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Home care and staffing in one company

Care agency start up package for home care and staffing

A combined care agency runs two services from one company: a home care agency registered with CQC for personal care, and a staffing agency that supplies carers and nurses to care homes and other providers. Our package sets up both, so your staffing arm can earn while CQC assesses your home care application.

Packages from £500 to £8,500 + VAT, fixed before we start.

Book a consultation0333 577 0877Package brochure (PDF)
Care worker supporting an older woman in her own home

Arm 1

Home care

CQC registered for personal care

Agency nurse with a patient in a care setting

Arm 2

Temporary staffing

Carers and nurses for care homes and providers

One company: shared brand, office, team and back office

How a combined care agency works

The two arms share a company but follow different rules. Only the home care arm needs CQC registration, because supplying staff to another provider who directs their work is not a regulated activity.

What it does
Home carePersonal care for people in their own homes
StaffingSupplies carers and nurses to other care providers
Who directs the care
Home careYour registered manager
StaffingThe client: a care home, provider or NHS trust
Registration
Home careCQC registration for personal care before you start
StaffingNo CQC registration and no licence needed
Who enforces the rules
Home careCQC
StaffingThe Fair Work Agency, since April 2026
Main law
Home careHealth and Social Care Act 2008 and the 2014 regulations
StaffingEmployment Agencies Act 1973 and the 2003 Conduct Regulations
Who pays you
Home careCouncils, the NHS, private families, direct payments
StaffingCare homes, home care and supported living providers, the NHS through frameworks
VAT
Home careUsually exempt as welfare services
StaffingUsually standard rated as a supply of staff
When you can start
Home careAfter CQC registers you, usually 4 to 6 months
StaffingWithin weeks of setting up
  • One company, office and brand
  • One recruitment pipeline and worker pool
  • One back office: payroll, rotas, compliance

What the care agency start up package includes

Everything both arms need, written for your company. Take the full package, or only the home care or staffing side.

Home care arm

Ready for CQC registration

  • Statement of Purpose written to CQC's structure
  • Provider and registered manager application forms
  • Additional form for providers of personal care
  • Home care policies and procedures in your brand
  • Care plans, risk assessments and MAR charts
  • Evidence pack: DBS, identity, office permission
  • Fit person interview coaching for both roles

Staffing arm

Ready to supply your first client

  • Worker terms and key information document
  • Client terms of business and rate card template
  • Candidate compliance file: ID, right to work, DBS, references
  • Suitability checks before placing anyone with vulnerable people
  • Booking, timesheet and shift confirmation process
  • 12 week equal pay and holiday pay tracking
  • Staffing policies: safeguarding, duty to refer, complaints

The shared foundation

Built once, used by both arms

  • Company, HMRC and ICO set up guidance
  • Business plan with a cash flow forecast for both arms
  • Logo, brand and printed materials
  • Website with pages for home care and staffing
  • Care software and payroll recommendations
  • Introductions to insurers and accountants

Plus support through your first year: a mock inspection before your first CQC assessment, policy updates, help with council lists and staffing clients, and advice whenever you need it.

Cover of the Care Sync Experts combined care agency setup package brochure

Prefer offline reading?

Download the combined care agency package brochure

Everything in the package for both arms, how we work and what happens after registration, in one PDF to read or share with a business partner.

PDF, 1.1 MB

Download (PDF)Book a consultation

Care providers we have taken to CQC registration

5 founders, in their own words.

All client success stories

  • CQC registration

    Kursi Healthcare Limited

    Came to us with a rejected application that someone else had prepared. We rebuilt the pack from the business up, then prepared them for interview. Now CQC registered.

  • CQC registration

    VPEG Care Services

    Applied to CQC three times on their own and each application came back. We rebuilt the pack so every document agreed and coached both the RM and NI. Now CQC registered.

  • CQC registration

    Precious Care North West

    From a company name to a CQC registered domiciliary care provider across Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Lancashire: brand, website, application pack and interview coaching.

