We sit down with Sean Kajcienski, COO of Best Life Brands, to talk growing old, running a business, and the necessity of healthcare franchises
“Who will take care of America’s seniors?” It’s a question posed by the Atlantic Monthly a few years ago, and it led to the eventual creation of Best Life Brands: an international family of franchises, specializing in making the latter years of an individual’s life some of the best they can have. The group has nearly 400 franchise locations operating in the U.S. and Canada, with continual expansion an everpresent aim.
Each of the franchises under the Best Life Brands heading focus on a unique aspect of growing old, to make sure that holistic care can be provided. ComForCare and At Your Side, which created the foundation of Best Life Brands in 2017, offer everything from companion care to specialized services for seniors. CarePatrol, founded in 1993, is America’s largest senior placement organization, that helps families find safe care options for their elderly relatives. And Blue Moon Estate Sales – the newest addition to the family, joining in 2019 – offers liquidation services to assist families with selling houses or assets.
We got the chance to speak with Sean Kajcienski, COO and CRO for Best Life Brands, about the impact this organization is having within the dynamic healthcare sector.
GF: Could you explain the Best Life Brands’ approach when identifying new franchises to partner with?
SK: We look for best-in-class brands that have a great runway for ongoing growth, in both new units and same-store sales. The brands we choose must align with our mission of providing services that help people live their best life possible.
The brands must also align with our values, operate with high ethical standards, and deliver on what they promise both to their franchise owners and to the valued clients of the franchise owners. The alignment in mission, vision, and values, as well as having uniquely superior capabilities to deliver the best products and services, is critical in our evaluation of potential additions to the Best Life Brands family.
GF: In your opinion, what are the benefits of offering in-home senior care over nursing homes?
SK: I think most people would like to live as long as possible exactly where they feel the most comfortable, which, for the vast majority of us, is in our home.
Moreover, studies have shown that a senior experiences a greater sense of personal dignity as well as a greater quality of life if they are able to remain in their homes, surrounded by memories. This is the core of our in-home care services philosophy – helping those we care for age, happily, in place.
“Simply put, there is nothing more fulfilling, career-wise, than helping people live their best lives possible”
However, there may come a time when one can no longer live safely in their current home. That’s where our CarePatrol brand comes in. CarePatrol’s senior placement advisors guide older adults, and their families, to the best senior living options in their area.
In addition, our ComForCare and At Your Side brands can provide support to those in senior living communities who may desire extra care beyond what the community provides. It’s one example of how in-home care and senior living communities are partners in care.
GF: Allegedly, by 2022, the number of senior citizens worldwide will total more than 688 million. How do you see the role of healthcare franchises shifting to adapt to an incrementally growing demographic?
SK: The demand for quality support of our aging population is growing rapidly and healthcare franchises are uniquely suited to meet those needs. We are bringing state-of-the-art services, technology, tools, and care to seniors today while looking forward to meeting the anticipated needs five to 10 years down the road.
GF: How has your background in roles with businesses like Sears Home Improvement Products and Coverall equipped you to succeed as the COO for Best Life Brands?
SK: At Coverall and at Sears, I led sales and operations, and though they were very different companies, they shared the goal of supporting Coverall’s franchised business owners and Sears’ network of subcontracted home remodeling installers to help them to grow their businesses.
My role at Best Life Brands is to support and serve our franchise owners much of the same way. This includes responsibilities such as providing training, marketing support, operational systems, and vital technology, as well as sharing best practices. So, for me, it’s always been about supporting and serving others to help them achieve their goals.
GF: From your background in franchising, what advice would you give budding entrepreneurs looking to start franchising their concept?
SK: I would advise them to consider two key questions: are you excited about developing and continuously optimizing your operations, and is your business concept one that could be the very best in its space?
Being a franchisor is a tremendous and rewarding responsibility but it is definitely not a “set-it-and-forget-it” type of business. You must constantly work to improve the systems and training you provide your franchisees. It is about building systems, people, processes, and technologies that are designed to provide maximum support to the franchisees. One must have the DNA of a servant leader to lead a great franchised business.
Additionally, franchised concepts must be able to be perceived as the best in their space, or very close to it, to ensure that locally franchised businesses attract enough customers for financially successful businesses. Franchising your concept is about more than getting people to buy into your business model. It is about ensuring that you have a business model where franchisees are supported, and in which they can become highly successful by implementing your system.
GF: Aside from the financial returns, what does operating a care franchise bring to entrepreneurs who may be dissatisfied with other investment opportunities?
SK: Simply put, there is nothing more fulfilling, career-wise, than helping people live their best lives possible, by providing world-class in-home care and senior placement services.
