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Meet the Owner: Shana Yu

Watch the full interview on our YouTube Channel.

When Shana Yu began exploring business ownership, she knew she wanted an opportunity that connected with her previous experience and allowed her to make a meaningful impact in her community. With a background in general management, marketing, and healthcare-related innovation, home care felt like a natural fit.

Today, Shana owns two Right at Home territories serving Boulder and Broomfield, Colorado. After acquiring an existing Right at Home business, she quickly learned that stepping into an established operation still requires an entrepreneurial mindset, a willingness to build relationships, and the ability to adapt to whatever each day brings.

For Shana, the experience has also reinforced the value of a network of fellow franchise owners who understand the opportunities and challenges of running a home care business.

Bringing Corporate Experience to Business Ownership

Before becoming a Right at Home franchise owner, Shana spent much of the previous 10 years working in general management and marketing. Most recently, her career has focused on cold and flu innovation, giving her additional exposure to the medical and healthcare space.

That experience helped shape the direction of her search when she began considering business ownership.

When the opportunity arose to acquire an existing Right at Home business, Shana saw several advantages. Right at Home was an established brand, and the previous owner had already implemented processes that laid the foundation for her transition into ownership.

However, another important factor stood out: the people within the Right at Home network.

“I really appreciated being able to talk to a number of the different franchisees in the network and having this built-in support system,” Shana said.

Finding Her Footing as a Franchisee

There isn’t necessarily a “typical” day for Shana. Because home care operates around the clock, her mornings often begin early with a check-in on the business.

From addressing scheduling needs to determining which clients or caregivers require follow-up, there are always competing priorities vying for attention. One constant priority is ensuring caregivers feel connected to the business and the people around them.

“I do like to make it a habit where we check in on our caregivers regularly, so they feel like they’re part of a team,” Shana explained.

As the owner, Shana also spends significant time focused on business development. That means planning her marketing efforts, determining who she wants to connect with in the community, and developing relationships that can help people become more familiar with the services her office provides.

A Network of Owners Who Understand

Although business ownership comes with independence, Shana has found that it doesn’t have to mean navigating challenges alone.

One of the most valuable aspects of the Right at Home franchise system for her has been the opportunity to connect with other franchise owners. She has developed relationships with owners throughout Colorado as well as experienced franchisees elsewhere in the network.

Whether she has a business question or simply wants to talk with someone who understands what her day has been like, she knows there are people she can reach out to.

“I don’t think people understand that being a business owner can be pretty lonely,” she said. “In home care specifically, there are challenges that other people may not completely understand.”

Having fellow owners who can offer advice, share their experiences, or simply listen has helped create a community around her business.

“Having a built-in support system of people who are willing to talk to you or commiserate with you, it’s very helpful,” said Shana.

Building a Business Through Relationships

Shana’s first months of ownership have also taught her the importance of developing a thoughtful, diversified approach to generating leads.

Although she acquired an existing business, she still needed to establish many of the referral relationships that could support its future growth. She spent much of her early time as an owner getting into the community, meeting potential referral sources, and creating connections that had not previously existed.

“I spent the first nine months building relationships that weren’t there,” she said.

Her advice to prospective owners is to understand just how important that relationship-building component can be. Different sources may generate different types of opportunities, and not every lead will ultimately turn into a client.

Because of that, Shana believes owners should think carefully about where their leads come from and begin building local relationships early.

“Just be cognizant of where you’re going to get your leads and how you’re going to build that, and get on those relationships soon,” she said.

It is an approach that reflects her own marketing and management background while reinforcing a lesson she learned firsthand: successful business ownership requires being present and active in the community you serve.

Looking Ahead

Shana is still relatively early in her journey as a Right at Home franchise owner, but her experience has already given her a firsthand look at both the responsibilities and rewards of owning a home care business.

From supporting caregivers and helping families navigate resources to developing referral relationships and learning from other franchise owners, her days require her to shift between many different roles.

Through it all, she continues to build on the foundation she acquired while developing the relationships needed to make the business her own.

For prospective franchise owners, Shana’s story demonstrates that previous business and marketing experience can provide valuable skills, but that ownership also requires a willingness to learn, build relationships, stay involved in the community, and lean on the people around you.