Starting a new home care business – to go solo or not?

It’s normal for aspiring entrepreneurs to think about starting up their own business, with the home care sector increasing looking like an attractive prospect. Regardless of your experience, all you really need is a strong passion for helping those in need and the drive to lead your own business.

Any new business startup is bound to be fraught with various logistical battles. From sorting company registration to finding the right customers, and even balancing the books, it can be a challenging and intensive experience. Within the home care sector, however, further requirements also need to be considered.

Despite all the hard work, setting up and running your own business is an amazing achievement and can deliver a strong sense of pride. This is backed up by the knowledge that you’ll provide vital services to people in your area, alongside potential job opportunities for local care workers.

However, going solo with a new business venture may not necessarily be all it’s cracked up to be. Here we take a look at the pros and cons of starting up a home care business on your own, and the alternative of franchising with an existing provider to achieve the same goal.

Benefits of starting up alone

“Be your own boss” is the dream motto for a lot of people. First and foremost, there’s a great deal of satisfaction to be had in heading up your very own business. Fulfilling a long-term ambition can have a positive affect on your mindset, giving you that extra boost when it comes to operating day to day.

By running things yourself, you’re very much in the driving seat when it comes to the way your business runs. You alone get to define the level of service on offer, the lengths of your care visits and have greater control of your scheduling, granting you and your customers more flexibility.

It’s completely up to you on which direction you decide to take your business. This sense of freedom allows you to pursue the kind of care contracts you want, as well as keeping a close eye on potential new opportunities.

What about the downsides?

One of the biggest drawbacks of starting up a home care business alone is the sheer workload you’re sure to face. After all, being the one in the driving seat comes with a vast amount of responsibility. With nobody else to share the load, relying largely on your own solo efforts can become quite stressful in the long run.

Finding your own customer base, sorting contracts and tenders for new business and managing your own finances are crucial elements to keep on top of. Without those in place, you’re very likely to struggle in keeping your business going. On top of that, it’s vital to ensure you take care of your employees just as much as they take care of your clients.

Registering your business with the Care Quality Commission – along with undergoing routine inspections – is also necessary for anyone providing care services in England. It’s common for the CQC to favour businesses that demonstrate a high degree of knowledge and experience of the sector, so without a considerable background, this could also pose as a potential stumbling block.

Franchising as an alternative

While going into business alone may be an attractive idea, there’s nobody else to run new ideas by or to stand by you when things get a bit tricky. That’s why it’s a far safer bet to have some kind of backup support.

Opting to go with an already established model by joining a franchise network provides a smart solution. You can essentially get the best of both worlds, taking ownership of your business while benefitting from an existing support network.

Providers like SureCare come equipped with exceptional knowledge of the care sector and a wealth of experience in relevant business practices. If you’re unfamiliar with aspects like tendering, marketing and training, that’s where we can help you to advance your business, whilst ultimately allowing you to maintain control of your operations.

By franchising with SureCare, you still get to build your own business from scratch. However, we also offer exceptional business development support and training for you and your staff, helping you on your way to success. Operating under the SureCare brand means your business also benefits from our strong reputation within the industry – a compelling asset in the eyes of the CQC and prospective clients wherever you are.

If you’re pursuing your own startup venture in the home care industry, speak to Josh to see how franchising with SureCare could be the best option for you. Call us on 01244 321 199 or email: enquiries@surecare.co.uk