An Independent Senior Care Agency or a Franchise:
Which is Best?
Are you considering starting a non-medical senior home care
agency in Georgia?
This is the most dynamic business opportunity of the century with the right
affiliation and support. The fastest growing segment of the population is the
85+ group. Nearly 11 million non-institutionalized older persons live alone and
need help to stay in the comfort of their homes. The U.S. and Georgian populations are
growing old at a rapid pace. Georgia’s
elder population is among the fastest growing as a share of the overall
population of the country, growing at a greater rate than the national average
through at least 2025. It is critical for
those who are interested to look at franchise vs. independent start-up options
and the numerous advantages of being an independent agency.
An in home care agency can be started though the expensive
franchise method with high initial costs and ten years of royalty fees from the
owner’s hard work. It has been found that, in general, independent business
startups are found to be more profitable and their survival prospects are
better than those of franchises. (Kluwer Academic Publishers) There is little
or no support of Georgia’s
tough licensing process from the franchisor and you’re on your own with the
ongoing State compliance requirements.
With a franchise there is a limited territory and restricted marketing. As
the market needs change, the client resources and support must change. As part
of a big global franchisor, the franchise is restricted by the complexity of
the contract commitment and its systems and cannot respond to the need for
change. This approach obviously appeals to some.
Others want to start an independent Georgia home care agency
that is not restricted by territory, traditional marketing programs, high costs,
and the serious threat of policies, procedures and practices that do not comply
with State requirements and best business practices for superior senior care. As an independent entrepreneur, you can come
up with new services and better solutions to meet the growing needs of the
elderly. As an independent owner, your agency will become very valuable
financially. It will be your choice to
entertain purchase offers from larger companies or to expand and have agency
licenses for other locations across Georgia without franchisor
restrictions.
Advantage Senior Home Care Consulting provides training and
support that guarantees a sound organization, Georgia state license, best
business practices, superior employee training and innovative marketing
strategies at a low cost. Our statewide
independent agencies have the opportunity to join our association for advanced
training, support and networking.
What are the steps to start an independent home care agency with
Advantage Senior Home Care Consulting?
- Have a compassion for seniors and their families
modeled through Christian principles and Fruit of the spirit…love, joy,
patience, kindness, goodness, forgiveness.
(If you don’t have a passion for the elderly, this business is not a
good fit for you.) Next steps with such
zeal for the elderly…
- Establish a name, logo, tag line, vision,
mission, incorporation and business license.
We can help guide you through this process. A State background check is required via the
State process prior to getting your license.
- Interview and train four employees. The State
requires that your agency starts with an administrator (you), a certified
nursing assistant, a companion caregiver and a RN. We will provide a quality
“interview to hire” process which includes the State required 8 hour
orientation training, testing and completed employees’ files. These files must
be included in the State application materials.
- Deliver the State application and all required
documents to the Office of Regulatory Services. We create all of your State
required policies, procedures, client and employees’ forms, contracts, files,
employee training manual and the quality improvement plan. We will hand deliver all of these documents
to the State Regulatory Office on Peachtree
Street. The State will take up to 60 business days
to get back to you with your provisional license. During this wait period we will get you ready
for superior service through advanced training.
- Participate in the Advantage Senior Home Care
Consulting training. Through our
training you will be well versed by experts in innovative marketing, handling
client calls and visits, long range planning, hiring the best caregivers, staying
in compliance with the State, financial forecasting and more.
- Get your provisional State license, two clients
and notify the State for a provisional audit. We will assist you with your two client
care visits/plans and the audit process. After the State audit, you will
receive your first annual State license.
- Join the Georgia Advantage Home Care Agency Association.
This purpose of this association is to provide ongoing quality support,
advanced training and networking among our independent agencies across Georgia. Our highest ethical standards, beliefs and
compassion for seniors and their families and best business practices make us highly
successful and raise the bar by which other agencies must work to stay in business.
Carolyn Mattingly
CEO
Advantage Senior Care Consulting, Inc.
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