From application to approval, we handle your CDPHE licensing — then hand you the platform to run your agency from day one. Most consultancies disappear when your license arrives. We keep going.
Want to open a non-medical home care agency in Colorado? You need a Class B Home Care Agency License from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Our estimate: 90–150 days for provisional approval plus an on-site survey. State filing fees total $2,720.3 and are paid directly to CDPHE.
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
License Types
1 Categories
Class B Home Care Agency License
Certificate of Need
Not Required
Non-medical home care agencies do not require a CON in Colorado.
Medicaid Program
Community First Choice (CFC)
Plus the Insurance or Bond for qualifying providers.
Home Care License Type in Colorado
Colorado regulates home-based care under several license categories. Most new founders start with a Class B Home Care Agency License for non-medical care, then add skilled services later if they choose.
NON-MEDICAL
Class B Home Care Agency License
Colorado requires a Class B Home Care Agency License for non-medical home care agencies providing personal care services.
Personal care and daily living assistance
Companionship and homemaker services
Medication reminders (not administration)
Transportation and errand assistance
Respite care for family caregivers
State fee:
$2,720.30 Initial Class B License Fee
Timeline:
3-5 Months for provisional approval
Regulator:
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
How to Get Licensed in Colorado
Colorado licensing follows a structured 8-step process through CDPHE. Our specialists handle all 8 steps in the Launch and Signature packages; in the Licensing Kit, you handle the submission yourself with our expert guidance.
90–150 days from start to provisional approval
1
FOUNDATION
2
APPLICATION
3
POLICIES
4
OPERATIONS
5
SURVEY
1
Confirm You Need Class B
FOUNDATION
Determine that your agency will provide non-medical personal care rather than skilled care. If you plan to provide skilled services, you may need Class A instead.
2
Submit the Letter of Intent
APPLICATION
Send CDPHE a Letter of Intent first. CDPHE emails you how to apply in the COHFI portal. Your full application and fee are due at least 90 days before you plan to open.
3
Form Your Business and Appoint a Manager
POLICIES
Register your business entity, obtain an EIN, and designate a Home Care Agency Manager who meets Colorado's minimum qualifications.
4
Build Policies, Staffing Plan, and Operations
POLICIES
Prepare agency policies, procedures, staffing standards, competency processes, and operational documentation for review.
5
Complete the Full Application
APPLICATION
Submit the Class B application, supporting papers, and the $2,720.30 initial fee. Include proof of liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate, or a surety bond instead (Ch. 26, Part 4.2(B)(2)). Owners and managers also send fingerprints to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
6
Respond to CDPHE Review
OPERATIONS
The state reviews the application and may request corrections, clarifications, or missing documentation.
7
Pass the Initial Survey
SURVEY
CDPHE does an initial survey of your agency. If you pass, you get a regular license. It lasts one year, then you renew. If you are close but not fully ready, CDPHE may give you a 90-day provisional license instead. It costs 15% of the initial fee.
8
Prepare for Operational Launch
OPERATIONS
Finalize hiring, scheduling, caregiver competency processes, insurance, and referral outreach so the agency is ready once licensed.
Why Colorado Founders Choose HomeCareAtlas
The biggest difference between us and traditional consultancies isn't the license — it's what happens after the license arrives.
Traditional Consultant
HomeCareAtlas
Pricing
A mystery sales process and hard upsells
Clear packages built for your goals
Policies & Procedures
Generic templates
Built around your state and your service model
Application Filing
You assemble the packet
Done-for-you in Launch and Signature
Survey Day
You're on your own
On-call phone support during your state visit
After License Arrives
Relationship ends
Platform, dashboard, and directory listing go live
Caregiver Onboarding
Not included
Digital onboarding ready for hire #1
Compliance Tracking
You build a spreadsheet
Live compliance dashboard included
Directory Presence
None
Listed on Carezano the day you open
Three Ways to Get Your Colorado Agency Licensed
Pick the level of support that matches how hands-on you want to be. Colorado state fees ($2,720.3 to CDPHE) are passed through at cost.
Colorado charges a state application fee, paid directly to the state licensing body. We don't mark it up.
Want to see pricing? We share it on your free 15-minute call. Pick a time →
The Platform That Comes With Your License
Every tier includes free time on Home Care Atlas — the operating system for your new agency. This is the part other Colorado consultancies don't offer.
Colorado Licensing Workspace
Track your application, documents, and deadlines in one dashboard. Your Atlas specialist works in the same view you do.
Custom Colorado P&P Manual
Written around your state's rules, your service model, and your agency — not a generic national template. Survey-ready before you file.
