Starting a home care business can be extremely rewarding, offering the opportunity to provide essential support to those in need while also building a profitable business.
If you’re wondering how to start a home care business, a franchise model can make the process smoother and more secure. Bridgewater Home Care offers franchise opportunities that provide guidance, training, and a proven business model to help you launch your care company successfully.
This guide breaks down the 6 key steps to help get you started.
What is a home care business?
A home care business provides personalised support and assistance to individuals who need help with daily living, typically in their own homes. This can include elderly care, disability support, or post-hospital recovery services. Home care businesses focus on improving clients’ quality of life by offering companionship, personal care, medication management, and other essential services.
By running a home care service, you’re not only building a profitable businessbut also making a positive impact in your community. Choosing a franchise model, like Bridgewater Home Care, gives you access to a proven model, training, and ongoing support, making it easier to launch and grow your care company.
Why should you open a care company?
Opening a care company offers both personal and professional rewards. The home care sector is growing rapidly due to an increasing demand for elderly care, disability support, and personalised in-home services. By starting a care company, you can:
- Make a meaningful impact – help clients live independently and improve their quality of life.
- Enter a growing market – the demand for home care services continues to rise, offering strong business potential.
- Build a profitable business – with the right planning and support, a care company can generate stable, long-term revenue.
- Benefit from franchise support – partnering with an established brand like Bridgewater Home Care provides training, operational guidance, and marketing support, making it easier to succeed.
Launching a care company allows you to combine entrepreneurship with purpose, creating a business that benefits both your community and your future.
The 6 steps to starting your home care business
Starting a home care company may feel overwhelming at first, but breaking the process down into manageable stages makes it far more achievable. The journey involves careful research, planning, meeting regulatory requirements, building the right team, and connecting with your local community.
Here are the 6 key steps you should follow when looking to start your own home care business.
1. Research the home care industry
Before launching your business, it is important to gain a clear understanding of the home care market. Look into the local demand for services, the demographics of your area, and the level of provision already available.
In the UK, for example, demand for private carers continues to rise year after year. More than 950,000 people currently receive domiciliary care, underlining the increasing need for reliable, high-quality providers.
2. Create a business plan
Once you understand the market, the next step is to put together a business plan. This should set out:
- The services you plan to provide – for example, elderly care, disability support, or specialist assistance
- How you will reach your clients – including marketing strategies, referral networks, and community engagement
- Your growth plans – setting out short-term and long-term goals for your business
- Financial forecasts – covering start-up costs, running expenses, projected income and initial investment
One key advantage of a Bridgewater Home Care franchise is that you do not need to create a business plan from scratch. We provide resources and guidance so you can tailor a proven, successful framework to your local area. Joining a franchise also means running your own business with the training and support, and credibility of an established, trusted brand.
3. Meet legal and licensing requirements
The home care sector is highly regulated to ensure clients (sometimes referred to as service users) are safe and receive the highest quality of care. Before you can begin trading, you must meet a range of legal and licensing requirements. These may include:
- Obtaining the correct licences
- Registering with regulatory bodies
- Arranging insurance
- Carrying out background checks on all staff
For new business owners, navigating compliance can feel overwhelming. Joining a franchise makes this process much simpler, as guidance is provided step by step. Bridgewater supports franchisees in meeting all legal obligations, giving you confidence and peace of mind from day one.
Bridgewater Home Care is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and franchise partners receive help with registration as well as ongoing support to meet and exceed regulatory standards. Our brand compliance team also ensures franchisees operate in line with company policies, follow employment law, and maintain GDPR compliance. This comprehensive support allows you to run a professional, fully compliant business from the start.
4. Hire and train qualified staff
A home care business is only as strong as the people who work within it. Your staff are the ones who will deliver care and build relationships with clients, so it is vital to recruit people who are compassionate, reliable, and skilled.
Once you have recruited your team, you will need to provide high-quality training so that every member of staff understands how to deliver care safely and professionally.
If you choose to franchise with Bridgewater Home Care, recruitment has never been easier. Our AI software manages everything from capturing leads and storing applicant details to completing compliance and DBS checks, saving you hours of admin. Every enquiry is tracked, your CRM updates automatically, and applicants can be training-ready in just 24 hours. This allows you to secure top talent quickly and focus on growing your business.
5. Set up your technology and business operations
Technology is a key part of running a successful home care business. The right systems help you manage visits, maintain accurate client records, and streamline day-to-day operations, giving you more time to focus on delivering outstanding care. Important tools to think about include:
- Care management software to organise visits, monitor performance, and record client notes securely.
- Digital communication tools to keep your team connected and clients’ families informed.
- Business management systems to track finances, payroll, and staff training.
At Bridgewater Home Care, our IT infrastructure supports both clients and staff while helping your business run smoothly and remotely where necessary. Franchise Partners receive comprehensive support, including initial setup and ongoing IT assistance, to ensure systems are implemented effectively and maintained seamlessly. Our Franchise Partners receive initial set-up support, including:
- Company intranet
- Company email and software accounts
- Installation of software and CRM systems
- Training on IT systems
- IT strategy and planning
- And much more!
6. Market your home care business
Once your business is up and running, the next step is connecting with the people who need your services. Effective marketing helps people discover your services, understand the care you provide, and trust your business in their community.
Practical strategies include setting up a professional website, producing informative content that showcases your expertise, and engaging with your local community through events and partnerships.
Bridgewater Home Care provides franchise partners with dedicated marketing support, combining in-house expertise with a long-standing digital marketing agency experienced in branding, PR, social media, and content development. Support includes:
- Initial local website set-up
- Branding and logo template package
- Initial marketing pack including business cards, flyers and brochures
- Marketing strategy support and planning
Take the next step with a Bridgewater franchise
If you’re ready to turn your interest in home care into a thriving business, a Bridgewater Home Care franchise could be the perfect opportunity. Joining an established brand means you benefit from proven systems, expert guidance, and all the tools you need to launch and grow your own business with confidence.
To find out more, contact us today. We’re here to help you take the first step toward running your own successful home care business.
