Building Loyalty in Care: How to Keep Clients and Grow Your Agency
Welcome back to Care to CEO, the podcast where we empower real people to build thriving care businesses. In this episode, the inspiring Crystal Smith digs into a topic that’s truly at the heart of any successful care company: client retention.Crystal shares lessons learned from her years of experience, from landing that vital first client to building systems that keep clients, families, and caseworkers coming back. You’ll hear practical tips on how to make new clients feel safe from day one, the top reasons care agencies lose clients, and what it takes to build trust through strong communication and follow-up. Plus, Crystal opens up about the key systems she’s put in place to make sure no client or team member falls through the cracks, and how client experience has become her best marketing tool.Whether you’re just starting your care agency or looking to level up your retention game, Crystal’s transparent, actionable advice will show you how retention, reputation, and real relationships are the true foundations of a thriving care business. Stay tuned for insights on creating a genuinely supportive culture and Crystal’s next step: mentoring other care entrepreneurs. Let’s dive in!Timestamps:00:00 Retention and Relationship in Caregiving04:57 Navigating Post-Honeymoon Adjustments08:09 Avoiding Common Client Service Mistakes11:56 Nonstop Meetings and Updates14:55 The Power of Word-of-Mouth16:22 Choosing Caregiver Systems: Research & Options20:46 Embracing New Business Passions23:14 Open Feedback Embraced27:44 Empathy and Feedback in Caregiving30:30 Client Retention and Business Growth32:08 "Exciting Conversation Awaited"Care to CEO - Podcast Show Website - https://caretoceo.com/ Crystal Smith - https://www.crystalsmithandco.com/ Crystal Smith Mentoring - https://ft.crystalsmith.online/ TopHealth - https://tophealth.care/
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32:21
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32:21
From Caregiver to CEO: How Anyone Can Launch a Successful Home Care Business
Welcome back to Care to CEO, the podcast that proves extraordinary care businesses are built by ordinary people; no white coats or business degrees required. In today’s episode, you´ll hear from the inspiring Crystal Smith, owner, coach, and mentor, who’s living proof that all you need is heart, commitment, and the right guidance to step into the world of home care entrepreneurship.Think you need a ton of experience, medical credentials, or deep pockets to start your own home care agency? Think again. Crystal breaks down the biggest myths about this purpose-driven industry, digs into the mindset shifts required to go from caregiver to CEO, and unpacks the real roadblocks and rewards of owning a care business.You’ll hear Crystal’s honest advice about system-building, growth mindset, and why sustainable success starts with putting people first. Plus, Crystal shares a powerful client story that will have you rethinking what’s possible for yourself.Whether you’re curious about launching your first business, seeking mentorship, or just need a little encouragement, this episode is your permission slip to believe you can do it and that you don’t have to do it alone.Stay tuned as we turn purpose into profit and show you how to build a care business that changes lives, including your own.Timestamps:00:00 From Task Focus to Strategic Leadership03:33 "Misconceptions in System Building"09:12 "Turning Purpose into Profit"13:22 Coaching Bridges Home Care Gaps17:13 Home Care: Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurship18:52 "Empowerment for Aspiring Care Leaders"Care to CEO - Podcast Show Website - https://caretoceo.com/ Crystal Smith - https://www.crystalsmithandco.com/ Crystal Smith Mentoring - https://ft.crystalsmith.online/ TopHealth - https://tophealth.care/
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19:35
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19:35
Turning Dreams Into Dollars: How to Land Your First Paying Client in Care
Welcome back to Care to CEO, the go-to podcast for people dreaming of building real businesses in the care industry. In today’s episode, Crystal Smith takes us on the journey from securing a license to landing that all-important first paying client. Crystal shares the unfiltered story behind her entrepreneurial beginnings: the mistakes, the setbacks, the hustle, and the invaluable lessons she learned along the way.She digs into why trust, reputation, and word-of-mouth matter far more than flashy ads when you’re just starting out, and offers real-world strategies for getting your name out there, even if you’re feeling intimidated or uncertain. Whether you’re frozen by fear, stuck after becoming licensed, or needing a nudge to get moving, this episode is packed with practical advice and encouragement that proves you don’t have to be perfect; just present, prepared, and persistent.So if you’re ready to turn your care business dreams into dollars, tune in and let Crystal show you how she did it and how you can too.Timestamps:00:00 Starting a Residential Care Business06:34 Relationships Drive Client Acquisition09:38 Trust as Marketability13:13 Embrace Learning and Consistency16:14 "Emphasize In-Person Networking"20:34 Networking with Ohio's County MRDD Boards22:31 "Fully-Furnished Rentals Appeal"26:58 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Politics31:17 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome32:26 "Unexpected Business Growth Journey"37:45 "Sporty Business Attire Evolution"39:12 "Overcome Fear: Lead with Action"41:58 "Get Clients: Be Present, Persist"Care to CEO - Podcast Show Website - https://caretoceo.com/ Crystal Smith - https://www.crystalsmithandco.com/ Crystal Smith Mentoring - https://ft.crystalsmith.online/ TopHealth - https://tophealth.care/
