A senior concierge business is one of the fastest-growing service businesses, as more and more baby-boomers turn 65 and need assistance with everyday tasks. A concierge service may also help busy working professionals and local businesses. Because seniors need concierge services on a regular basis – at least once a week and often every day – they provide a dependable source of income for a concierge.
There are over 47 million seniors in America today, and that number is growing by 10,000 every single day! That means lots of new customers for a senior concierge service.
Why specialize in seniors? As people age, they are often not physically able to do everyday tasks like shopping and other routine errands. They may even be home-bound due to an illness or injury, and need help with the simple tasks that most of us take for granted.
Starting a senior concierge service is simple compared to many other service businesses. You don’t need a fancy office or inventory, and training is “on the job.” Any successful senior concierge will tell you that good people skills and the ability to stay organized are the skills needed most. Most senior concierge businesses are started with just a small amount of money – often just a few hundred dollars – and a reliable vehicle.
Most senior concierges charge an hourly rate instead of by the job. Rates are lower in rural areas and small towns, and higher in cities, where expenses and living costs are higher. According to a recent survey, rates range from $20 to $45 per hour, with a national average of $28 per hour. A normal 8-hour day brings in $224, or $1120 a week. That’s over $56,000 a year for a simple service business. Most concierge service businesses also add a small per-mile charge to cover their extra vehicle costs.
In addition to basic concierge tasks, most senior concierges offer several related services, such as home checks when a senior is on vacation or “snow birding” in the winter months. Another popular concierge service is a “waiting service.” Let’s say your client has scheduled someone to repair an appliance, or fix the furnace, and can’t be there when the service is scheduled. They call you to wait at the house for the service person and you get paid your regular hourly rate.
Service packages are popular with senior concierge clients, such as a 10 or 20 hour package for the month at a fixed, slightly reduced price. Offering a package allows you to plan your schedule more efficiently, as well as improving cash flow, as packages are paid in advance. Most senior concierges charge extra for after-hours work or working on holidays, or for rush jobs that need to be done immediately.
Seniors spread the word quickly among friends when they find a helpful new business or service, so be sure to pass out your business cards to clients. By helping seniors with the tasks they are unable to do, you can create a service business that does well by doing good, and provide you with a solid, dependable income. Our quick-start guidebook, How To Start A Profitable Senior Concierge Business, can help you get started.