The Assisted Living Investing Podcast

In this episode of the Assisted Living Investing Podcast, host Brandon provides a comprehensive guide on the essential home renovation secrets and regulatory considerations for launching an assisted living business. The discussion focuses heavily on the challenges and necessities around renovating a property, whether leasing or owning, to meet the stringent requirements for assisted living licensi...

In this episode, Brandon outlines critical considerations prospective assisted living operators must understand before entering the industry. He emphasizes the complexity of managing relationships with a diverse group of people, including staff, residents, families, inspectors, vendors, and contractors. Staffing emerges as one of the most challenging aspects due to high turnover, shortages, and th...

In this episode of the Assisted Living Investing Podcast, Brandon introduces his newly published 2025 book, The Profitable Assisted Living Facility, designed specifically to help beginners launch their assisted living business within a year. 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:01:44 – Overview of the Book & 5-Phase Process 00:02:06 – Phase 1: Building a Foundation 00:02:31 – Phase 2: Optimal Property S...

In this episode of the Assisted Living Investing Podcast, Brandon breaks down beginner-friendly strategies for securing financing for care homes and assisted living facilities. From building a strong business plan and underwriting deals to navigating lender relationships, Brandon shares practical tips to help you approach financing with confidence. He emphasizes knowing when to walk away from a de...

In this episode, Brandon provides an in-depth look into the day-to-day operations and realities of running an assisted living facility. He clarifies common misconceptions about assisted living, especially differentiating it from nursing homes and memory care facilities. He explains the types of care assisted living can provide, including assistance with daily activities, medication management, mea...

In this episode, Brandon provides a comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at running an assisted living care home. Geared towards beginners eager to launch their own assisted living business, the episode dives into critical operational aspects, focusing on four fundamental areas: managing people, finances, culture, and compliance. 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:00:33 – Behind the Scenes: Running a Care...

In this episode of the Assisted Living Investing Podcast, host Brandon Gustafson provides a comprehensive overview of unlicensed care homes, explaining their differences from licensed assisted living facilities, the risks involved, legal considerations, and operational limitations. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:17 - Topic Introduction: Risks of Unlicensed Care Homes 00:01:32 - Medicaid & Unlic...

In this episode, Brandon shares the true rewards and challenges of the industry—dispelling myths about “easy money” and explaining the hands-on work required to manage residents, staff, finances, and ever-changing regulations. From careful underwriting to building strong relationships and navigating high staff turnover, he outlines the key steps to long-term profitability and impact. 00:00:00 – In...

In this episode of The Assisted Living Investing Podcast, host Brandon Gustafson dives deep into unlicensed care homes as a potential entry point for those new to assisted living. Drawing from his own experience operating facilities since 2020, Brandon breaks down how these smaller, license-free homes work, the regulations you still need to follow, and what makes them a unique opportunity in today...

In this episode of the Assisted Living Investing podcast, Brandon Gustafson shares actionable marketing strategies to help you launch and grow a profitable assisted living business. Learn how to build a strong local referral network, optimize your Google Business profile, and use lead magnets, email drip campaigns, and Google Ads to consistently attract and convert leads. Brandon also emphasizes t...

In this episode, Brandon shares the most common (and costly) mistakes people make when starting out and how to avoid them. From skipping proper market research to underestimating startup and operational costs, he breaks down what truly matters when building a solid foundation in this industry. 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:00:41 – Main Topic Introduction: Common Mistakes to Avoid 00:00:41 – Mistake #...

In this episode of the Assisted Living Investing Podcast, host Brandon addresses a common question among aspiring assisted living business owners: whether and when to form an LLC (Limited Liability Company) for their business. Drawing from his extensive experience in healthcare administration and assisted living business operations, Brandon emphasizes that while forming an LLC is an important step...

In this episode, host Brandon Gustafson dives deep into critical red flags and essential compliance issues you need to be aware of when launching your assisted living business. From fire safety and zoning to ADA compliance and documentation, Brandon shares practical insights and actionable tips to help beginners successfully navigate the licensing process and avoid costly setbacks. 00:00:00 – Intr...

