The Playbook
$67
- 30-page PDF guide, 12 sections
- Editable startup-cost spreadsheet
- Michigan-specific and universal tags throughout
- Instant download after checkout
For Michigan · Written by an operator
Open your Michigan adult foster care home with fewer surprises.
The licensing roadmap, a real startup-cost spreadsheet, and the lessons nobody puts in the state's forms, from 20+ years of running a licensed AFC home in Michigan.
30-page PDF + editable Excel spreadsheet. Instant download after checkout.
Built for you if…
- You're in Michigan, or planning to open a home here.
- You've been caring for a family member and are seriously thinking about doing it as a licensed business.
- You're looking at a small AFC Family Home, six residents or fewer.
- You want real numbers and a real process, not passive-income hype.
Probably not for you if…
- You want a hands-off real estate investment where someone else provides all the care.
- You're looking for a guaranteed income figure. Nobody can honestly promise one.
- You're planning a large group home or Home for the Aged. The patterns help, but the roadmap is built for Family Homes.
What's inside
Twelve sections, about 30 pages. Dense on purpose: no filler to make it look bigger.
- How to Use This GuideThe tag system that tells you what's Michigan-only and what works anywhere.
- Is This You?A quick self-check before you spend more time or money.
- The Honest MathWalks through the cost spreadsheet, real state payment rates, add-on charges and what the numbers really show.
- The Michigan Licensing RoadmapThe LARA process in five phases, the forms by number, and the mistake that costs people a new application fee.
- Zoning & Home RequirementsA room-by-room checklist to walk your house with before the consultant does.
- A Day in the LifeAn hour-by-hour Tuesday in a small home, and why the routine is your check-in system.
- Staffing & Care BasicsThe 1-to-6 ratio, who can be a caregiver, the 72-hour backup rule, and how we hired.
- Filling Your First BedsWhere residents really come from, and how to say no to the wrong fit under pressure.
- What I Wish I KnewTen specific lessons, from complaints by strangers to bill collectors timing withdrawals.
- Michigan vs. Universal IndexOne page mapping exactly what transfers to other states.
- Resources AppendixPhone numbers, form numbers, 2026 SSI/SDA rates and where to confirm them.
- FAQTimelines, startup money, buying an already-licensed home, and more.
Included
An editable startup-cost spreadsheet
Three tabs with live formulas. Type your own numbers into the yellow cells and it does the math.
- Startup Costs: every one-time cost, low and high, with a contingency buffer.
- Monthly Operating Costs: staffing, food, utilities, insurance, renewal reserve.
- Break-Even Calculator: how many residents you need, and how much cash to set aside while beds fill.
| Licensed beds | 6 |
|---|---|
| Base rate per resident | $1,100/mo |
| Residents needed to break even | 6 |
| Cash reserve for first 6 months | $15,816 |
Example numbers only. On state rates alone a small home runs thin, and the Playbook shows the levers that change that. Replace every number with your own.
From an operator, not a lawyer or a ghostwriter
I'm Hal Morgan. For more than 20 years I ran a licensed adult foster care home in Michigan, serving older adults and adults with developmental disabilities. We took over a home that was already licensed, so I learned the licensing changes, the inspections, the hiring and the referral calls from the inside.
Every other resource I found was either a generic ebook that could have been about any state, or a $1,500+ coaching program. This is the manual I wish someone had handed me.
"Once the paperwork was in, the slowest part wasn't the forms. It was waiting for LARA to schedule the walkthrough. That took months, not weeks."
From Section 4
Start with the Playbook
Strategy Call with Hal
$197
- 30 to 45 minutes, one-on-one by phone
- Your property, population, budget and next steps
- Hal calls or texts within 1 business day to schedule
- Credited toward the Licensing Launch package later
Coming soon: the Operator Kit (Playbook plus a full administrative binder of policies) and the Licensing Launch package. Call or text to get on the list.
Questions
I don't live in Michigan. Is it still useful?
Yes, with one adjustment. Every item is tagged Michigan-specific or universal. The universal parts (cost planning, daily operations, filling beds, staffing, complaints) apply anywhere. The Michigan parts tell you exactly what to look up for your own state.
How long does licensing take?
Plan on 6 months to a year from your first call to LARA to a license in hand. The inspection scheduling wait is usually the biggest delay. The Playbook covers what slows people down and how to avoid the self-inflicted delays.
Do I need a healthcare background?
No formal medical background is required, but you do need to meet Michigan's requirements (background checks, medical and TB clearances) and be ready for hands-on care.
Will this tell me how much I'll make?
No one can honestly promise a number. The spreadsheet helps you model your own home, including a slow first few months, so you know your real break-even point before you open.
How do I get the files?
Right after checkout you'll see links to the PDF and the spreadsheet. Save both to your computer. If anything doesn't open, call or text (810) 428-1343.
Is this legal or financial advice?
No. It's one operator's experience plus publicly available Michigan rules as of October 2026. Rules and rates change, so confirm anything important with LARA, your licensing consultant, an attorney or an accountant.
Have a question first?
Call or text Hal's Assistant any time at (810) 428-1343.
Get the Playbook · $67