  • CQC registration

    Breathe Healthcare

    We built their full application pack and prepared their registered manager and nominated individual for the fit person interview. Registered first time.

  • CQC registration

    Quality CareZone Services

    One founder in Staffordshire acting as both registered manager and nominated individual. Business plan, statement of purpose, policies and interview coaching, then a first time pass.

Case study

Hallowed Care: staffing, home care and supported living under one brand

Hallowed Care offers temporary staffing, home care and supported living. We set up the business behind all three: the plan, the brand, the policies and the systems to recruit.

Hallowed Care logo

Hallowed Care

Full case study
Founded
2023
Services
Temporary staffing, home care and supported living
Starting point
A clear idea and nothing else in place

The brief

Hallowed Care wanted to supply reliable care and nursing staff to healthcare settings that badly need them. They needed help with everything: a business plan, a brand, compliant systems, and a way to attract workers and clients in a crowded market.

What we delivered

  • Business plan and cash flow model
  • Brand identity: logo, colours and typography
  • Policies and procedures for compliance
  • SEO structured website with online applications
  • Automated recruitment and document management
  • Digital marketing plan, brochures, uniforms and staff ID badges
“Partnering with Care Sync Experts was a game changer for us. From setting up our business operations to developing our online presence, their team was there every step of the way. The entire process was seamless, and their expertise in healthcare has been invaluable.”
Chukwudimma Sixtus Ugochukwu, Director, Hallowed Care Ltd
Hallowed Care's website shown on a desktop, laptop, tablet and phone
Website with online applications
Hallowed Care recruitment leaflets for healthcare workers
Recruitment leaflets
Hallowed Care roll up banner saying Hallowed Care is hiring
Recruitment banner
Start yoursMore client stories

Earn from staffing while CQC assesses your home care

Your staffing arm can supply care homes within weeks. Your home care arm starts once CQC registers it, usually 4 to 6 months from the start.

Staffing arm

  • Company, bank and insuranceweeks 0 to 2
  • Terms, policies and compliance filesweeks 1 to 4
  • Recruit and check workersweeks 2 to 6
  • Supplying care home clientsweeks 5 to 26
    Trading

Home care arm

  • Business plan and Statement of Purposeweeks 1 to 4
  • Policies and evidence packweeks 2 to 6
  • CQC checks and assessesweeks 6 to 18
  • Fit person interviewsweeks 12 to 16
  • Registered: first home care clientsweeks 18 to 26
    Trading

A typical plan. CQC sets its own assessment time and asks for more information on some applications. Since February 2026 it rejects incomplete applications.

What changed for new care agencies in 2025 and 2026

The rules for both arms have moved quickly. Your business plan, policies and pricing should reflect every change below.

  1. 22 July 2025Both

    Overseas recruitment of care workers closes

    Agencies cannot sponsor workers to supply to clients. Recruit locally and build your own pipeline.

  2. January 2026Staffing

    NHS removes agency use for band 2 and 3 roles

    NHS trusts book agency staff only through approved frameworks, at capped rates. Start with social care clients.

  3. 9 February 2026Home care

    CQC rejects incomplete applications

    A rejected application loses its place in the queue. Submit a complete, consistent pack first time.

  4. 1 April 2026Both

    National Living Wage rises to £12.71

    Statutory sick pay is now paid from day one. Price both arms from your real pay costs.

  5. 7 April 2026Staffing

    The Fair Work Agency launches

    It takes over employment agency inspections and now enforces holiday pay too.

  6. 2026/27Staffing

    NHS agency spending limits cut by 30%

    Further cuts are planned each year. Care homes and providers are the steadier market for a new agency.

  7. 5 October 2026Both

    Enhanced DBS check falls to £41

    Every care worker who gives personal care needs one, with an adults' barred list check.

  8. Expected 2027Staffing

    Guaranteed hours rules reach agency workers

    Consultation closed in August 2026. Build flexible shift offers and records now.

