Home help agency for seniors and busy households

Older adults and their adult children, people recovering from illness or surgery, and busy families. Some clients may also be funded through private insurance or government programs, which you'd need to check.

You charge clients an hourly rate (often with a minimum visit length) and pay your helpers a lower hourly wage. The difference covers insurance, payroll costs, marketing and your own income.

• Organizing schedules and matching people well
• Calm, caring communication with clients and families
• Recruiting and supervising reliable helpers
• Basic bookkeeping and payroll

• Rules for home care agencies vary by province and territory, and Quebec has its own requirements, so check with your provincial health ministry or regulator whether a licence or certification applies to what you offer
• Keep the work non-medical unless you are properly licensed, as personal care and nursing tasks can fall under regulated rules
• Check whether helpers must be employees or can be independent contractors, as misclassification can bring penalties; also check WCB/WSIB coverage and payroll deductions
• Commercial general liability, bonding or crime cover for theft, and abuse or neglect cover are worth asking your broker about
• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and when you must register for GST/HST
• Client safety, trust and reliable cover for sick helpers are your biggest risks, and winter weather can disrupt travel and shifts

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $2,500 to $12,000 CAD, depending on your set-up, helper screening and insurance. You can start by covering some shifts yourself while you build up clients and helpers.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000 CAD, depending on how many clients you serve and how many shifts your helpers cover. Plan for around 20 hours a week or more, and winter weather can disrupt shifts.

Rules for home care agencies vary by province and territory, and Quebec has its own requirements, so check with your provincial regulator whether a licence applies. Keep work non-medical unless licensed, and check whether helpers can be contractors or must be employees.