OnCare’s software platform provides everything that new start-up care agencies might need to manage care delivery, and avoid having to resort to paper or complex spreadsheets and internal systems from the outset. Here are our 5 top tips...
1
Watch out for some pitfalls when choosing your company name
- Try not to make your company name too long or complicated. Consider that if you ever register a website or email addresses, this name will need to feature somehow.
- It’s often a good idea to include the word ‘care’ or ‘home care’ somewhere in your company name, so people know immediately which services you provide.
- Make sure the company name doesn’t mean anything unexpected when written as a website address. For example, the car company Vauxhall branded one of their models the 'Nova' which in Spanish means 'it doesn't go'.
2
Set up a Facebook page for your business
- Creating a Facebook page for your business takes just a couple of seconds, there are no hosting costs, and it has a messaging/chat feature built-in.
- Furthermore, Facebook pages can be seen by Google, so if people search for your company name or for care providers in your area, you may be discovered.
- If you do choose to advertise online, Facebook also has an in-built ads tools.
3
Register your business on Google Maps
- Many care providers forget this simple but hugely beneficial step. Registering the location of your business on Google Maps is a really easy and effective way to be discovered by new clients.
- Just like having a website or Facebook page, adding yourself to Google Maps means you can be found and contacted really easily.
4
Hire great local care workers from potentially unexpected places
- People who make the best care workers may not currently be working in care at all. They may be working in totally different sectors such as retail, travel, hospitality, catering, events.
- The best care workers may even have a range of incredibly valuable informal care experience, and may not currently own a decent computer, so asking for a CV to be sent over digitally might deter some people.
- With these resources you shouldn’t need to post hundreds of job ads on multiple job boards.
5
Go digital from day one with the right software for a start-up business
It’s best to set yourself up with a digital care management system from the word go, rather than start on paper, and then try to move to digital later. Not only should a digital system keep all of your team communicating well, it should ensure you run efficiently.
✅ DO Look For:
- • Pricing transparency: prices shouldn't be invented by each salesperson.
- • A quick and easy to understand demo: shouldn't take longer than 30-45 minutes.
❌ DON'T Accept:
- • Mandatory training packages: highlights that the software is not intuitive.
- • Pricing per client or based on hours delivered: makes costs fluctuate unpredictably.
- • Requirement to purchase from multiple companies: creates integration headaches.
- • Additional hidden costs: set-up fees, support fees, etc.
- • Long contracts that lock you in: look for rolling contracts.