Local Businessman Brings Handyman Service for Seniors to the Community After Experiencing a Need for Its Value Firsthand

An electrical engineer by profession, Brad McNamara has been an executive and business leader in the global power generation industry for over 25 years. Recently, he had an opportunity to step away from the corporate world and began searching for business opportunities near him to support his local community. Both Brad and Amanda have elderly parents that are adamant about aging in their homes and while on his search, McNamara even found it necessary to begin taking regular trips to Canada to help his mother with routine projects and modifications around her home. So when they discovered the handyman franchise that focuses on supporting seniors and helping them safely maximize their time in their homes, TruBlue Total House Care, the brand really stood out to them.

Recently, Brad and his partner Amanda Etheredge signed to bring the handyman service brand to Midlothian and surrounding areas. They are both passionate about the industry and creating a solid small business for the community. As local business owners, McNamara and Etheredge want to focus on hiring a great team of high-performing professionals to provide safe, reliable, premium-quality services to help them grow the brand. They know that a great work environment will lead to a happy team and great customer satisfaction for projects big and small

1851 spoke with Brad McNamara to learn more about his franchising journey with TruBlue Total House Care. 

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

Brad McNamara: I was an electrical engineer by profession, I have been a business leader in the global power generation industry for over 25 years. I was born and raised in Canada, but I’ve been in the Richmond area for 20 years now. Throughout my career, I worked for a variety of large corporations like Alstom and GE but I wanted to step out of the corporate world. So earlier this year I left that world and began looking at opportunities to own a small, community-based business. I grew up in the contracting business because of my father’s career in painting and decorating for over 48 years. TruBlue Total House Care seemed like a great fit because of the handyman aspect and the focus on senior spaces. It hit close to home because recently, I’ve been traveling to Eastern Canada regularly to help my own mother do the same services that TruBlue offers.

Franchising was a great option for me because you get the best of both worlds. You get a proven business model and support from a corporate team while having the flexibility of owning your own local business. It’s a great combination.

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?

McNamara: When I started to look for business opportunities outside the corporate world, I focused on local opportunities. That eventually led me to a franchise broker. Before that, I had never considered it. I think my perception of franchising was similar to a lot of other people’s. I thought of it as retail chains or fast food. As I started having conversations with brands and my franchise broker, I realized that there are a variety of industries and businesses that operate with franchise systems. 

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

McNamara: I like the fact that at its core, TruBlue is a handyman business, but I loved that it has a focus on seniors. I knew the service would be exactly what the community needed. With this brand, we are able to provide a specific premium service, not only to seniors but to people who don’t have the time or the resources to maintain their homes. I’m excited about the opportunity to build a team environment for people who work in the home service industry. I think this industry is a lone wolf industry, but I hope to change that while providing great customer service.

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

McNamara: My intention is to really scale this business in the area and build the reputation of the brand. I want this to be a great place for people in the industry to work. I want to build a company where my employees can continue to grow. 

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

McNamara: TruBlue Total House Care is a brand you can trust. We take pride in what we do and show up on time. That can be easy to say in this industry but harder for customers to find. We want to be the service that is known for its customer service. 

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

McNamara: Breathe. It’s a scary venture at first. You’re getting into a business, and even though you have support, you are still starting from scratch. You need to really commit and stick with it. Make sure to keep that long-term vision in your mind so you can push through.

ABOUT TRUBLUE TOTAL HOUSE CARE: 

TruBlue 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 complete 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.