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.

While you can’t control the economy, you can control what business you open. Recession-resistant franchises can thrive and adapt easier than other businesses during economic slumps.

So, how do you find a franchise opportunity that is less volatile in a recession? Here are the signs you should look for that hint at a strong recession-resistant franchise.

The Product or Service is a Necessity

When money becomes tight, people cut out the “luxuries.” That typically includes entertainment, clothing, and travel. Meanwhile, businesses that perform specialized services or provide necessary products, like food, do well during tough economic times. Those businesses include repair services for cars, plumbing, roofing or HVAC systems, in-home senior care, grocery and convenience stores, hair salons, or restoration services.

• Repair Services: Cars and air conditioning units break without warning, no matter the state of the economy. In tough times people will repair their necessities over buying a new one. This factor makes repair services like auto repair shops, home appliance mechanics, or HVAC maintenance providers stay strong during a recession.
• In-Home Senior Care: 10,000 people turn 65 every day in the U.S. Many seniors are now looking to age in their homes over some facility or community. They will need constant care, making non-medical in-home senior care companies, like A Place At Home, fare better during uncertain economic times.
• Grocery & Convenience Stores: Food is a necessity. While people might cut back on eating out at restaurants on a tight budget, they’ll still do their grocery shopping, making grocery stores a great business investment during tough economic times.
• Hair Salons: Hair is constantly growing, and unless you’re looking to become Rapunzel, you’ll need a haircut. Nearly 60 million Americans had four or more haircuts in a six-month period last year.
• Restoration Services: A home catches on fire, or a basement floods after a rainstorm. Neither are events homeowners plan for. So, once the smoke clears and the water recedes, a professional must restore the property to its original state. This service needs to happen almost immediately.

Financial Strength

When studying franchises to buy into, closely analyze their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). This document will give you a clear understanding of their financial state. Asking an accountant and lawyer to help review the numbers is also a good idea. It will include information on any bankruptcy claims, the past financial performance of the franchise system, and audited financial statements.

A Proven System

During your exploration of recession-resilient franchises, spend time scrutinizing their system and whether it has a history of building successful franchisees. Does their approach work in various demographics in all parts of the country? When speaking with franchisees during Validation, ask them whether they felt their training and support were worth their investment costs.

Growing, But Stable Demand

A key to recession-resistant franchises is they are in industries that are seeing a rise in need but also have a sustainable demand. For example, the demand for senior home care is skyrocketing. On top of that, the elderly population will grow exponentially for the next decade, creating sustainable demand for the industry.

Also, consider whether it’s a year-round or a seasonal business. Year-round demand allows you more opportunities to bring in revenue than a seasonal business, like lawn care. Whereas no matter the weather outside or the state of the economy, thousands of seniors need in-home care daily.

Make Yourself Recession-Resistant with A Place At Home

With an A Place At Home franchise, your revenue isn’t only coming from in-home care. We offer services for every phase of the aging journey, from non-medical in-home care to coordinating care between providers and ultimately finding a senior living facility. But our home care revenue services don’t stop there. We help senior living communities maintain compliance by finding staffing solutions for them.

In 10 years, we have built a location-tested model to help our franchisees thrive. Our first locations are now doing over $1 million in sales. We’ve provided care to over 4,217 individuals and employed 4,566 caregivers. Help us expand our compassionate reach across the country while we help you build a promising business no matter the economic state. Start today by filling out this form and one of our representatives will be in touch.

With over 54 million Americans  65 years old or older, it’s no wonder the senior care industry is booming. So, you’re interested in opening a senior care company but aren’t sure how to get clients for your non-medical home care business. Even just a small portion of that older population would make all the difference. Getting qualified home care clients for your non-medical home care business is critical for profitability. We’ve got top tips for client recruitment all lined up for you.

Eight Ways to Find New Clients

Before getting started, make sure you have a clear plan. Define your market. As a senior care business owner, you want to remember that most people looking for your services will not be the seniors needing care. It’ll most likely be their children or grandchildren in search for someone to take care of their loved ones. Once your target audience is defined, use it to shape how you implement these marketing methods.

