Mizzou Alumni Couple Set to Open First TruBlue Franchise in the State of Missouri

Bret Morrison, with a background in commercial real estate, alongside his wife Beth, a social worker and therapist, are excited to bring TruBlue Home Service Ally, a prominent name in the home maintenance and senior modification services industry, to Central Missouri. 

The Morrisons were drawn to TruBlue in particular after seeing first-hand the challenges both of their grandparents faced living and aging alone, and the realization that there was a major gap in services available to support seniors in maintaining their homes. The blend of Bret’s real estate background and Beth's experience in social work made TruBlue a perfect fit for using their combined skill sets to address a critical need in their community.

As the first TruBlue franchise in the state of Missouri, Morrison says his primary mission is to provide families with the support they need to manage their homes, drawing from his own experience overcoming health challenges and the importance of focusing on family well-being.

“Overcoming health concerns myself and watching loved ones deal with health challenges, it definitely helped me understand the value of the TruBlue business,” Morrison said. “Major life and health changes make it extremely difficult to deal with the house. That is a big factor that people often don’t think about until they’re going through it.” 

1851 Franchise spoke with Morrison to learn more about his inspiring story, his journey to franchising 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?

Morrison: I’ve worked in real estate, primarily as a director of operations for commercial real estate and hospitality brands. My wife, Beth, is a therapist with a background in social work. With our combined backgrounds, TruBlue felt like a perfect fit.

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?

Morrison: One of my previous jobs actually required seeking out franchise businesses that would be fit for our development. So, I already had a decent amount of interaction with other franchise brands.

The benefit really comes with having that national presence and the support of a corporate team behind you. I knew I wouldn’t have to tackle every aspect of the business on my own. It feels like the corporate team is there to help scale and ramp up the business much faster than I could ever on my own. 

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Morrison: I had been looking for a business for a while, but I was pretty selective about what I wanted to get into. My grandmother lives alone, and seeing the struggles she has gone through as she got older made me realize there was a major need for this. Beth’s grandparents were going through the same thing. 

I stumbled upon TruBlue while researching businesses and, once I understood what made it different from a regular handyman concept, the senior focus really spoke to me. If we’d had TruBlue ourselves, it would have really been a huge help to our grandparents. We understood the value personally that it could bring to families. It really played to both of our strengths. So, we decided to move forward. 

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Morrison: We are the first TruBlue in Missouri, which is very exciting. There is a lot of opportunity to fill this need and bring something brand new to the community. We have already been getting a good response from people we are talking to. We want to continue to expand, start with a team in Columbia and grow in a way that makes the most sense for the business. 

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Morrison: ?My wife and I are a local couple who understand the community. We met at Mizzou. I have my degree from MU’s Trulaske College of Business, while Beth has her master's degree in Social Work. Beth and I both agreed early on that, while we may not be able to save the whole world, we can definitely make an impact in our community. This is something we are excited to now be able to teach our daughter, as she sees us both working every day to help others. 

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Morrison: Something I’ve learned about franchising in general is that it is important to understand the reason behind the things the franchisor wants the franchisees to do. The why behind the rules they put in place. Those processes are (hopefully) there to protect and grow the brand. A lot of times, people get caught up in the small details of the franchise, but it's really important to look at the bigger picture of the company and their vision for the growth of the brand. Making sure the company’s vision aligns with your own goals for your business is crucially important when becoming a franchise owner. 

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a TruBlue franchise ranges from $65,050 to $91,400. This includes $44,900 that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate. For more information, please visit https://1851franchise.com/trubluehousecare/info.

About TruBlue Home Service Ally:

TruBlue Home Service Ally® provides a unique and affordable approach to helping busy adults and seniors live a worry-free life by offering trustworthy handyman, home maintenance and senior modification services. Helping you maintain your home both inside and out, TruBlue’s services include handyman projects and to-do list chores, preventative home maintenance programs, kitchen and bath remodels, seasonal work, and senior modification services, all handled by professional, bonded and insured Tru-Pro® Technicians. TruBlue franchise owners are required to complete senior home safety certification programs through the NAHB and Age Safe America. As certified specialists, TruBlue franchisees are able to perform aging in place home safety assessments and can make recommended safety modifications as needed.