Meet the Owner: Tony Mau
Watch the full interview on our YouTube Channel.
For Tony Mau, becoming a Right at Home Franchise Owner was never part of a long-term career plan. After spending more than two decades in the telecommunications industry, he began his path into home care through a deeply personal experience with a loved one.
Today, more than a decade later, Tony has built a thriving business, created opportunities for hundreds of caregivers, and helped countless seniors remain independent in the place they call home. His journey is a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful business opportunities come from life’s unexpected moments.
His Introduction to Home Care
Before joining Right at Home, Tony spent 22 years working in telecommunications, primarily in operational roles. Home care wasn’t an industry he had actively considered until his mother-in-law experienced a serious medical event.
After an extended hospital stay, she moved in temporarily with Tony and his wife while she recovered. At 85 years old, however, she was determined to return to her farm, where she lived independently and cared for her chickens and garden.
Tony knew she would need support if she were going to return home safely. As he began researching local care providers, he found himself underwhelmed by the options available.
“My wife and I started taking a deeper look at in-home care,” Tony recalls. “The more we learned, the more interested we became.”
Not long after beginning his research, a Franchise broker suggested he meet the Right at Home team. The connection felt right almost immediately.
“A month later, we had signed an agreement.”
Learning a New Business
Like many Right at Home Franchise Owners, Tony entered the business with little prior experience in in-home care.
That meant learning every aspect of the operation from the ground up.
“When you’re a business owner, you have to understand everything,” he said. “You can hire people who are smarter than you in specific areas, but you still have to understand every facet of the business.”
Coming from an operations background, marketing wasn’t initially in his comfort zone. Yet he quickly discovered that building relationships and becoming the face of the business were critical responsibilities.
He credits Right at Home’s support system for helping him navigate those early challenges.
“When I first started, I relied heavily on the support team because I didn’t know what I didn’t know,” Tony says. “They helped point me in the right direction and encouraged me to get out into the community.”
Over the years, the support he relied on evolved alongside the needs of his growing business. From marketing resources and web support to financial guidance and operational coaching, Tony found value in different areas at different stages of growth.
“As the hats shifted, so did my support needs,” he says.
The Next Generation of Leadership
Today, Tony’s role looks very different from what it did when he first opened the doors.
Several years ago, his niece stepped into a leadership position and eventually became the majority owner of the business. Tony now serves as a minority shareholder and focuses primarily on financial management and back-office operations.
The transition reflects something Tony believes is essential for long-term success: empowering others to lead.
His niece had already been handling much of the day-to-day operational work before assuming ownership, and Tony intentionally stepped back to allow her space to lead.
“I knew I couldn’t get in the way,” he said.
While he still spends time overseeing billing and finance, he takes pride in watching the next generation continue building on the foundation they created together.
Building a Business and a Team
When asked about a defining moment in his ownership journey, Tony points to a financial milestone that represented much more than revenue.
The first time the business reached $1 million in annual payroll, he knew they were making a significant impact.
“It felt like we were really moving the needle,” he says.
For Tony, that milestone wasn’t simply about business growth. It was evidence that the company was creating meaningful employment opportunities and supporting families throughout the community.
Today, the organization employs approximately 150 caregivers and team members, with payroll growing significantly since those early days.
“We’re affecting a lot of lives,” Tony says. “All of those employees depend on us.”
The Caregivers Who Make It Possible
While Tony is passionate about helping seniors remain independent in their homes, he is quick to recognize the people who make that mission possible every day.
“The caregivers are the ones who make this thing work,” he says.
Their dedication, compassion, and commitment enable clients to remain where they feel most comfortable while providing families with peace of mind.
That impact continues to be one of the most rewarding parts of ownership.
For Tony, success isn’t measured solely by business metrics. The lives of seniors are improved through quality care, meaningful employment, and opportunities to help them maintain their independence.
Advice for Prospective Franchise Owners
After more than a decade in business, Tony offers straightforward advice for individuals exploring Franchise Ownership.
Be prepared to step outside your comfort zone.
Whether it’s finance, marketing, operations, and leadership, owners must be willing to learn new skills and adapt as their business grows.
The early years require commitment, hard work, and support from both your professional and personal networks.
“The first couple of years can be tough,” Tony says. “You need a great support staff in the office, and you need support at home too.”
At the same time, he believes the rewards make the effort worthwhile.
For those willing to learn, grow, and embrace every aspect of ownership, Right at Home offers an opportunity to build something truly meaningful.
As Tony’s journey demonstrates, sometimes the most impactful businesses begin with a simple desire to help a loved one and grow into something that changes lives throughout an entire community.
