Has anyone ever been a self-employed CNA?

tomc5555 · Oct 8, 2011

I hired independent contractor caregivers for my mother two years ago. They were all bonded and insured. The concern I would have now is in not paying payroll taxes or workers comp for the caregivers. My understanding is I could be on the hook for unemployment or other entitlements, even though they are 'independent contractors'. That is the one of the perks of using an agency, all taxes are paid and the employees are covered. The client is legally off the hook.

Meeting with an attorney is a smart idea. If you're able to set up your LLC and the clients can be assured they are free from liable, I think you would have more business than you could handle.

Good luck

Starletta, CNA · Oct 9, 2011

Thank you Tom... I would not employ anyone and would be doing this solo. My husband also has a side business (LLC) and has to pay State Income Tax. He is the sole employee of his entity. He also suggested meeting with our Accountant.

I would have to be bonded, get Liability Insurance in case someone falls in my care?? Or if I was in a car accident and they were injured. I would advertise more as a helper for Seniors and can offer many services as I mentioned above. I just wonder if they would feel more comfortable having a "CNA" helping them? I can also offer Blood Pressure checks and light personal care if needed.

I also wasn't sure what would be a fair rate per hour. As I said before, I'm in a semi-rural part of the state, but plenty of wealthy people. Not that I would take advantage of that. But I know of a woman, (not a CNA) who is hired as a companion to a wealthy elderly woman who pays her $20.00 a hour just to help garden, take shopping, etc. and this is 5 days a week! She also employs others to come in for the evening.

tomc5555 · Oct 10, 2011

I would think being a CNA would be a plus as most clients have some limitations to activities of daily living and as a CNA you are trained to assist. I would think you could get $20.00 or more per hour. I bet the local agencies charge more than that per hour.

Figure out what type of clients you want and don't want. Here we call them companion services and personal care. Personal care clients need assistance with ADL's. I prefer the personal care cases, the more complex the better. It seems every client I get lately has Parkinson's and is on Hospice.

One other thing, in our area we have a couple of businesses that provide the CEU training needed for CNA cert renewal. My independent caregiver friends use these services. ALong with the online training I've obtained, I suppose I will be utilizing these services. My agency doesn't offer CEU's.

Good luck and let us know what you end up doing.

sam1984 · Oct 27, 2011

i thought as a cna u had to work under a RN license?

tomc5555 · Oct 28, 2011

Very good point. I am not working as a CNA in the home.

My CNA training helps me get better jobs, than if I were a caregiver with no training.

loriangel14, RN · Oct 29, 2011

I am a nurse now but before that I worked privately in the community giving personal care and doing light housework.

allnurses Guide · Oct 30, 2011

I worked for myself for close to 5 years.

I started by answering an ad and I got other jobs from there. Families would see me working with these pts and wanted to hire me too.

These jobs were with pts that needed extra 1:1 care in LTC.

I could ask for the pay I wanted, work when I wanted and it was cash.

My favorite job: driving Mr. B, who was 100, to his granddaughter's wedding. We joked I was his "date"... but I never had to place a chux under a date's butt before :)

However, I too worried about insurance and I quit doing it because, after 5 years, I worried my luck would run out. When my last pt died, I went back to working in a proper facility.

I miss being my own boss!

Tranquila · Nov 4, 2011

If you look on the other boards, there are a lot of discussions re:insurance... and they were CHEAP!! Those were discussions for RN's and their personal malpractice insurance, which has been emphatically encouraged throughout discussions.

For limited personalized care, I believe you would just need to get your Liability Insurance, and have your lawyer write up for you very detailed contracts of what your services entail, with specific provisions that consider YOUR interest. I'd say be VERY careful about driving any clients in your car...

I am very curious, too, about being an independent CNA, able to negotiate contracts as independent nurses do... or as you suggest, doing personalized care... I found several ads in my area that were agencies looking for cnas...so I'm wondering what that's all about, if it's possible to travel and have contracts...my family always was in florida for the winter... then in spring back up to the carolinas and michigan...

tomc5555 · Nov 9, 2011

i just purchased Liability Insurance through NSO. After reading on Allnurses that employers look out for their interests first, I figured I would purchase the insurance for piece of mind. It was less than $100.00 for a year coverage for a Home nurse aide. NSO was mentioned on one of the Nurse posts on ALlnurses.