How to register with the CQC as a domiciliary care provider

Planning to start up a new homecare business? Fantastic! 👏 We admire you, and our communities need you more than ever.

If you will be based in England, here is an overview of what you need to do to register as a new homecare provider with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). We do our best to keep this article up to date, but it's always best to check directly with the CQC for the very latest guidance.

Jump to:

Basic checks before you apply
The evidence you'll need to show the CQC
Filling in the application forms
Final checks

Not based in England? Head over to our region-specific guides for information that is relevant to you:

- Scotland
- Ireland
- Northern Ireland
- Wales
- Finland - coming soon!

What's new?

The CQC has introduced new processes to try to address the significant delays that homecare providers have been experiencing in registering.

The delays were revealed in the damning Dash review, which investigated the operational efficiency of the CQC at the request of the UK government. It found that in 2024, 54% of applications were taking more than the guideline of 10 weeks to process (compared with 22% in 2023).

It’s a challenge we’ve seen for many of our start-up customers here at Nursebuddy. Homecare providers are ready to start delivering care, but their businesses stall while waiting for the necessary sign-off from the CQC.

To tackle the backlog, the CQC is putting the onus on care providers to get their paperwork right in the first instance.

The CQC will check your application for whether:

Your forms are complete
Basic details are correct
You’ve sent the right supporting documents (including the new mandatory documentation introduced in February 2026!)

If any information is missing or incorrect, the CQC will reject the application and explain why.You can then correct and resubmit , but this will count as a new application and you will lose your place in the queue.

So check your application thoroughly!

If an application passes the initial checks, it will go on to be assessed. That means the CQC will review the evidence that’s been submitted, and may also interview the business owner/registered manager and/or visit the office base.

> Follow the CQC’s guide to registering a new domiciliary care business.

How to register as a domiciliary care provider with the CQC

Here is a quick summary of what new homecare providers need to do to register with the CQC. Remember to always refer back to the latest CQC registration instructions.

1. Before you apply

You will need to have these basics in place before you can start your homecare business:

Check whether you need to register - personal care is a regulated activity and you must register with the CQC to legally provide that service
Understand your responsibilities - know the laws and standards you are expected to meet
Identify who you need - the CQC requires your care company to have two roles in place to ensure it is run properly. These can be the same person:
- Nominated individual - a senior leader who will supervise how the business is managed and governed, so that it meets all legal and regulatory requirements
- Registered manager - an experienced person in charge of the day-to-day running of the care company
Have the right training and qualifications - for example, registered managers need a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care
Apply for DBS checks - a background check for criminal activity
Set-up a suitable office base - a physical address in England where you can keep records and manage the service

2. Gather your evidence

Next you will need to produce the documents that prove you have a plan for your new homecare business and demonstrate how you will run it legally with a high standard of care. As of February 2026, the CQC has updated its guidance to specify exactly which documents are now mandatory to include as part of your initial application.

There are also specific requirements for specialist services that you might need to be aware of to ensure your application stays on track.

The mandatory documents you must now include are:

Business plan and financial forecast - how you’ll meet the needs of the people who will use your service and ensure your business remains viable
Evidence of legal occupancy - confirmation you have legal permission to use your office base to run a care service
Staff training plan - how you will meet the standards of the Care Certificate
Service user guide - information you will give out to people using your services

3. Fill in your forms

Now it’s time to fill in your CQC application. Buckle up, these are some long forms. You’ll need to complete the:

New provider application form
New manager application form (unless you are the only person in your business)

It’s really important that you fill in EVERY field on each form and make sure that the information you provide is accurate. Otherwise, you’ll have to start again. 😧

4. Final checks

Before you submit your application to the CQC, check everything. Follow the CQC’s checklist to make sure you have completed all the forms, gathered all the right evidence and labelled everything correctly.

When you’re ready, email your application to the CQC. Make sure you email everything all together as they won’t accept your application if you forget something. You can send multiple emails though if you have some big files to attach. Follow the CQC’s guidance on what your email needs to look like.

And that’s it! Sit back and wait for the CQC to get in touch about any further evidence they may need from you and for the result of their decision. We wish you the best of luck! ✨

Find out more about how Nursebuddy helps new homecare providers.