TruBlue Home Service Ally

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmen-hendricks-32b96357/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=womens-history-month-spotlight-how-this-trublue-franchisee-is-thriving-in-the-handyman-services-industry-2718164" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Carmen Hendricks</a> is a <a href="https://trubluefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=womens-history-month-spotlight-how-this-trublue-franchisee-is-thriving-in-the-handyman-services-industry-2718164" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TruBlue Total House Care</a> franchise owner in Vienna, Virginia, who has had incredible success in the traditionally male-dominated handyman services industry. Hendricks launched her franchise in September 2019 after her mother experienced some health issues that required a hospital stay. Upon returning home, her mother needed a lot of work done at her house so she could rehab safely at home. It was nothing major, Hendricks recalls — just a tub-to-shower conversion and some general maintenance —&nbsp;but it presented an issue nonetheless.“I had a really hard time finding people to do that kind of work,” said Hendricks. “The projects were considered too small for most contractors. And then after I finally got my mother home and settled in, I sort of had this Aha moment and realized that there's a real need for this kind of service — handyman companies that specialize in smaller projects with a focus on helping seniors. And I wanted to make that happen.”She researched a range of franchises searching for any that had both the handyman component and a focus on seniors.She found just one: TruBlue.On the surface, Hendricks stands out as a female in a traditionally male-dominated industry. But when you dive deeper into her professional history, she appears even more unlikely to be the owner and operator of a thriving handyman services business.Hendricks started her career in mortgage banking, and after nearly 20 very successful years, she got burned out and walked away. She went back to school and got a Master’s degree in urban planning. Then, a friend who owned an accounting firm came to her with a problem. He was in trouble. He had just bought a second location and had nobody to run it. He asked her to come help. It was supposed to be a temporary thing, but the next thing she knew, she had helped her friend acquire seven more accounting firms over a five-year span. She was wildly successful, and both the business and revenue were growing. Business was booming.Then, she walked away to start a TruBlue franchise.“People thought I was nuts,” said Hendricks. “Why would I give up the security of a bi-weekly paycheck — where I was paid handsomely — to start from ground zero in something I've never done before?”The answer was twofold: passion and purpose.“TruBlue has three avenues you can take: yardwork, house cleaning and handyman services,” said Hendricks. “There are some women just doing the house cleaning. I could have done that. A lot of women are. But I was doing this for my mother and people like her. So I went the handyman route, even though there aren’t a lot of women doing it.”More than two years later, Hendricks is thriving as a TruBlue franchisee, and 50% of her business comes from working to help seniors who are aging at home.&nbsp;It’s different work for her, but it’s nothing she can’t handle. She’s always been a DIY-er, she says, and in her nearly 20 years of banking, she’s reviewed thousands of appraisals, so she knows the language.“Now, if someone said to me, ‘Hey, can you drywall my entire family room ceiling?’ No, I'm not the girl for that job,” she said. “But what I am really good at is planning, scheduling and managing a project from start to finish so that when my guys show up, they're absolutely prepared.”She’s not afraid to get her hands dirty, either. Hendricks recalls one winter project where she was short-staffed and she and another handyman installed a corrugated roof on a client’s back porch — just the two of them, alone, in the snow. She’s carried toilets up and down stairs — whatever it takes to help her team and get the job done, she says.“I just feel like if you're a boss, you’ve got to do the work to prove that you have the backbone,” she said. “I know that I have to work harder than my male competitors to prove myself in this business.”That’s also something she’s familiar with. Early in her career, she says, when she was working for JPMorgan Chase in Portland, Oregon, they wanted her to manage an office. At the time, Hendricks was ready to move back to the east coast. So when an opportunity came up in the Northern Virginia office just outside of Washington, DC, she took it. When she showed up on her first day, she realized that not only was it an all-male staff, but one of those men had been the previous branch manager who had been demoted.&nbsp;So there was Hendricks — a young woman in one of the first leadership roles in her young career, coming from 3,000 miles away to be the new boss in this all-male branch, managing the man she had replaced.&nbsp;And she proved herself.&nbsp;Not only did she run a successful branch, but that male manager who had been demoted stayed with her for about one year, and the two are still friends today, some 20 years later.“I’m sort of used to having to prove myself,” she said.Now, at TruBlue, she says, the support she receives not only from colleagues and contractors — both male and female — as well as a local community of female entrepreneurs and businesswomen who are always helping each other out, has been tremendous. Especially the support she gets from TruBlue, which has helped her as both a franchisee and as a female entrepreneur."We have quite a few strong female owners like Carmen who are making a difference in their local communities,” said TruBlue President <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/seancfitzgerald/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=womens-history-month-spotlight-how-this-trublue-franchisee-is-thriving-in-the-handyman-services-industry-2718164" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sean Fitzgerald</a>. “We’re always looking to bring on qualified female franchise owners who are passionate about what we do and who believe in taking advantage of a great business opportunity and providing a valuable service."Despite her success, Hendricks is still reminded at times that she is indeed a female in a male-dominated industry. Just recently, she says, she was out doing an estimate, and when she knocked on the door and the client answered, he seemed confused.&nbsp;“I think he was looking for what he assumed to be the man behind me who was going to do the actual estimate,” she said.&nbsp;Hendricks introduced herself, chatted with the man, demonstrated her expertise and built not only instant credibility but instant rapport with the client.“Honestly,” she says, “It’s not about my gender. It’s not about me at all or even my business. It’s about my employees and am I setting them up to succeed, and more than anything, it’s about my clients. I do this for my mother, and for people like her who need these services. That’s why I joined TruBlue — to fill that need. And everything I do in my business is to fulfill that goal.”The initial investment to start a TruBlue Total House Care ranges from $65,000 to $91,000. For more information about franchising with TruBlue Total House Care, visit <a href="http://www.trubluefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=womens-history-month-spotlight-how-this-trublue-franchisee-is-thriving-in-the-handyman-services-industry-2718164" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.trubluefranchise.com</a>.&nbsp;About TruBlue Total House CareTruBlue Total House Care provides a helping hand around the house — inside and out. TruBlue’s services include to-do list chores, handyman services, house cleaning, maintenance, yard work, emergency repairs, seasonal work, and preventative maintenance, all handled by a personal House Care Manager. TruBlue strives to provide affordable, worry-free living for seniors and hassle-free living for busy adults by providing full-service, trustworthy house care services. TruBlue franchise owners are required to obtain the Senior Home Safety Certification program through Age Safe® America. As specialists, TruBlue franchisees will be able to perform Senior Home Safety Assessments and can make those recommended safety modifications, if needed. To learn what it takes to open your own TruBlue Total House Care franchise, visit <a href="https://trubluefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=womens-history-month-spotlight-how-this-trublue-franchisee-is-thriving-in-the-handyman-services-industry-2718164" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.trubluefranchise.com</a>.

