Former HBO Executive Becomes Business Owner With Right at Home Franchise

Former HBO executive Sandra Chiles is bringing Right at Home* — the 700-plus-unit, in-home care franchise — to the Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) area later this month. With her late-September launch, Chiles plans to grow within the DFW market to address additional demand.

The idea of franchising came to her after three decades in corporate America. Chiles retired to avoid a workplace-related relocation across the country. Still, she wasn’t ready to completely exit the working world. She first tested out the entrepreneurial world with her then-husband and a lawn care business. A few years later, Chiles looked into owning another business. Franchising provided an opportunity for Chiles to build something for herself with the support of a proven business model and established team, and Right at Home allowed her to address a high-demand market she could relate to.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Chiles: I worked in corporate America for 30 years. I managed key national accounts for HBO and was in charge of the Southeast region. My major clients were Cox Communications and Charter Communications. I had an office staff of about 50 people who reported to me, and we worked with key and local accounts to support their efforts to develop marketing campaigns and drive subscriptions for both cable and HBO.

As part of a reorganization, my boss wanted her team to move to New York because that’s where the headquarters are. I was living here in Texas and had two teenage sons, so I was not that excited about moving to New York. It wouldn’t have been impossible, but it would’ve been a big change, so I decided to take early retirement. At the time, I started up a landscaping business with my ex-husband. His background was in construction, so he did the front-facing parts of the business, and I did all the back office work. When we divorced a few years ago, I didn’t want to retire completely, so I looked for opportunities to stay in the ball game through franchising.

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?

Chiles: I had taken a look at Chick-fil-A several years ago, but I never got that far in the process. When I began to speak with various people about how Right at Home was structured and what the organizational culture was, I felt like it would provide a great foundation of support. Given my lack of experience in both the medical field and franchising, I knew that having Right at Home Corporate guiding me would help keep me on track.

It’s important that you’re confident in the franchisor’s willingness to support you. The great thing about Right at Home is that I cannot think of a single area where I had a question or needed guidance and wasn’t able to get support from the corporate team. You can spend a lot of time spinning your wheels trying to research something, and they always had a resource ready to give to me that either answered my question or got me going down the right path.

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

Chiles: I had a good friend whose mom had a stroke, and she was researching caregivers. We came across Right at Home. As we talked about it, it brought me back to a time when my own parents were having medical issues. I have two sisters so we decided to take turns assisting with doctor’s appointments, daytime company and their other needs, but my friend didn’t have any other family members to help. I saw a real need and opportunity to take some of the stress off of families who are dealing with both their own families and parents who need assistance. She was looking at Right at Home as a client, but it piqued my interest as a possible ownership opportunity.

For me, what I realized in my old age is that I get joy from seeing others do well and supporting their efforts. It felt right for me.

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

Chiles: I’ve thought about my one-month, six-month and one-year plans. My goal for the next 30 days is to hire some caregivers and get clients on board so we can retain those caregivers. In six months, I want to have 500 hours in client billing. I haven’t given too much thought to how many clients that will be. Some may want live-ins and overnights, and others might just want four- to eight-hour shifts. In a year, I’d like to be at 1,000 hours for client billing.

There is a lot of opportunity in the Dallas Fort Worth market, but there’s also a lot of competition. I want to have goals to shoot for but am also trying to make sure they’re realistic.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Chiles: It’s never too late to begin a new journey. Twenty to 30 years ago, I never would’ve imagined I’d be going out on my own and opening a business. It just wasn’t a thought. This effort has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, though.

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

Chiles: If you are exploring franchising as a possible career path, it is critical that you take a very thorough look at the support network that the franchise can provide. Really peel back the onion and don’t take certain things for granted. Be curious about how they support your efforts and guide you through the practical parts of the business that you may not have experience in.

The estimated initial investment to begin the operation of a Right at Home franchise is $88,719-$157,669. If you're interested in taking the next step in making a difference in your community as a Right at Home franchisee, visit rightathomefranchise.com.

ABOUT RIGHT AT HOME

Founded in 1995, Right at Home offers in-home care to seniors and adults with disabilities who want to live independently. Most Right at Home offices are independently owned and operated, and directly employ and supervise all caregiving staff. Each caregiver is thoroughly screened, trained and bonded/insured before entering a client’s home. Right at Home’s global office is based in Omaha, Nebraska, with more than 700 franchise locations in the U.S. and six other countries. If you're interested in taking the next step in making a difference in your community as a Right at Home franchisee, visit rightathomefranchise.com.