TWENTY YEARS AGO, owning a holistic business was a quick way to potential bankruptcy. There were some, a few, people who made a living at holistic healing, but not many. It was not accepted by mainstream medicine, many people were wary of its effectiveness and the majority of its clients were the curious, the brave or the desperate. Now, though, the climate for holistic business has changed dramatically. Not only is it gaining acceptance among some members of the allopathic medical community, but it is highly accepted by the general public. Many people today use energy healing, acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage, yoga and a wide variety of holistic medical practices as part of their healing therapies. And research studies have shown that they work.

It has taken a while, but the holistic medical community has accepted the fact that if they were to be taken seriously and to be considered as a healing alternative, then they needed to present themselves in a more serious manner. So, much research has been done to show holistic medicine’s effectiveness and the nature of holistic practices has changed as well. Now they are businesses, with offices, staff and procedures. Holistic practitioners write books, lecture and give classes and they promote their businesses, as should any business person who is starting a business.

If you are considering starting a holistic business, there are many decisions that you will have to make, starting with ‘what does your business do’? And while that appears to be an easy question, it is one that is not so easy to answer in a quick, efficient way that allows an uneducated audience to understand you. The first thing to do is to develop an ‘elevator speech’ which is a short, two to three sentence or a 30 second explanation of your business. That’s essential and if you can’t do that then you do not know what you do, which is another matter entirely. Developing an ‘elevator speech’ is a first step towards taking your business seriously.

There are other issues to consider, such as your locality’s licensing procedures. In many areas, any health care practitioner requires licensing and not obtaining the necessary licenses can be an expensive and difficult legal problem. These licenses can require additional education or credits, so familiarize yourself with what you need to do to obtain licenses. Your business also requires a license, which can be obtained from your local government.

Many localities have zoning restrictions that limit the nature and type of business that can be conducted in certain areas. So before you set up a home clinic, for example, check with your local zoning office to ensure that this activity is not prohibited in your particular area. You can request a re-zoning hearing but that is a costly and time consuming effort and it may be easier to lease space in an existing building or in someone’s office.

How you will conduct your business will also be important. Will you work alone or with a partner? Will you open your own office or join someone in theirs? Will you work weekdays, weekends or both? These are decisions that you will have to make well before you start your business as these decisions will determine many things, including how much money it will take for you to start your business. It may be less expensive, in the short term, to work in someone’s office than to open your own but you will have to ensure that your work complements theirs or you may confuse their existing clientele.

These are some of the many decisions that you will have to address prior to beginning your holistic business. It is not as easy as setting up a table in your spare room and seeing clients, although many people do that. But if you want to start a business, then you must do it in a business-like manner and plan accordingly. And if you take the time to do that in the beginning, you may save yourself a great deal of headache and financial trouble in the future. The next article will discuss the legal aspects of the holistic business environment, including partnerships, contracts, ethics and how to stay out of legal and financial trouble.

© Jennifer Hoffman, 2005

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jennifer Hoffman is a holistic business owner where she provides intuitive, spiritual healing, coaching and teaching services. Jennifer is the founder of www.urielheals.com, a website dedicated to the channeled messages and teachings of the Archangel Uriel. Information about Jennifer's books, on-line seminars and services is available at her website, or email healing@urielheals.com for information.

She is also a business consultant and the owner of Strategix Group, www.strategixgroup.net a consulting company that provides business planning, website development, internet marketing and strategic planning services to a wide range of clients around the world. She is the author of the internet’s first guide to website ‘planning, developing, marketing and management’, The e-Business Primer, used by the University of Phoenix as its basic e-business course text. She also wrote the e-business curriculum for the University of Phoenix and speaks to audiences on business, management, e-business, marketing and related topics. Contact her at info@strategixgroup.net for more information.