How much does it cost to start a home care and staffing agency?

Most new home care agencies need about £8,000 to £25,000. A staffing arm adds one more cost that catches people out: paying your workers before your clients pay you.

Set up costs

  • Form a limited company£100
  • CQC application (home care arm)£0
  • CQC annual fee£239 + £54.305 per person supported
  • Enhanced DBS check, per worker£41
  • ICO data protection fee£52 a year
  • Insurance for both arms£1,000 to £3,000 a year
  • Care and staffing software£100 to £500 a month
  • Plan, policies, documents, brand and website£500 to £8,500 + VAT
Most new home care agencies, in total£8,000 to £25,000
The full 2026 cost breakdown

Worked example

The staffing payroll float

Workers placed
10
Hours each a week
30
Pay at £12.71 an hour
£3,813 a week
Client pays
30 days after invoice

Cash you need before the first payment arrives

£15,000 to £20,000

Four to five weeks of pay, before employer National Insurance, pension and holiday pay. Invoice finance can help.

VAT works differently for each arm

Home care

Usually exempt

Staffing

Usually 20%

HMRC treats supplying staff as a taxable supply, while welfare services from a CQC registered provider are exempt. Register once taxable turnover passes £90,000, and take advice before you set your rates.

Where a combined agency finds its work

Two arms means two markets. Carers who want more hours can pick up staffing shifts, so your workers earn more and stay longer.

Home care clients

  • Council approved provider lists

    Join when your council's list or framework opens to new providers.

  • NHS Continuing Healthcare

    Funded packages for people with health needs, often more complex.

  • Private families

    Found through Google, your website, reviews and local referrers.

  • Direct payments

    People with their own budget choose an agency, like a private client.

How to win home care clients

Staffing clients, in the order to approach them

  1. 1

    Care and nursing homes near you

    Start here

    Steady demand for carers, senior carers and nurses to cover shifts.

  2. 2

    Home care and supported living providers

    Start here

    Other agencies need cover for sickness, holidays and new packages.

  3. 3

    Council run services and other employers

    Day services, reablement teams and private hospitals.

  4. 4

    NHS trusts, through approved frameworks

    Later

    Capped rates and shrinking agency budgets. Build a track record first.

Tender writing from £1,500 + VAT

What you need to start each arm

Each item shows the rule behind it. Our package prepares every document on both lists.

Home care arm: CQC asks for

  • Statement of PurposeCQC
  • Business plan and financial forecastCQC
  • Core policies: safeguarding, medicines, recruitment, consent, complaintsCQC
  • Additional form for providers of personal careCQC
  • Proof you can legally use your officeCQC
  • Service user guide, staff training plan, insurance planCQC
  • Registered manager and nominated individual, with enhanced DBSCQC

Staffing arm: the law requires

  • Key information document for every workerReg 13A
  • Written terms agreed with workers before you find them workRegs 14 to 16
  • Terms of business agreed with every clientReg 17
  • Checks on identity, experience and qualifications before supplyReg 19
  • Extra checks for work with vulnerable people, including enhanced DBSRegs 20 and 22
  • Equal pay and conditions after 12 weeks in the same roleAWR 2010
  • Holiday at 12.07% of hours for irregular hours workersApril 2024
  • Duty to refer to the DBS when you remove someone for harmSVGA 2006

  • Registered manager

    Runs the home care service. Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care, or working towards it, plus care management experience.

  • Nominated individual

    A director or senior person who supervises the home care service and answers to CQC for it.

  • Staffing compliance lead

    Owns worker checks, terms, bookings, timesheets and pay. In a small agency, often the owner.

Both arms can run from home with a dedicated, secure room and written permission from your landlord or lender. CQC will not accept a virtual office or PO box for the home care arm.

Which start up package is right for you?

All three are fixed price, within £500 to £8,500 + VAT.

  • Home care only

    You want to support people in their own homes and grow through councils and private families.

