Many people will, at some point in their life, need help with basic daily tasks. Simple things, like cooking, shopping, cleaning and going to appointments, can be challenging for elderly seniors, people with chronic medical conditions and patients recovering from surgery. A home care business helps people who need living assistance. In many cases, the services that a business provides are crucial to keeping clients in their homes.
While home care businesses help people of all ages, many of their clients are seniors. As the Baby Boomer generation ages, the industry is expected to grow significantly. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 17 percent job growth for nursing assistants and 38 percent growth for home health aides through 2024, both of which are “much faster than average.” (Not all home care business owners have these certifications, but many people with these certifications work within the industry.)
Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.
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DIY: How to Start an LLC
Start a home health care business by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Home Health Care Business
- Form your Home Health Care Business into a Legal Entity
- Register your Home Health Care Business for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Home Health Care Business
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Home Health Care Business
- Get Home Health Care Business Insurance
- Define your Home Health Care Business Brand
- Create your Home Health Care Business Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your home health care business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.
Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.
STEP 1: Plan your business
A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:
- What will you name your business?
- What are the startup and ongoing costs?
- Who is your target market?
- How much can you charge customers?
Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.
What will you name your business?
Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Home Health Care Business Name Generator
If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.
When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:
- Your state’s business records
- Federal and state trademark records
- Social media platforms
- Web domain availability
It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.
What are the costs involved in opening a home health care business?
A home care business can be started with very little capital and hassle. Other than any licensing fees that a state requires, there are few startup costs. The two essential elements are a reliable vehicle and a cell phone, but most business owners use their personal vehicle and phone. Many business owners also use a computer, which they usually already have as well. According to Senior Service Business, these startup costs can be kept under $900.
To keep startup costs low, many business owners begin by offering only non-medical assistance. This helps ensure they don’t have to pay for classes and reduces how much red tape they must go through.
Businesses are typically run from a home office, so there aren’t any startup costs for office space.
What are the ongoing expenses for a home health care business?
The ongoing expenses for a home care business are maintenance and fuel for a vehicle, a phone bill and any internet access costs. These expenses should be considered when determining a business’ hourly rate.
Who is the target market?
A home care business’ ideal client is someone who wants to continue living on their own but needs help with basic tasks. This may be:
- An elderly senior who wants to remain in their home rather than assisted living
- A patient who recently had surgery and would like to recover in their own house
- Someone who has a medical condition and needs someone who can help with basic tasks (possibly while another service provides medical assistance)
Additionally, clients sometimes also need some savings, because home care isn’t always covered by medical insurance.
How does a home health care business make money?
A home care business makes money by charging clients an hourly rate on a fixed weekly schedule. Some businesses also offer clients a live-in service for a fixed monthly fee.
How much can you charge customers?
How much home care businesses charge varies a lot depending on where they’re located. Businesses in rural areas typically charge around $18 per hour, while those in major cities may charge as much as $40 per hour. The national average, Senior Service Business says, is $24 per hour.
How much profit can a home health care business make?
According to a report cited by USA Today, home health care franchises are among the five most profitable franchises. In the report that USA Today noted, some franchises grossed over $1 million — and had gross margins between 30 and 40 percent. New businesses make an average of $248,000 in their first year, with 12 to 15 percent of that being net profit.
How can you make your business more profitable?
Home care businesses can charge more by offering medical services. Getting set up to provide medical services takes work, though, as aides must be certified and the business must be set up to accept health insurance (especially Medicare). Additionally, in order to accept Medicare, all of the medical services a business provides must be overseen by a physician — which requires establishing relationships with physicians. For these reasons, many business owners don’t pursue these opportunities until they’re ready to purchase a franchise.
Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!
STEP 2: Form a legal entity
One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your home health care business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.
This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.
In practice, this means that if your home health care business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.
More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.
Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).
STEP 3: Register for taxes
You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.
In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!
You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?
There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.
STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.
When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.
Open a business bank account
Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:
- Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
- Makes accounting and tax filing easier.
Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.
Get a business credit card
Getting a business credit card helps you:
- Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business’ expenses all in one place.
- Build your company’s credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.
Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.
STEP 5: Set up business accounting
Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.
Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.
STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses
Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.
State & Local Business Licensing Requirements
Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate Home Care Business:
In addition to these state requirements, certain local licensing or regulatory requirements may apply. For more information about local licenses and permits:
- Check with your town, city or county clerk’s office
- Get assistance from one of the local associations listed in US Small Business Associations directory of local business resources.
Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.
Services Contract
Home care businesses should require clients to sign a services agreement before taking on a new client. This agreement should clarify client expectations and minimize risk of legal disputes by setting out payment terms and conditions, service level expectations.
STEP 7: Get business insurance
Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.
There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.
Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.
Find out what types of insurance your Home Health Care Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Home Health Care Business.
STEP 8: Define your brand
Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.
How to promote & market a home health care business
Just as a home care business can often be started through word of mouth, this is also the most effective way to promote and market a business. Most clients know other people in similar situations who may also want assistance. A referral from a current client will often be more effective than a traditional advertisement.
How to keep customers coming back
To set itself apart from similar businesses, a home care business must establish its reliability. Being flexible enough to adjust to a client’s change in schedule can go a long way in establishing trust. For instance, taking a client to an unscheduled medical appointment if a health-related issue arises will make life much easier for family and friends, and they’ll be more likely to continue requesting help and more willing to provide recommendations.
STEP 9: Create your business website
After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.
While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.
Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:
- All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
- Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
- Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.
Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.
Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.
STEP 10: Set up your business phone system
Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.
There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.
Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com
Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.
Is this Business Right For You?
Anyone who is interested in helping others may be well-suited for starting a home care business. Business owners often spend a lot of time with their clients, and being able to build relationships is important. Patience and compassion are also vital, as some clients may be difficult to work with at times.
Additionally, business owners should be self-disciplined and organized. They’re often expected to help with multiple tasks that have to be prioritized.
Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?
Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!
What happens during a typical day at a home health care business?
Home care business owners spend much of their time with clients. A single visit may entail any of the following:
- Preparing meals
- Basic cleaning
- Running errands
- Taking your client to appointments and social engagements
Some business owners also help with basic hygiene and/or provide simple medical services. Doing this type of work usually requires specialized certifications.
As a home care business grows, the owner’s responsibilities typically transition to more administrative tasks. They’ll spend more time finding and managing assistants and aides, and less time working directly with clients.
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful home health care business?
Home care business owners typically don’t need specialized training unless they offer medical services. In some states, non-medical home care businesses need a license, but this is more of a legal process than a training program. Good people, communication and business skills are usually all that’s required to get started in this industry. Business owners that are lacking in any of these areas may want to take a class at a local community college or attend a seminar on the area they’re weak in.
Business owners that want to offer medical services will need specific training. There are two licenses that aides can get: certified nursing assistant (CNA) certification, which is a basic certification, and home health aide (HHA) certification, which is more advanced. The American Red Cross offers CNA classes in several states, and All Nursing Schools lists classes throughout the country. Learn.org lists several schools that provide HHA training.
What is the growth potential for a home health care business?
A home care business may be a small, one-person operation, or it can have several aides serving a city or geographic region.
Take the Next Step
Find a business mentor
One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.
Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.
Learn from other business owners
Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.
Resources to Help Women in Business
There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:
- Funding
- Events
- Guides
- Support
If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.
What are some insider tips for jump starting a home health care business?
Home care business owners are sometimes able to secure their first client or two without any marketing campaign. Simply letting friends and family know you’re going to start a home care business could lead to a client. Many people know at least one person who could use assistance, and they’d gladly recommend a business owner they know and trust.
How and when to build a team
Many home care business owners hire their first employees after they personally aren’t able to take on any additional clients. At this point, it often makes sense to purchase a franchise. Franchises usually have hiring processes in place and pre-existing relationships with medical providers, which makes it easier to take on both new employees and new clients. A strong franchise brand can also provide a business with credibility.
Franchise Direct lists a number of home care business franchises. The franchises’ minimum startup costs range from $975 to $250,000, with most falling between $20,000 and $100,000.
Useful Links
Industry Opportunities
Real World Examples
- Tips to succeed in real world success within a home care system
- Home Health care is one of the most profitable businesses