How to Set Up a Care Business in the UK: Complete Setup and Registration Support
Care Sync Experts provides a complete end-to-end business setup service for care providers across England. We handle everything from your initial business plan through to your first client, so you can focus on building the service you want to deliver.
Before you start the setup process, you need to decide which type of care service you want to provide. Each service type has different regulatory requirements, staffing needs, and operational models.
CQC Regulated
Domiciliary Care
Providing personal care and support to people in their own homes. The most common type of new care business in England. Must register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Key requirements
Registered manager with NVQ/QCF Level 5
Registered office
Comprehensive policies and procedures
Trained care staff
Our domiciliary care startup package covers the full setup for this service type.
CQC Regulated
Supported Living
Accommodation and support to adults with learning disabilities, mental health conditions, or other needs who want to live as independently as possible. Services providing personal care must register with CQC.
Key requirements
CQC registration for personal care element
Separately managed accommodation
Tailored support plans
Specialist staff training
Our supported living startup package is designed for this service type.
Ofsted Regulated
Children's Home
Care and accommodation for children, typically under 16. Requires Ofsted registration under the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015. This is the most regulated and resource-intensive care business type.
Key requirements
Ofsted registration
Children's Homes Regulations 2015 compliance
Experienced registered manager
Extensive policy and procedure set
We guide you through the full Ofsted registration and compliance process.
Flexible Framework
Nursing / Staffing Agency
Supplying trained care workers, nurses, or support workers to care homes, hospitals, or domiciliary care providers. Staffing agencies that do not directly provide care may not need CQC registration.
Key requirements
Robust recruitment processes
Training and compliance frameworks
Background checks for all workers
Clear contractual structures
We build your full compliance and operational framework.
Ofsted Regulated
Supported Accommodation
Housing and support for looked-after children and care leavers aged 16 and 17. Must register with Ofsted under the Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023, mandatory from 28 October 2023.
Key requirements
Ofsted registration (SC1 & SC2 forms)
Four quality standards compliance
Nominated individual
Registered service manager
Our Ofsted registration service covers the full registration pathway.
Not sure which type suits you?
We help you determine which service type matches your goals, your experience, your budget, and the needs of your local market.
Here is the process from initial idea to delivering your first service, and how we support you at every stage.
How Much Does it Cost to Start a Care Business in the UK?
Startup costs vary depending on the type and scale of care business you are establishing. Here is a realistic breakdown of the main cost categories.
Total Budget
£5,000 – £15,000
Lean Domiciliary Care Agency
A small operation including company formation, CQC registration fees, policies, insurance, and initial marketing.
Total Budget
£15,000 – £50,000+
Supported Living or Supported Accommodation
A small operation including company formation, CQC registration fees, policies, insurance, and initial marketing.
Total Budget
£50,000+
Children's Home
A small operation including company formation, CQC registration fees, policies, insurance, and initial marketing.
Detailed cost breakdown
Company Formation & Legal
£500 – £1,500
£100 for Companies House registration, plus accountant setup fees and legal advice.
Regulatory Registration
From ~£782/yr
CQC annual fees start from approximately £782 for a small domiciliary care agency (10 service users). Ofsted registration fees vary by provider size.
Insurance
£1,000 – £3,000/yr
Employers' liability, public liability, and professional indemnity insurance combined for a small care agency.
Policies & Procedures
£200 – £2,000
A comprehensive policy pack from a specialist provider, depending on level of customisation.
Technology & Systems
£2,000 – £5,000
Care management software, rota systems, and IT setup. Plus ongoing monthly subscriptions of £100–£500.
Branding & Website
£1,500 – £5,000
A professional brand identity and website for a care business.
Staff Recruitment
Variable
DBS checks cost approximately £50 per person. Recruitment advertising and agency fees vary widely.
Training
£1,000 – £3,000
Mandatory training including the Care Certificate and specialist courses per staff member in the first year.
Working Capital
£10,000 – £30,000
Enough cash to cover staff wages, running costs, and overheads during the period before receiving regular income from clients or commissioners.
All figures are estimates. We provide tailored cost projections during your free initial consultation.
CQC Business Plan Guide
A weak business plan is one of the top reasons CQC applications get delayed. Learn exactly what CQC assessors expect, including financial forecasts, market analysis, and staffing models.
Our complete care business setup service covers every aspect of establishing and registering your care service.
Business Planning & Market Research
Business planning and market research: full business plan with three-year financial forecasts, local market analysis, competitor review, and service model design.
Company Formation
Company registration with Companies House, HMRC registration for corporation tax and PAYE, organisational structure design, and memorandum and articles of association.
Regulatory Registration
Complete CQC or Ofsted application support, statement of purpose, fit person interview preparation, and liaison with the regulator throughout the process.
Policy & Document Development
Full policy pack covering all policies required for your service type, tailored to your specific service model and branded with your company identity.
Branding & Identity
Business name selection and registration, logo design, brand guidelines, marketing collateral, staff uniforms, and ID badges.
