Fueled by their personal experiences caring for older loved ones, Ben Clepper and Emely Aleman launched Right at Home in the Great Smoky Mountain region to fill a vital need in their community.
Having personally experienced the challenges of finding trusted care for aging loved ones, Ben Clepper and Emely Aleman recognized an opportunity to bring a higher standard of service to their community with Right at Home*, the in-home care franchise. As they prepare to open their Right at Home franchise in the Great Smoky Mountains in early 2025, the duo is focused on filling a gap in professional caregiving services and bringing a compassionate, client-centered approach to home care.
“I’ve always been passionate about helping others, and this industry gives me a way to stay deeply involved in the community,” said Aleman. “When I was a caregiver, my client had speech impediment, and I committed to learning sign language so I could communicate with her. That experience shaped how I approach caregiving — it’s about making it personable and going the extra mile.”
With Right at Home’s proven franchise model and their shared passion for helping others, the duo are excited to build a business that provides peace of mind for families in need.
1851 Franchise spoke with Clepper and Aleman to learn more about their backgrounds and their franchising journey, what drew them to Right at Home, and their plans for the future.
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Ben Clepper: I worked in the entertainment industry running ads for Regal Cinemas and later transitioned to an agency here in Tennessee. Emely and I were looking at different business options to leave the corporate world, and I had already identified a need for professional caregiving services in our area. When my grandparents needed care, we struggled to find the right services — there just wasn’t anything that felt professional enough.
Through research, we found Right at Home, and one of the available territories was in our area. It felt like the perfect match for our skills and what we were looking for in a business. We’re excited to fill this void and provide a much-needed service for families like ours.
Emely Aleman: In college, I worked as a caregiver and loved the experience. After that, I entered the medical industry as a compensation analyst, but caregiving always stuck with me. When we started looking for a business and leaving the corporate world, coming across Right at Home felt like the perfect fit. There’s something really fulfilling about knowing you’re helping people every day.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Clepper: One thing that really stood out about Right at Home was their warm handoff approach. Many care franchises don’t offer an in-home consultation or make a meaningful introduction between the caregiver and the client. That connection is crucial — it’s about trust, and when you’re letting someone into your home to care for a loved one, that trust is everything.
Aleman: We focus on quality over quantity. We want to make sure we’re building the right team — people who truly care about their clients and treat them like family.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Clepper: Our goal is to become the most trusted and dominant home care agency in the area — one that provides the level of professional care our community deserves.
Aleman: We want to grow as much as possible while maintaining high standards. Eventually, we hope to expand and bring Right at Home to even more families.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Clepper: A lot of people are hesitant about franchising, but there are so many different industries to explore. Find something you’re truly passionate about — it’ll drive you to work harder and stay committed. Many well-known brands are franchises, even if people don’t realize it. Having that built-in support system is a huge advantage, especially in an industry with complex medical and legal requirements.
Aleman: Make sure the franchise you choose isn’t just selling you something but is genuinely invested in your success. Right at Home connected us with existing franchisees, which gave us real insight into the business. That transparency was a big green flag for us. A good franchisor will prove that they are there to support you every step of the way.
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About Right at Home
Founded in 1995, Right at Home offers in-home care to seniors and adults with disabilities who want to live independently. Most Right at Home offices are independently owned and operated, and directly employ and supervise all caregiving staff. Each caregiver is thoroughly screened, trained, and bonded/insured before entering a client’s home. Right at Home’s global office is based in Omaha, Nebraska, with more than 750 franchise locations in the U.S. and four other countries. If you are interested in learning more or in owning a Right at Home franchise, please visit us at: https://rightathomefranchise.com/ or to read more about franchise ownership, visit our blog at: https://rightathomefranchise.com/forc/
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