Welcome back to Care to CEO, the podcast where caregivers become confident care entrepreneurs. In this candid episode, “The Ugly Truth: The Hardest Parts of Running a Care Business,” host Crystal Smith pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to build and sustain a care-based business. You’ll hear Crystal’s raw reflections on staffing nightmares, staying compliant, emotional burnout, and those moments when everything seems to fall apart at once. She shares personal stories, like the unforgettable day when staff quit, clients threatened to walk, and her own child fell ill, and reveals how she found the resilience to keep going.

From learning the critical difference between hiring hands and hiring hearts, to the ongoing challenges of compliance (“the license is just the wedding, compliance is the marriage”), Crystal gets real about the emotional and organizational tolls of entrepreneurship. She also opens up about the importance of self-care, learning to ask for help, and forging strong boundaries to avoid burnout.

Whether you’re just dreaming of starting your own agency or are deep in the trenches, this episode is packed with advice, hard lessons, and the encouragement you need to stay in the game, even when it gets messy.

Timestamps:

00:00 Entrepreneurship: A Heartbreaking Calling

04:14 Overcoming Crisis with Resilience

07:32 "Heart Over Skills in Home Care"

12:31 Organizing: Key to Legacy Building

14:58 Embracing Self-Care and Balance

19:15 Boundaries Bridge, Protect, Empower

20:43 Rethinking Boundaries as Bridges

25:42 Learning to Delegate with Love

28:52 Clutter Reflects Mental Health Struggles

31:06 Challenges of Building a Business

34:59 "Embrace Solitude in Business"

38:34 Networking for Success

41:46 Breaking Cycles, Empowering Women

46:40 Strategic Thinking Reflection

47:30 Coping with Leadership Stress

Care to CEO - Podcast Show Website - https://caretoceo.com/

Crystal Smith - https://www.crystalsmithandco.com/

TopHealth - https://tophealth.care/

Welcome back to Care to CEO, the podcast that helps caregivers and underdogs take bold steps toward confident business ownership in the care industry! In this episode, host Crystal Smith cuts through the confusion around getting licensed —and getting paid — for a home care business. Crystal shares her personal journey, practical steps, and plenty of hard-won wisdom on how to navigate the paperwork, state requirements, and the all-important approval process to become a Medicaid or state-funded provider.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by confusing government websites, unsure of what license you really need, or just stuck googling into the void, this episode is your go-to guide. Crystal walks us through the exact steps she took: choosing her business structure, opening the right doors at state agencies, leveraging mentorship, and building her network. She talked about common mistakes (so you don’t make them!), working with reviewers, setting up for renewal, and even how to diversify your funding streams. Plus, Crystal shares that sometimes “starting scared” is the best way to get going — no matter how daunting it all seems.

So whether you’re just dreaming or deep into your application, tune in for real-world tips and inspiring stories to help you launch and grow your care business. Let’s get you from uncertainty to approval, and from care to CEO — together!

Timestamps:

00:00 Overcoming Licensing Challenges

05:53 Licensing Challenges for New Businesses

08:16 Choosing a Path in Caregiving

11:23 Medicaid Payee Approval Process

15:48 Foster Care Challenges and Experiences

18:59 Medical Coding for Billing Payments

22:47 "Effective Communication and Responsiveness"

23:51 Application Process Challenges and Review

27:10 Helpful Feedback from Reviewer

33:08 Power of Mentorship

36:28 "Embracing Help and Delegation"

39:15 Affordable Help and Rachel's Book

40:59 Mentorship: Driven to Elevate Others

43:35 Embrace Action Despite Fear

Care to CEO - Podcast Show Website - https://caretoceo.com/

Crystal Smith - https://www.crystalsmithandco.com/

TopHealth - https://tophealth.care/

Welcome back to Care to CEO, the podcast that empowers caregivers, everyday people, and underdogs to embrace their inner entrepreneur - especially in the care industry. In today’s episode, host Crystal Smith, a trailblazer in group homes and behavioral health housing, to uncover a business opportunity most of us have never even considered owning: the group home and non-skilled care business.

Crystal shares her inspiring journey from caregiver to CEO, breaking down myths about the industry, revealing how accessible and rewarding this work can be, and giving step-by-step insights from her own experience.

Whether you’re a CNA, a home health aide, or someone with a passion for helping others, Crystal’s story and practical advice show that you don’t need a trust fund or a fancy degree to build a legacy -- just heart, determination, and the willingness to start. Get ready for a real, raw conversation that might just change the way you see your future.

Timestamps:

00:00 Understanding Group Homes

03:11 Impromptu Park Outing Success

09:12 Starting a Home Care Business

10:32 Balancing Daily Tasks and Ambitions

15:03 Opportunity in First Responder Care

18:03 "Quick Success in Home Care"

21:08 Insightful Real-World Business Examples

26:28 Endless Demand for Care Services

29:50 "Empowering Frontline Caregivers"

31:36 Motivation: Key to Overcoming Challenges

36:37 Pushing Through Challenges

39:47 Seeking Guidance at Conventions

41:53 Relatable Success through Hardship

44:43 "What Would Crystal Do?"

Care to CEO - Podcast Show Website - https://caretoceo.com/

Crystal Smith - https://www.crystalsmithandco.com/

TopHealth - https://tophealth.care/