If you’ve spent any amount of time on this website you should already know that I am a fan of creating income opportunities out of practical circumstances. I like to see people utilize their skills in such a way that they are able to help others and in doing so, make some extra cash while enriching the lives of people around them. A companion care business is such an opportunity.
Let me explain why I think this is a good fit for today’s economy.
There are a lot of people reaching their early to mid-50’s who have spent the majority of their working years in customer service. As a result there is a high volume of skilled workers looking for something to do that will keep them connected with the social interaction they were accustomed to having when they worked. However, they also want to be able to still help others without having to put in long hours each and every day.
A companion care business would be a good fit for these kinds of skills and desires.
The easy thing here is that you can earn some extra cash by just being a friend to someone older than yourself. In a way, you are an adult babysitter but in reality the role plays a much bigger part in the lives of those you would be working for and helping.
Let’s assume that one of your clients is an old fellow named Charlie. Charlie lives alone in a small two-bedroom house and has no family nearby. In fact, his only two children live at different locations on the other side of the globe. Charlie is in his 80’s and many of his friends have passed away so he really has no one to spend time with. Charlie is mentally sharp, has some mobility issues but is a great conversationalist and loves to socialize – but the opportunities are few. Or, at least that was the case before one of his children heard about your companion care service and hired you to more or less keep an eye on Charlie.
Your business model will require a number of different options but could be built around an hourly rate that would include time spent with the client, some errand running like a trip for groceries, mail or prescriptions plus additional extras that you could tailor to fit the specific circumstances.
In Charlie’s case, maybe he’d like to go for a drive downtown for lunch. Maybe he has a meeting to attend and you can make sure he gets there on time and back home safely. The possibilities are endless with so many ways you could help people like Charlie.
In addition to earning anywhere between $20 and $35 per hour on a strictly part-time basis, you will make a few new friends who will look forward to seeing you each time you arrive. Nothing beats having happy customers all the time!
Where the bonus comes from in helping others is that you will learn a bit more about yourself and still be able to use those people skills you had always used when working full-time. The main plus to a senior companion service is that there will be no shortage of potential clients to draw from. If you are good at it, you will also receive referrals from happy customers wishing to share your service with their friends.
In my eyes it is nothing less than a win-win situation.
If you like to help others, have a soft spot for helping elderly persons and see yourself having fun doing it, then starting your own senior companion service could be your next career! To discover more check out our guides, which can help you quickly start a successful companion care business: