From application to approval, we handle your MDH 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 Minnesota? You need a Basic Home Care Provider License from the Minnesota Department of Health. Our estimate: 90–150 days for provisional approval plus an on-site survey. State filing fees total $2,100 and are paid directly to MDH.
Non-medical home care agencies do not require a CON in Minnesota.
Medicaid Program
Medical Assistance (MA) Home Care
Plus the PCA and CFSS (Community First Services and Supports) and Elderly Waiver (EW) and Community Alternative Care (CAC) Waiver for qualifying providers.
Home Care License Type in Minnesota
Minnesota regulates home-based care under several license categories. Most new founders start with a Basic Home Care Provider License for non-medical care, then add skilled services later if they choose.
NON-MEDICAL
Basic Home Care Provider License
In Minnesota, you need a license from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to give home care.
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:
$2,100 Temporary License Fee (Basic)
Timeline:
3-5 Months for provisional approval
Regulator:
Minnesota Department of Health
How to Get Licensed in Minnesota
Minnesota licensing follows a structured 7-step process through MDH. 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.
90–150 days from start to provisional approval
1
FOUNDATION
2
POLICIES
3
INSURANCE
4
SURVEY
5
APPLICATION
6
OPERATIONS
1
Business Entity & EIN Formation
FOUNDATION
Register your LLC or corporation with the Minnesota Secretary of State. Get an EIN from the IRS. Register with the Minnesota Department of Revenue for payroll taxes.
2
Develop Policies & Procedures
POLICIES
Write policies that fit your agency and meet Chapter 144A. The law lists what you need. That includes maltreatment reporting, background studies, training, complaints, client checks, the bill of rights, infection control, and TB screening (Minn. Stat. §144A.472, subd. 1). MDH reviews them with your application.
3
Obtain Insurance
INSURANCE
Get workers' comp. MDH needs proof with your application. General and professional liability are not required by the home care law, but most agencies carry them.
4
Complete Background Studies
SURVEY
Owners, managerial officials, and the named RN or licensed health professional must pass NETStudy 2.0 background studies through the Department of Human Services (DHS). Each study has a fee plus a fingerprint and photo fee. Check DHS for current amounts. Staff with a valid health-related licensing board (HLB) license and a §214.075 check do not need a separate study (Minn. Stat. §144.057). That does not apply to owners, managerial officials, or license applicants.
5
Submit MDH Application
APPLICATION
Fill out the MDH home care license application. Include your policies, background study proof, workers' comp proof, and the fee ($2,100 Basic or $4,200 Comprehensive). Read the checklist closely. Missing items slow you down.
6
MDH Review & Possible Meeting
OPERATIONS
MDH checks that you know and follow the home care rules. It may ask for more papers, a call, a meeting, or an on-site visit. MDH confirms receipt within 14 days. Once your file is complete, the law gives MDH 90 days to issue or deny the temporary license (Minn. Stat. §144A.473).
7
Receive Temporary License & Begin Operations
OPERATIONS
Once approved, MDH issues a temporary license. It lasts up to one year. You can start serving clients. Tell MDH within 5 days of your first client. MDH will survey you within 90 days after that. Pass and you get a full license. If you serve no clients during the year, the temporary license ends and you must reapply.
Why Minnesota 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 Minnesota Agency Licensed
Pick the level of support that matches how hands-on you want to be. Minnesota state fees ($2,100 to MDH) are passed through at cost.
Minnesota 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 Minnesota consultancies don't offer.
Minnesota Licensing Workspace
Track your application, documents, and deadlines in one dashboard. Your Atlas specialist works in the same view you do.
Custom Minnesota 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
What is the difference between a Basic and Comprehensive Home Care license in Minnesota?
A Basic license covers help with bathing, dressing, grooming, self-feeding, and toileting. It also covers standby help, medication and exercise reminders, and chores done along with that care (Minn. Stat. §144A.471, subd. 6). A Basic licensee cannot give hands-on help with transfers or mobility. A Comprehensive license adds that, plus nursing, therapy, medication management, and tasks an RN delegates (subd. 7). If you only do chores like cleaning, cooking, and shopping, you need a home management registration instead (Minn. Stat. §144A.482). Download the MDH Statement of Services for each license to see the full list.
How long does it take to get a home care license in Minnesota?
It depends on how complete your application is. Once your file is complete, the law gives MDH 90 days to issue or deny the temporary license (Minn. Stat. §144A.473). MDH's website says 60 days. We suggest planning 3-5 months from start to first client. Missing papers are the main cause of delays.
Do I need a license just to provide housekeeping and meal prep?
No. If you only do housekeeping, meals, and shopping for people who cannot do them due to illness or disability, you need a Home Management Registration with MDH (Minn. Stat. §144A.482). It costs $50 a year for an organization. If you offer any other home care service, you need a license.
What is the HCBS integrated license?
An integrated license adds an HCBS designation to your home care license (Minn. Stat. §144A.484). It lets you give 245D basic support services along with home care. You must still give real home care services. MDH says giving only HCBS basic support services can lead to denial or revocation.
Are licensed nurses exempt from NETStudy 2.0 background studies?
