Author: A Place At Home

How to Start a Non-Medical Home Care Business in 5 Steps

Revised on 11/18/2025

Eager to join the home healthcare market? You’re in good company. The U.S. home healthcare industry generated an estimated $162.35 billion in 2024, with projections reaching $284.3 billion by 2030—driven in part by the growing demand for non-medical care at home.

First, understand how non-medical home care differs from medical services. Then, learn how franchising with A Place At Home can help you achieve your business goals with a proven model and purpose-driven mission.

Why Start a Non-Medical Home Care Business?

Medical home care typically requires licensed professionals to deliver skilled nursing services. However, non-medical home care focuses on helping clients with everyday tasks such as bathing, dressing, transportation, and companionship.

Learn why starting a non-medical home care business may be the right move for you:

Lower barrier to entry: Non-medical businesses don’t require a medical background or expensive clinical staff. This reduces both startup and ongoing labor costs.
Simplified compliance: While some licensing is required, non-medical home care isn’t subject to the same strict regulations as medical providers, making set-up and operations much easier.
Wider client base: These services are ideal not just for aging adults, but also for people recovering from surgery or managing long-term disabilities who don’t require skilled nursing.
Scalable model: You can grow your client list and expand services without needing to invest in costly medical equipment or additional credentialed staff.
Surging demand: According to the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), the number of Americans ages 65 and older is projected to grow by 42% by 2050. Many of these individuals prefer to age at home, making non-medical care an essential service.

A more accessible model for entrepreneurs, non-medical home care presents itself as a strong investment option within the overall rapidly growing home care industry.

5 Steps on How to Start a Non-Medical Home Care Business

Starting a non-medical home care business requires careful planning and attention to detail, but it can be a rewarding and successful venture with the right approach. By following these steps on how to start a non-medical home care business, you can build a thriving, but meaningful, business.

1. Develop a Business Plan

Before starting your business, you need to develop a comprehensive business plan. This plan should describe your services, target market, financial projections, marketing strategy, and staffing plan.

2. Obtain Necessary Licenses and Permits

Non-medical home care businesses may be subject to licensing requirements at the state or local level. Check with your state’s licensing board to determine what licenses and permits you need to obtain to start your business.

3. Hire and Train Staff

You must hire and train competent and compassionate staff to deliver high-quality care for your clients. Develop a thorough hiring process and offer ongoing training to ensure your team has the skills and knowledge necessary to provide the best possible care.

4. Develop Policies and Procedures

Developing policies and procedures for your business is essential to ensure consistency and quality of care. Your policies and procedures should cover areas such as client assessment, care planning, record keeping, and employee conduct.

5. Build Referral and Marketing Networks

Establishing strong relationships with referral sources—such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and doctor’s offices—is key to growing your client base. Pair this with a strategic marketing plan that includes online advertising, direct mail, and community events to raise brand awareness and promote your services effectively.

Let A Place At Home Help You

Don’t let yourself become overwhelmed with the steps on how to start a home health agency. Instead, let A Place At Home help you build a successful business.

Our in-home care franchise is a lower-investment opportunity with high-profit potential. With us, in-home care isn’t your only revenue stream, either. You can offer professional care planning, assist clients in finding a senior living alternative, and help assisted living residences, memory care centers, rehabs, and other long-term care communities maintain staffing.

By partnering with us, you’ll get access to our proven business model that’s already been successful in several other markets. You’ll also undergo initial training in all aspects of the business, from marketing to operations, and have access to ongoing support from the A Place At Home team. When you franchise with us, you can trust that we have your back.

Learn more about owning a home care franchise by connecting with us and submitting a franchise form. Someone from our team will then be in touch to set up an introductory call.

Senior Living Industry Outlook in 2023 & Beyond

The global senior living market is projected to grow by $91.37 billion over the next five years, according to Technavio. This isn’t a surprise, as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says 10,000 people turn 65 every day.

The senior living industry has shifted after the pandemic. Demand for nursing homes has fallen while at-home care and assisted living continues to soar. Find out why.

Current Trends in the Senior Living Industry

Seniors are looking to “age in place,” or stay in their homes as long as possible. An AARP survey found that 77% of adults 50 and older want to remain in their homes for the long term. Among the reasons is the financial burden it can put on their loved ones if they move into a nursing home. This trend alters the industry by increasing the demand for at-home care services.

Senior home occupancy is on the rise, with the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care reporting in the fall of 2022 that senior housing occupancy was 82.2%. That’s the fifth straight quarter of increases, with a total of a 4.3% increase from the lowest point during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers say while that occupancy is less than optimal, the number of seniors needing housing and care will only grow.

Another trend in the industry is an emphasis on chronic conditions and preventative care. Nearly 95% of seniors have at least one chronic condition, and almost 80% have two or more.

