All services

CQC financial viability statement, prepared and signed.

Every new care provider must submit a financial viability statement to the Care Quality Commission on <a href="https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-regulation/providers/registration/supporting-documents-provider/document/financial-viability-template">CQC's own template</a> before registration is approved. CQC uses it to judge whether your business is financially capable of delivering regulated care without failing. We prepare or validate the statement together with the underlying cash-flow and funding model, so you arrive at the registration gateway with defensible numbers rather than an optimistic spreadsheet. The service sits alongside opening accounts, VAT position and payroll setup, so registration and go-live run as one workstream rather than a series of last-minute panics.

Get in touch
CQC template
Financial viability statements are submitted on <a href="https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-regulation/providers/registration/supporting-documents-provider/document/financial-viability-template">CQC's own form</a>, normally prepared or signed by an accountant
Criminal offence
<a href="https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/registration">Trading before CQC registration</a> is a criminal offence under the Health and Social Care Act 2008; the financial viability statement is part of the mandatory application
Market oversight
Large providers face additional <a href="https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/market-oversight-corporate-providers/market-oversight-adult-social-care">CQC financial-distress monitoring</a> under the Care Act 2014, reflecting the sector-wide risk CQC is assessing in every FVS

The challenges clients face.

Projections that are optimistic or internally inconsistent

CQC reviewers look for a cash-flow model where the assumptions stack up: occupancy ramp, staffing ratios and cost lines must be consistent with each other and with the stated funding position. A statement that projects 95% occupancy from month one alongside a minimal wage bill will be challenged.

Confusing the FVS with a full business plan

The <a href="https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-regulation/providers/registration/supporting-documents-provider/document/financial-viability-template">CQC financial viability template</a> is not a pitch deck. It asks for a specific set of financial evidences, including projected cash flows, funding sources and opening capital. Submitting a narrative business plan instead of the required financial model delays registration.

Funding evidence not aligned to the cash-flow model

If the model shows a £200,000 working-capital requirement but the funding evidence covers only the property deposit, CQC will spot the gap. Every source of capital, whether a director loan, a bank facility or third-party investment, must be evidenced and mapped into the model.

Leaving the FVS to the last minute

The financial viability statement is not the last step in CQC registration; it is a gating document. Submitting it late means the whole application waits. Preparing it early also surfaces financial weaknesses before they become a problem at the registration interview.

How we help.

Prepare or validate the statement on CQC's template with defensible projections

We prepare the financial viability statement on <a href="https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-regulation/providers/registration/supporting-documents-provider/document/financial-viability-template">CQC's template</a> with realistic occupancy assumptions, a staffing cost line that reflects actual NMW rates and employer NIC, and a cash-flow model that holds together under scrutiny. If you have an existing draft, we validate it and close the gaps before submission.

Build the underlying cash-flow and funding model, not just the summary page

The template summary is only as strong as the model behind it. We build the monthly cash-flow projection, map in all funding sources and stress-test the ramp period so the numbers on the template are backed by a document you can share with CQC, your bank or an investor.

Join it to opening accounts, VAT and payroll so registration and go-live align

We treat the FVS as the financial foundation for the whole start-up, not a standalone document. It connects to your opening accounts structure, your <a href="/services/care-vat-review">VAT position from day one</a> and your <a href="/services/care-payroll">payroll setup</a>, so the numbers you give CQC are the numbers your business actually operates on.

Common questions

What is a CQC financial viability statement?
A CQC financial viability statement is a document required by the Care Quality Commission as part of the application to register as a new care provider. It is submitted on <a href="https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-regulation/providers/registration/supporting-documents-provider/document/financial-viability-template">CQC's own template</a> and sets out your projected cash flows, funding position and opening capital to demonstrate that the business is financially capable of delivering regulated care. CQC uses it to assess whether the provider can sustain operations without financial failure.
Does the financial viability statement have to be prepared by an accountant?
There is no statutory requirement that an accountant prepares or signs the statement, but CQC's own guidance describes it as normally prepared or signed by an accountant. In practice, reviewers expect the cash-flow projections to be professionally prepared and internally consistent. A statement built by someone without financial modelling experience is more likely to attract questions or delays.
What does CQC's financial viability template ask for?
The template asks for projected cash flows, details of funding sources (including any director loans, bank facilities or third-party capital), opening balance-sheet information and evidence that the business can sustain operations through the start-up period. The specific fields are set out on <a href="https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-regulation/providers/registration/supporting-documents-provider/document/financial-viability-template">CQC's template page</a>. The projections must be consistent with your stated occupancy ramp, staffing model and cost base.
When in the registration process do I need the financial viability statement?
The financial viability statement is submitted as part of the provider registration application, before CQC approves the registration. It is not a post-approval step. Leaving it to the final stage of the application means the whole process waits while it is prepared. We recommend starting it as soon as your occupancy projections and funding position are clear.
What happens if CQC is not satisfied with our financial viability?
If CQC concludes that the financial viability statement does not demonstrate sufficient financial capacity, it can delay or refuse registration. This means you cannot legally begin providing regulated care until the position is resolved. For large providers already registered, CQC operates a separate <a href="https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/market-oversight-corporate-providers/market-oversight-adult-social-care">market oversight regime</a> that monitors financial distress on an ongoing basis.
Is a financial viability statement the same as a business plan?
No. A business plan is a narrative document covering strategy, market position and operational plans. The CQC financial viability statement is a specific financial document submitted on CQC's own template, focused on cash flows, funding sources and capital adequacy. A business plan may support your application, but it does not substitute for the financial viability statement. Submitting one instead of the other is a common cause of application delays.

Speak to a care sector accounts specialist.

Tell us about your situation and we will reply within 24 hours.

Get in touch