Open a senior care home
in Texas.
One path needs no state license. About $340 to start. And about $5,250 per resident, every month.
No license
for the simplest path (1–3 residents)
~$340
total gov’t cost to start
~$5,250
avg revenue / resident / month
6
license types — exact fees
Your 6 paths, at a glance
Every Texas care-home license in one view — who it serves, whether you need a license, the exact government fee, and what it earns. Tap any row for the full breakdown.
| License type | Residents | State license | Gov’t fee | Revenue / resident | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Foster Care Care for 1–3 adults in your own home | 1–3 | None | $338 | $1,200–$3,500/mo | Full details → |
| Boarding Home Room & board for 3+ seniors — no personal care required | No state cap | None | $338 | $800–$2,500/mo | Full details → |
| HCS Group Home Medicaid-funded home for 3–4 adults with intellectual disabilities | 1–4 | None | $1,090 | $3,000–$8,000/mo | Full details → |
| Type A ALF Up to 16 ambulatory seniors with a state license | 4–16 | Required | $762 | $2,500–$5,500/mo | Full details → |
| Type B ALF Memory care & higher-acuity seniors — 24/7 awake staff required | 4–16 | Required | $762 | $3,500–$7,500/mo | Full details → |
| ICF/IID Dual-licensed Medicaid group home for high-support IDD individuals | No state cap | Required | $1,320 | $4,000–$12,000/mo | Full details → |
Adult Foster Care
No licenseCare for 1–3 adults in your own home
Residents
1–3
Gov’t fee
$338
Revenue/mo
$1,200+
Full details →
Boarding Home
No licenseRoom & board for 3+ seniors — no personal care required
Residents
No state cap
Gov’t fee
$338
Revenue/mo
$800+
Full details →
HCS Group Home
No licenseMedicaid-funded home for 3–4 adults with intellectual disabilities
Residents
1–4
Gov’t fee
$1,090
Revenue/mo
$3,000+
Full details →
Type A ALF
License requiredUp to 16 ambulatory seniors with a state license
Residents
4–16
Gov’t fee
$762
Revenue/mo
$2,500+
Full details →
Type B ALF
License requiredMemory care & higher-acuity seniors — 24/7 awake staff required
Residents
4–16
Gov’t fee
$762
Revenue/mo
$3,500+
Full details →
ICF/IID
License requiredDual-licensed Medicaid group home for high-support IDD individuals
Residents
No state cap
Gov’t fee
$1,320
Revenue/mo
$4,000+
Full details →
The rule everyone gets wrong
Do you even need a license?
1–3 residents
No state license
You enroll with HHSC as Adult Foster Care and live in the home. Your only hard costs are a $300 LLC and a $39.75 background check. The fastest, cheapest way to start.
4 or more residents
License required
The 4th resident triggers a Type A or Type B assisted living license ($300 + $15/bed). Texas no longer issues the old Type C. Bigger lift, bigger income.
What it really costs to start
~$340 to truly begin.
For the no-license path, the government cost to open is tiny — a Texas LLC and a background check. Everything bigger (the property, any modifications, insurance) is variable, and we help you handle it.
Model your real numbers →Texas LLC filing (Secretary of State)
Exact — every path
Background check (IdentoGO + DPS + FBI)
Exact — per person
Adult Foster Care enrollment (1–3 residents)
Exact — no license fee
Type A / Type B ALF license (16-bed)
Exact — $300 + $15/bed
HHSC inspections (Life Safety + Health)
Exact — state inspects free
More ways to get paid than you think
Who pays for a Texas care home
Most operators only know about private pay. There are far more payer rails — and stacking them is how you stay full.
Private pay
Texas assisted living averages ~$5,250/resident/month; memory care 10–30% more.
Medicaid (STAR+PLUS)
Pays a service rate for qualifying residents; you bill the state.
VA Aid & Attendance
~$2,424/month for a single veteran — the most overlooked payer.
Re-entry placements
Aging returning citizens whose care bills to Medicaid — an underserved niche.
SSI Residential Care
Resident pays room & board from SSI; HHSC pays you a service rate on top.
Long-term care insurance
Often ~$130–$160/day toward assisted living — bill the insurer directly.
Go deeper — pick your next step
Every tool you need, free. Start with the quiz, or jump straight to what you need.
Start here
Take the 30-Second Quiz
Answer 4 questions, find the exact path you qualify for.
Start the quiz →Personalized
Build My Roadmap
Match your home to the right license and get the exact steps + costs.
Build my roadmap →Instant numbers
Deal Calculator
Beds + rates → monthly revenue, expenses, break-even, and a GO / STOP read.
Run the numbers →Funding
How to Get Paid
Every payer beyond private pay — VA, re-entry, Medicaid, SSI, and more.
See the payers →Real estate
Find Your Property
Buy, sell, or lease a licensable home — handled by Erika + Vanda.
Get the property →Financing
Finance It
SBA, construction, HUD, bridge — a private intro to a licensed lender.
See loan options →Ready to use
Free Templates
Admission agreement, P&P outline, referral letter, rate sheet — copy and use.
Get templates →Deep dive
Compare All 6 Types
Side-by-side fees, licensing, capacity, and income — the full breakdown.
Compare types →Want it done for you?
The free tools get you the plan. When you’re ready to skip the paperwork grind, Erika builds your full HHSC package — policies, admission agreements, emergency plan, the whole license application — with AI doing the heavy lifting.
See the $3,500 done-for-you service →