Home Health Care Service

As the Baby Boomers grow older and more of us are living in two-income families, the need for high-quality home health care services for the elderly will continue to rise. Some of this care can be provided on a sporadic, as-needed basis for the


relatively able-bodied folks who just need a little assistance from time to time. But more often, you’ll be working as many as four or five days per week with clients who need someone to be with them 24/7—feeding, bathing, dressing, and providing companionship for them as they move through the final phase of their lives. The most profitable way to run a home health care business is to manage other home health aids and take a cut of their pay rather than going out on calls yourself. This route will afford you the most ?exibility too. When you employ others, you can make money while you sleep. However the downside is you’ll need to pay for their background checks and perhaps to get them bonded. Regardless of whether or not you personally provide care services, your clients will receive the best care from individuals like you who approach their jobs with compassion, understanding, kindness, and the ability to mix friendship with business seamlessly. Not everyone is capable of providing this specialized service effectively and reputably.


As a home health care aide, the most important ingredient in your business is compassion for others. However, the second most critical element is dependable transportation, because when your clients need you, they really need you. Keep your vehicle in good working order at all times, and keep your cell phone with hands-free accessories (if mandated by your state) handy and well charged too. You’re going to be using it a lot.


You could decide to join a franchise business in the home health care fi eld. Since it is such a competitive industry, you may fi nd that the name recognition as well as start-up support (which can include state licensing assistance) could really be worth the initial investment.


Approx. cost of start-up: $1,500 to $5,000 ($25,000 to $50,000 plus royalties of 3–5 percent if buying into a franchise)


Approx. potential earnings: $45,000 to $150,000+


Typical fees: $15 to $35 per hour or $175 per day


Where to promote: Local and community newspapers, direct mail to Baby Boomers in your community, bulletin boards, Web site


Qualifications: Some states require licensing and certification; also, you may need to be bonded, or cleared by a bonding company that checks out your background


Things needed: Computer, cell phone with hands-free accessories (if mandated by your state), dependable transportation


Required staff: Not initially, but will need additional home health aides once business becomes known in the community


Hidden costs: Liability insurance, franchise fees if buying a franchise, state licensing, chauffeur’s license (in some states)