We’ve previously looked at how to start a home care business in California. But today, we’re turning our attention to the Sunshine State. Here’s everything you need to know about launching a Florida home care business.

Your One-Stop Guide to Starting a Home Care Business in Florida

1. Preparation

Before taking the first steps to start a home care business, you need a business plan. It will help you define your strategy, understand your potential profits and pricing, and decide where to invest your time and money.

What to include in your home care agency business plan:

• Market research and industry analysis: What home care services are most in demand? Who are your competitors? How do your potential patients fund their home care?

• Your brand: What sets your home care business apart? What services will you offer?

• Business structure and roles: Will you be a sole proprietorship subcontracting caregivers? A limited liability corporation? A general partnership? Which employees will you hire?

• Operations: How will you deliver services? How will you ensure data security and patient privacy? How will you handle patient complaints?

• Marketing strategy: What are the most effective ways to promote your business? How much will this cost?

• Financial analysis: What’s your budget? What financing will you need? What are your projected profit margins? How many patients do you need for your business to be profitable?

• Goals: What are your business objectives? When will you achieve them?

We’ll explore strategies for recruiting staff and marketing your business later on in this article.

2. Registering Your Business

Before you begin hiring staff or signing up clients, you need to ensure you’re operating legally. 

Licensing

Even if you just provide companion or homemaker services, you have to register with the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. And if you provide Medicaid services or any skilled home care services, you should also apply for a home health agency license. 

Plus, you must register your business with the state Division of Corporations. Depending on your location within Florida, you may also need additional licenses, so check with your local government.

Insurance

Depending on your home care business size and location, you may need general liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance.

3. Hiring Staff 

Your caregiver team is key to providing high-quality home care. But how many caregivers should you hire? And how will you find skilled and compassionate team members? 

Hiring staff also comes with other considerations, such as team communications and home care scheduling software.

To help you out, check out our guides to caregiver recruitment, interviewing caregivers, and caregiver onboarding. 

4. Marketing Your Business

No home care business can survive without a steady flow of new patients. Our ultimate guide to home care business marketing will walk you through everything you need to know. 

You can also read our deep dives on creating a home care marketing strategy, SEO marketing for home care, home care referral sites, social media for home care businesses, and Google Business Profiles.

Achieve Home Care Agency Success with the Right Tools

When you launch your home care business, you want to focus on the important things: ensuring high-quality care standards while growing your business.

But far too often, new home care business owners find their days taken up with paperwork. You can lose hours to scheduling, invoicing, and communications.

That’s why it’s important to use the right tools. ShiftCare’s home care software helps home care agencies save time by streamlining scheduling, time-tracking, client funds management, and invoicing. 

The home care app ensures your caregivers have all the information they need. And, the portal for patients’ family and friends even allows you to automate client communication.

Try ShiftCare for free.

How much does it cost to start a home health care business in Florida?

The cost of starting a home health care business in Florida varies significantly. You can launch as a one-person agency for under $1,000, or you can buy a franchise for $40,000+.

Are home care businesses profitable in the USA?

The US home care industry is profitable, but some home care businesses may struggle to profit if they fail to automate their admin processes, run an efficient schedule, or effectively market their services.

Can you run a small business from home in Florida?

Florida House Bill 403 (2021) allows you to run a small business from home, including a home care agency. However, you should ensure that you are aware of the restrictions established in Statute §559.955 (2024)