Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ashlee LaFavor. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ashlee, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Talk to us about building your team? What was it like? What were some of the key challenges and what was your process like?

No, when I launched my home health care business, I was a fulltime care aide & administrator. I learned quickly the power of building a team, in 2016 upon losing my full-time job shifting to full time entrepreneurship was a huge shift for me. I spent most days multitasking between days in office & working hands on in the field with clients in their homes being in that position it may look easy on the outside, but it really stretched a lot out of me. The first focus I had to find was a system that worked best for the flow of the business & even myself to manage between compliances & regulations, consumer needs getting met & finding time to hire help. When it comes to recruiting team members, I had to vision of what assets I needed to bring to my agency for my consumers needs but also creating a healthy work environment as well for the caregivers, in health care. I knew I needed to not only gather a team of aides with great qualifications but also a heart to care and serve. I found care staff directly from my community reaching out to CNA programs in the area, vocational training schools that offered medical programs, indeed ads, & even utilizing my social media platform for recruiting. The interview process was good, upon interviewing people I already preplan what I needed from the caregiver, coming from the background of caregiving I also knew several challenges they faced so I assured to incorporate a way to accommodate those needs to help with on boarding staff. The most unusual thing I notice in interviewing is sometimes caregivers will no show for interviews after confirming the interviews at times that would be a bit challenging because of the unexpected no show. But overall, I have been satisfied with on boarding caregivers keeping them long term for the company I have a team of 55 staff between my 2 office locations in Florida most have been with the agency 4 years I appreciate them, I even created referral programs which allowed my staff to help me with finding other heartfelt caregivers. If I started today, I would not change anything because I have created a work environment were caregivers love to come to work, uplift, love, encourage and allowing everyone a space to be heard or share opinions is what makes the business. My motto is your business is only as good as your team, because they are out there representing your brand so how you lead, value & treat your teams I believe plays a big role in long term success for any company.

Ashlee, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a faith driven entrepreneur, launched my non-medical home care agency in 2016 from experiencing patients suffering from lack of loving caregivers, consistent care in the home, caregivers feeling overworked & under paid. I began my health care journey in 2009, After obtaining my GED after dropping out of high school as a young mom. I attended a medical assistant program during the time of obtaining my GED. I landed my first job in the industry of home care from 2009-2014 working with medically complex special need children & elderly my experience from the job was good working with the clients but management was terrible. I notice the heart of the company was so focused more on the wealth of the business vs the client’s needs or caregivers the company began to have a challenge to pay caregivers, but I allowed myself to still serve while waiting on months of back pay that was due to caregivers as the company had promised; however that didn’t fall through it ended me in unemployment & even civil court to recruit my back pay from the agency , from that experience all that I had learned from working with the company doing administrator , marketing & caregiver duties it angered me of the abuse caregivers & clients suffered from this , so that lead me to start a agency to be the change of this stereotype of these agencies not building on the foundation of service & passion. Fast forward to today carrying that mindset & heart posture has grown my last $50.75 investment I made back in 2016 & faith in the vision God gave me to obtain the companion licenses in Florida to now 3 office locations on this journey I have also branded a empowerment brand & mentorship called ratchet to righteous the brand leads & empower others rather you’re landing a business or just being delivered to authentically being you. Myself as a empowerment coach is helping other caregivers launch home care agencies in various states & allowing them space to believe in God vision for their life & business that by faith no matter obstacles if you have been gifted for a industry you can be the change in that area you don’t need everything you just need a foundation built properly & commit your plans to God first allow him to be the GPS for your business or brand.

Services my agency provides: non-medical companion care services
Empowerment coaching services: I offer one to one coaching to other providers or new providers equipping them with knowledge, accountability & assuring they have the right licensee, systems & teams in place to serve.

The problems I solve for clients & what sets me apart: We accept Medicaid, Medicaid waiver, long term care insurances & private pay which some agencies are limited of taking. we also service elder, adults, children. We also matchmake our caregivers well with our clients by allowing them to meet & greet interviews with their aide prior to services being rendered so it opens a space of safety & the client to know who will be coming into their private space, I also am hands on with my families with communication and always making myself available when they need assistance.

What I am most proud of: Seeing the joy of a family need being met & a caregiver loving their job. Seeing how your heart to serve people in need bring a huge change to others’ lives that’s what keeps me motivated to keep pushing in the times of challenges because I began to not focus on me but focus on the need, when you focus on the need & meeting that need to the ability you can the reward is endless.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Lessons I had to learn the importance of reading & always document everything when doing business with anyone. I learned that from my experience going to civil court with the agency I worked for that owed me back pay & that experience showed me how having things documented can help you in matters. All the contracts I kept when on boarding with the company was able to help me in a time the company fired me and declined to pay for unemployment for services I rendered, and money that was owed to me. It also taught me how to speak up for self boldly & professional we don’t always have to act out of character to getting something taken care of that is injustice. Now I teach this to others when it comes to leading & building always keep your character together, always document things even if working with a partner or family member please have documents in place of all parties’ agreements & terms.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

For me I was not able to fund my business starting off, I was willing to work hands on in the business build the revenue based upon serving & it allowed me to build the name from my service. I will recommend to anyone that if you are working a job to maximize a plan to save to invest into their business & build the capital that way be willing to work in the business as well to build capital for the business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/Ashleelafavor
• Instagram: @ratchettorighteous
• Facebook: @ashlee Lafavor
• Linkedin: @ashlee Lafavor
• Youtube: Ashlee LaFavor
• Other: TIKTOK: @righteoussgirl

Image Credits
PHOTO CREDITS: Danni Photography Portrait boutique