Are you an entrepreneur in the making, but you haven’t been able to narrow down your industry yet? It’s smart to go with a recession-proof niche, such as health care — or alcohol sales.
If you have a background in health care, or even a strong general management background, getting into the virtual care realm right now might prove to be very lucrative. It’s not a move you should take lightly, though.
Certain virtual health care activities appear to be thriving, such as online psychiatric tools or being able to chat with a doctor online. Others, such as gerontology, are still better suited to the “real world.”
The ideal person to get into this kind of small business has both managerial and health-care experience. Of course, if you don’t have a health-care background, you could partner with people who do.
Here are a few key reasons why health care and small businesses can easily go hand in hand:
1. You already have patients on your side
More and more, patients are getting fed up with major health care service providers and desire a more intimate approach. You can provide that even if you opt for the virtual office.
Put customer service first, make appointments and bill payment easy, and make sure you highlight how patient-centric you are in all your marketing.
2. It’s never going away
No matter what happens with the economy, health care is something everyone is going to need. It’s become even more prominent due to the Affordable Care Act, which is what’s made it a relatively safe endeavor.
Of course, there’s going to be plenty of competition, so you need to stand out from the crowd.
3. You have a surplus of employees
There’s a surplus of doctors and other health-care providers coming out of schools right now. There’s also an influx of tech-savvy folks.
Put them together, and you’ve got the recipe for a high-quality online health business. You still have to maintain excellent standards and best hiring practices, of course.
4. There’s a niche for everyone
“Health care” covers a pretty broad field and can include everything from naturopathic care to massage therapy and supplements for bodybuilding. If you’ve had your interest piqued by a health-related activity, chances are you’re pretty well invested in at least one niche. Follow your passion, and you’re more likely to find success.
There’s no one-size-fits-all key to starting a small business, whether it ends up being health-related or not. Start with a business plan and as much help as you can get, and put down a firm foundation before you make your move.
Originally posted on July 2, 2014 @ 6:36 pm
