Rhode Island's First Caring Transitions Location Opens in Newport

Pete Lankarge spent years supporting franchise brands from the supplier side — but when it came time for his next professional chapter, he knew he wanted to take the leap into business ownership himself. After meeting the Caring Transitions team at multiple franchise conferences and reviewing the brand’s Franchise Disclosure Document, Lankarge realized it was the right fit for both his skillset and his values.

“My sister has special needs and lived with my mother until just two years ago,” Lankarge said. “When she transitioned into a group home, I saw how emotional and difficult those types of moves can be for a family. That experience gave me a lot of empathy. In the senior world, a triggering event like that can create serious emotional strain for loved ones. I want to help make those transitions smoother — not just logistically, but emotionally too. And being able to help families pass on their loved ones’ treasures to others — that’s the kind of work that gets me out of bed in the morning.”

This September, he’s launching the first-ever Caring Transitions location in Rhode Island, with a mission to support seniors and their families through the emotional and logistical challenges of relocation, estate sales, and downsizing. With a high senior saturation rate and strong economic indicators, Lankarge says the Newport area is a perfect match for this compassionate, service-driven business.

Pete Lankarge: Before joining Caring Transitions, I worked on the supplier side of franchising — specifically in signage and graphics for brick-and-mortar brands. I attended the annual International Franchise Association Convention and various other conferences for the last few years, and I kept running into the Caring Transitions team. Over time, it started to dawn on me that my next move might be becoming a franchisee myself — I just wasn’t sure which brand yet.

Then back in December, I was looking through Entrepreneur’s list of top franchises and I saw Caring Transitions again. I had already met the team, so I started digging in. I read the FDD, did my research and realized this brand was right up my alley. I reached out and found out there were no franchisees in Rhode Island — I moved quickly after that. The brand aligns really well with my personal interests. I’ve always had a strong interest in auctions and estate sales, and I’ve also wanted to help seniors and their families make smoother transitions. This felt like the perfect fit.

Lankarge: I worked for a supplier that focused on signage and graphics for franchise brands, so I’ve been deeply immersed in the franchising world for a while. That gave me a really unique perspective on what it takes to run a brand and support franchisees, which made the idea of becoming one feel like a natural progression.

Lankarge: I was drawn to the idea of controlling my own financial future and schedule, and also to the opportunity to build and lead a team. At all those conferences, I talked to a lot of franchisees who had come from corporate backgrounds and were using franchising to take back control.

What’s great is that you don’t have to build everything from scratch — the systems are already in place. You can dive in, take ownership, and still have a strong safety net. That blend of autonomy and structure really appealed to me.

Lankarge: One thing you hear a lot in franchising is that some brands don’t support their franchisees very well. But from everything I saw — both at conferences and in the FDD — it was obvious that Caring Transitions had strong systems in place. The senior leadership has been around for years, which is a great sign of stability and culture.

The support I’ve seen so far has absolutely confirmed that. I feel confident joining a brand that’s growing steadily and gaining national presence. It’s the right time to get in.

I also did the research on my territory — and it’s a fantastic fit. The Newport, Rhode Island territory has a 31% senior saturation rate, which is huge when you compare it to Caring Transitions’ baseline of 13%. Combine that with high household incomes and strong home values, and the market indicators are exactly where you want them to be.

Lankarge: I’d love to expand within the next few years. Ideally, I’d like to acquire a second territory within a year. Long term, I want to build something meaningful — and then decide whether I want to keep running it or potentially sell it and start something new.

Lankarge: My sister has special needs and lived with my mother until just two years ago. When she transitioned into a group home, I saw how emotional and difficult those types of moves can be for a family. That experience gave me a lot of empathy.

In the senior world, a triggering event like that can create serious emotional strain for loved ones. I want to help make those transitions smoother — not just logistically, but emotionally too. And being able to help families pass on their loved ones’ treasures to others — that’s the kind of work that gets me out of bed in the morning.

Lankarge: Do your homework. There are around 4,000 franchise brands operating in the U.S. at any given time. Get the FDD, read it carefully, and understand what the red flags and green flags are for you personally. Know what questions matter most to you and find the answers.

I was lucky to come from the franchise world, but there are so many resources out there — especially podcasts — that can help you get a feel for the industry. It’s a fun space to be in, and there’s real potential to build wealth. I truly believe franchising is one of the best ways to achieve the American dream.

Caring Transitions provides older adults and their families with the most trusted, respected and comprehensive downsizing, right-sizing, estate sales and online auctions, and move management solutions in the industry. Founded in 2006, the brand is committed to helping people in a compassionate and caring manner during life's many transitions while providing a total and easy solution for clients in their time of need. Through their proprietary online sales platform, CTBIDS, Caring Transitions also prepares clients for the process of liquidating assets through their own online estate sales auction site.

With more than 350 locations, Caring Transitions’ compassionate, experienced professionals minimize stress and relieve the burdens of life’s transitions.