How to Start a Home Health Care Business

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.)

Learn how to start your own Home Health Care Business and whether it is the right fit for you.

Ready to form your LLC? Check out the Top LLC Formation Services.

Start a home health care business by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Home Health Care Business
  2. Form your Home Health Care Business into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Home Health Care Business for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Home Health Care Business
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Home Health Care Business
  7. Get Home Health Care Business Insurance
  8. Define your Home Health Care Business Brand
  9. Create your Home Health Care Business Website
  10. 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:

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.

Want some help naming your home health care business?

Business Name Generator

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

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation.

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your home health care business is sued.

Form Your LLC

Read our Guide to Form Your Own LLC

Have a Professional Service Form your LLC for You

Two such reliable services:

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

Recommended: You will need to elect a registered agent for your LLC. LLC formation packages usually include a free year of registered agent services. You can choose to hire a registered agent or act as your own.

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:

  • Home Health Aid Licensing (HHA):
  • An HHA license is required for a person working for a home health agency or hospice that performs home health services ordered by a licensed physician, chiropractor, podiatrist, or optometrist.
  • Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA):
  • A CNA license is required for an individual that is operating a personal health care business that is not prescribed by a doctor. In addition to assisting clients with normal day-to-day activities, a CNA can also bathe clients and remind them to take prescribed medication.

In addition to these state requirements, certain local licensing or regulatory requirements may apply. For more information about local licenses and permits:

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 aren't feeling confident about designing your small business logo, then check out our Design Guides for Beginners, we'll give you helpful tips and advice for creating the best unique logo for your business.

Recommended: Get a logo using Truic's free logo Generator no email or sign up required, or use a Premium Logo Maker.

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 2023 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!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

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.

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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.

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