From application to approval, we handle your AHCA 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 Florida? You need a Homemaker & Companion Services (HCS), Nurse Registry, or Home Health Agency (HHA) from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. Plan on 84 days for provisional approval plus an on-site survey. State filing fees total $50 and are paid directly to AHCA.
Non-medical home care agencies do not require a CON in Florida.
Medicaid Program
Medicaid Participation
Plus the Private-Pay Strategy for qualifying providers.
Home Care License Type in Florida
Florida regulates home-based care under several license categories. Most new founders start with a HCS License for non-medical care, then add skilled services later if they choose.
NON-MEDICAL
Homemaker & Companion Services (HCS), Nurse Registry, or Home Health Agency (HHA)
Florida offers multiple licensing paths depending on the services you plan to provide.
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:
$50 HCS Biennial Registration Fee
Timeline:
8-12 Weeks for provisional approval
Regulator:
Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
How to Get Licensed in Florida
Florida licensing follows a structured 7-step process through AHCA. Our specialists handle all 7 steps in the Launch and Signature packages; in the Licensing Kit, you handle the submission yourself with our expert guidance.
84 days from start to provisional approval
1
FOUNDATION
2
POLICIES
3
INSURANCE
4
APPLICATION
5
OPERATIONS
6
SURVEY
1
Choose Your License Type
FOUNDATION
Decide whether your business model fits HCS, Nurse Registry, or HHA based on whether you provide non-hands-on services, refer contractors, or employ and supervise caregivers.
2
Form Your Business Entity
FOUNDATION
Register your LLC or corporation, obtain an EIN, open a business bank account, and complete foundational business setup before applying.
3
Complete Level 2 Screening
POLICIES
Florida requires Level 2 background screening and fingerprinting for controlling interests and other required individuals.
4
Prepare Insurance and Compliance Documents
INSURANCE
Gather insurance certificates, supporting ownership and personnel information, and any other required AHCA application materials.
5
Submit AHCA Application Online
APPLICATION
File the application electronically and upload supporting documents through AHCA's system.
6
Respond to State Review
OPERATIONS
AHCA reviews the application and may request corrections, clarifications, or additional materials.
7
Complete Initial Survey if Required
SURVEY
Some provider types may undergo a pre-licensure review that can include policy review, file inspection, and verification of the operating setup.
Why Florida 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 Florida Agency Licensed
Pick the level of support that matches how hands-on you want to be. Florida state fees ($50 to AHCA) are passed through at cost.
Florida 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 Florida consultancies don't offer.
Florida Licensing Workspace
Track your application, documents, and deadlines in one dashboard. Your Atlas specialist works in the same view you do.
Custom Florida 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 Florida?
It depends on the licensing path. HCS registration is about $50 biennially, while HHA and Nurse Registry applications are significantly higher.
How long does licensing take in Florida?
A reasonable planning estimate is 8-12 weeks, though the timeline can extend if background screening, documentation, or state review takes longer.
What is the difference between HCS, Nurse Registry, and HHA?
HCS covers non-hands-on homemaker and companion services, Nurse Registry is a contractor referral model, and HHA is the broader agency model used when employing and supervising caregivers directly.
Is a surety bond always required in Florida?
Not always. Bond requirements can depend on the applicant structure and circumstances, so this should be confirmed carefully for the exact license type.
Is Florida a good market for home care agencies?
Yes. Florida has one of the largest and strongest senior care markets in the country, with particularly attractive private-pay opportunities in retirement-heavy regions.
Florida Home Care Licensing: What You Need to Know
Florida offers multiple licensing paths depending on the services you plan to provide. HCS is the lightest non-medical path for non-hands-on services, Nurse Registry is a referral model using independent contractors, and HHA is the broader agency model used when employing and supervising caregivers directly.
The Homemaker & Companion Services (HCS), Nurse Registry, or Home Health Agency (HHA)
Florida requires Level 2 background screening through the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse for controlling interests and certain personnel. Applications are submitted electronically through AHCA's online system. Your service scope determines whether you need HCS, Nurse Registry, or HHA. Picking the wrong path can slow approval and create compliance risk. Florida also requires 40-hour administrator certification (typical cost Varies by provider type).
Certificate of Need (CON) in Florida
Florida 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 — Medicaid Participation
HHA is the path typically associated with Medicaid participation, while Nurse Registry is commonly positioned as private-pay only.
Common Reasons Florida 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 Florida Strategy Call
15 minutes with a home care specialist. We'll map out Florida licensing for you, your timeline, and your best next step — even if you don't hire us.
Which Florida license type fits your business model (Homemaker & Companion Services)
Your realistic timeline and budget
Whether Medicaid Participation enrollment makes sense for your plan
No pressure. No obligation. Florida-specific guidance either way.
Your Future Florida Clients Are Already Looking for Care.
Every week you spend piecing this together alone is a week you're not serving your first Florida client. Let's get your agency licensed, launched, and visible — with people on your side who know AHCA.
Built exclusively for non-medical home care|Florida-specific guidance under 59A-8 F.A.C. (Home Health) / 59A-18 (Nurse Registry)|Platform & HomeCareAtlas directory on day one
Florida licensing details verified by HomeCareAtlas on March 1, 2026.
