How Much Does CQC Registration Cost?

The short answer

There is no fee to apply for CQC registration — submitting your application to the Care Quality Commission is free. The costs of registering a care service come from two places: the annual fee CQC charges once you are registered, and the much larger cost of getting your service genuinely ready to operate safely and pass the registration process.

For most new providers, the preparation costs — policies, DBS checks, insurance, recruitment, training and systems — far outweigh anything paid directly to CQC.

Is there a fee to apply for CQC registration?

No. Whether you are registering a care home, a domiciliary care agency, a supported living service or another regulated activity, CQC does not charge to submit or process your application.

Once registered, CQC charges providers an annual fee, set out in its published fees scheme. The amount depends on the type of service you run and its size — for example, the number of beds in a care home. CQC reviews the scheme periodically, so always check the current figures on the CQC website before budgeting rather than relying on second-hand numbers.

The real costs of getting registered

Most of the money you will spend goes on building a service that is ready to operate safely from day one. A realistic budget includes:

• CQC annual fee — payable each year after registration, based on your service type and size.
• DBS checks — for the registered manager, the nominated individual and your staff. Each check carries a set fee, and enhanced checks are needed for most care roles.
• Policies and procedures — a full suite written to reflect how your service will actually work, not generic templates. CQC assessors can tell the difference.
• Statement of purpose and application documents — the time (or support) needed to produce a complete, accurate application.
• Premises and equipment — where relevant to your service type, including any adaptations needed before you can operate.
• Insurance — including public liability, employers' liability and, where appropriate, professional indemnity cover.
• Recruitment and training — staff must be recruited, checked, inducted and trained before you start delivering care, and paid while that happens.
• Systems — for care planning, rostering, medication records, audits and governance reporting.
• Registered manager costs — salary during the set-up period, plus any training or qualifications needed for the role.

The total varies enormously by service type. A small domiciliary care agency can be set up for a fraction of the cost of a residential care home, where premises, equipment and staffing dominate the budget.

Costs by service type

Domiciliary care and supported living — no care premises to buy or convert, so the main costs are office setup, policies, insurance, recruitment, training and systems. This is usually the least expensive route into the sector.

Care homes — premises, fixtures, equipment, fire safety work and a larger staff team make this the most expensive type of service to register. The CQC annual fee also scales with the number of beds.

Specialist services — services for people with a learning disability or autistic people must also meet the Right support, right care, right culture guidance, which shapes your model of care, training and environment from the outset.

The hidden cost: delays

The most expensive part of registration is often not a fee at all — it is the time lost when an application stalls. Applications are commonly slowed down by:

• Incomplete or inaccurate statements of purpose.
• Generic policies that do not reflect the actual service.
• Unclear governance or financial arrangements.
• A registered manager who is not ready for the CQC fit-person interview.
• Missing DBS checks or references.

Every month of delay is a month of paying for premises, insurance and staff without being able to take on clients. Preparing thoroughly before you submit is almost always cheaper than fixing problems afterwards.

How to budget sensibly

1. List every cost above against your specific service type, and get real quotes for insurance, premises work and systems.
2. Check the current CQC annual fee for your service type and size on the CQC website.
3. Allow a contingency for delays — most new providers underestimate how long registration takes.
4. Decide what to do yourself and what to buy in. Writing your own policies saves money only if they are good enough to pass scrutiny.

If you would like hands-on help with your application, our CQC registration support service covers everything from your statement of purpose to registered manager interview preparation.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the CQC registration fee? There is no application fee. Once registered, you pay an annual fee based on your service type and size, set out in CQC's published fees scheme.

How much does it cost to set up a care agency in the UK? It depends on the service type, but the main costs are DBS checks, policies, insurance, recruitment, training and systems rather than anything paid to CQC. A domiciliary care agency is usually far cheaper to set up than a care home.

Do I need a consultant to register with CQC? No — many providers register without one. A consultant earns their fee by helping you avoid the delays and rejections that come from weak applications, and by preparing your registered manager for the interview.

How long does CQC registration take? It varies, but incomplete applications take much longer. A well-prepared application with a strong statement of purpose and an interview-ready registered manager is the fastest route.

Can I operate before I am registered? No. Carrying on a regulated activity without CQC registration is a criminal offence. You must wait until registration is granted before delivering regulated care.

How consultancy helps

An experienced consultant can review your application, statement of purpose and policies, prepare your registered manager for the fit-person interview, and help you avoid the delays that make registration expensive. AJG Advisory charges £45 per hour or £350 per day, and larger registration projects are priced on application so you know the cost in advance.

To discuss your registration, book a free initial consultation or see our CQC consultancy service.