Why is an agency dearer than a self-employed carer?

An agency's hourly rate pays the carer, the office, the coordinator, travel between visits, training, insurance and a margin. A self-employed carer through PrimeCarers sets their own rate, usually £18 to £25 an hour, and keeps it. You take on choosing them and agreeing the hours, which the platform helps with.

What does the agency figure include?

The weekday daytime rate for the hours you chose. Most agencies charge more at weekends and on bank holidays, some charge for travel, and some have a minimum visit length. The agency page lists what we know about each of those.

When is live-in care cheaper?

Once you need more than about 35 hours a week, one carer living in usually costs less than visits. Live-in care through PrimeCarers is from about £1,120 a week; agency live-in care is typically £1,400.

Where do the figures come from?

Agency rates are what the agency publishes or told us, or the typical rate for its council area from Home Care Prices. PrimeCarers rates are what carers on the platform charge, August 2026, typically £20 an hour.

Agency or your own carer

What 1st Homecare Solutions Limited costs against choosing your own carer

Pick the hours, then see the week and the year side by side. We have filled in the typical agency rate in England.

1 · How much care?

A visit a dayOne hour, seven days7 hMorning and eveningTwo one-hour visits a day14 hThree visits a dayMorning, lunch and teatime21 hMost of the daySix hours a day, seven days42 hRound the clockTwelve hours a day: live-in territory84 hOr exactlyhours a week

2 · Who needs care?

One personA couple

Visits are priced per visit whoever is in the house. A couple matters for live-in care and care homes.

3 · The agency’s hourly rate

We have filled in the typical agency rate in England. Change it if you have been quoted something else.

£an hour, weekdays

Your estimate

14 hours a week: £448 at the agency, £280 with your own carer

That is £168 a week less with a self-employed carer through PrimeCarers at the typical £20 an hour, or about £48,272 over five years.

Option	A week	A year	What it is
This agency, hourly visits	£448	£23,296	14 hours a week at the agency's weekday rate
A self-employed carer through PrimeCarerscheapest	£280	£14,560	14 hours a week at the typical £20 an hour, set by the carer

Over five years, with rates rising 5% a year

Both lines assume the same yearly rise. Agency rates have tracked the minimum wage each April; carers on PrimeCarers set their own.

See carers near you on PrimeCarers Back to 1st Homecare Solutions Limited

Before you decide

Why is an agency dearer than a self-employed carer?: An agency's hourly rate pays the carer, the office, the coordinator, travel between visits, training, insurance and a margin. A self-employed carer through PrimeCarers sets their own rate, usually £18 to £25 an hour, and keeps it. You take on choosing them and agreeing the hours, which the platform helps with.
What does the agency figure include?: The weekday daytime rate for the hours you chose. Most agencies charge more at weekends and on bank holidays, some charge for travel, and some have a minimum visit length. The agency page lists what we know about each of those.
When is live-in care cheaper?: Once you need more than about 35 hours a week, one carer living in usually costs less than visits. Live-in care through PrimeCarers is from about £1,120 a week; agency live-in care is typically £1,400.
Where do the figures come from?: Agency rates are what the agency publishes or told us, or the typical rate for its council area from Home Care Prices. PrimeCarers rates are what carers on the platform charge, August 2026, typically £20 an hour.

Read more in our guides to paying for home care or see home care costs across England.