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42:44
Turning Soft Skills Into CEO Strength: Crystal Smith’s Journey to Leadership
Welcome back to Care to CEO, the podcast where everyday caregivers transform into confident care entrepreneurs. In this episode, Crystal Smith - Mother, former CNA, Black Woman CEO, and City Councilwoman - digs into the real, often untold truth: women of color, especially caregivers, are not the underdogs. In fact, they’re uniquely built for business leadership.Crystal shares her inspiring journey from managing a multigenerational household to founding her own care business and winning a city council seat. She unveils how the so-called "soft skills" develop through a lifetime of caregiving, like resilience, resourcefulness, and emotional intelligence. These are actually women's greatest business strengths. Crystal tackles the realities of impostor syndrome, being underestimated, and turning adversity into advantage.Get ready for actionable insights, hard-won wisdom, and a strong message: those everyday skills you use to care for your family and community are the very building blocks of a powerful entrepreneurial legacy. If you’re a caregiver or a woman of a minority considering entrepreneurship, this episode will leave you feeling seen, equipped, and empowered to just start, because your story, your strength, and your leadership matter now more than ever.Timestamps:00:00 Innate Leadership in Adversity03:57 Leadership Rooted in Compassion07:23 Recognizing Undervalued Soft Skills10:41 Empowering Entrepreneurs of Color14:28 Entrepreneurial Journey: Triumphs and Trials17:58 Mentorship for Marginalized Communities21:28 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome25:12 "Embrace Trial and Error"26:31 "Just Start Your Journey"Care to CEO - Podcast Show Website - https://caretoceo.com/ Crystal Smith - https://www.crystalsmithandco.com/ Crystal Smith Mentoring - https://ft.crystalsmith.online/ TopHealth - https://tophealth.care/
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29:49
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29:49
Building a Bulletproof Care Business: Staffing, Systems, and Sanity with Crystal Smith
Welcome back to another episode of Care to CEO, the show where caregivers and everyday people get the inside scoop on building confident, sustainable care businesses. In today’s episode, host Crystal Smith — a care business owner who’s seen it all — is here to dig into the often overlooked, “unsexy” essentials that keep your business alive: finding the right team, setting up effective systems, and keeping your own sanity intact.Crystal shares her candid journey, from the early days of hiring just to fill shifts (and the chaos that followed), to learning why empathy, flexibility, and communication matter more than credentials when building a staff that truly cares. She talks openly about the hard lessons she learned trying to do it all herself, how she finally mastered delegation, and the digital tools and systems that now let her step away from the business without missing a beat.Whether you’re just starting out or feeling overwhelmed by the demands of your growing care business, this episode is packed with actionable advice, practical tools, and real talk about what it takes to survive — and thrive — in the care industry. If you’re ready to build a business that won’t fall apart when life gets messy, you won’t want to miss Crystal’s insights on staffing, systems, and the heart of successful care leadership.Timestamps:00:00 Screening for Values Beyond Resumes06:55 Empathy in Action08:45 "Collaborative Problem-Solving and Integrity"13:26 Transition to Britco System15:48 "Systems Restore CEO's Peace"19:06 Empowering Staff Through Teamwork24:33 "Set Up Access Care Early"28:04 "Care Business Survival & Mentorship"28:58 Gratitude and FarewellCare to CEO - Podcast Show Website - https://caretoceo.com/ Crystal Smith - https://www.crystalsmithandco.com/ Crystal Smith Mentoring - https://ft.crystalsmith.online/ TopHealth - https://tophealth.care/
The only podcast built for underdog entrepreneurs, everyday people, and caregivers who want to build their own care-based business (Group Homes, Home Care, Foster Care, Behavioral Health Housing, Veteran Housing, etc.) without a trust fund or a fancy degree.This show is hosted by Crystal Smith, a former CNA turned CEO & City Councilwoman, who shares the real, unfiltered, from-the-trenches playbook, helping you focus on the transformation journey from being an overworked and underpaid worker to becoming CEO and business owner — just like Crystal did — with tactical steps, mindset shifts, mentorship, and hard truths.
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USA