Small private home care agency for seniors

Families paying privately, seniors paying for themselves, and in some provinces health authorities or government programs that contract with approved providers.

You charge clients an hourly rate and pay caregivers a lower hourly wage. The difference covers insurance, payroll costs, admin and your own income.

• Managing and scheduling people
• Organized record keeping
• Sales and relationship building with families
• Understanding of senior care needs

• Licensing and standards differ a lot by province, and Quebec has its own rules and French-language requirements, so verify before you start
• Hiring caregivers as employees versus contractors has tax and legal consequences, so check with CRA and your provincial rules
• WCB or WSIB coverage, payroll deductions and employment standards once you hire
• Privacy rules for client health information, so check your province's requirements
• Staff turnover and covering sick days, because missed visits harm clients and your reputation
• Government contracts can be slow to win and pay, so keep cash in reserve

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on your province, how many caregivers you recruit and your systems and insurance. Government contracts can be slow to pay, so keep cash in reserve.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on how many clients and caregiver hours you schedule. Staff turnover and covering sick days can affect both income and your reputation.

Check licensing and standards for your province, as they differ a lot, including Quebec's rules and French-language requirements. Also check employee versus contractor status with CRA, WCB/WSIB, payroll, employment standards, and privacy rules for client health information.