Often, yes. Staff with a valid license from a health-related licensing board (HLB) who had a background check under Minn. Stat. §214.075 do not need a separate NETStudy 2.0 study (Minn. Stat. §144.057). This covers RNs, LPNs, and other HLB-licensed staff. It does not cover owners or managerial officials.
Can I get Medicare certified with a Basic Home Care license?
No. MDH says you need a Comprehensive license and a passed initial full survey. Temporary licensees cannot get Medicare certified either.
Who is exempt or excluded from home care licensure?
Some are exempt but must still follow the Home Care Bill of Rights. Examples: PCA agencies under Medical Assistance, home-management-only providers who register, and nurses or therapists working on their own. Others are excluded, like referral-only services and staffing agencies that only supply licensed providers. See Minn. Stat. §144A.471, subdivisions 8 and 9.
What happens if I don't provide services during my license period?
To renew, you must have given home care in the past 12 months (Minn. Stat. §144A.472, subd. 3). If you serve no clients during a temporary license, it ends and you must reapply.
How much does it cost to start a home care agency in Minnesota?
The MDH temporary license fee is $2,100 for Basic and $4,200 for Comprehensive. Yearly renewal fees are based on your home care revenue, from $231 to $7,651 (Minn. Stat. §144A.472, subd. 7). We estimate total startup costs at $45,000 to $85,000. That covers fees, insurance, workers' comp, policies, marketing, and 3-6 months of working capital. No surety bond is required.
What insurance do I need for a Minnesota home care agency?
You must have workers' comp and send proof with your application. The home care law does not require liability insurance. You only send proof if you have it (Minn. Stat. §144A.472, subd. 1). Most agencies still carry general and professional liability. No surety bond is required.
Is Minnesota a good market for home care agencies?
Yes. Minnesota has about 1.11 million adults 65 and older (19.1%, Census 2025 estimate). Medicaid programs like the Elderly Waiver and CFSS pay for care at home. Many seniors live in the Twin Cities area. Faith-based senior care groups can be good referral partners.
Minnesota Home Care Licensing: What You Need to Know
In Minnesota, you need a license from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to give home care. You cannot offer or advertise home care without one, unless the law exempts you (Minn. Stat. §144A.471). There are two license types: Basic and Comprehensive. Basic covers help with bathing, dressing, grooming, self-feeding, and toileting, plus standby help and reminders. Basic does not cover hands-on help with transfers or getting around. That needs a Comprehensive license, which also adds nursing, delegated tasks, and medication management (Minn. Stat. §144A.471, subds. 6-7). The first license is a temporary license. A Basic one costs $2,100. It lasts up to one year.
The Basic Home Care Provider License
A Basic license covers help with bathing, dressing, grooming, self-feeding, and toileting. It also covers standby help, reminders, and chores done with that care (Minn. Stat. §144A.471, subd. 6). It does not cover hands-on help with transfers and mobility. A Comprehensive license adds that, plus nursing, therapy, RN-delegated tasks, and medication management (subd. 7). Pick the one that fits your services. Owners and managerial officials must pass a DHS background study before MDH issues a license (Minn. Stat. §144A.476). MDH says the named RN or licensed health professional must pass one, too. Staff with direct client contact need one, too (Minn. Stat. §144.057). Ask DHS when the study must be done. To maintain a license, providers must deliver qualifying home care services directly in a client's home for a fee during each 12-month license period (Minn. Stat. §144A.472, subd. 3). The home care law does not require liability insurance. You only send proof of it if you have it (Minn. Stat. §144A.472, subd. 1). You must send proof of workers' comp. No surety bond is required.
Certificate of Need (CON) in Minnesota
Minnesota 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 — Medical Assistance (MA) Home Care
Medical Assistance is Minnesota's Medicaid program. It covers some home care, like home health aide and skilled nursing visits.
The MDH On-Site Survey
Temporary License First. MDH issues a temporary license after it reviews a complete application. Once the application is complete, MDH has 90 days to issue or deny it (Minn. Stat. §144A.473). The temporary license lasts up to one year. MDH surveys you within 90 days after it learns you are serving clients. Pass the survey and you get a full license.
Common Reasons Minnesota 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 Minnesota Strategy Call
15 minutes with a home care specialist. We'll map out Minnesota licensing for you, your timeline, and your best next step — even if you don't hire us.
Which Minnesota license type fits your business model (Basic Home Care Provider License)
Your realistic timeline and budget
Whether Medical Assistance (MA) Home Care enrollment makes sense for your plan
No pressure. No obligation. Minnesota-specific guidance either way.
Your Future Minnesota Clients Are Already Looking for Care.
Every week you spend piecing this together alone is a week you're not serving your first Minnesota client. Let's get your agency licensed, launched, and visible — with people on your side who know MDH.
Built exclusively for non-medical home care|Minnesota-specific guidance under Minn. Stat. §§ 144A.43–144A.4799 (Home Care Licensing)|Platform & HomeCareAtlas directory on day one
Minnesota licensing details verified by HomeCareAtlas on November 1, 2026.
Minnesota Home Care License — Done-for-You Licensing