Women’s History Month Spotlight: How This TruBlue Franchisee Is Thriving in the Handyman Services Industry

1851 Franchise

Carmen Hendricks went from 20 years in mortgage banking to running a thriving business in the male-dominated handyman industry.

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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For decades,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-dawes-09067411/">John Dawes</a> has successfully built businesses from the ground up. Most recently, it was his work in bathroom safety remodeling that shifted his perspective. While helping seniors modify their homes for safety, Dawes saw firsthand the immense relief and joy his work brought to families.Now, at 60 years old, Dawes isn't looking to retire, he is looking to continue making a difference. Determined to spend the next decade doing meaningful work, Dawes has launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.trubluefranchise.com/">TruBlue Home Service Ally</a> in Sioux Falls. By pivoting to franchising, he is skipping the "start-up" headaches he faced in previous ventures to focus entirely on what drives him: providing peace of mind to the Sioux Falls community and helping neighbors stay safe and comfortable in their homes.1851 Franchise sat down with Dawes to discuss the launch of his new business. Here’s what he had to say:1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?John Dawes: I've been in sales and management for most of my career. I bounced around from the auto industry to the mortgage industry, then onto the advertising agency world. I owned a mortgage company for many years here in Sioux Falls. Then I became their national sales trainer and their sales manager for 34 locations. I also owned an auto dealership leads and credit repair company called The Right Track Solution for five years.For the last year and a half, I headed up a national bathroom remodeling company. About 75% of my business was working with seniors, and I really enjoyed seeing firsthand how we impacted our customers and the new peace of mind our services provided for them. This really motivated me to open a business centered around seniors. I still have 10 to 15 years left to work, so I thought, “Why not open a senior service-centered business?”1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Dawes: My first two businesses that I owned, there was not really a model to go by. So, you pretty much had to do everything from figuring out your CRM and your marketing approaches. I did not want to go down that road again because it takes a lot of work and a lot of time. What really attracted me to franchising is that they've already got everything completed for you. It’s like a turnkey business. You go in, follow the instructions and here you go.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?Dawes: I have a lot of friends that own franchises in different industries, so a lot of my perception of franchising comes from their experiences. Some of them were given a ton of freedom and leeway, others not at all. I thought initially that the franchisor would give me everything, but it turned out that they did give me some decision-making power, and I really appreciate that.1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Dawes: When I found&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/trubluehomeserviceally/info">TruBlue</a> it was just a perfect match. I've always had a heart for helping people, especially seniors. With what they get for compensation and then the amount of things that they give you and the amount of support they give you, there really aren’t any franchises out there like them. They go above and beyond what many other companies do.1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?Dawes: I grew up in North Dakota in Grand Forks, so there might be possibilities of expanding to my home areas. I would definitely like to expand further south, maybe to Sioux City. There aren’t too many TruBlue territories in this area, so there is plenty of opportunity to expand.1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?Dawes: I've always had just a passion for helping people and treating them how they should be treated. With my sales background I always aimed to not put a ton of pressure on customers to purchase or not purchase.Also, I've played racquetball for probably 40 years, 50 years, and I’m a new grandparent! I have one grandchild right now, with 2 more on the way. A lot of my time is spent with my family these days.1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?Dawes: I would definitely say that if you've got the inkling that franchise ownership is something you want to do, then you should do it. The nice thing about franchising is that there's always going to be help and support at the ready for you. If you have the drive to succeed, you will succeed.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.

TruBlue Home Service Ally - John Dawes Franchisee Feature - 1851 Franchise

After discovering a passion for helping seniors age in place safely, John Dawes is bringing the handyman and home safety franchise to Sioux Falls.

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1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Robert Campbell, TruBlue Home Service Ally

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.

Women’s History Month Spotlight: How This TruBlue Franchisee Is Thriving in the Handyman Services Industry

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