Going it alone... Setting up your own OH business
description
Transcript of Going it alone... Setting up your own OH business
Going it alone...
Setting up your own OH business
Alison PresswellSenior OH Advisor & Director
Carlyon Bay Occupational Health Ltd
Making the decision to work for yourself
Questions to ask yourself:• What’s my motivation?• What’s my attitude to risk?• Have I thought about set-up costs?• Can I support myself financially in the early days?• Where will I work from?• How many hours a week am I prepared to work?• How is my emotional resilience?• Do I have good support (spouse, family, friends)?
Business planning
• Business set-up: consider carefully what’s right for you.• Trading name & logo• Investment• SWOT analysis and USP• Know your market• The importance of a 3 year business plan• Think about the day-to-day• Seeking professional support
Establishing & maintaining your business...The early days of CBOH
Establishing & maintaining your business... Be prepared for a steep learning curve!
Establishing & maintaining your business
Getting established• Network with other
professionals• Consider agency work• Marketing/website• Take the direct approach• Word of mouth
Maintaining the status quo• Keep your clients• Strive for excellence in
professional standards • Great customer service• Don’t become complacent• Never stop learning• Never stop improving
Managing your clients
• Managing expectations• Getting repeat business• Contracts & SLA’s for larger clients• Getting paid (not always as easy as you might think!)• Managing difficult clients• Losing or ‘dropping’ clients
Legislation & clinical standards
Legislation/good practice• Data protection & records
storage• H&S legislation• HSE guidance• Consider established ‘best
practice’• Benchmarking• Maintain competencies
Clinical standards & practice• Working with standards &
guidelines• Analyse every procedure• Develop your own protocols• Don’t forget the ‘small
stuff’: Clinical waste, patient questionnaires, info leaflets, customer feedback documents
Time to grow...
• Responding to change
• Making the decision
• Managing the transition
• Employing others
• Continued investment
CBOH evolution 2014
Pro’s & con’s of working for yourself
Pro’s• Being your own boss• Flexibility & variety• Working hours• Freedom from workplace
politics & constraints• Rewarding• Sense of pride &
achievement
Con’s• Unpredictable• Uncertainty & risk• Working hours • Can be lonely & isolating• The buck stops with you
CBOH team & new offices 2014