Website Development
SEO-optimised website designed for care providers, with content that positions your service to commissioners, families, and potential staff.
Technology Setup
Care management system selection and configuration, electronic rota, email and communication tools, and digital infrastructure.
Staff Recruitment Support
Job descriptions, person specifications, recruitment procedure development, DBS check management, and training programme design.
Training Programme
Mandatory training delivery including the Care Certificate, safeguarding, medication management, moving and handling, infection prevention and control, and specialist training.
Marketing & Client Acquisition
Digital marketing plan, social media setup, marketing materials, and support with local authority registration and tender preparation.
Financial Management
Accounting system setup, payroll configuration, cashflow management guidance, and funding application support.
Post-Setup Compliance
Ongoing compliance monitoring, mock inspections, audit preparation, and growth planning for the first 12 months.
How to Start a Domiciliary Care Agency
Thinking about starting a home care business? Our guide covers everything from company formation and CQC registration to hiring your first care workers.
The timeline from initial planning to delivering your first service depends on the complexity of your business and the speed of regulatory processing. We recommend starting the planning process at least 3 to 6 months before you intend to open.
Domiciliary Care Agency
3 – 6 months
Business planning & company formation
2 – 4 weeks
Policy development & application preparation
4 – 6 weeks
CQC processing (target 50 working days)
6 – 10 weeks
Post-registration setup, recruitment & marketing
2 – 4 weeks
Supported Living Service
3 – 6 months
Similar timeline to domiciliary care
Both require CQC registration
Property sourcing can add additional time
Variable
Supported Accommodation (Ofsted)
4 – 8 months
Timelines have been longer due to high application volumes since October 2023 mandatory registration date
Variable
Allow additional time for Ofsted processing
4 – 8 months total
Children's Home
3 – 18 months
Ofsted processing times vary widely
3 – 18 months
Dependent on prioritisation criteria
Most regulated and complex service type
Our recommendation: Start the planning process at least 3 to 6 months before you intend to open — and earlier for more complex service models. We can help you map your specific timeline during a free consultation.
Why Choose Care Sync Experts for Your Business Setup
Proven Experience in Health and Social Care
We have supported over 1,200 clients across the health and social care sector. Our business setup service is not a template or a policy pack that you fill in yourself.
Everything Under One Roof
What makes us different from other consultancies is the breadth of our service. Most competitors offer either CQC registration support, or policies, or training, or marketing as separate services from separate providers. We deliver everything under one roof, which means your business plan, your policies, your website, your training programme, and your marketing materials are all consistent, aligned, and ready before you open your doors.
Expertise Across Regulatory Frameworks
We understand both CQC and Ofsted regulatory frameworks. If your service model spans both regulators (for example, if you want to provide supported accommodation for 16-17 year olds alongside a supported living service for adults aged 18+), we coordinate both registration processes.
Dedicated and Tailored Support
Every client receives one-to-one support from a dedicated consultant. We do not use generic templates from other providers. Your policies, your statement of purpose, and your operational framework are tailored to your specific service, your premises, and the people you intend to support.
Not sure which regulated activities apply to your service? We explain all 14 activities, which ones domiciliary care and supported living providers need, and the consequences of getting it wrong.
Start with business planning and market research to confirm there is demand for your service in your area, then form your company and decide on your legal structure. From there you move into regulatory registration with the CQC or Ofsted, policy and document development, premises setup, and recruitment. We recommend beginning at least 3 to 6 months before you intend to open.
A lean domiciliary care agency typically costs £5,000 to £15,000 to establish, a supported living or supported accommodation service £15,000 to £50,000 or more, and a children's home upwards of £50,000. The main cost categories are company formation, regulatory registration, insurance, policies, technology, branding and website, recruitment, training, and working capital. All figures are estimates and we provide tailored projections during your free initial consultation.
As the business owner you do not need a care qualification, but your registered manager does. For a domiciliary care agency the CQC expects a registered manager with an NVQ or QCF Level 5 in Leadership for Health and Social Care, along with relevant experience. For Ofsted-regulated services, the registered service manager must demonstrate relevant qualifications and experience of working with young people.
The CQC works to a target of 50 working days once it has a complete application, which usually translates to 6 to 10 weeks of processing. Allowing for business planning, policy development and post-registration setup, most domiciliary care agencies take 3 to 6 months from first planning to delivering their first service. Incomplete applications are the most common cause of delay.
A regulated care provider needs employers' liability insurance, public liability insurance, and professional indemnity insurance as a minimum. Combined cover for a small care agency typically costs £1,000 to £3,000 per year. Your certificates need to be in place before you begin trading, and commissioners will usually ask to see them as part of contract or tender requirements.
The registered manager is the person accountable to the regulator for the day-to-day running of your service. Any CQC-regulated service providing personal care must have one, and Ofsted-regulated services require a registered service manager. They are assessed individually by the regulator, including a fit person interview, and your service cannot operate without one in post.
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