How to Start a Residential Assisted Living or Board and Care Home in California
The demand for quality senior housing continues to grow as Baby Boomers age and families seek safe, compassionate environments for their loved ones. If you’ve ever wondered how to start a residential assisted living business or even how to open a board and care home in California, you’re not alone — searches for terms like these have more than doubled in the past decade.
As a licensed RCFE Administrator and Senior Housing Broker with Haven Senior Investments, I’ve helped countless investors, owners, and operators evaluate opportunities and build successful senior living businesses. Below, I’ll walk you through what you need to know about starting or opening an assisted living facility, board and care home, or residential assisted living business in California and beyond.
Understanding the Assisted Living Business
An assisted living business (also called a residential care facility for the elderly, or RCFE, in California) provides housing, meals, personal care, and social activities for seniors who need support with daily living but don’t require skilled nursing.
Options range from larger communities to smaller, homelike settings often referred to as board and care homes or residential assisted living facilities.
Board and Care Homes in California: Typically 6 residents or fewer, licensed under RCFE requirements.
Assisted Living Facilities: Larger operations, often with dozens of residents, offering more amenities and staff.
Specialized Memory Care Homes: Designed for individuals with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other cognitive conditions.
Key Steps: How to Start an Assisted Living Facility
If you’re exploring how to start an assisted living facility or even how to start a senior care center, here are the core steps:
1. Research Licensing Requirements
In California, you’ll need to meet RCFE requirements set by the Department of Social Services.
Requirements vary by state, so always check your state’s health and human services agency.
2. Choose Your Model
Decide if you want to open a board and care home, a residential assisted living business, or a larger senior care facility.
Many new owners start with a 6-bed residential care home for lower overhead and easier management.
3. Secure Real Estate
Location is critical — near hospitals, residential neighborhoods, and where the senior population is growing.
As a broker with Haven Senior Investments, I’ve helped clients evaluate whether to purchase an RCFE for sale, retrofit an existing property, or build new.
4. Develop a Business Plan
Include startup costs, staffing, licensing fees, and marketing.
Consider the financial difference between private pay residents and those relying on government programs.
5. Create Your Brand & Marketing Strategy
Families often search online for terms like “how to open a residential care home in California” or “how to start assisted living.”
A professional website, local SEO, and strong branding will help you stand out against larger competitors.
Specialized Care Options
Some entrepreneurs are asking:
How to start a memory care facility → Requires additional staff training and home modifications.
How to start a convalescent home → Focused on more medical-based care, requiring a skilled nursing license.
How to start an independent living facility → Tailored for active seniors needing less support.
Each model has unique licensing, staffing, and marketing needs — but all require a clear brand and trust-building presence to attract families.
Why Branding and Digital Marketing Are Key
Even the best-run care homes struggle if families can’t find them online. The communities that thrive aren’t just the ones with excellent care — they’re the ones with a polished website, clear branding, and a strong local digital presence.
That’s why I founded Seaside Senior Living Marketing: to help new and existing providers reduce reliance on costly referral agencies and increase private-pay occupancy through professional branding, website design, and digital marketing.
Final Thoughts
If you’re ready to take the first step in how to start an assisted living home or looking at an RCFE for sale, you don’t have to go it alone. With my background at Haven Senior Investments and Seaside Senior Living Marketing, I provide the expertise and tools to help you launch — and grow — a successful senior living business.
📩 Contact me today to learn how we can help you turn your vision for a residential assisted living facility into a thriving, profitable reality.