Why Buying a Resale Can Be a Smart Entry Into Senior Care Franchising
Buying a resale franchise within the Right at Home system can offer a practical way to enter the in-home care industry. Instead of launching a new office from the ground up, resale buyers step into an established location that already has caregivers, clients and day-to-day processes in place. That structure allows new owners to focus on learning the business and building relationships while continuing to serve the community.
From the brand’s perspective, resale opportunities are designed to give new owners a head start while preserving what has already been built.
“It’s a way for entrepreneurs to purchase something that is already well established,” said Angela Young, Director of Resales for Right at Home. “They can benefit from the relationships with clients, caregivers and referral partners that are already in place and step in to take the business to new heights.”
Resale opportunities can be especially appealing to entrepreneurs who want to grow an existing operation rather than start from scratch. Erica Carlisle took that path when she purchased a Right at Home resale location in the San Francisco Bay Area.
“I was planning to acquire an existing business. I wasn’t looking to do a startup,” Carlisle said. “It seemed like a better fit with my background, skills and experience, which have been more along the lines of building companies and scaling them up.”
An Existing Client Base and Team
Buying a resale location also means stepping into a business that already has staff in place and clients who are actively receiving care. That can make the transition smoother for families and give the new owner a better sense of how the operation runs day to day.
In the early weeks after taking over the business, franchisees can focus on getting to know the people connected to the office.
“It’s a completely different thing than trying to start up from scratch,” Carlisle said. “Your days are filled with trying to get to know the caregivers, get to know the clients and their families and the existing office team.”
Spending time with clients and caregivers helped her quickly learn the rhythm of the business while maintaining relationships already established within the community. That continuity also extends beyond daily operations.
“They’ve already set up processes in the office and built strong teams,” Young said. “It’s very advantageous to retain that staff and step into a business where people are already doing the job.”
A Smooth Transition Between Owners
The transition often includes a brief period where the previous owner works alongside the new franchisee. That time allows the new owner to learn the systems and routines that keep the business running day to day.
“For the first few weeks, the seller and I worked side by side so he could teach me critical things like how to run payroll and the processes that need to keep going with no errors,” Carlisle said.
That hands-on transition helped her understand the day-to-day responsibilities involved in operating the office. The transition is also supported at the system level to help ensure stability for both clients and staff.
“The owners have put a lot of time and effort into this, and they really care about their clients and the people who work in their communities,” Young said.
Established Processes Help Owners Learn Faster
A resale franchise also comes with systems that are already functioning. Recruiting, scheduling, payroll and billing processes are typically in place before the new owner arrives.
The office team already understands those workflows, which can make the learning process easier for a new franchisee.
“Most of the core processes the team knew how to do,” Carlisle said. “You have to rely on the team for a while to say ‘OK, you're going to do it to that point, and then I'm going to do this piece.’”
That collaboration allowed her to gradually learn each step involved in hiring caregivers, managing schedules and handling administrative responsibilities.
Training, Coaching and a Strong Franchise Network
Even though resale buyers are stepping into an existing business, they still receive the same support offered to new franchisees across the Right at Home system. That support includes formal training, coaching and ongoing guidance from the franchisor.
New owners attend a week-long training program at the company’s headquarters in Omaha. Franchisees also work with a coach who meets with them frequently in the early stages of ownership. Even for resale buyers, the onboarding process mirrors what new franchisees experience across the system.
“If you’re new to the system, you still go through our Right Start training and learn the fundamentals of home care,” Young said. “You also have coaches and subject matter experts supporting you in everything from operations to marketing.”
In addition to coaching, franchisees have access to topic-specific calls, marketing guidance and a network of fellow owners who can share insights and advice.
“Other owners are super helpful,” she said. “People in the corporate headquarters in Omaha have been really supportive and full of expertise and information that has helped.”
These resale opportunities give prospective franchisees the chance to acquire an established business while benefiting from the brand's training and support. For many buyers, that combination creates a more stable path into ownership. Once they're ready to sell, Right at Home supports them through that transition as well, helping ensure a smooth handoff to the next owner.
“We support our franchisees all the way through their journey,” Young said. “We want the selling of their business to be that grand finale of this very fruitful journey they've had with Right at Home.”