In this episode of the Assisted Living Investing Podcast, host Brandon Gustafson dives into the essentials of workers’ compensation insurance for assisted living business owners. Drawing from his real-world experience running residential care homes since 2020, Brandon explains why workers’ comp isn’t just a legal requirement—it’s a vital safety net for your staff and your business. 00:00:00 – Intr...

In this episode, Brandon focuses on unique amenities and activities that assisted living facilities can offer to attract and retain high-paying residents while maintaining high occupancy rates. He emphasizes that these amenities often require minimal investment but add significant value to potential residents and their families. 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:00:35 – Episode Topic Introduction 00:00:5...

In this episode of the Assisted Living Investing Podcast, host Brandon dives into the ins and outs of remotely managing assisted living facilities—a strategy he’s successfully used since 2020. Brandon explains how to hire and support strong administrators, navigate licensing requirements, and build a sustainable, hands-off business model. You'll learn the key differences between owners, operators,...

In this episode of the Assisted Living Investing Podcast, host Brandon Gustafson shares the four most common mistakes beginners make when launching an assisted living facility—and how to avoid them. From delaying marketing and hiring the wrong staff to underestimating startup costs and skipping a business plan, Brandon breaks down what you need to know to start strong. Drawing from his own experie...

In this episode of the Assisted Living Investing Podcast, host Brandon Gustafson breaks down the July 2025 passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and its game-changing impact on the assisted living industry. From enhanced tax deductions and expanded opportunity zones to major Medicaid reforms and delayed staffing mandates, Brandon unpacks what this legislation means for small business o...

In this episode of the Assisted Living Investing Podcast, host Brandon breaks down how to choose the best location for your assisted living facility through strategic market research. Drawing from his experience operating facilities in Idaho and Colorado, Brandon highlights the key demographic, economic, and regulatory factors that impact success and warns against making costly assumptions. 00:00:...

In this episode of the Assisted Living Investing Podcast, Brandon Gustafson shares his personal journey from reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad to owning and eventually selling one of his assisted living facilities focused on mental health care. With homes in both Idaho and Colorado, Brandon opens up about the challenges of staffing, financial planning, and maintaining occupancy, while offering key lesson...

In this episode of the Assisted Living Investing Podcast, Brandon shares a powerful marketing roadmap to help you fill beds and grow your assisted living business in 2025. Learn how to combine network marketing, internet marketing, and placement agency partnerships to attract residents, build trust with referral sources, and generate consistent income. Whether you're just starting or need help get...

In this episode of the Assisted Living Investing Podcast, Brandon Gustafson breaks down when investing in assisted living doesn't make sense—and how to fix it. He explains why small facilities (under six beds) often struggle financially due to staffing costs and low occupancy, and offers practical strategies like increasing bed count, charging market rates, and using conservative underwriting. Bra...

In this episode of the Assisted Living Investing Podcast , Brandon Gustafson breaks down what ROI and cash flow really look like in the world of assisted living facilities. From understanding the differences between a 6-, 10-, and 16-bed home to identifying key expenses like payroll, debt service, and food costs, Brandon offers a clear, data-backed look at what it takes to be profitable. He shares...

In this episode, Brandon Gustafson breaks down the essentials of choosing the right business entity for your assisted living facility—LLC vs. S-Corp. He explains key differences in tax benefits, asset protection, and operational structure while encouraging listeners to seek professional legal and accounting advice. Brandon also shares advanced strategies using multiple entities and promotes free r...

In this episode of the Assisted Living Investing Podcast , Brandon Gustafson outlines the four foundational pillars every beginner needs to launch a successful assisted living business within a year: a strong business plan, thorough underwriting, strategic market research, and proper legal entity formation. Drawing from his own experience, Brandon breaks down each pillar, explains how to avoid cos...