Seniors are also looking for more programming in their communities, whether they’re in an independent living center or a nursing home. They want programs that will improve their quality of life and all-around wellness. These programs could include fitness classes, healthy meals, or planned social activities.

Lastly, an unfortunate trend expected to continue throughout 2023 is staffing shortages, especially among nurses. In an American Health Care Association survey in June of 2022, 60% of nursing homes will limit the number of new occupants due to staffing shortages. Nearly all nursing homes are having trouble hiring new team members and asking current employees to work overtime.

Nursing Homes Struggling

The demand for nursing homes is dropping. More families are turning to in-home care for assistance instead of putting their loved ones into senior living facilities. Concerns about cost, risk of infection, and the level of care are driving factors toward this shift. SeniorLiving.org finds the monthly median cost for a nursing home ranges between $7,908 to $9,034, while the monthly median price for an assisted living facility is around $4,500.

Nursing homes are facing significant financial struggles. In 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services found that 129 nursing homes closed in the country. However, that number is probably lower than the actual count because experts say government reports are slow at keeping up with closures. Aiding the financial struggles is inflation. The rising costs of supplies and food are eating away at profit margins. In addition, nursing homes are having to increase staffing wages to attract and retain talent.

Hiring challenges also affect how many residents they can accept. So, if they’re short-staffed and can’t take more patients, then they have rooms sitting empty.

Benefits of Opening a Home Care Franchise Like A Place At Home

Besides the shift towards in-home care, there are many other benefits to opening an in-home care franchise. First, the startup costs are significantly lower because you don’t have to buy or rent a large facility. Instead, you just need a small office to hold consultations and meet with your staff. Inflation doesn’t affect you as much because you’re not supplying food for your clients.

If you don’t have the caretakers, you just don’t accept as many clients, but you’re not losing as much money as if you were running a facility and having rooms sit empty. However, a business like A Place At Home is easily scalable; you can add staff as your client list grows.

Plus, in-home care is often considered a long-term option, while nursing facilities are usually short-term. Families enjoy at-home care for the one-on-one service they receive from your caregivers, compared to a nursing home where a nurse could have multiple patients they’re looking after.

If you’re looking into how to start a non-medical home care business, let A Place At Home help. We have a proven business model that can guide you to success within the senior living industry. Learn more by submitting a franchise form.

Caregiver Shortage is Driving Demand for Home Care Businesses

Behind the Shortage

The senior population is rapidly growing, with 10,000 Americans turning 65 daily. Many of them will eventually need assistance even with daily living activities such as laundry or grocery shopping, let alone those that need medical help.

The country has struggled to meet the caregiver demand since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as millions of caretakers have left the field for various reasons. On top of that, now, with the increasing population, the United Disabilities Services Foundation (UDS) expects the national caregiver shortage to reach 151,000 by 2030 and 355,000 by 2040. On average, more than 700,000 caregiving positions are expected to open each year through 2032, according to AARP.

Why is the Demand for Caregivers Growing?

More people are aging alone. Solo agers are single, divorced, widowed, childless, or their children live far away. This group of seniors requires caretakers, especially if they want to remain in their homes for as long as possible. The National Poll on Healthy Aging finds that 88% of adults aged 50 to 80 want to age in place.

Besides the growing senior population and the desire to age in their home, Global Coalition on Aging finds that caregiver turnover rates range from 40% to 60%. Common reasons caregivers leave the field include low pay, lack of respect, need for benefits, and limited potential for professional growth. On top of that, the work of a caretaker is extremely demanding. Clients will have a variety of needs. In addition, they could be dealing with personality-altering diseases such as Alzheimer’s. It can all be overwhelming and strenuous sometimes, leading caregivers to experience burnout.

Solving the Caregiver Shortage Crisis

Companies are looking for ways to retain their caregivers and recruit new ones so they can take on more business. AARP finds that workers seek incentives like better pay, sign-on bonuses, more attractive benefits, and career advancement opportunities. While UDS finds that caregivers are looking for society to elevate their perception of their career choice, provide them with respect, and be considered a part of the healthcare ecosystem.

Along with career advancements comes the desire for more training and educational programs. The software company Home Care Pulse finds that agencies that offer their caretakers at least eight hours of orientation training and 12 hours of ongoing training see an increase of more than $700,000 in revenue compared to those that provide the minimum number of hours for compliance. Training sessions also decrease the chance of a 90-day turnover. This can save you time and money by not constantly replacing caregivers. As a potential business owner, why would you skip out on an opportunity to increase your revenue and workforce?

Why is Now a Good Time to Enter the Home Care Market?

