Starting a care home involves several steps. You may need to set up your business, plan your finances, find a property, complete training, prepare licensing paperwork, pass inspections, hire employees, and eventually find clients.
One important decision is how much of the process you want to handle yourself. Some future owners prefer to research and organize everything themselves. Others prefer professional help with complicated paperwork and licensing preparation.
Neither approach is automatically right for everyone. This guide will help you understand the difference.
Option 1
Do It Yourself
DIY means you take responsibility for researching requirements, organizing your startup, communicating with agencies, preparing or coordinating documents, and keeping track of what needs to happen next.
DIY may make sense if:
- You enjoy researching.
- You have time to learn.
- You're organized.
- You want to reduce professional service costs.
- You're comfortable completing paperwork.
- You already have industry experience.
- You want greater control over the process.
Option 2
Get Professional Help
Don't Want to Handle All the Licensing Paperwork Yourself?
Starting a care home can involve a lot of paperwork. If you'd rather have an experienced professional help prepare covered licensing documents, we can connect you with our independent licensing consulting partner.
Professional services may include:
- Application forms
- Required policies and written documents
- Care Program Plan
- Application review
- Corrections requested by reviewers
- Ongoing application support (depending on package)
You may hear these referred to as Part A, Part B, and Regional Center Program Design. Don't worry if you're unfamiliar with those terms. Your consultant can explain what applies to your situation.
Consulting Partner
Professional Application Help
For future ARF owners who want experienced help preparing their application documents.
Packet Ready Consulting
Independent consulting partner — licensing document preparation for ARF owners.
Part A / Application Forms Only
Starting at $1,500
- Application forms preparation
Part B / Required Policies & Written Documents Only
$1,800
- Required policies & written documents preparation
Complete CDSS Application — Standard
$2,200
They prepare the covered documents. You manage filing and the remaining process.
- Part A + Part B
- Covered document preparation
- You manage filing & remaining process
Complete CDSS Application — Premium
$3,000
They prepare the covered documents and provide additional support through the applicable licensing or Regional Center process according to their service terms.
- Part A + Part B
- Covered document preparation
- Additional support through the process
Regional Center Program Design — Standard
$2,600
They prepare the covered documents. You manage filing and the remaining process.
- Program Design preparation
- You manage filing & remaining process
Regional Center Program Design — Premium
$3,400
They prepare the covered documents and provide additional support through the applicable licensing or Regional Center process according to their service terms.
- Program Design preparation
- Additional support through the process
Application + Program Design — Standard
$3,600
They prepare the covered documents. You manage filing and the remaining process.
- Complete CDSS Application + Program Design
- Save $1,200 vs. purchasing separately
- You manage filing & remaining process
Application + Program Design — Premium
$4,500
They prepare the covered documents and provide additional support through the applicable licensing or Regional Center process according to their service terms. Save $1,900 vs. purchasing separately.
- Complete CDSS Application + Program Design
- Save $1,900 vs. purchasing separately
- Additional support through the process
Corrections to Another Consultant's Work — 10 or fewer deficiency items
$400
- Correction support for 10 or fewer items
Corrections to Another Consultant's Work — 11–20
$800
- Correction support for 11–20 items
Corrections to Another Consultant's Work — More than 20
$1,200
- Correction support for more than 20 items
Standard, in simple language: They prepare the covered documents. You manage filing and the remaining process.
Premium, in simple language: They prepare the covered documents and provide additional support through the applicable licensing or Regional Center process according to their service terms.
My Care Home Solution and Packet Ready Consulting do not guarantee approval.
Not Sure What You Need?
Book a Free Discovery Call
Tell us where you are in the process and what you're trying to accomplish. The discovery call is designed to help identify what assistance may apply to your situation. You can then decide whether you want professional help.
No obligation. Ask your questions before deciding whether to move forward.
Disclaimer: My Care Home Solution provides educational and business resources and is not a government licensing agency or law firm. Packet Ready Consulting is an independent consulting provider. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of CDSS, DDS, or any Regional Center. Licensing and vendorization decisions are made by the appropriate government agencies. Licensing requirements vary by facility type and jurisdiction and may change. Always verify current requirements with the appropriate government agency or qualified professional.