5 reasons why domiciliary care is a better investment than a care home

If you’re looking for the right business opportunity with which to tap into the huge, and ever-growing, care industry in the UK, you essentially have two choices: launching a care home or starting a domiciliary care company.

Both models have their advantages, of course, but in recent years a new wave of domiciliary care companies like Hope Homecare are starting to eclipse the traditional care home model. They are becoming increasingly popular choices, not just for clients, but for investors and potential franchisees, too.

So, what makes a domiciliary care franchise a better business opportunity?

1) Much lower setup costs

Starting a care home business not only means investing in a large property, but also converting and outfitting that property into a suitable facility. Many investors will look at properties which already serve a similar function, such as old hotels, but you’re still looking at a very high capital outlay to get started.

Most new franchisees in domiciliary care businesses like Hope Homecare, on the other hand, can start out with just a home office and a vehicle. You can get started for a much lower investment fee in the tens of thousands, not hundreds of thousands – if not a lot more.

2) Much lower overheads

A large care home comes with bills, and property taxes. You will also need to hire a large body of staff to handle every aspect of the home – not just care, but also cleaning, food prep, administration, maintenance and so on. You’ll be charging a premium for your service, but you will also have huge overheads to think about.

A domiciliary business is much more agile, All services are delivered in the client’s home, so there is no need for offices or other premises, and so all your expenses relate directly to the amount of work you are doing. No paying for rooms or surgeries even when they’re empty!

3) Easier to expand and scale up

Another example of where running a care home is not unlike a hotel. You have a set number of rooms, and a certain capacity. If you’re business does well, you can only expand by acquiring another property – which is a huge outlay, with significant risks involved.

With domiciliary care, you can grow the business in a way that suits you. Business doing well? Just take on more staff. Your expansion costs will only ever match the rate at which your business grows.

Being a more agile business also means being able to adapt to change more easily. Should regulations change, or the needs of your local community shift, you can be more flexible in adjusting your offering.

4) More ethically appealing to customers

Families of those who require care are much more aware these days of the benefits of their loved one staying in their home for as long as possible. Sure, there may well come a point when moving into full-time residential care can’t be avoided, but families are eager to do more – and spend more – on helping their loved one lead as normal a live as possible for as long as possible. Also, care homes are expensive for their residents. Many people are forced to sell their homes to pay for them. Domiciliary care is more affordable and accessible to most families.

5) More accessible as a business model

Domiciliary care franchises are more accessible to those with a variety of experience and skill sets. A background in care is often very desirable, but most franchisors, like Hope Homecare provide comprehensive training.

Owning and running a care home, on the other hand, requires you (or your team) to be property experts, legal experts, HR experts and care experts all at the same time.

Which is best for you?

I’d be more than happy to answer any questions you have about which direction to take when it comes to choosing the right care franchise for you, as well as help you understand the different business models and how a Hope Homecare franchise might fit into your plans. You can schedule a call with me any time using the button below.

Keep an eye out for some videos I’m putting together soon which take a deeper dive into the financial aspects of owning a domiciliary care business.

With kindest wishes,

Steve Eastaugh

Franchise Consultant