Private-Pay home help agency

Adult children arranging help for a parent, older adults paying privately, and families who need extra support after an illness or surgery. Some long-term care insurance policies may also pay.

You charge clients an hourly rate and pay helpers a lower hourly wage. The difference covers payroll costs, insurance, marketing and your profit. Regular weekly clients make income steadier.

• Reliable and good with people
• Scheduling and organizing
• Hiring and managing staff
• Clear, patient communication with families

• State licensing for home care agencies varies a lot, and some states have strict rules. Check before you advertise
• Keep services non-medical unless you hold the right license. Hands-on personal care may be regulated differently
• Check how your state and the IRS treat helpers. They are often classed as employees, which means payroll taxes, workers' comp and possibly overtime
• Run background checks and verify references. Your reputation and insurance depend on who you send into people's homes
• Check whether your city or county requires a business license and whether your HOA or lease allows a home office

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on your state's requirements, insurance, screening, software and marketing. Check your state's rules on home care agencies before you advertise.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on how many clients you serve and how many hours your helpers work. These are estimates and depend on how quickly you build your client base.

State licensing for home care agencies varies a lot, so check before advertising. Keep services non-medical unless you hold the right license, check how your state and the IRS classify helpers, and run background checks.