Starting a senior care business isn’t simple. But it can be a lot simpler if you’re starting a franchise business, like a Visiting Angels^® agency. With a Visiting Angels franchise, you’ll have a roadmap for how to start a senior care business. You’ll also have the tools, support, and resources you need to succeed as a senior care provider.

Wondering how to start a senior care business with Visiting Angels? In the following 10-step overview, we’ll show you how to get your agency started, from the initial research phase to the purchase of your franchise to the opening of your agency.

How to Start a Senior Care Business in 10 Steps

1. Research Our Franchise Offering

To get started, you’ll want to research the Visiting Angels franchise offering. Our website offers information about the support our franchisees receive, our co-op marketing program, and the costs of purchasing and operating a Visiting Angels franchise. We also offer a range of franchisee testimonials, as well as tips on how to start a senior care business.

2. Request Detailed Information

Once you’ve researched the Visiting Angels franchise offering, you can learn more by requesting additional information. Simply call 800-365-4189 or submit an online request for information. We’ll have a representative get in touch to answer any initial questions you may have. We’ll also provide detailed documentation about our franchise offering.

3. Speak with Our Franchisees

After you’ve reviewed the information about our franchise offering, we recommend contacting existing and past franchisees. This way, you can speak with franchisees about their experiences with Visiting Angels, learn about day-to-day franchise operations, and get advice about how to start a senior care business.

4. Develop a Business Plan

Before you purchase your franchise, we recommend developing a business plan. While this plan may be subject to change after your training or through conversations with our corporate directors, it will provide a foundation on which to develop your business. At the same time, it will give you the chance to think carefully about how you wish to operate your franchise and what that will take.

5. Meet with Our Directors

The final step before purchasing your franchise is an in-person meeting with our directors. Your meeting will take place at our headquarters in Bryn Mawr, PA, giving you the chance to speak directly with our leadership team and get a feel for how we operate as a franchise brand. This meeting will also allow us make sure that your values are compatible with our vision of care, putting seniors first every step of the way.

6. Attend a Training Session

Once you’ve purchased your franchise, we will schedule you for an intensive, one-week training session at Visiting Angels headquarters. This training session will cover key details of how to start a senior care business, included a deep dive into the administrative side of your franchise. After training, you’ll receive continued support from your regional director, who can guide you through the process of how to start a senior care business and develop a successful franchise

7. Acquire Licensing

In most states, you’ll need to get licensed before you can operate a senior care agency. Licensing standards vary from state to state, so we recommend speaking with your regional director about licensing procedures in your region.

8. Set Up Your Office

Before you can open your franchise, you’ll need to get your office and administrative systems set up. As part of our training on how to start a senior care business, Visiting Angels will give you an extensive list of recommended providers for agency administration. This list covers everything from background check services to agency software to office supply vendors.

9. Marketing and Referrals

One of the trickiest parts of how to start a senior care business is the initial marketing of your agency. Successful senior care businesses depend on word of mouth and referrals, both of which require an existing reputation. Typically, the best way to do this is to get active and start networking in your local community. Connect with other providers of senior services, introduce yourself to local non-profits, and start building the relationships your agency needs.

10. Open Your Franchise

The final step for how to start a senior care business is pretty straightforward: open your agency for business. How you open your agency will depend on the character of your business and your choice of business plan. Some Visiting Angels owners have found success by quietly opening, then slowly building a client base. Others have chosen a more visible approach, marketing heavily in the lead-up to their opening, then hosting an open house on the big day.

Either approach can work, so choose the one that feels right for you, your local market, and your franchise

Get more information about how to start a senior care business with Visiting Angels! Call 800-365-4189 today or submit an online request for our franchise report.