Don’t let the worry over the caregiver shortage scare you away; the other home care industry trends make now the perfect time to join the growing industry. First off, the global home healthcare market was worth $301 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $813 billion by 2028, according to SkyQuest Technology Consulting. Following some of those solutions to solve the caregiver shortage can help you recruit and retain workers. Another way that can help you is opening a non-medical home care franchise like A Place At Home. This allows you a larger pool of caregivers to hire from.

Statistics show that home care agencies are growing. Home Care Pulse reports that providers recently experienced the highest client growth in four years, with median revenue also increasing.

The demand will only increase for in-home care as the senior population grows. A non-medical care business also allows you to work with your clients for the long term, whereas medical care is typically short-term.

Start an A Place At Home Franchise

Join the thriving industry with a franchise experiencing an average of nearly 92% overall caregiver satisfaction rate. We’re built on a senior-focused care model that provides a complete service model, from in-home care to care coordination, finding senior living alternatives, and helping those facilities with staffing solutions. Learn more about your next franchising opportunity by submitting a franchise form.

8 Home Care Marketing Ideas To Get More Clients

A successful business doesn’t rely solely on a single marketing method. Instead, they incorporate online and offline avenues to bring in new clients. Learn how to get more home care leads with these effective home care marketing ideas as part of your offline and online marketing strategy.

1. Digital Marketing

This marketing idea incorporates several methods, including Facebook ads, Google ads, and Google My Business. Digital marketing focuses on meeting your target audience where they spend time: online, on their phone, and using social media.

Google ads is a pay-per-click advertising system, which means you only pay when someone clicks on the ad. You target a keyword, so when consumers search that word, your agency appears at the top of the search result page.

Other methods with Google include creating a Google My Business Profile. This free profile allows your business to appear on Google searches and Google Maps. Marketing experts recommend that you provide as much information as possible with your profile to yield the best results. For example, include as many contact methods as possible, such as phone number, website, and physical address. Be sure you regularly update your profile with the correct hours, new photos, and posts.

2. Improve Site Ranking with SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) is how you increase your website ranking online. The quality and quantity of online content that targets what people are searching for, causes your ranking to rise in search engine results which increases your brand exposure. You can achieve this through the language you use on your website and key topics you target in blogs. The best part is this creates organic search results which means you don’t pay for them. It is important to provide quality content that answers questions your target audience is searching for, while also utilizing the keywords sufficiently.

3. Referrals: Client & Professional

Client referrals are key. According to Home Care Pulse’s 2021 Home Care Benchmarking Study, 73% of revenue in one year came from client referrals. In addition, you can encourage current clients to refer you to their friends and family by offering a referral discount.

You can build a network of professional referrals by connecting with other healthcare professionals in the community, such as physicians, hospitals, senior care homes, and physical therapists. The relationship should be neutral, where you refer your clients to them, and they refer their clients to your home care agency.

4. Take Part in Community Events

Put yourself in front of potential clients by participating in community events such as 5k walks and runs, fairs, or sponsoring sports teams. At these events, you can also offer prizes to people who fill out an information form that you use to contact them later. Print brochures and other branded items can also be used to build awareness of the home care services you provide.

5. Hold Community Education Sessions

Sharing your knowledge on senior in-home care with your neighbors is also a method of marketing yourself as an expert in the industry and increases consumer confidence in your agency. You can do this in person or online. Holding these kinds of sessions will put your name in front of potential customers. You can also partner with a physician and hold a Q&A session on topics such as senior safety, disease prevention, or signs of diseases like Alzheimer’s. When people RSVP to the events, they will share contact information so you can reach out to them after the event.

6. Encourage Reviews

Encourage and incentivize your customers to leave reviews on various sites such as Google, Yelp, and Facebook. CareAcademy found that for every one-star increase a business earns on Yelp, it sees a 5%-9% increase in revenue. Meanwhile, a five-star review increases customers’ likelihood of purchasing the product or service by 270%.

7. Pitch Yourself to Local Media

Another free home care marketing strategy includes pitching yourself to local news outlets. Have an impactful caregiver story to share? Pitch it to the media as a feature. Hosting an educational event? Share it with the media for free promotion!

8. Utilize Lead Generating Sites

Included in your marketing strategy should be listing your agency on lead-generating websites like AgingCare.com, Caring.Com, and CareinHomes.Com. These are some of the top sites consumers trust to find a quality home care agency.

Stay Relevant with A Place At Home

Most importantly, support your home care marketing ideas by providing top-notch, compassionate care and services that make you stand apart from your competitors. By joining A Place At Home franchise, we can help you do just that.

With one of the most comprehensive franchise training programs in the industry, we detail how to market your franchise successfully. Plus, our national brand recognition will automatically give you a leg up when entering the market.

Submit a franchise form to begin the process.

What Makes Non-Medical Home Care Businesses Profitable?