    • CQC registration for personal care
    • Policies, plan and interview coaching
    • Brand, website and first year support
    Domiciliary care package
  • This package

    Home care and staffing

    You want income from staffing while CQC assesses your home care, and two markets once you are registered.

    • Everything in the home care package
    • Staffing terms, compliance files and processes
    • A business plan and cash flow for both arms
    Book a consultation

  • Staffing only

    You want to supply carers and nurses to care homes and other providers, without running home care.

    • No CQC registration needed
    • Worker and client terms, checks and timesheets
    • Brand, website and client acquisition
    Staffing agency package

Why founders choose Care Sync Experts

We work only in health and social care. One team writes your business plan, CQC application, staffing documents and interview coaching, so every document tells the same story.

Book a consultation0333 577 0877

  • 94%

    approved by CQC first time

  • 1,200+

    care providers supported

  • 10+ years

    team experience in care

  • £500 to £8,500

    + VAT, fixed before we start

Watch and read before you decide

Two short videos from our team, and the free guides behind this package.

How much do I need to start a care agency in the UK?5:57

How to set up a care agency: everything you need to know5:05

Some of the providers we have worked with

Client reviews

What care providers say about working with us

Care providers describe working with us, in their own words, on Trustpilot and Google.

Trustpilot

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Google reviewsSee what clients say on GoogleRead our Google reviews

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  • First of all i want to give Millicent…

    First of all i want to give Millicent her flowers. I recently became a registered manager ( OLIVE BRANCH CARE & SUPPORT LTD) because of her. She knows her stuff, she takes you through the whole process, the Q&A with encouragement and guidance. I am usually a nerve wreck, but I made it. I couldn't not have wished for a better person than her. THANK YOU MILLICENT. YOU ARE THE BEST.

    Audrey Eastwood

    3 October 2026

    Read full review by Audrey Eastwood on Trustpilot

  • Excellent Support Throughout Our CQC Registration Journey

    Care Sync Experts provided excellent support throughout our CQC registration journey for Tailored Healthcare 4 You Limited. The team was professional, knowledgeable and very supportive throughout the process. They provided valuable guidance with our application, policies, supporting documents and preparation for the CQC registration process. What I particularly appreciated was their willingness to answer questions, explain requirements clearly and provide support whenever we needed clarification. Their guidance helped us navigate what can be a detailed and demanding registration process with greater confidence. We are very grateful for their contribution towards the successful CQC registration of our company and would happily recommend Care Sync Experts to other care providers looking for professional CQC registration support. Thank you to the entire team for your continued support.

    Philip

    3 September 2026

    Read full review by Philip on Trustpilot

  • Thanks to Care Sync Experts

    Care Sync Experts supported with well tailored documentations for the CQC application, good prep/training for the CQC interview and prompt communication throughout the CQC registration stages which led to the success of Novaedge application I had an excellent experience working with Care Sync Experts on my CQC registration application. From the very beginning, their team demonstrated exceptional professionalism, knowledge, and commitment to ensuring my application met the required CQC standards. They provided clear guidance throughout the entire process, helped me prepare all the necessary documentation, and ensured I was fully ready for every stage of the application. Their attention to detail, prompt communication, and willingness to answer every question gave me confidence and made what could have been a stressful process much smoother. I truly appreciated their personalised support and expertise. Thanks to their dedication, I felt well-prepared throughout my CQC registration journey. I would confidently recommend Care Sync Experts to anyone seeking reliable and professional support with CQC registration and healthcare compliance.

    Novaedge Services Limited

    25 July 2026

    Read full review by Novaedge Services Limited on Trustpilot

  • The Experience that I have had with…care sync was a 5 star experience

    The Experience that I have had with Care Sync experts is so excellent and effortless. Care sync experts assisted me with the CQC registration of my company. It was a 5 star experience. Coming from a healthcare background myself, I worked with a group of dedicated experts who knows what there are doing. I will like to thank Colin who handled my registration process with the Care sync expert team in such a way that the process looked so simple.

