Franchising With Senior Helpers Allowed This Family to Achieve a Great Work-Life Balance
Even though they built impressive careers, Desiree and Nick Trunzo both wanted a better work-life balance to meet the needs of their family.
Stretched to the max, Desiree often had to travel from Monday through Thursday throughout the Pacific Northwest for her position at a startup veterinary company.
Juggling her career with two kids wasn’t easy. But once Desiree’s father (who had been caring for her grandfather) fell and broke his hip, she knew it was time to make a change. “I wasn’t able to help because of my work demands,” she says.
The couple turned to franchising and explored many options. They ultimately chose a senior care franchise, Senior Helpers, and launched their business in 2019. “We decided we wanted to be there for others who were in the same position as us: in need of help for a loved one,” Desiree says.
Purpose Driven
In all the brands the couple looked at, they felt most aligned with Senior Helpers. “Our goals matched the company’s vision and purpose,” Desiree says. The couple was particularly impressed by the corporate team’s passion. “Everyone we talked to from Senor Helpers really understood the mission and vision of the company. I could tell they were in it for the greater good.”
Getting Started
Initially, Nick kept his day job and Desiree ran the business. Nick helped where he could, but Desiree did all of the marketing, hiring, and day-to-day operations that came with growing the business. “We thought Nick would keep his job for several years, but we got too busy; so Nick joined the business full time after just one year.”
Now that the couple both work on the business full time, they divide and conquer. Nick focuses on financials, client services and sales, while Desiree manages the care team, recruiting, and marketing.
Scaling the Business
With everything going well, the couple recently opened a second location. “We plan to hire key managers who will take on some of our responsibilities. Our vision is to have a higher-level managerial role as we grow,” Desiree says.
Working Through COVID
Although the pandemic presented its challenges, their business has grown at an even faster rate through the crisis. “More seniors want to be home and avoid skilled nursing. Right now our biggest challenge is finding more caregivers,” Desiree says.
The couple is thrilled with their decision to invest in Senior Helpers senior care franchise. They enjoy making a difference through the business. “Helping one person means helping an entire family. We have become an extension of our clients’ families,” she adds.
Working together is something the couple really enjoys. “We even get to carpool some days, which is a drastic change from being away from each other four days a week,” she says.