Revised on 11/18/2025

How to Start a Non-Medical Home Care Business with High Growth Potential

With an aging U.S. population, a rise in chronic conditions, and an overwhelming desire to age in place, starting or owning a non-medical home care business can be a lucrative opportunity. Explore what makes these types of businesses profitable and how investing in a senior care franchise can give you a leg up in a competitive industry.

What Drives Profitability in Non-Medical Home Care?

The profitability of non-medical home care agencies can vary significantly, but there are many factors that contribute to your bottom line:

Aging population: According to the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), the number of Americans ages 65 and older is predicted to increase by 42% from now until 2050. With more senior citizens, there’s a growing demand for high-quality care services.

Rise in chronic conditions: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 129 million people in the U.S. have at least one major chronic illness. Of those 129 million, 42% have two or more and 12% have at least five. These individuals, if they don’t already, will eventually need some kind of long-term care during their lifetime.

Working caregivers: Family caregivers are feeling the strain of helping aging parents while working and raising their own children. In fact, 27% of working caregivers have changed from full-time to part-time work to accommodate the demands of caring for a loved one.

Preference for aging in place: Results from a recent AARP survey found that 75% of adults aged 50 and older want to remain at home while they age. Another 73% said they wish to stay in their current communities for as long as possible.

These trends are helping home care franchise owners experience growing client bases, steady referrals, and recurring service needs.

Non-Medical vs. Medical Franchises

While they may sound similar to each other, non-medical and medical franchises have significant differences in how they operate.

Fewer Regulations

Non-medical franchises have less hoops to jump through. Even if your state requires a license for your business, there aren’t as many regulations to follow compared to a medical franchise. You also don’t have to deal with insurance companies paying you for services. Instead, your clients pay you out of pocket. Additionally, neither you nor your employees need complex medical credentialing, making it easier to find qualified care staff members.

On the flip side, medical franchises require registered and licensed practical nurses, physical therapists, clinical supervisors, and other skilled medical professionals.

Lower Overhead Costs

The overhead costs for a medical franchise are higher than those of a non-medical business. To start, the professional staffing required for medical care is more expensive than simply hiring caregivers. Plus, medical customers typically require more consistent, if not daily, care. Compare that to non-medical clients, where companionship services are only for a couple hours a day, a few days a week.

Consider, too, that your professional liability insurance premiums are lower for a non-medical business than for a medical one. Plus, you require fewer supplies for non-medical home care.

Why Franchise with A Place At Home

The A Place At Home business model is designed to help franchisees generate multiple streams of revenue. Instead of offering just one service—such as in-home care—we offer four core services:

In-home senior care
Care coordination
Senior living alternatives
Staffing solutions

Through our senior-focused care model, we provide a continuum of services, which allows us to become trusted partners to our clients.

Our franchise opportunity is affordable, with startup costs ranging from $91,195 to $166,012, including our initial franchise fee of $49,500. To qualify, interested franchise candidates must have a net worth of $250,000 and at least $50,000 in liquid assets.

With lower overhead, private-pay revenue, and multiple service lines, our franchise model is designed to deliver a faster path to ROI compared to more complex healthcare businesses.

To learn more about how to start a non-medical home care business, what territories are available for investment, and why A Place At Home may be the right choice for you, fill out our franchise inquiry form today.

BrightStar Care Franchise vs. A Place At Home Franchise: Which Is Right For You?

How BrightStar Care Franchise shapes up against A Place At Home

Deciding between a BrightStar Care franchise opportunity or another franchise, like A Place At Home, in the home care industry? We don’t blame you, as 10,000 people turn 65 every day. So, let us help you compare two franchises in this growing senior home care industry.

Side-By-Side Comparison

While many of BrightStar Care’s services overlap with A Place At Home, the main difference is that BrightStar Care uses a Registered Nurse (RN) for every client, even when the state doesn’t require it. This element is important to note because RNs cost more to employ.

Here’s a look at how the startup costs compare for the two franchises.

	BrightStar Care	A Place At Home
Franchise Fee	$50,000	$49,500
Initial Investment	$111,008 – $191,108	$84,185 to $148,517
Liquid Capital Requirement	$100,000 – $150,000	$50,000
Royalty Fee	5.25%	4.5% -5.5%
Ad Royalty Fee	The greater of $500 or 2.5%	1%
Franchise Growth	2020: 325 units 2022: 365 units	2020: 13 units 2022: 20 units

Is BrightStar Care Franchise the Right Choice?

BrightStar Care opened in 2002, then began franchising in 2005, and as you can see, it has now grown to hundreds of locations across the country.