    E. Lustre

    21 July 2026

    Read full review by E. Lustre on Trustpilot

  • Care Sync Experts are reliable

    Care Sync Experts are reliable, honest and operate with integrity. All the staff are knowledgeable and supportive whenever you need guidance. I recommend them for all those loking for CQC support services.

    customer

    12 June 2026

    Read full review by customer on Trustpilot

  • I am genuinely grateful that I chose Care Sync

    I am genuinely grateful that I chose Care Sync Experts to support me in establishing my domiciliary care company, Precious Care. From my very first conversation with them, it was clear that they truly understood my needs. Their knowledge, expertise, and professionalism were evident from the start—they really do live up to their name. The support provided to me and my wider team was exceptional and truly limitless. No matter how small the question, they were always available, approachable, and ready to help. From day one, Millicent and Collins made us feel valued and important. Speaking with them felt like talking to people I had known for years—warm, reassuring, and always willing to go the extra mile. Every phone call ended with clarity and confidence. Millicent’s guidance, training, and ongoing support were outstanding and made the entire process smooth and stress‑free. Without hesitation, I would recommend Care Sync Experts as the go‑to professionals for anyone seeking EXPERT support in this field.

    PN

    27 March 2026

    Read full review by PN on Trustpilot

  • CQC interview confidence building

    I found the material I was given very informative. This helped build my confidence during my CQC interview preparation. The staff responded to my inquiries timeously

    Lilian Muzorewa

    23 February 2026

    Read full review by Lilian Muzorewa on Trustpilot

  • 100% Support: How Care Sync Experts Made Our CQC Certification A Reality

    I couldn’t be more grateful for Care Sync experts exceptional support during our CQC interview presentations. From the very beginning, Millicent and Collins were not only professional but also incredibly approachable and dedicated. Every time we needed assistance, they were right there ready to help with guidance, expert advice, and all the information required to ensure our success. When our interview dates kept changing, Care Sync flexibility truly set them apart. They rescheduled sessions without hesitation and even provided extra sessions, going far beyond what we had paid for. Their unwavering commitment was a crucial factor in us achieving our CQC certification. Thanks to their 100% support, Victory Growth Care Services is now proudly registered with CQC. I wholeheartedly recommend Care Sync expats for anyone looking for top-notch, dependable support in navigating the complexities of CQC interviews. Their team truly makes a difference!

    Shaz K

    12 February 2025

    Read full review by Shaz K on Trustpilot

  • Outstanding Tender Writing Services

    I recently used Care Sync Experts for the first time to complete a tender, and I am thrilled to say that they won it for me! Their team is absolutely brilliant. They took care of everything with professionalism and expertise, making the whole process smooth and successful. I would 100% recommend Care Sync Experts to any provider looking for someone to write their tender. Their work is of a high standard, and I couldn’t be happier with the results.

    Vivian Owusu

    22 August 2024

    Read full review by Vivian Owusu on Trustpilot

  • Outstanding Service and Exceptional Results!

    I had the pleasure of working with Care Sync Experts for various projects, including website development, tender submissions, and branding materials such as brochures and leaflets. From start to finish, their professionalism and attention to detail have been nothing short of remarkable. They designed and developed my website with a keen understanding of my needs, creating a sleek, user-friendly platform that perfectly represents my brand. But they didn't stop there, their expertise in handling tenders is unparalleled. Of the six tenders they managed for me, they won five. This impressive success rate speaks volumes about their strategic approach and deep industry knowledge. I highly recommend Care Sync Experts to anyone looking for top notch services in web development, tender management, and branding. They have truly elevated my business, and I look forward to continuing our partnership!

