Former McDonald’s, Smoothie King Franchise Professional Steps Into Ownership With Right at Home

Jobin Mathai was familiar with the benefits of franchise ownership long before he purchased two Right at Home territories in South Dallas.

“I worked for McDonald’s, one of the biggest names in franchises for over twenty years,” Jobin said. “I spent time on both the corporate and franchise sides of the business, and I knew I wanted to stay within a franchise system when I opened my own business.”

Although Jobin spent a great deal of his career in the restaurant industry — first with McDonald’s and then as the director of operations, training & development for Smoothie King — he was open to expanding beyond hospitality as long as the business was service-driven.

“I was willing to try something different, but because all of my experience has been service-focused, I was trying to find an opportunity that would also make a difference,” he said.

Discovering Right at Home

When Jobin decided that it was time for him to go out on his own, he knew he wanted a franchise opportunity because he understood the support that exists between franchisee and franchisor.

“I reviewed many different options and actually had a checklist of things that I was looking for in a new business opportunity with an existing franchise,” Jobin said.

What did that checklist entail, exactly?

“I wanted to do something with my wife and have her be my partner, so it had to be an opportunity we both wanted to pursue since we would be working side-by-side,” he said. “I also wanted something I could financially grow for our future.”

His goals for a business weren’t just financially motivated, however; Jobin and his wife wanted to invest in something that would also have an impact on the greater good.

“We wanted to give back and be able to serve our community in order to really make a difference,” he said. “We also wanted to be able to make a positive impact on our employees. I had several conversations with my wife and Right at Home was clearly the best choice.”

Starting From Scratch

Jobin and his wife purchased two territories in South Dallas in February 2023 and worked tirelessly for six months to get their business up and running. 

“My RightStart Coach has been very supportive from day one,” Jobin said. “It’s very important you stay on track and make sure you never miss any deadlines, and our coach really made sure we stuck to the timeline.”

Jobin credits his coach as being one of the greatest sources of support for him from the beginning.

“No matter the day of the week, they are there to answer my questions and are always so resourceful because they always know someone that can help with what I need,” he said. “I’m not wasting my time digging for things; they can find what I need right away, and it’s had a huge impact.”

Another source of support has been the Right at Home corporate office. After attending Right at Home training, the Mathais chose to dive right into the hiring process. They were focused on following the step-by-step instructions laid out for them by Right at Home corporate, knowing that if they followed it, they would be able to successfully launch the business.

“I had an office staff from the start. I brought in a director of operations and an office manager,” said Jobin. “They could focus on hiring and training so that I could focus on growth, which was going out into the community and meeting people, spreading the word about what kind of company we were going to be.”

Following the Right at Home blueprint worked, and the Mathais opened their doors for business in August 2023.

Focusing on Growth

“We received great advice from Right at Home: work on the business, don’t work in the business, and I have used that as a guidepost since we opened,” Jobin said. “It was continually about figuring out how to build the right team and get the business to a place where I had a chance to focus on growing it.”

Now that the business has evolved since those early days of getting it up and running, Jobin has shifted his thinking towards continued growth and learning opportunities for both himself and his staff.

“We are always thinking about what we can do to reward our caregivers and give back to our team,” he said.

For Jobin, a focus on growth means making deeper connections in his community. From meeting with social workers and case managers to connecting with rehab centers and hospitals, face-to-face interactions continue to be the best kind of marketing for his business.

“I’ve also forged connections with a lot of other franchise owners and been able to pick their brains about anything that might pop up in the business,” Jobin said. “In fact, I’m in a book club with other Right at Home franchise owners, and we get together once a month to discuss different topics. The level of experience varies — from those who have been in business for twenty years to those who have just started, like me.”

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 five other countries. 

To learn more about Right at Home and why it can boast of unmatched support not found anywhere else in the senior care industry, visit: https://rightathomefranchise.com.