Duration: 28m 17s
The thought of navigating government regulations may be a little intimidating, especially if this is all new territory for you. Fortunately, one of the biggest benefits of being a franchisee in the Right at Home network is that you’ll receive amazing hands-on support as you explore this territory.
You’ll have access to a wealth of resources, a team of subject matter experts, and a proven playbook as you apply for your license, learn the rules in your state, and even as you adapt to regulatory changes along the way. And of course, you’ll receive personalized coaching, guidance, and support throughout the process. But what does that process look like?
To find out, host and Senior Vice President of Franchise Development & Sales Jen Chaney welcomed Right at Home’s Senior Director of Government Affairs Doug Robertson for an informative Tuesday Talk.
Taking the Fear Out of Government Regulations
The big takeaway from our chat with Doug is that you don’t need to be intimidated. It’s true that there’s a lot to learn, and there’s a lot that goes into both understanding and complying with government regulations. But with Right at Home, you’ll never have to navigate these regulations alone.
“My role is to support the Right at Home franchise network nationwide by promoting an understanding of the intersection between federal policy and state regulations,” says Doug. “And it’s important to understand not just how to comply, but also to understand the various payer sources that fund home care.”
It’s fair to say that government regulations can be a bit complicated at times. There is a lot of paperwork to complete, and there are procedures that you’ll need to follow. The good news for both new and veteran franchise owners is that Doug brings a decade of experience with Right at Home and a full 25 years in the broader field of government relations. And after 30 years of franchising, the Right at Home network has a wealth of additional resources designed to help its 700+ franchisees achieve and maintain compliance.
Taking the First Steps
The very first step for a lot of our new franchisees is licensure. This is where things can get a little tricky. Some states require licensure for home care businesses, and others do not. In addition, every state that requires a license has its own procedures and rules. Naturally, we don’t expect you to figure it all out on your own.
“One of the reasons that I was brought on board with Right at Home was to create licensure toolkits in those 33 states that require a license to open a home care agency,” says Doug.
Each of those state toolkits also comes with highly personalized guidance. Doug explains that “we have staff here at the corporate office who have knowledge and understanding of the licensure requirements. And because Right at Home is growing at such a prolific rate, we have a contractor that will escort each new franchisee through the application process to get their license in that state.”
Discovering the Path Forward
That process begins as soon as Discovery Day. This is a critical date in every franchisee’s journey – an in-depth look at Right at Home, our mission, and what goes into franchise ownership. If everything goes right on Discovery Day, this is when you decide you’d like to purchase a franchise, and we extend an invitation for you to join our network.
But before we reach that point, Doug explains, it’s important that every prospective franchisee has at least a basic understanding of the regulatory requirements. He tells us that “we’ll go over the process and also any personnel requirements during Discovery Day. Usually, people walk away feeling like they know enough to make their decision about whether or not to move forward with home care and Right at Home from a license perspective.”
Discovery Day even includes a one-on-one licensure consultation for every prospective franchisee, tailored to the requirements of your specific state. And there’s a good reason we begin educating franchisees on licensure even before they sign on the dotted line. If you plan to operate in a state that requires licensure, this step must come before everything else. As Doug explains, “the license application process is one of the first steps that we help a franchisee engage in because we know that that is absolutely necessary for them to open their doors, to start their business. So we don’t delay.”
Getting the Right Start on Licensure
In fact, every new franchisee is given immediate access to an entire team of people who are ready to help.
“First and foremost,” says Doug, “there’s the corporate team. We have an understanding of a lot of things in each state, and we explain those things to the franchisee throughout the Right Start onboarding process,” says Doug.
Right Start is a program that every new franchisee will experience during their first several months of ownership. Though the length of this program will vary depending on each franchisee’s needs and situation, the goal is to help new owners set up their business and take every necessary step to reach opening day.
This is why, Doug explains, the Right Start program includes a variety of resources designed to help with licensure, including:
- State licensure vendors that help franchisees through the application process
- Online tools to help franchisees understand labor and employment law
- Home Care Association of America membership, which includes resources and meetings where franchisees can engage with and learn from state officials
Trusting the Process
There’s something else that new franchisees get access to, in addition to all of the great resources and helpful people. Every member of the Right at Home network gets access to a proven strategy for success. As Doug says, “I can’t speak for all the other home care brands, but I can speak for Right at Home. And I can say this: trust the process. This is not our first rodeo.”
Doug urges new franchisees to follow the steps provided and to proceed with patience. It’s natural to have a lot of questions and a lot of uncertainties when you begin, especially when it comes to navigating the complexities of government regulation.
“But,” says Doug, “as long as you trust the process through our Right Start onboarding program, you will get the assistance you need when you need it.”
“Ultimately,” Doug tells us, “we try to take the worry, the frustration, and the question marks off the table so that you can spend your time focusing on the work at hand instead of wondering what’s going to happen next week, next month, or next year.”
To learn more about franchise opportunities with Right at Home, visit https://rightathomefranchise.com/.