How much does it cost to start a home care agency in Georgia?
One private guide estimates $30,000 to $65,000, including $12,000 to $35,000 in working money, and a license application fee of $250. Treat these as rough: they come from a company that sells licensing services and were not checked against the state. Confirm fees on the Georgia DCH packet.
We could not find a state document that adds up the full cost of starting. Here is what one private guide (HomeCareAtlas, which sells licensing help) says for Georgia, with the warning that it was not checked against the state:
- Private home care license application: $250 per service category. The guide itself says the fee structure is unclear.
- Estimated total to start: $30,000 to $65,000.
- Working money (to pay caregivers before Medicaid pays you): $12,000 to $35,000.
- Licensing timeline: about 8 to 14 weeks.
Costs to plan for, whatever the exact numbers:
- License fee and fingerprint checks
- Insurance
- Legal and set-up
- Software, including EVV
- Payroll for caregivers while you wait for payment
- Training for staff
- Marketing and your own pay
Cash matters most. Medicaid pays after you bill, and payment can take weeks. If a claim is rejected, it takes longer.
The Georgia DCH Private Home Care Program page says to check the updated fees at the end of its application packet and pay through its payment portal. Start there for the license fee, and treat any other figure as an estimate.
Sources
- How to Start a Home Care Agency in Georgia · HomeCareAtlas (private guide, secondary source)
- Private Home Care Program · Georgia Department of Community Health
Reviewed by Beth Bledsoe, Care Business Advisor®, 28 Oct 2026. Rules change. Confirm with your state Medicaid agency before you act.
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