Owners can earn a variety of revenue streams. Locations can offer medical and non-medical services like in-home and companion care for seniors, medical staffing for facilities, and childcare. The company has two other franchises that run hand-in-hand with senior in-home care, BrightStar Senior Living and Bright Star Care Homes. These both offer assisted living and memory care living options for seniors. But, again, both will require medical professionals on staff and have their own initial investment costs.

BrightStar Introduces Call Option

The franchise system its now taking some heat in the press for introducing a call option. The call option gives the franchisor the power to buy back or terminate the franchise agreement at a predetermined price. That price could be less than the fair market value.

In addition to this call option being introduced, the president of the BOA told Franchise Times that Shelly Sun, the BrightStar founder, is talking with strategic partners that she would use the call option. For example, CVS recently announced it’s buying the home healthcare provider Signify. Shelly told Franchise Times that the call option is necessary for the brand to evolve.

The BOA president says many franchisees are trying to sell their agreements, which is decreasing value of the franchise itself. Others that have their livelihood in the franchise are concerned it could be ripped from them in the next couple of years.

While the franchise provides two weeks of initial training for owners and the director for your director of nursing, sales director, and branch manager, it’s very difficult to move past the idea that you could be investing in something that could be gone before you really get going.

Build More Than a Business with A Place At Home

A Place At Home prides itself on the family environment we’ve built. Other franchise owners are an extra layer of support you can lean on by joining the franchise family. However, that’s not all that makes us a unique franchise. We focus on non-medical care, which requires fewer hoops to jump through when opening compared to a medical franchise.

We guarantee our territories have enough clientele for you to thrive. All our base territories have approximately 40,000 people living in that area that are 65 years or older. That number increases every day!

Just like the BrightStar Care Franchise, we offer several home care revenue streams. As an A Place At Home owner, you can provide the following:

In-home senior care
Care coordination
Assistance in searching for senior living alternatives
Staffing solutions for senior care facilities

We have dedicated our time to perfecting a proven business model and training plan that can help our franchisees flourish. We built the CARE Track™ business process, which will take you from signing your franchise agreement to becoming a CARE Pro. A Place At Home guarantees that if you commit to CARE Track™ 100%, you will serve clients in the first 60 days post-launch. If not, you’ll have your first six months of royalty fees waived. That’s how confident we are in our business model.

Before that, you’re paired with a business coach. With their help, you’ll go through comprehensive sales, recruiting, and retention training. Then, you’ll attend 40 hours of in-person training to experience operation in action at our flagship location in Omaha, Nebraska. You’ll learn procedures, operations, and marketing during that in-person training. We won’t ever leave you hanging. After you open, we’ll reconvene on additional training if you’re still struggling to meet your KPIs.

Another benefit to our franchise is our de-escalating royalty structure. That’s right, the MORE money YOU make, the LESS money WE take.

While we are a young brand, opening in 2012 and franchising five years later, our commitment to supporting you and providing compassionate care pushes us above the rest. You can join us at a great time with immense growth potential.

Start the process of joining our family by submitting a franchise form.

Why Healthcare Startups Fail: Top 5 Reasons

According to Forbes, 90% of all startups fail. As for those in the healthcare and social assistance field, only about 57% make it past five years. Meanwhile, in the medical technology sector, upwards of 75% of U.S.-based, early-stage medtech companies never find success, according to TTi Health Research & Economics.

Learn the top reasons why healthcare startups fail so you can be prepared for the challenges that lie ahead when running your healthcare business. Get the insights.

1. Running Out of Cash

Mismanagement of funds or failure to raise enough capital is the most common reason for any business, not just healthcare startups, to fold. A CB Insights study found that 38% of unsuccessful startups ran out of cash or failed to raise new capital. The healthcare industry is especially tough. Managing cash flow is challenging because the sales cycle in healthcare is particularly long.

One area where medical businesses lose funds is putting too much money and effort into pilot programs. Many companies underestimate the amount of effort required to have a successful pilot. You want to put the right amount of resources into the program to gain traction and revenue without going overboard. There’s a fine balance needed.

One way to skip the pilot programs is to invest in a franchise. A Place At Home allows seniors to age safely in their homes. We’ve already gone through the trials and tribulations that come with healthcare startups, so you don’t have to. Instead, you’ll receive our proven blueprint for building your own in-home senior care business.

2. Not Enough Market Demand

In that same CB Insights study, research showed 35% of startups fail because there isn’t enough market demand for their products or services. Although a medical technology company can have multiple potential paths for its product or service, they typically start with the one that the founder or CEO is most experienced in. But, this path might not be where the highest demand is. So, you should perform extensive research and determine which direction provides the best market size, competitive landscape, and highest potential for patient adoption.

3. Product or Service Doesn’t Fit Workflows

All jobs in the healthcare field are essential, making their workflow vital to saving lives and treating patients. You might think your new technology will make their lives easier, lower costs, or improve patient outcomes, but the adoption period might turn them away from using it. Facilities and offices usually have a well-established workflow model; anything that disrupts it could come with pushback.

