BrightStar Care of Jupiter / Martin County Owner Jack Nicol leads Private Duty Care in Florida
Marine Corp Veteran Finds Way to Give Back as BrightStar Care Franchisee
BrightStar Care franchisee Jack Nicol joined the U.S. Marine Corp in the mid-1960s, when protests against the conflict in Vietnam were escalating.A lot of people, he said, don’t see how compassionate soldiers actually become. In the military, you quickly
learn to look out for each other, and soldiers often grow close with one another. The military helped foster compassion in Jack, and ultimately led to him becoming a BrightStar Care franchisee in Jupiter, Fla. Compassion, after all, is at the root of the home care industry. “In the home care business, the team – office staff and caregivers – needs to be passionate about making sure the clients are cared for,” Jack said.On the Road to Franchise Ownership
But, when Jack returned from the military, he didn’t know he could turn that care for others into a career. He went to work at a newspaper in Detroit and in less than a year, he advanced to a management position. He later went to work in the printing industry, and owned a printing company for 27 years.
Jack had planned to retire after selling the printing company in 2006, but he stayed on for two more years to help transition the business to the new owners. He was 63 when the transition was completed, and found the idea of retirement did not set well with him. Jack began looking for another business to buy. Through a franchise coach, he explored multiple franchising opportunities. The franchise coach learned that Jack was passionate about giving back to the community through volunteering, and he thought the home care industry would be a good fit for Jack.
“When we started looking at the home care industry and saw the potential growth of the senior population, we became interested and looked at different concepts,” he said. “BrightStar Care caught our attention because of their business model and their focus on client care.”
Boots on the Ground Marketing
Jack and wife moved from Miami to Jupiter, which are 81 miles apart, where they knew nobody. Without any business contacts or a friend in the Jupiter area, Jack managed to meet 650 people in that community by going door to door and striking up conversations with people. He collected business cards and tracked referral sources.
“I wore out a lot of shoes,” Jack said. “I talked to anybody who would talk to me, just to let them know we were here, what BrightStar Care did and why we were different.”
Jack Earns His Stripes as a Franchisee
Face-to-face marketing worked, and nine years later Jack is a successful franchisee with BrightStar Care, doing what he’s passionate about – providing care to others.
Jack’s advice to anyone thinking about becoming a BrightStar Care franchisee is be prepared to put in the work that first year or two in order to enjoy the benefits down the road.
After all, it’s not unlike starting any new business, but if you’re thinking about entering the home care field, it’s important to also consider it’s a 24/7 business.
“Starting out, the phone can ring in the middle of the night and on the weekends, and you have to get involved,” Jack said. “But, as the business grows, you hire people for various roles, which includes fielding those calls. You get your nights and weekends back. But, you have to be committed right from the beginning.”
Connecting his experience as a marine to his experience as a BrightStar Care franchisee, Jack said his time in the military prepared him well for business ownership.
“The training in the Marines is second to none,” he said. “Joining was one of the best decisions I ever made because I came out a better human being. I had more self-confidence and learned how to see things through. Failure is not an option – the military training cemented that thought in my head. That has really helped me in business throughout my career.”
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About BrightStar Care:
BrightStar Care of Jupita / Marin County proudly provides home health care and caregivers for the elderly and children, including 24 hour skilled nursing and support in senior independent and assisted living communities. Additionally we provide Medical Staffing and In-Home Physical Therapy for pediatric, adult and geriatric patients, IV Infusion and Wound Care, and Companion and Personal Care for elders with Alzheimer’s or Dementia. We also provide Home Child Care, Sitter and Nanny services for children and support for new mothers. We support Veterans and accept most Long Term Care Insurance benefits, provide hospice care, live-in care, CNA, Caregiver, RN, LVN, RN Supervision, compassionate care, and compatibility guarantees. Other services include safe discharge and transportation from the hospital or rehab facility, Post Operative Transitional care after medical treatment or surgery both short and long term, Pre Operation and preparation help and assistance, and client monitoring for out of town family members. Proudly serving Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Tequesta, North Palm Beach, Stuart, Palm City, Hobe Sound, Port Salerno FL