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After an unexpected career change at age 60, Michael Kearney was faced with the challenge of finding his next step. Encouraged by a friend to explore working with seniors, Kearney discovered Senior Care Authority and quickly realized its potential to combine his skills with meaningful work. Now, as the owner of Senior Care Authority in Rochester, New York, Kearney guides families through difficult decisions with compassion, providing senior placement services at no cost to them.
1851 Franchise spoke with Kearney to learn more about his story, his journey to Senior Care Authority and his 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?
Michael Kearney: It happened almost completely by accident. I was downsized out of a corporate marketing position unexpectedly at age 60. As I started looking at what my next step was going to be, I realized I was struggling with ageism. People younger and less qualified than me were getting the jobs I was applying for. A friend told me it was time to work for myself and suggested I work with seniors, saying the demographics are exploding, and they would love working with me. That got me thinking, and soon after, I connected with a franchise broker.
1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?
Kearney: I interviewed with plenty of franchises in different business models, and I loved the concept of helping families through stressful and difficult periods in their lives. Buying a franchise handed me a playbook. They know the way and have a concept that works — all I have to do is execute it.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Kearney: I started sorting through different brands — I didn’t want a brick-and-mortar location or to hire a lot of people from the start. I wanted to be a “lone ranger” and figure things out as I grew. That led me to the placement service model. Nothing like this existed here when I started. The whole concept sounded too good to be true — I could help families through a stressful time, find the right housing and they don’t even have to pay me? But I still get paid? It felt like magic. I even went to my best friend and asked him to talk me out of it. In the end, he decided he wanted to do it with me!
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Kearney: You get out of it what you put into it, but this business model has a fantastic future and great rewards. Not only am I really good at what I do, but I also find the work unbelievably rewarding. At the end of almost every encounter, my clients want to hug me, telling me they don’t know what they would have done without me. When I first started, I was offered additional territories, but I realized that all the opportunities I need are right here in Rochester, New York.
1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?
Kearney: The need for these types of services is only going to grow. As I expand my business, my former customers end up selling me to my future customers. We’re all living longer, and with that come more challenges related to aging. About a third of the population over 85 have dementia. There are plenty of great services available, but most people don’t know of them or how to access them.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?
Kearney: The advice I give to everyone is this: the franchise you’re buying is successful because they have a playbook. Too often, new franchisees come in wanting to do things their own way. In our franchise, you can do some things your way, but the key to success is following the playbook and executing it well.
For more information, visit: https://1851franchise.com/senior-care-authority.
About Senior Care Authority
Senior Care Authority® was founded in 2009, began franchising in 2014, and currently serves over 100 locations in 30 states. The network consists of professionally trained and experienced local advisors who assist families with the overwhelming challenges associated with selecting the best options in assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing care, and navigating through a complex healthcare system. Senior Care Authority offers Eldercare Consulting services to families and is the exclusive provider of the Beyond Driving with Dignity program. Learn more at www.seniorcareauthority.com.
