The need for family caregivers is growing. The population of the elderly is increasing, and this means that more and more people are becoming caregivers to their parents, grandparents, or other family members.
In the US, there are millions of family caregivers who are providing care to their loved ones, and the population of people over 65 continues to grow. This is a huge opportunity for entrepreneurs who want to start a business that provides support or services to family senior caregivers.
Find the Service That Fits Your Skills
There’s an old adage that says, “Do what you love and the money will follow.” Find what you enjoy doing and see how that might best translate into a business that aids seniors and their caregivers.
Meal Prep. If you enjoy cooking, this can be an excellent business for you.
One popular option is pre-cooked meals containing all the necessary ingredients with easy-to-follow cooking instructions provided. Another option for a meal prep business is to offer pre-made and fresh meals. You do all the cooking and deliver a few days or a week’s worth of nutritious meals right to your customers’ doors. All they have to do is heat up their food. Finding a niche, like specially-prepared foods for seniors that are low in sodium and sugar, can make you stand out from other services.
Respite care. In order for the senior caregiver to stay healthy both physically and emotionally, they need to take time for themselves. Caregivers who take breaks from their responsibilities are able to rest physically and mentally, enabling them to take better care of themselves and the seniors in their care. That is where you can come in. There are many types of respite care services. Your business could provide round-the-clock care or only daytime assistance. You and anyone you hire will need to take classes in first aid and emergency care before offering your services.
Transportation. Senior transportation includes services like driving people to doctor appointments, grocery shopping, and other errands. There are different types of vehicles that can be used for transportation services. These vehicles range from luxury cars and vans to sedans and even golf carts. The type of vehicle will depend on what kind of transportation service you are providing and what is best suited for the clients’ needs.
Senior living advisor. This entails providing information to caregivers who can no longer care for senior loved ones. You should be thoroughly acquainted with the local senior care facilities in your area with things like pricing information, payment options, detailed reports regarding the facilities, and reviews from other families.
The Business End
Whatever type of business you land on, there are a few tasks you’ll need to address when getting your company up and running.
Create a business plan. A business plan can help you organize your research and determine the demand for your services in your market. With it, you can also outline your plans for growth and have something to show to investors or lenders. If you’re not sure where to start, a business plan template can make the task that much easier.
Register your business. To protect yourself legally and financially, you’ll need to get your business set up with the state. Two options to consider are an LLC and S corp. An LLC in Missouri will protect your personal assets, including your home and vehicle, in the event your business is ever involved in a lawsuit. A Missouri S corporation provides the benefit of being able to claim tax deductions on your company’s financial losses along with lower self-employment tax payments.
Use Free Tools
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Evernote helps you organize and manage your daily business operations. You can create notes and to-do lists and also save voice memos and photos. It even allows you to scan documents and sketches.
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Invoice generators. An invoice generator allows you to choose from pre-made templates to create customized invoices that include text, photos, your logo, and more. Look for an invoice generator that also allows you to download your invoice in your preferred format.
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Facebook Ads are free to create and can get you started on your social media ad campaign. More than two billion people use Facebook every month. You can create and run your ads using simple self-serve tools and track their performance with easy-to-read reports.
Starting a business that provides support or services to family senior caregivers can be rewarding both financially and personally. Doing what you love and perfecting that while taking advantage of free online resources can have you up and running in no time!
Build valuable relationships and access great resources that can help your business grow by joining the Ozark Chamber of Commerce.