1. Provide great care to your clients.
   You’ll earn word-of-mouth referrals by providing top-notch care. To ensure you give your clients the best possible service, you’ll want to spend money and time recruiting, hiring, and onboarding your employees. With A Place At Home, we guide you through a proven training process. It includes a sales, recruiting, and retention series to help hire and keep your employees, which is also key to retaining clients.

2. Cultivate professional relationships and partnerships with other businesses.
   Develop connections with local businesses like doctors’ offices in your area with the hope that they will recommend you to their patients. Give them your brochures or other marketing materials to pass on to their patients. Hospitals are another place to provide brochures so nurses can include them with discharge papers. You can also partner with house call physicians, occupational therapists, hospital discharge planners, social workers, rehab centers, adult day care centers, and veterans’ administration. Another option is partnering with businesses to provide reciprocating referrals. Be careful of doing this, however. Your reputation is on the line. If the company you refer your client to doesn’t meet their expectations, that could negatively affect you.

3. Get involved by volunteering.
   Put yourself among community members by getting involved. Connect with local schools, churches, food banks, and other organizations to show you care about bettering the community your business serves. Consider wearing t-shirts with your company logo to get your name out there.

4. Integrate into the community by sponsoring an event or team.
   Another way to show involvement is by sponsoring events. Remember, your target market here is not necessarily seniors. Sponsoring 5k races or a booth at a local fair can increase your brand’s awareness among seniors’ children and grandchildren.

5. Share your knowledge.
   Educate your market about the services you provide. Hold “lunch and learns” at senior centers, retirement communities, or churches to share your expertise on health and aging topics. These events allow the community to put a face to the business name.

6. Build an online presence.
   The children and grandchildren of potential clients may not live locally. You’ll want to make your company info is accessible to family members worldwide. Create a Google My Business profile so you can attract clients through local searches. Set up your website and social media accounts. Collect emails on your website to send out email marketing campaigns to bring in even more business.

7. Use lead generation sites.
   While these sites can be expensive, they can put your marketing dollars to good use. These sites create qualified leads that will likely turn into customers. Lead generation sites that are good for senior care businesses are Caring.com and SeniorAdvisor.com. Caring.com typically ranks number one in organic searches for “(location) home care agency.”

8. Collect and promote your reviews.
   Recent research shows there is more emphasis on reading reviews than ever before. A BrightLocal survey found that 77% of people ‘always’ or ‘regularly’ read reviews when browsing for local businesses in 2021. That’s up from 60% in 2020. You can promote your reviews on your social media pages and your website.

Find Support and Training With A Place At Home

All of this might seem overwhelming for  a potential new business owner. But, there’s good news! Don’t fret about how to get clients for your non-medical home care business. Instead, consider a senior care franchise like A Place At Home. With our CARE Track, we have seen a 95% success rate of franchisees servicing their first client within the first 60 days of launching. If you’re ready to build your business and begin booking clients, submit a franchise form today to learn more about joining the A Place At Home team.

8 Strong Elder Care Business Ideas that Help Your Community

It’s no secret that the U.S. population is aging. In fact, in some states, older adults outnumber children. As the senior population continues to grow, the ​​demand​​ for high-quality care services has increased ​​significantly​​. Globally, the elderly care market was valued at $49.29 billion in 2024. Projected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9% from now until 2032, the market is predicted to be worth $98.12 billion by the end of the forecast period.   

With such strong growth coming, now is an ideal time for savvy entrepreneurs to consider joining this growing market. Discover what senior care business opportunities are available, the differences between them all, and why investing in a franchise brand like A Place At Home may be your best option.  

Top Elder Care Business Opportunities

Senior care is a multi-faceted industry with many opportunities available. As a compassionate entrepreneur looking for your next investment, some of the following options may pique your interest:  

1. Non-medical in-home care 

With 75% of seniors preferring to age at home, non-medical in-home care is one of the most popular services in the senior care industry. This type of care includes assistance with daily living activities such as:  

• Medication reminders 
• Bathing and grooming 
• Light housekeeping  
• Meal preparation  
• Companionship  

Critical for seniors who live alone, social interaction and nutritional support also help reduce loneliness and support better health outcomes. Non-medical in-home care is typically billed hourly, creating a strong, recurring revenue stream. 