4. Flawed Business Model

The CB Insights study found that nearly a fifth of all startups failed because of a flawed business model. The most common reasons a business model fails are because their profits and losses don’t add up or its story doesn’t make sense. This basically means that the company built the product or service on incorrect assumptions about the consumer. Or in other words, there’s no real market for the product or service.

5. Regulatory or Legal Issues

The medical field comes with lots of hoops to jump through. Some startups try to skip the regulatory approval process and go directly to the consumer. For some companies, it’s worked. But it leaves you hoping your customers are okay paying out-of-pocket for your health service or product. While the process can seem lengthy and expensive to go through, receiving federal approval, in the end, might help your business thrive.

Healthcare Startups vs. Medical Franchising

Concerned one of these five reasons might be what brings down your new healthcare business? Consider franchising. There are several medical franchising routes, from at-home care to urgent care centers or physical therapy offices. While the initial investment costs are higher than possibly a startup, you know there is already a demand because the brand is thriving in other locations. The franchise provides a proven business model, allowing you to get up and running efficiently. Good franchises will walk you through all the licensing and regulation steps to start a medical business. They already know the ins and outs, so take advantage of it.

Benefits of Homecare Business Vs. Medical Business

Forget the hassle of dealing with insurance companies and stricter regulations of medical businesses. Instead, learn how to start a home health agency like A Place At Home. The overhead costs and startup costs are kept lower for several reasons.

First, you don’t have to hire medical providers like doctors, mid-level practitioners, or nurses. Caregivers provide our clients with exceptional homecare. This factor keeps your staffing costs lower. Then, your professional liability insurance is lower because you’re not providing medical services. Lastly, since you’re not providing physical or occupational therapy to your clients, you’ll need fewer supplies, keeping overhead costs lower. So, you can provide your community with compassionate, senior-focused, and customized in-home services.

Ready to jump into the homecare industry? Submit a franchise form to get started.

How to Get Your Home Health Care Business License In 7 Steps

Considering joining the growing home care industry? We don’t blame you. Currently, the home care providers market is worth $120 billion in the U.S. That number is only expected to grow as an aging population looks to live in their homes as long as possible.

Federal, state, and local governments heavily regulate the industry. The regulations are to protect you and your patients. So, when starting a home health care business, one of the first things to do is get a home health care license. Here’s a look at the steps involved in how to get a home health care business license.

1. Choose Between Medical vs. Non-Medical

The type of services you provide could change the type of license you need and how you get it. For example, to offer medical services like medication administration, you’ll need to hire medical professionals before you begin the process of licensing. However, this comes with more liability for your business.

You could stick to non-medical services and provide companionship or other daily activity assistance. Some states will still require skilled medical professionals to be hired to meet the requirements for a license for non-medical home care agencies.

2. Find Out Your State Requirements

Whether you’re looking to offer medical services or operate as a non-medical home care provider, there are several steps to take before accepting clients. First, research what your state requires. Not all states require licenses for home care. CareAcademy finds three that don’t: Iowa, Massachusetts, and Michigan You can typically find these requirements on the Secretary of State’s website.

Depending on your state’s requirements, you’ll need to attend training, and state officials or an accrediting body will perform inspections. The process of getting your business license can take three to 18 months, depending on your state. Some states will provide you with a provisional license during the process. States with an increase in applications for home care licenses might take longer.

There are 18 states that require an inspection visit before receiving a provisional license for non-medical home care or home health care companies. Then, after that first inspection, follow-up inspections occur every so many years, again depending on the state.

More than a dozen states require home health care agencies to file a Certificate of Need before applying for a business license. This certificate helps state authorities monitor the supply of providers in the health care market. It evaluates the local demand before allowing a new facility or agency to open. Apply for your certificate of need first, before your license, just in case you need to reconsider your territory.

A benefit to owning an A Place At Home franchise is our market research. We know what areas and territories a home care agency can thrive in. All our base franchise unit territories have 40,000 qualified senior residents.

3. Create a Business Plan

For some license registrations, you’ll include a business plan. Generally, it’s good to have one completed before you finalize your business setup anyway. Your business plan will outline core business activities and how you plan to achieve goals. These documents include an executive summary, products, and services offered, a market analysis, marketing strategy, financial planning, financial projections, and a budget.

4. Register Your Business With the State

Before you move on to getting your license for your non-medical home care agency, register with your state through the Secretary of State and the State Department of Revenue Services. Typically, this step is as easy as filing your business name with the state and local governments.

5. Set Up an Office

Secure an office space for your business. You’ll need locked cabinets to store client and company records. In addition, most license applications will require you to include a copy of your lease.

