Meet the Owner: Alex English

Listen to Alex's full interview on our YouTube Channel.

For Alex English, becoming a Right at Home Franchise Owner wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. After spending nearly two decades in healthcare leadership roles, he knew exactly what he was looking for in his next chapter: the opportunity to build a business, serve his community, and make a meaningful difference in people's lives.

Today, Alex owns two Right at Home territories in Southern Illinois, just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. While he's only a few months into Franchise ownership, his journey to Right at Home began long before he signed his Franchise Agreement.

A Healthcare Career Built on Leadership

Before becoming a Franchise Owner, Alex spent 17 years working in healthcare across several specialties, including home health, correctional healthcare, addiction medicine, and pediatric dentistry and orthodontics.

Much of his career focused on recruiting and leading healthcare professionals. He also gained valuable experience in business development and client relations, skills that would later prove useful as a business owner.

Those years gave Alex a strong understanding of healthcare operations, but they also helped him develop something equally important: an appreciation for mission-driven organizations that put people first.

An Insider's Look at the Home Care Industry

Alex's path to Franchise ownership gave him a unique perspective on the home care industry.

Prior to purchasing his Right at Home office, he worked for a business brokerage group that specialized in selling home care companies. The role allowed him to learn the business from the inside out, evaluate different Franchise systems, and understand what sets strong Franchise brands apart from the rest.

During that time, he became familiar with Right at Home and kept the Brand in the back of his mind.

"I always told myself that if something became available in my home territory, it would be something I'd jump at," Alex recalled.

When the opportunity finally arose, he was ready.

His confidence in the Brand was reinforced after attending Right at Home's 2025 annual conference, where he had the opportunity to meet Franchise owners and members of the Corporate Team firsthand.

"I was blown away by how mission-driven they were when it came to caring for seniors," Alex said. "The support behind the scenes for franchisees and the camaraderie among owners really stood out."

For Alex, it felt like finding the right fit at exactly the right time.

Building a Business That Makes an Impact

One of the things Alex enjoys most about home care is that no two days look the same.

Some days are spent in the office planning schedules, supporting operations, and identifying growth opportunities. Other days involve meetings with clients and families throughout the community. Every Wednesday, he personally participates in caregiver orientation, giving him the chance to connect with new team members as they begin their journey.

"I wish there was a typical day," Alex said with a laugh. "Home care is such a fun environment because every day I go home knowing that I'm helping people."

As a Franchise Owner, Alex appreciates having the flexibility to focus his time where he can make the greatest impact while surrounding himself with a strong team.

He credits much of his early success to the experienced staff he inherited through the resale process.

"They've really jumped in with both feet to make this transition as smooth as possible for our clients," he said.

Support Through Every Step of Ownership

Purchasing and transitioning a business comes with plenty of moving parts, especially in a highly regulated industry like home care.

Fortunately, Alex says he never felt like he had to navigate the process alone.

From onboarding and training to licensing and operational guidance, he found support at every stage of the journey. He specifically highlighted the assistance he received from his onboarding coach, as well as the connections he built during Residence Week.

"It was great getting to meet all the subject matter experts and form relationships with them," Alex said. "Knowing who I can go to if I have a problem has been instrumental in reducing stress so I can focus on growing the business."

He also praised the Business of Senior Care team for helping him navigate the licensing requirements in Illinois, which can be especially complex.

"They walked me through everything and made sure everything was in place," he said. "Without their support and guidance, I don't know if I'd be sitting here today."

For Alex, having experienced experts available when questions arise has allowed him to focus less on administrative hurdles and more on building relationships with clients, caregivers, and referral partners.

The Reward of Serving Families

While Alex has only been a Right at Home owner for a short time, he's already experienced some of the moments that make home care such a rewarding business.

One of the most meaningful aspects of the work has been hearing from family members whose loved ones received care during difficult periods of their lives.

Alex recalls receiving calls and messages from relatives expressing gratitude for the compassion, consistency, and communication provided by his caregiving team.

"They told us how well our caregivers did and the comfort they brought their family," he said.

Those moments reinforce the reason he entered the industry in the first place.

"Just seeing the impact we're making is fantastic."

Finding the Right People

When asked what advice he would offer someone considering Franchise ownership, Alex's answer was simple: focus on people.

"Home care is a people business," he said.

Drawing on his extensive background in healthcare recruitment, Alex believes the people behind a Franchise System are just as important as the business model itself.

"You really want to make sure the right people are part of that Franchisor," he explained.

Throughout his years recruiting healthcare professionals and leaders, Alex developed a strong instinct for identifying mission-driven individuals who genuinely care about the people they serve. That same quality is what he saw in the Right at Home Network.

"That's what I get from Right at Home, and that's why I chose this Brand."

A Strong Start with the Right Support

Just three months into ownership, Alex is already seeing the difference that compassionate care can make for families in his community. He's also experiencing firsthand the value of joining a Network built around collaboration, support, and a shared mission.

For Alex, Franchise ownership isn't simply about operating a business. It's about helping people remain safe and comfortable at home while building something meaningful in the community he calls home.

And with a strong team beside him and the support of the Right at Home Network behind him, he's excited about what comes next.