    Living Plus Care

    12 August 2024

    Read full review by Living Plus Care on Trustpilot

Home care and staffing agency FAQs

Last reviewed

A combined care agency is one company that runs two services: a domiciliary care agency, registered with CQC, that provides personal care to people in their own homes, and a temporary staffing agency that supplies care workers and nurses to care homes, other care providers and the NHS. The two arms share a brand, an office, a recruitment pipeline and back office, but they follow different rules.
Not if it only supplies workers to another provider who directs and supervises their work. The Regulated Activities Regulations 2014 exclude the supply of carers or nurses to a service provider by an employment agency or employment business. Your home care arm is different: it provides personal care itself, so it must be registered with CQC before it supports anyone.
Yes. One limited company can hold a CQC registration for personal care and also trade as an employment business. Keep the two arms clear in your Statement of Purpose, policies, contracts, rotas and accounts, because CQC regulates the home care service while employment agency law, enforced by the Fair Work Agency, governs the staffing side.
Most new home care agencies need about £8,000 to £25,000. A staffing arm adds the cost of paying workers before clients pay you. For example, 10 workers on 30 hours a week at the £12.71 National Living Wage is about £3,800 a week in pay before employer costs, so a 30 day payment term can tie up £15,000 to £20,000. Our packages are £500 to £8,500 + VAT.
The staffing arm can start trading within weeks, once your company, insurance, worker checks and terms of business are in place. The home care arm has to wait for CQC registration, so plan for 4 to 6 months. Since February 2026 CQC has been rejecting incomplete applications, and a resubmission joins the back of the queue.
The Employment Agencies Act 1973 and the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003, which set the terms you agree with workers and clients, the key information document and the checks before you supply anyone to work with vulnerable people. You also follow the Agency Workers Regulations 2010, National Minimum Wage, holiday pay and pension auto-enrolment rules. The Fair Work Agency has enforced these since 7 April 2026.
No. In England you do not need a licence to supply health or social care staff. Licences are only required for supplying workers in agriculture, horticulture, shellfish gathering and food processing. You still need to pay the ICO data protection fee and follow employment agency law.
Not to supply them to clients. Overseas recruitment of care workers closed on 22 July 2025, and the Home Office does not allow an agency to sponsor a worker and supply them as labour to another organisation. Until July 2028 a registered home care provider can sponsor care workers already in the UK who switch to work directly for it.
Only through an approved framework. NHS England's agency rules require trusts to book agency staff through approved frameworks, at capped rates, and agency use for band 2 and 3 roles was removed in January 2026. Trusts must also cut agency spending each year. Most new agencies build a track record with care homes and other social care providers first.
Usually, yes for staffing and no for home care. HMRC treats supplying staff to a client who is responsible for the care as a taxable supply, while welfare services provided by a CQC registered provider are exempt. You must register for VAT once your taxable turnover passes £90,000. Take advice from an accountant who knows the care sector before you set your rates.
Build your rate from the worker's pay, holiday pay, employer National Insurance and pension, insurance, compliance and your margin. For home care, the Homecare Association's minimum price for 2026/27 is £34.42 an hour. NHS work is capped. Your business plan models your rates against local demand.
Yes. Workers who give personal care need an enhanced DBS check with an adults' barred list check, which costs £41 from 5 October 2026. Before you supply anyone you must also confirm their identity, right to work, qualifications and references, and you have a legal duty to refer to the DBS if you remove someone from work because they harmed or put someone at risk.
The registered manager runs the home care service day to day and needs the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care, or a commitment to complete it, plus care management experience. The staffing arm needs someone who owns compliance: worker checks, terms, timesheets and pay. In a small agency these can be the same person at first.
Yes, if you have a dedicated, secure room for confidential records and written permission from your landlord or mortgage lender. CQC will not accept a virtual office or a PO box for the home care arm.
No. You can choose single services such as a business plan, policies, staffing documents or CQC interview coaching, from £500 + VAT, or the full package for both arms. We agree a fixed price after a consultation.
No one can, because CQC makes the decision. We make sure your application is complete, consistent and written for your service, and that your registered manager and nominated individual are ready for interview. 94% of the providers we support are approved first time.
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