Only a small executive suite is necessary when you become an A Place At Home franchise owner. It allows you to perform private, professional interviews with your care staff members.

6. Follow State Training Requirements

Study the mandated training for you and your employees. The requirements vary by state. Ensure it’s all completed fully before applying for a home health care license. Most states require everyone have CPR/AED training, even if you’re a non-medical home care agency. Caregivers have specific training requirements to follow.

7. Apply For Your Home Health Care License

Finally! Once you’ve completed all the previous steps, you have made it to the end of our guide on how to get your home health care business license. You can submit your license application. Fill out all the necessary forms and provide the proper materials to your state to receive your licensing.

FAQs on How to Get a Home Health Care Business License

Still have questions after reading through the guide? Here are some frequently asked questions surrounding the licensure process:

How much will it cost?
Like most other things, this varies by state. Fees can either be a flat rate or based on the number of employees. For example, a Texas home and community support services agency license costs $2,625.

How often do I have to renew?
This is another state-by-state regulation, but it can also depend on how much you want to pay to extend your license. States typically require a renewal annually or every two or three years. The more you pay at one time, the longer the license period is.

Do I still apply for a license if I buy into a franchise?
While you’re paying to join a trusted brand, you still have to follow the rules and regulations of your state for home care agencies. So, yes, you still have to go through the steps of how to get a home health care business license and pay for it, even when you’re affiliated with a franchise system.

Let A Place At Home Guide You Through the Process

Instead of worrying about navigating how to get a home health care business license by yourself, let us help you at A Place At Home. By becoming an owner with us, you’ll receive not only licensure guidance but also a step-by-step process on how to start a home health agency. You’ll follow our five-step CARE track to gain the tools you’ll need for success. You can capitalize on multiple revenue streams — all while being backed by a reputable national brand that people recognize. Those opportunities include care coordination, finding senior living alternatives, and staffing services.

Don’t sweat the small steps. Let A Place At Home lead you to open your own home care agency. Submit a franchise form to get started.

Assisted Living Business: What to Expect When Starting One

Thinking about starting an assisted living business? Get insights on profitability and what to expect when running a business in the assisted living space. Read more.

What Can I Expect?

An assisted living facility can be a massive undertaking. Consumer Affairs notes that, on average, assisted living facilities accommodate 27 to 33 patients. As an owner, you provide caregivers for those patients to help with daily activities like going to the bathroom and getting dressed, medication management, house cleaning, laundry, meals, and social programs and activities.

You’ll need an assisted living certification to get started. This requires you have at least one staff member for every six residents. In addition, state and federal regulators require multiple types of insurance to operate, including workers’ compensation insurance, general liability insurance, property/casualty insurance, and umbrella insurance.

You’ll need to find and acquire a property that meets specific standards. That includes accessibility for all residents to reach essential parts of the facility, green space on the premises, ample parking, and safety and security features.

Then, you’ll need to perform extensive marketing to fill the rooms at your assisted living business. Finally, employees are essential to running the property. You’ll need to hire and retain quality certified nurse assistants, nurses, and other staff members to keep the place running. Don’t forget those employees will need training.

Assisted Living Center Services

You’re caring for dozens of seniors 24 hours a day, seven days a week when you own an assisted living business. That means you’ll need to provide a variety of services. These include providing clinical assistance and documenting it. You’ll create a comfortable, home-like environment for your residents. Organize social activities. Make and serve at least three meals a day. All of these factors must be done while following strict state and federal guidelines for senior living properties.

Are Assisted Living Facilities Profitable?

Senior services are growing in demand as the U.S. population is aging. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that someone turning 65 has a nearly 70% chance of needing some long-term care services and supports in their remaining years. The assisted living home market size was estimated at $73.6 billion in 2018, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.4% over the forecast period.

While the market is a significant size, the costs of running an assisted living facility are high, leaving many facilities to operate at a negative net profit margin. Two of the biggest problems facing assisted living businesses are inflation and hiring. Inflation is increasing all costs of running the facility, forcing owners to pass along the increase to their residents. In addition, many businesses are struggling to hire and retain workers. The battle is an even bigger deal for senior living companies because they have to decrease their occupancy if they don’t have enough people to work.

Why is an In-Home Care Business a Better Idea?

Leave behind the stressors of running an entire assisted living facility by opening an in-home care business, like A Place At Home. You’ll face less liability and cheaper upfront investment costs. In addition, an in-home care business is easily scalable as you hire employees as your client list grows.

The demand is growing for senior home care. It’s projected by International Franchise Association (IFA) that by 2050, more than 27 million Americans will use senior care services. Plus, not only is the age of Americans rising, but so is the percentage of seniors who want to age in their homes. These two factors combined will send the demand for in-home senior care services skyrocketing. For a near future projection, an estimate quoted by IFA predicts a 29% increase for in-home assistance aides through 2024.

