Choosing Your Role in Assisted Living: Owner, Operator, or Administrator?

administrator assisted living business assisted living careers assisted living roles executive director management company operator owner role in assisted living starting an assisted living business Jul 02, 2025

Discover which role fits you best in the assisted living business and set yourself up for success!

Starting an assisted living business can be exciting, but there are several options for you to consider for how you want to be involved. Specifically, do you want to own, operate, or manage the facility, or some combination of those? In this post, we break down the key roles in the business and help you decide what’s best for you!

Let’s dive in! 🚀

Check out this video, too:

Why It’s Important to Know Your Role

Before you jump in, it’s essential to clarify your role in the assisted living facility. Whether you want to be an owner, operator, or administrator (or some combination of those roles), knowing where you fit helps you make strategic decisions early on.

Ask yourself:

✅ Do I want to focus on the real estate side of things (owning the property) or managing day-to-day operations?
✅ Am I interested in running the business and caring for the residents directly?
✅ Would I prefer a mix of those responsibilities?

Clarifying your role will help you get started and keep your goals aligned with the way you run your business.

Step 1: Understand the Different Roles

Here are the main roles you’ll encounter in the assisted living business:

Owner

As the owner, you’ll focus on the high level aspects, owning the real estate and making sure the money is available for the various expenses required for your facility. You aren't necessarily involved in the day-to-tday operations, but you’ll need to know how the business is running to make sure it’s successful.

Operator

The operator is the person who makes sure the business is running as expected. Often times they're involved with the regulations and building some of the bigger strategic relationships that are needed to keep the business up and running. They may not be in the facility all-day every day, interact with staff, or help manage the care, but they need to make sure those things are happening so the business continues to run smoothly.

Administrator

An administrator is responsible for staffing, managing care, overseeing residents, and ensuring everything runs smoothly at the facility. They handle all the day-to-day happenings at the facility and are essentially the face of the facility; they're the person that staff, residents, and resident families interact with. This position is a licensed position in each state and is required for a licensed facility.

💡 Tip: If you’re interested in being an administrator, make sure you’re familiar with your state’s regulations regarding licensure and certifications.

Step 2: What About Executive Director or House Manager?

As your business grows, you may encounter other positions like Executive Director or Manager. Here’s the difference:

Executive Director

An Executive Director typically oversees multiple facilities. They make higher-level strategic decisions and are responsible for aligning business goals across different locations. They often times have been a facility administrator and they blend that expertise with the role of an Operator.

💡 Tip: If you want to scale and build a larger portfolio, consider promoting your administrators to an Executive Director role as you grow.

House Manager

House managers often assisted in handling the day-to-day operations of a facility. Depending on the state, the roles of house managers and administrators may overlap. In my facilities, our house managers act more as assistant administrators and ensure that everything runs smoothly in the home.

💡 Tip: Always clarify the role when you hear someone say they want to be a “manager” to ensure they understand what’s expected and are talking about the same thing you are.

Step 3: Consider a Management Company

If you’re planning to grow your business and manage multiple facilities, you may want to consider bringing in a Management Company. Here’s why:

What They Do: Management companies handle everything, from operations to staffing, so you don’t have to. They typically charge a percentage of income (I often see 3-5%).
When to Use Them: If you have multiple facilities or large facilities, a management company can help you scale without the need to give up ownership.

💡 Tip: Using a management company can be a great way to keep your business running smoothly without giving away ownership. But make sure it fits with your financial goals and business model.

Step 4: What’s Right for You?

The key is to find a role or combination of roles that align with your skills, interests, and goals.

Owner: Focus on the real estate and high-level strategy.
Operator: Build strategic relationships and carry out the facility's long-term plan. Ensure the administrator has what they need to be successful.
Administrator: Handle the day-to-day work at the facility, administrative duties, and ensure compliance.

💡 Action Tip: Comment below with which role you’re most interested in, or if you’re aiming for a crossover of roles. Let us know what works best for you!

Next Steps: Take Action Today!

🚀 Ready to pick your role and get started in the assisted living business?
✅ Step 1: Download the Business Plan Checklist to start planning your business.
✅ Step 2: Apply for the Assisted Living Investing Mastermind for expert coaching.
✅ Step 3: Take action! Start moving toward your goal today.

Got questions? Drop them in the comments below! ⬇️

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