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Home health care agencies are increasing in demand and popularity as a result of our aging population and many older Americans now prefer to age in the comfort of their own homes – and who could blame them? Starting your own home care business to meet this demand and make a change in your community can be a rewarding business decision in more ways than one!
What is the Difference Between a Skilled Home Health Agency & Non-Medical Home Care Agency?
It is important before starting a home care business to understand the difference between starting a Skilled Home Health Care and a Non-Medical Home Care Agency. Within a Skilled Home Health Agency, skilled licensed nursing and rehab therapy services are administered under physicians’ orders with guidelines that must be followed precisely. Skilled Home Health Agencies require licensures including Medicare and Medicaid certifications. At 21st Century Home Health Care Consultants, we can help take care of these important steps for you – ? Call Us Today at 888-850-6932 to find out how we can help you!
A Non-Medical Home Care Agency engages with individuals to assist with daily living activities such as meal preparation, housekeeping and personal care. Some agencies provide transportation services to individuals in their care. These services are important for seniors to remain safe and comfortable in their homes. The most common form of payment for non-medical care includes private pay rather than 3rd party billing sources.
In this article we will focus on the non-medical home care venture since this route typically starts with lower start-up costs and are less complicated, as far as licensing and other requirements are concerned.
Beginning Your Non-Medical Home Care Agency
The next step in your process of starting your own home care business will be to decide whether to start a home care business of your own or to partner up with a home care franchise. The best part about 21st Century Home Health Care Consultants is that we can help you with both! Whether you are looking to start your own home health care agency or teaming up with us at Home Care for the 21st Century, our franchise division – we are here to help you every step of the way!
Training and Medical Background
When owning and managing a home care agency, no formal training or a medical background is required to get started. Many in healthcare find this field as an attractive venture to pursue, however formal training is not a prerequisite to get started. It is important to keep in mind that – just as launching and operating any business – that possessing strong organizational and communication skills are needed to succeed in the home care industry.
Requirements to obtain your license varies state-to-state for non-medical agencies but are not as involved or complex as medical agency endeavors. Find out EVERYTHING you need to know about getting a home health care license here or feel free to contact us and we will be happy to walk you through everything you need to know to get started!
12 Tips for Success When Starting Your Own (Non-Medical) Home Care Agency
1. Business Entity Identification.
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- Sole proprietor
- Partnership
- Limited Liability Company (LLC)
- S corporation
- C corporation
2. Obtain Employer Identification Number (EIN) and National Provider Identifier (NPI)
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- An EIN is similar to your SSN with the IRS and is used to identify your company for tax liability.
- An NPI is a unique identification number that is assigned to identify covered health care providers.
3. Register Agency Name with Secretary of State
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- Once you have decided your business name, check availability for the name you have chosen for your agency with the state.
- Be sure to keep in mind the domain name you will be purchasing for your website when deciding your business name.
- After your name has been approved, get started on having your agency’s business cards, brochures and letterheads printed to reflect your new brand!
4.Get Prepared Financially
- Set up a computerized accounting system to keep track of your business accounts and all business-related transactions.
- Establish a business checking account and credit card.
- Apply for business loans (if required) for agency start-up costs.
5. Check Licensing Requirements
- Research requirements for city, county and/or state business licenses and apply (as needed). We can help you find out everything you need to know about licensure for your agency.
6. Establish Your Policy and Procedures Manual
- We are here to help you every step of the way! Contact our 21st Century Home Health Care Consultants so we can create a PRE-APPROVED, customized Policy and Procedures Manual.
- Our unique, digital format that you receive with our State-of-the-Art Policy & Procedures Manuals provide a seamless navigational experience that is designed just for your agency!
- We invite you to watch a walkthrough here on our YouTube channel. You can also subscribe to our channel for ongoing updates and new information that we have to share with you along the way.
7. Find and Hire Caregivers
- The reputation of your agency will depend greatly upon the quality of care that is delivered to your clients so it is of upmost importance that you find and hire the best caregivers in the industry that you can find.
- You will want to be sure that you spend ample time interviewing prospective employees and thoroughly check references to find those that are a perfect fit; competent, compassionate and resourceful.
8. Connect with Referral Sources
- Research what would work as the best sources to use as referrals in your area. Some facilities to connect with for referrals include local physicians, senior centers, rehab outpatient centers, hospital discharge social workers as well as long-term care facilities that can help you reach potential clients.
9. Build a Website & Market Your Business Online
- Purchase a website domain and hire an agency to build and market your business online using this site. This includes local business listings on the map, paid search ads, a YouTube channel and other social media channels to build presence for your brand online.
- Ensure that your agency establishes your agency listing on established elder care websites as well for a strong presence online.
10. Find an Office Space
- Location, location, location! Find an area where competition surrounding you is scarce and affordable to the population surrounding your agency’s office.
- Save money by avoiding areas that have high traffic commercial space and locate one that is more cost effective and is easily accessible to your staff.
11. Be Creative with Scheduling
- There is an ever-changing balance of employees and client needs when running your own home care agency. Be creative with scheduling to manage this dynamic need within your business.
- Remember that the risk of poor care lies with a lack of staff to provide it and this can be damaging to your agency’s reputation. This is an example of how turning away clients, although damaging for future referrals – can help you recognize staffing needs within your agency and allow you to make adjustments so you can be prepared to provide exceptional care when the next opportunity comes your way.
12. Attitude is Everything!
- Let’s face it running a business is no easy task. To keep the momentum going when starting your own home care agency, it is important to be resourceful when managing day to day operations. Our specialists at 21st Century Home Health Care Consultants are here to help you help your agency operate in the most efficient way possible, so you can focus on your employees and accommodate your client’s needs with compassion and understanding.
At times you may even feel overwhelmed and/or times can get tough. It is important to take some time and reflect on the reasons why you started your home care business in the beginning! Immerse yourself in the small accomplishments along the way and remember that your agency has become that change in someone’s life through your will to start a business that shares your compassion and care for others.
