As the U.S. population ages, demand for in-home senior care is soaring, making it a prime opportunity for savvy entrepreneurs. Seniors who pay out-of-pocket offer the potential for greater profitability and long-term growth. Learn how to get private-pay home care clients by building strong connections with seniors and their families.

Who is a Private-Pay Home Care Client?

Private-pay home care clients pay out-of-pocket for their care services, rather than using government programs like Medicaid and Medicare, or insurance. These seniors and their families rely on savings and existing assets to pay for services. They demand high-quality, personalized care, which can be a key factor in building a profitable senior care business. Self-paying clients choose their caregivers, types of services, and care schedules.

Self-paying clients are a crucial component of any non-medical home care business. Here are the benefits of targeting these types of clients:

• High-profit margins: You can set your own rate for self-paying clients without insurance or government restrictions, increasing your profit potential. Nearly 90% of older adults strongly desire to remain in the comfort of their homes for as long as possible, and many rely on savings to pay for the care they need.
• Improve cash flow: The client pays you directly. You won’t need to wait for insurance or Medicare to foot the bill, resulting in consistent cash flow.
• Less administrative requirements: Complying with insurance guidelines requires a lot of red tape. Private-pay clients are easier to manage, which enables you to focus on building your business.
• Personalized care plans: The personalized care plans of self-paying clients are not hampered by insurance restrictions, allowing you to offer premium services.

4 Tips to Attract Private-Pay Home Care Clients

Attracting private-pay clients requires implementing an omnichannel lead-generation strategy. A Place At Home has more than a decade of experience helping local owners build successful senior care businesses. Aside from traditional advertising, such as direct mail, we’ve learned how to get private-pay home care clients to help you succeed:

1. Build a Strong Online Presence

Start by developing a professional, user-friendly website that’s easy to navigate. It should provide a list of the services you offer, as well as your company’s mission and caregiving philosophy. Then, turn to social media to increase engagement and tell your success stories.

2. Utilize Referral Marketing

Partnering with healthcare professionals, senior living communities, and rehabilitation centers can help you receive referrals for private-pay clients. Encourage your current clients to tell people about your business or write online reviews. According to BrightLocal, at least 96% of customers are open to writing a review about your business—you just need to ask!

3. Be a Senior Care Resource

Providing free education resources can generate client leads. Host webinars and community events to showcase your expertise and offer free information sessions about your services.

4. Conduct Community Outreach

You can drive leads by being an active member of the community. Join senior-focused networking groups and business associations. Veteran organizations and community centers can be great resources. Signing up to sponsor local events is another way to raise brand awareness.

The A Place At Home Opportunity

A Place At Home is a leader in the senior care industry. We provide the tools, training, and guidance on how to start a non-medical home care business. Our franchise owners attend a robust training program designed to put you on a path to succeed as a senior care franchise owner. We have proven strategies and operational procedures to help you build a solid client base. We can also ensure you’re prepared to accept insurance and payment from government programs.

Fill out our franchise inquiry form to learn more about how partnering with a franchise can help you navigate the senior care industry.

5 Industries That Do Well in a Recession

To build a business that withstands the test of time, discover five industries that do well in a recession.

A recession is characterized by decreased consumer spending, rising unemployment, and a prolonged dip in the stock market. The last U.S. recession was in 2008. The Great Recession was spurred by a housing market bubble, financial deregulation, and a banking crisis. During this time, the U.S. domestic product dropped 4.3%, and the unemployment rate doubled. Sluggish sales and economic uncertainty had a major impact on small businesses. Fewer small businesses opened during the Great Recession, and many struggled to stay afloat.

Operating a business during a recession can be challenging, especially if you don’t provide an essential service. During a recession, customers historically cut spending on non-essential items to trim their budgets, sending sales in these industries on a downward spiral.

Fortunately, many industries are essential and continue to perform well despite economic fluctuations. Here are a few of our top picks of industries that do well in a recession:

1. Pet services: Most pet owners consider furry friends official family members. Even when money is tight, pet parents do not scrimp on care. During the 2008 recession, pet industry sales climbed 5.1%.
2. Coffee shops: It may seem counterintuitive for customers to spend money on specialty coffees on a budget. But a daily “cup of joe” is often seen as an “affordable indulgence.” After cutting travel plans, delaying a new car purchase, or eating more meals at home, customers indulge in budget-friendly treats—like a latte or cold brew.
3. Urgent care: More than 200 million patients visit urgent care annually. Whether patients need vaccinations, prescription refills, or are ill, urgent care locations offer same-day and after-hours healthcare services. Patients turn to urgent care as an alternative to crowded emergency rooms for non-life-threatening concerns. People continue to prioritize their health, even when the economy is down, and demand is expected to continue to surge for this convenient healthcare service. New urgent care centers are opening at a growth rate of 7%.
4. Auto repair: We rely on cars to live, work, and play, and auto repair shops provide a valuable service. Americans spend an average of more than 25 minutes on their daily commute, and as the average age of cars on the road hits 12.6 years, repairs are inevitable. An auto repair shop can be a lucrative opportunity for car aficionados and savvy entrepreneurs.
5. Senior services: Securing high-quality, compassionate care for aging loved ones is necessary for many families. Aging in place is an important goal for 95% of Americans, a survey conducted by U.S. News & World Report revealed. In-home senior care services are an essential, recession-resistant solution designed to improve seniors’ quality of life.

A Place At Home: A Senior Care Leader

A Place At Home co-founders and childhood friends Dustin Distefano and Jerod Evanich were inspired to launch a business in the senior care industry to deliver the same level of care they’d provided their grandparents to seniors nationwide. The senior care franchise’s focus on compassionate care and multiple revenue streams has helped it grow to 34 locations.

With an initial investment starting near $90,000*, A Place At Home offers entrepreneurs a turnkey senior care business in a recession resistant industry with the training and support they need to thrive. If you want to own a recession-resistant business that makes a difference in the lives of families in your community, A Place At Home is ready to help you get started.

Fill out our franchise inquiry form to learn more about launching a senior-focused business in your community today!

 *See FDD for details.