What Does It Really Take to Start a Home Care Agency?

What Does It Really Take to Start a Home Care Agency?

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Hi good morning all. Welcome to CareSmartz360 On Air. I’m Dennis Gill, Senior Sales Consultant at CareSmartz360. Join us as we welcome Kenna Bedgood, Owner of SYNERGY Home Care. With a background in healthcare sales, market strategy, and business development, Kenna brings a fresh perspective on transitioning into home care ownership and preparing to launch a new agency. So, in this episode, we will explore the realities of starting a home care business – from building a team and developing referral relationships to

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navigating the early decisions that shape an agency’s future. We will also discuss where AI can support new owners and what aspiring entrepreneurs should prepare for. So welcome to the podcast, Kenna. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for taking out the time today and I hope we have a fruitful session for all the listeners from where they ever would be listening to this session. So, without wasting any time, I’ll straight away jump in with my first question for you. You know, so uh what

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has surprised you the most about the journey from healthcare leadership to launching your own homecare agency? >> Um I think what has surprised me the most is the process it takes to get licensed in uh my particular state which is Florida. >> Okay. So that it does take longer, or what do you see in that? >> Yes. So, I believe that getting the documentation um correct the first time is the most important part. So, I have been working with um the business of seniors

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and they’ve been a great advocate and helping us know to go through which documents you’re supposed to have and then hopefully no emissions. Um and so they kind of walked me through the process. It’s taken about 45 days just to consolidate all the proper documentation needed >> um that aa requires for the state of Florida. So next week Monday, one week from today we will go ahead and submit and then from there you have like 30 days something like that for them to

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then approve it. So, I believe they have 14 days to actually send whether there is going to be any omissions or not and then you have 30 days to um to fix those omissions and get them in >> approximately we say 3 months approximately could be the timeline. >> Yep. It could take even longer. Then you go through survey after that to then um like a pre-opening survey and they go through everything and then they pass you for then you will get your license. And other than this, what are the

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biggest challenges new agency owners should prepare for before opening the doors? >> Um, before opening your doors, I do believe also it’s important to that kind of staff. So, get your CNAs, your companions, caregivers, and um ahead of time. So going through that interview process, making sure that you find, you know, great people for your organization that stand behind what you believe um and having enough of those, you know, from a PDM or part-time standpoint to then be ready to open your doors and

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Take on clients. >> Got it. Got it. So be prepared uh before you launch and all the staff is up and running for you. >> Correct. >> Okay. Good to know about that. And how can first time owners build referral relationships as you’re already in the process of doing that and earn trust in their local communities before they have an established track record according to you. >> Sure. Sure. So, a couple of the things that I believe in is you miss 100% of the chances you don’t take. So, getting

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rid of your fear and exemplifying confidence I think is number one. um because a lot of people or owners don’t come from the same background as I do. So, sales will be an easy part for me. Um and so from feedback from other owners, sales are the hardest part. So >> okay, >> what I would recommend is getting involved with the chambers of commerce, meeting all of the people there to kind of build your confidence and gain relationships. >> And then those relationships can open

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other doors that you can utilize as you move through. The other piece of my um something I live by is consistency is key. So, you know you outperform about 100% of the people just by being persistent and consistent. So those are the key factors that will keep you trustworthy and relevant in the community. >> All right guys, persistence is the key. Any new home care owners are listening to it, please make a note of it. >> Okay. Okay. And with so many moving pieces during a launch there are a lot

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of things because I also do a demo with many agencies and many homecare agencies that are planning to start up. I hear many things from them also. So, as you are into that stage, so with so many moving pieces how new owners should prioritize hiring service offerings and day-to-day operations. >> Um well from my point of view is I don’t like to bring anybody into the picture if I don’t have the proper process. So, I think, you know, understanding what your process is going to be, what your day-to-day is going to

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be, and what each role is going to entail with an SOP is super important. And then kind of figure out where you can hire or should hire from there. >> And I also believe in working with your strengths. So, my strengths are sales and marketing. So, I don’t plan on being in the office. So, I will be the face, you know, in sales and marketing. And so, my strategy will be to develop the office process prior to opening and develop SOPs and then hiring office staff that will run the office while I’m

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out marketing. So, I think those pieces are very important to figure out and play off. >> Correct. Correct. Correct. Like you said, and the main thing everybody’s talking about where do you see AI helping new agency owners navigate the early stages of building a homecare business? >> Yeah. So, AI is actually probably the coolest thing I’ve ever dealt with. Um, so there’s many different platforms. So, choose your favorite platform that fits you. Um, I’ve really asked

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a lot of questions from my chat GPT. Um, I’m learning about Yeah, that’s right. I’m learning about Grock and, you know, other opportunities. So, there’s a lot that you can do. Figure out what pieces are important to you, what pieces you think that AI can help you with. But AI, I think, is going to be a very pertinent point for everybody in any business. I mean, it can really help you alleviate some of those administrative things that are just, >> you know, you can take off your

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staff’s plate, you can take it off your own plate. I think it’s really going to be important in the future. Um and asking questions in the beginning to kind of even stream it streamlining, letting you know SOPs you can do anything with AI correct in the beginning. Yeah, rightly said because the thing is every answer now, we have every answer or earlier we had to search many things for that now every answer just a click away and it does make easy for any new business not in the home care any new

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business that is coming out so AI is a very good tool if used genuinely I think it would be a very beneficial thing in the future too >> 100% >> correct and lastly looking ahead to the next year as we’re just launching to 2027 Seven. What changes in the homecare industry should agency owners prepare for? What have you seen as a business builder? >> Um, anything specific that you’ve seen there? >> Well, I think that nationwide for a home care agency, it’s important for

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everybody to really maybe learn and dive into the guide program before the 8-year um goes away. We’re in year two. So, I think it’s very important to understand and dive into what the guide program can offer because it’s important for seniors. It’s important to respite care. It gets your business. Um and it helps everybody. Caregivers, the client, the patient. It really helps everybody. It comes with nick care navigation and home assessment. Um it comes with rest fit. It’s just a really

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something that I think everybody should look into as they move forward with home care. >> And you are venturing into home care for the first time. your experience of this thing. >> Uh I’ve spent the last decade in skilled home care on the side and so this will be non-medical. So, it’s my first time in a non-medical. Um but it’s pretty >> pretty unilateral. >> Yeah, it is. It is. It is. So, you’ve been into the skill side. All right. All right. So, you’ve explored mostly the

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skill side of it and I think non-medical is pretty much easier than what I have seen or what I’ve heard. Uh because our system mainly deals with the non-medical side. So, I deal with non-medical agencies only. So, I’m not aware much about the skill side like what documentations are required or what things are required to start a skill side. But non-medical I’ve heard from most of the states it’s usually this is the timeline like two to three months and if it everything is in process only

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then otherwise it takes more time too. So, I’ve seen that. Yeah. >> Right. 100%. >> Correct. Correct. Correct. All right. So yeah, it was really nice talking to you, Kenna. I know this was a very small session that we had today with you and we would definitely love to have other sessions in future once you fully establish, we will have more detailed questions for you so that you can help the other agency owners who are venturing into the non-medical side. >> Awesome. I’d love to thank you.

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>> Thank you. Thank you for your time and uh thank you everyone. Thank you, my listeners. I will be signing off. So, this is Dennis Gill. I’ll be back with you shortly.