Are you an aspiring entrepreneur passionate about giving back to those in need? Our franchisees help serve their communities by providing a higher standard of quality care for people of all ages.
Michael Tamberino, who has been a BrightStar Care franchisee since July 2018, exemplifies this commitment to serving communities. Recently, he sat down to speak with us about his journey to franchise with BrightStar Care and how it has allowed him to improve the lives of countless individuals while building a profitable business.
How Do You Choose a Franchise That is Right for You?
Before investing in a BrightStar Care franchise, Michael worked in account management, for a technology company that performed licensing and certification testing. He had always wanted to go into business for himself and found himself researching franchise concepts.
“I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit,” Michael explained, “I come from a family of entrepreneurs, and I got to a point in my career where I felt like it was now or never to do something on my own.”
Around that time, an old college friend opened a BrightStar Care franchise in Alabama. Michael was intrigued and decided to contact his friend to learn more. After learning more about our commitment to a higher standard of care and our Joint Commission Accreditation, Michael was excited about the opportunity to run a business that was dedicated to helping others.
“When I looked back on my career, I realized that I was the happiest at work when I felt like what I was doing was benefiting other people.” Investing in BrightStar Care felt like a perfect fit for Michael and, after signing his agreement, he opened his agency in Bel Air, Maryland in July of 2018.
What Support is Offered to Franchisees?
Launching a new business is an enormous undertaking. For Michael, the support he received from BrightStar Care was essential in helping to establish his business as a leading home care provider in his area.
“I think, for a new owner, certainly one that’s running a healthcare business, who doesn’t have a healthcare background, and a new owner who’s never owned or run a business before, like myself, it’s very, very good training, I mean, it’s exactly what you need.”
At BrightStar Care, we offer unparalleled support to our franchisees. We provide extensive training, professional marketing materials, monthly planning and execution calls, insightful advice, and more to ensure our franchisees are on the right path for their business.
In the years since, Michael has joined a performance group of other BrightStar owners. Through this group, he has learned from other owners' experiences and shared his own.
“I’ve found that to be extremely valuable, to not only see what other people are doing in their business so that I can emulate what is successful but also have a group of other owners look at my business and give me valuable advice.”
How Do You Successfully Retain Staff?
In the home care industry, building the right team is key. Finding caregivers with the right skills and empathy balance is crucial when providing health care. Michael shares that when it comes to staffing, “We understand that this isn’t the right job for everyone, but we never stop, we’re constantly recruiting and looking for passionate and caring people that share our focus on quality.”
For Michael, the secret to retaining employees is to treat them well and live by the Golden Rule. “I like being in the trenches, I like to be hands-on, but I really like to treat people the way I would want to be treated, especially in the workplace and especially with the folks that work for us.”
How Can You Build Your Business Through National Accounts?
At BrightStar Care, our dedicated National Accounts team develops relationships with healthcare organizations and insurance companies to benefit our franchisees. One of our chief partners is Medically Home, which provides hospital-level care to individuals, enabling them to remain on the hospital roster while recovering at home.
“We’ve created a great relationship with ChristianaCare Hospital, one of Medically Home’s partners,” shares Michael. “Recently, we did a hundred and twenty-five nursing visits in a week with probably fifteen to sixteen different patients that otherwise would be in the hospital, but they’re in their home, which is, without a doubt, the best setting for care.”
These National Accounts have been essential to helping Michael grow his company and provide an extended level of care, “That’s just a capability that is kind of specific to BrightStar that doesn’t exist with other home care providers, and we’ve been able to leverage it and grow it.”
How Do You Create a Positive Impact on Customers?
For Michael, the main thing that makes his work with BrightStar Care so rewarding is the impact he is making in the lives of others.
“We’re fortunate in that what we do, we do see tangible results. We see clients who can better function in their homes and clients who are healthier because of our care,” Michael states. “I think that aspect is rewarding.”
When asked if he had anything else to share about his experiences with BrightStar Care, Michael said, “It’s a shame I didn’t do it ten years ago, or fifteen years ago, because think about much further ahead of the game I’d be then I am already.”
Are you looking for an opportunity that allows you to work for yourself while positively impacting the community? Contact us today and learn more about franchising with BrightStar Care.