Business Formation
LLC, EIN, NPI, surety bond, and insurance — all tracked and handled in Launch and Signature packages.
Compliance Dashboard
From caregiver #1 onward, every certification, background check, and required document is tracked with automatic expiration alerts.
Caregiver Onboarding
I-9, W-4, direct deposit, and required background-check verifications — all collected digitally.
Carezano Directory Listing
Listed on our public directory the day you open. Local families find you, referral partners find you, you're visible from day one.
Common Questions Before You Book
How much does a home care license cost in Colorado?
Colorado's Class B Home Care Agency License has an initial, non-refundable fee of $2,720.30 (July 2026 to June 2027). The yearly renewal base fee is $1,638.36. CDPHE posts new fees each March for July 1, so check the current sheet. Total startup costs are usually much higher once insurance, hiring, office setup, and working capital are included.
How long does licensing take in Colorado?
CDPHE does not publish a processing time. Our best guess is 3 to 5 months. Some agencies take up to 6. CDPHE wants your full application at least 90 days before you open. The rest depends on the initial survey and any follow-up requests.
What is the difference between Class A and Class B in Colorado?
Class B is for non-medical personal care, while Class A is for skilled home care. Choosing the wrong category can delay approval and create compliance problems.
What insurance is required in Colorado?
The Class B license needs liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate. A surety bond can take its place (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 4.2(B)(2)). Colorado's Division of Workers' Compensation says employers with one or more employees in Colorado must carry workers' comp. That includes part-time staff. Medicaid may add more rules.
Is Colorado a good market for home care agencies?
Yes. Colorado is a strong market because of retiree migration, affluent pockets, and growth in senior demand, though the Denver area is more competitive than many founders expect.
Colorado Home Care Licensing: What You Need to Know
Colorado requires a Class B Home Care Agency License for non-medical home care agencies providing personal care services. Class A is for skilled home care, so choosing the correct license type early is critical to avoiding delays and compliance issues. The rules live in 6 CCR 1011-1, Chapter 26. You file through the COHFI online portal. After CDPHE reviews your application, it does an initial survey. If you pass, you get a license that lasts one year. If you are not fully ready, CDPHE may give you a 90-day provisional license first.
The Class B Home Care Agency License
First you send CDPHE a Letter of Intent (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 2, Part 2.3.1). CDPHE then tells you how to apply. Send the full application at least 90 days before you plan to open. Class B covers non-medical personal care services, while Class A is for skilled care. The Home Care Agency Manager must be at least 21, have a high school diploma or GED, and have 1 year of documented supervisory experience in personal care. A college degree plus health care work experience can substitute. The manager must also finish an 8-hour agency manager course, then 12 hours of training every year (Chapter 26, Part 7.2). Colorado also requires 8-hour administrator certification (typical cost Varies (CDPHE lists approved courses)).
Certificate of Need (CON) in Colorado
Colorado does not require a Certificate of Need (CON) for non-medical home care. You can move directly into the licensing process without a separate market-need review.
Medicaid Participation — Community First Choice (CFC)
Since July 1, 2025, you need a Class A or Class B license to bill Medicaid for personal care under CFC (HCPF Policy Memo 25-001). You also enroll with Health First Colorado (HCPF) as a separate step.
Common Reasons Colorado Applications Are Rejected or Delayed
Generic P&P manuals that don't reflect state-specific regulations
Incomplete administrator documentation
Insurance or surety bond policies that don't meet state minimums
Missing or inadequate quality assurance program documentation
Physical office that doesn't meet site-review standards
Caregiver background checks that miss required state databases
Every one of these is preventable with proper preparation. It's the biggest reason founders choose done-for-you packages over DIY — the cost of a rejection in lost time is almost always higher than the cost of doing it right the first time.
Book a Free Colorado Strategy Call
15 minutes with a home care specialist. We'll map out Colorado licensing for you, your timeline, and your best next step — even if you don't hire us.
Which Colorado license type fits your business model (Class B Home Care Agency License)
Your realistic timeline and budget
Whether Community First Choice (CFC) enrollment makes sense for your plan
No pressure. No obligation. Colorado-specific guidance either way.
Your Future Colorado Clients Are Already Looking for Care.
Every week you spend piecing this together alone is a week you're not serving your first Colorado client. Let's get your agency licensed, launched, and visible — with people on your side who know CDPHE.
Built exclusively for non-medical home care|Colorado-specific guidance under 6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26 (Home Care Agencies; Class A skilled / Class B personal care)|Platform & HomeCareAtlas directory on day one
Colorado licensing details verified by HomeCareAtlas on September 1, 2026.
Colorado Home Care License — Done-for-You Licensing
