How to Become a Senior Care Advisor: 5 Steps to Entrepreneurship

As the number of adults over 65 continues to climb in the United States, so too does the value of the senior housing industry. From a business perspective, these numbers make senior living one of the most stable and lucrative industries to enter. But it isn’t just the assisted living sector that is brimming with opportunities. Senior living advisors also have a unique opportunity to capitalize on the market’s explosive growth—and feel good about what they’re doing.

A senior living advisor is a local expert on elder care solutions and facilities in their area. They help families make the best possible decisions about care, matching their clients’ needs, budgets, and lifestyle preferences to a living space and guiding them through every step of the transition process. But how do you get into this business? Let’s take a look at what it takes to start a career as a senior living advisor.

Step 1: Decide if You’ll Operate Independently or With a Franchise

Many people who are interested in entrepreneurship think they have to build their new business from scratch. It’s certainly possible to start your own company and go independent. But if you go that route, you’ll have a lot to learn and a lot to do all at once—without any support. 

There’s training, certification, and building up a reputation in your local area. There’s learning what makes an excellent senior care community and nurturing a network of referral partners and clients who trust your knowledge. There’s marketing your services and building a sustainable business model—all while trying to establish stability for yourself. 

All of these considerations are made simpler by choosing a franchise. Working with an established brand gives you an early and significant advantage. From the start, you know you’re supported with a proven business model, a network of mentors, and robust training on everything you need to know. 

The steps that feel like hurdles to independent business owners become benchmarks of your early success when you own a franchise.

Benefits of Owning a Senior Care Franchise 

Franchising as a senior living advisor offers many benefits over venturing out on your own:

• Get started with minimal or no industry experience—you’ll receive all the training and tools you need
• Enjoy more opportunities to expand and grow, with a potential for multi-unit ownership 
• Take advantage of an established brand reputation and customer base
• Build your business acumen with the help of franchisor experts
• Invest with low financial risk and high reward potential

Step 2: Research Your Options

Learning how to start a franchise starts with researching potential franchisors. And meaningful franchisor research starts with knowing what to look for. You want to find a good fit both financially and in terms of company culture and values. Ideally, you’ll choose a well-established franchisor in the industry (3+ years at a minimum), who is upfront and transparent about their start-up costs and who aligns with your passions and desired level of day-to-day involvement. 

There’s no such thing as too much information at this stage. Gather your resources, read testimonials, and request more information. 

Step 3: Take Advantage of Discovery Calls & Interviews

Franchisors like CarePatrol take the time to get to know potential franchisees because we value your time and your goals. We’re not only interested in making sure you’re a good fit for us, but also that we’ll be a good fit for you. A series of casual discovery calls ensures that you have ample space to ask questions, discuss your vision and passions, and make an informed decision.

If you are interested in moving forward, you’ll also participate in an in-depth interview with a CarePatrol executive. This interview is designed to enhance your learning process and prepare you for the next steps. 

All of these calls and interviews are your chance to make sure you’ve made the best decision for your career. So, prepare your questions, and take full advantage of these conversations!

Step 4: Meet and Chat With Fellow Franchisees

We always strive to share as much about the company’s values, mission, and culture as possible during our interviews. But we recognize that getting the full picture requires speaking to people like yourself—your fellow franchisees. We’ll connect you with people in the same shoes you may be about to walk in, and they’ll be a wealth of knowledge and insight.

At CarePatrol, we take pride in the community our franchisees have built amongst themselves. Here, your fellow franchisees aren’t your competition. Instead, they’ll become a second support network for you, available to answer your questions, share their experiences, and provide advice from practical experience.

Step 5: Meet the Team & Finalize Decisions

Armed with all of the knowledge you’ve gained from speaking with franchise advisors, executives, and active franchisees, your final step is meeting your support teams. This final touchpoint before a franchise is awarded ensures that all of your questions are answered and that everyone involved agrees that this is a good match. 

We built this step in because we care so deeply about the success of our franchisees—not only on the business level but on the personal level as well. From this point, we’ll schedule everything that comes next. In the future, you can look forward to:

• 8–12 weeks of in-depth training and certification to make you a subject matter expert
• Early visits to your territory, accompanied by a Regional Performance Coach
• Ongoing access to your Regional Performance Coach as a mentor
• Sales, accounting, and business development training
• Foundational training check-ins
• Growing your business!

Ready to Take Your Next Steps? Let’s Talk

CarePatrol is a unique opportunity to help other people as you chase your dreams of entrepreneurship. Working from home, you can make a major impact on the lives of families in your community who are searching for answers in stressful times. If you’re ready to learn more about what we do, what we offer, and what it takes to succeed, request your free Franchise Information Report today!

CarePatrol: The Best Franchise to Own for Growth in Years to Come

A member of the Best Life Brands family, CarePatrol is proud to continue expanding our footprint across the United States. Winner of over 10 Franchisee Satisfaction Awards and counting, we’re seeking passionate individuals with a desire to grow a successful business and help seniors find the best housing solutions for their needs. Contact us today to ask questions or learn more!