Meet Right at Home Franchise Owner Holly Holton

Although Holly Holton has only owned her Right at Home franchise in Pickerington, near Columbus, Ohio for about a year, business is booming. It could be due, in part, to the fact she served as the Vice President of Operations for an occupational therapy company prior to becoming a Right at Home owner, but Holly is quick to credit the exceptional support she’s received from the Right at Home corporate office for her success

“During my vetting process I quickly came to understand that despite my knowledge and experience, I never could have done this without franchise support,” said Holly. “Right at Home set us up from the very beginning to get all the support we need–from local advice to RightStart coaching–there’s a lot you don’t think about, but they do.”

A Background in Healthcare

Prior to serving as the VP of Operations, Holly had years of fieldwork as an occupational therapist under her belt. Having graduated from the Ohio State University in 1992, she was hired as a staff therapist, specializing in post-acute care, mostly with senior citizens and adults with disabilities. Eventually, she worked her way up to rehab manager and eventually earned a regional position as the VP of Operations.

Although it wasn’t home care, she credits her years of experience to helping lay a strong foundation for her franchise ownership.

“My operations work focused on profit margins, creative problem-solving, and managing a variety of administrators, facilities, therapists, and staffers,” she said. “It also helped me gain more knowledge about Medicare and Medicaid, primarily what the rules are for resources for durable medical equipment and non-medical home care.”

It wasn’t until Holly’s grandparents needed home care for an extended period of time that she began to think about transitioning careers. 

“I started researching and the more people I spoke to, the more appealing home care became,” Holly said. 

A Business For The Right Reasons

Although Holly considered other franchise options in addition to Right at Home, she ultimately chose them because of the additional support she would receive and the values they share.

“First and foremost, you have to have a passion for this industry and a passion for Right at Home’s mission, which is to improve the quality of life for those we serve,” said Holly. “You’ve also got to have a never-ending work ethic, to be willing to jump into all the different facets of this industry.”

For Holly, that can sometimes mean filling in shifts for caregivers when there’s a critical need for a client. With her background originally being client-facing care, it’s not too uncomfortable a task for her to show up for clients in their home when the need arises.

“I don’t mind it at all. In fact, I think it makes me a better leader because it can help me relate to what my caregivers go through every day.”

Solid Support for Success

Holly can’t say enough good things about the support she has received from Right at Home’s corporate office, especially while getting the business off the ground.

“Even now, when I have questions or issues that I need help with, someone is always available to take my call,” she said. “I’m also so grateful for their online marketing specialist, especially since I don’t use social media!”

In addition to the great support she’s received from corporate, Holly has also prioritized building a great support team in her office.

“My first call every day is usually to my office manager to figure out which fires to put out first,” said Holly. “There are so many balls in the air every day, and you’re just trying not to let any drop.”

Also on her daily to-do list? Making marketing calls, attending local events, and cultivating relationships with senior communities and skilled nursing facilities. 

“You have to be able to communicate with people well and build relationships to develop referral sources to grow the business. Besides, it’s a good reminder of why I went into this in the first place: I was getting tired of sitting behind a desk and wanted to make a difference in people’s lives.”