When opening an in-home care business, you don’t need many supplies. You’ll need a reliable vehicle, cell phone, and computer. But you won’t have to worry about building or renting a massive facility to hold dozens of residents and activities.

According to Profitable Venture, you only need one caregiver per four clients, although regulations may vary by state. So, you can quickly work to hire employees as you increase your client list.

No medical services are needed for in-home care businesses, just compassionate care and assistance for seniors like a companion, lifestyle, or personal care. This means you don’t have to undergo the extensive process of getting permits and licenses or dealing with health insurance companies.

Invest in Senior Care With A Place At Home

Don’t wonder how to start a home health agency. Become a franchise owner with A Place At Home instead. We provide in-depth training and a proven business model to follow for a low initial investment cost of $84,185 to $148,517. As a result, our franchisees are finding success with our multiple revenue streams. According to our latest franchise disclosure document, franchisees reported an average sale amount of more than $1 million in 2021, leaving lots of room to profit from your initial investment.

Are you ready to be our next top performer? Get started by submitting a franchise form today.

Alternative Careers For Social Workers: Not Too Late To Make a Change

Pay and burnout are common reasons social workers want to bow out of the industry. The median salary for a social worker in 2021 was about $50,000 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

So, if you’re searching for jobs in social work that pay better, know that you’re not alone. It’s not too late to make a change. There are several alternative careers for social workers out there. It’s time to find one that’s better suited to you.

Leverage Your Skills

You don’t need to stress whether your skills from social work will transfer to a new career. Social workers are typically highly motivated leaders, great communicators, and have excellent interpersonal talents from interacting with clients. They can also problem-solve, strategize, and are great at planning schedules. Lucky for you, all of these experiences will make you highly adaptable in new work environments.

Taking Your First Steps

When beginning the process of applying for new jobs, update your resume to highlight those traits you’ve mastered through social work. Then, network, network, and network some more. Some positions might need more education, like a master’s degree or doctorate, while others might need a certification.

One career alternative that doesn’t require more education or certifications is becoming a franchise owner with A Place At Home. Instead, use your leadership qualities to own and operate a location and share your compassion with your communities’ seniors by providing in-home care.

Alternative Careers For Social Workers

Consider these jobs that are similar to social work but tend to pay better. You’ll see how your experience will transfer.

Education: High school teacher, counselor, college professor, and college admissions counselor are jobs within education that allow you to build on your experiences as a social worker. Your excellent communication skills will help you with assisting students one on one. Being assertive is valuable when commanding the attention of a room of students. In college, you can teach the classes you took to become a social worker in the first place. As for counseling, your communication abilities will allow you to guide your students, understand what they’re looking for, and problem-solve with them.
Consulting: Your communication skills and conflict-resolution experience can benefit other companies. By coming in with an objective perspective, you can work with executives, managers, and other company decision-makers to see where their shortfalls are occurring. Diversity and inclusion specialist is one consulting area social workers excel in. Social workers generally have experience working with marginalized populations, so they can help companies diversify their hiring processes.
Human Resources: Employees look to their HR department for empathy and solutions to conflicts. So, working within an HR department, including as an HR Manager, you’ll use your interpersonal skills to help with sexual harassment issues and employee disciplinary procedures. Social workers’ organization, time management, and database experience will support them in overseeing employees’ benefits programs and hiring processes.
Outreach Coordinator: This position typically works with non-profit or advocacy organizations. As a social worker, you understand human behavior, can analyze societal systems, and remain objective in situations. In this role, you’ll use that experience and work with other community members to improve local programs and services. You’ll create and manage outreach programs. These events and programs promote community, safety and well-being.
Be Your Own Boss: Take your experience as a social worker and become a successful business owner. All your skills and experiences will transfer. Great entrepreneurs often start by identifying the problem or need they want to fulfill in the marketplace, just like a social worker begins by identifying their client’s issues. From there, they create the necessary products or services, connect with other professionals and resources, and promote their products. Your leadership qualities and motivation will help you excel in this field. Need help figuring out how to do it? Consider buying into a franchise system like the senior home care agency A Place At Home. Your interpersonal and communication abilities will put you ahead when discussing options for seniors with their loved ones.

Build Your Own Success with A Place At Home

If you want to get out of the corporate world, become a franchise owner with A Place At Home franchise owner. We know your social work experience is a great asset. You’re used to connecting clients with resources. As a franchisee, you’ll connect your customers to resources that will help them safely continue aging in their homes.

The growth potential is exponential with our brand compared to other companies. The number of seniors is rapidly growing, and most are looking to stay in their homes. So, take the next steps toward this new career and help the seniors in your community by submitting a franchise form.