2. Senior transportation

As people age, driving can become more of a challenge—making transportation services vital for seniors who can’t or no longer want to drive. A senior transportation business involves helping older individuals get to medical appointments, run errands, or attend social events.  

Business owners can ​​expand​​ their target audience by ​​operating​​ vehicles that are wheelchair-accessible or specially equipped to serve clients with mobility ​​impairments​​. Senior transportation can be offered as a standalone business or as an additional revenue stream in a broader home care operation. 

3. Home remodeling or retrofitting

Without the proper amenities—grab bars, stair lifts, walk-in showers, etc.—aging ​at​ home can feel overwhelming. Remodeling or retrofitting businesses conduct home safety assessments to determine where improvements can be made so a senior can continue to live at home. Typically, the work is covered privately, which gives businesses flexibility in pricing their services.  

4. Property or house maintenance

Many seniors can no longer keep up with the routine maintenance of their homes. Property maintenance businesses can include lawn care, snow removal, gutter cleaning, appliance checks, seasonal decorating, and minor repairs. By ​​outsourcing​​ these chores, seniors can ​​maintain their independence​​ while reducing the risk of accidents or injuries. They can also still have pride in their homes without having to put in all the work themselves. These services are typically completed on a recurring schedule, giving owners a dependable source of income.  

5. Relocation services

Eventually, there comes a point when living at home just isn’t the best option anymore. When that time comes, families of seniors can feel overwhelmed trying to find the right living place for their loved one.  

By offering relocation services, you provide a solution. Through private location tours, trusted referrals, and knowledge of the various senior living facilities available, you can help place seniors in the ​​best-matched​​ place for their unique needs. Plus, these types of businesses are usually paid for by the facility, not the family—giving you the flexibility to focus on the ​​proper​​ placement. 

6. Mobile personal services

Seniors still want to look and feel their best, even when getting out of the house can be difficult. Providing mobile services such as haircuts, massages, nail care, and grooming ​​brings​​ wellness, self-care, and confidence directly to their homes. Ideal for entrepreneurs ​​with limited​​ upfront capital, these types of businesses offer great low-overhead opportunities. Additionally, if you already work with seniors in a different capacity, this is a great add-on service that builds loyalty with customers.  

7. Legal and financial planning services 

Legal and financial planning is a specialized segment within the broader senior care industry. However, it’s one that plays a crucial role in helping families prepare for future care needs. Services may include estate planning, wills and trusts, Medicaid planning, power of attorney documents, or even financial advisement related to long-term care. While this type of business requires owners to have certifications and licenses, the trust built with clients can result in long-term relationships. 

8. Remote care services

Technology advancements are changing senior care. By providing telehealth check-ins, virtual wellness visits, health monitoring systems, and even medication reminders through connected devices, seniors can continue living at home safely. These services allow families and providers to stay informed and involved—without being physically present. Remote care is a forward-thinking business model that addresses one of the biggest pain points in elder care: accessibility and peace of mind. 

Why Consider A Place At Home?

The A Place At Home business model ​​enables​​ franchisees to capitalize on multiple profitable business segments ​​within a single​​ franchise opportunity. By offering non-medical:  

• In-home care  
• Specialized care  
• Care coordination  
• Relocation services  
• Staffing solutions  

Franchise partners can build multiple revenue streams by using established resources, tools, and systems.  

We offer an affordable franchise opportunity with startup costs ranging from $91,125 to $166,012, including our franchise fee of $49,500. Interested franchise candidates should have a net worth of $250,000 and at least $50,000 in liquidity to qualify for our opportunity. ​     ​ 

To learn more about our senior care franchise opportunity, contact us today. After we have received your inquiry, one of our team members will be in touch with you to set up an introductory meeting.