minor home improvements, as well as quarterly and monthly home service maintenance packages to customers on a recurring basis–resulting in reliable revenue.

Prospective franchisees don’t need to be an expert in the senior industry or even home improvement because, unlike other home-based franchises that simply sign franchisees and send them on their way, TruBlue provides comprehensive training and ongoing support for all franchise owners led by an experienced executive team. And now is the time to invest. Fitzgerald says the TruBlue team is gearing up for major franchise expansion, with plans to reach 225 units by 2025. 

In addition to Tampa, TruBlue is looking to grow in markets such as Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville and Naples, Florida, as well as Houston and Dallas, Texas. 

The initial investment to start a TruBlue Total House Care ranges from $65,000 to $91,000, and interested owners can visit www.trubluefranchise.com to learn more about franchise opportunities.