Main description:

Aims to help a new business avoid the financially draining pitfalls, and provide advice for existing businesses to help them expand and attract new customers. This book covers areas such as writing a business plan, finding a suitable location, devising an advertising campaign, employing staff and developing ways of encouraging customer loyalty.

Contents:

A: Starting up in Private Practice 1 Who is suited to Private Practice? 2 Planning a Business 3 Seeking Advice and Expertise 4 Finding Premises 5 Renting, Leasing or Buying options 6 Obtaining Planning Permission 7 Buying an Existing Practice 8 Commercial Mortgages 9 Funding a New Business 10 Market Research 11 Equipping your Practice 12 Suppliers and Stock 13 Costing your Services 14 Employing Staff B: Managing your Practice 15 Managing your Appointments 16 Patient Record Systems 17 Consent and Ethicises 18 Minimum Clinical Standards 19 Public and Professional Indemnity and Liability 20 Health and Safety 21 Marketing and Promotion 22 Communicating with Patients 23 Dealing with Complaints 24 Managing your Waste 25 Accounting and Book Keeping 26 Registering for VAT 27 Continual Professional Development 28 Taking Time Off C Growing and developing your practice 29 Expanding your services 30 Selling Products 31 Moving Premises 32 Extending your Building 33 Branch Practices 34 Taking on another Podiatrist 35 Using Locums 36 Renting Space to other Professionals 37 Selling your Practice 38 Closing the Practice 39 Capital Gains Tax 40 Keep Working At It Appendix A - Skeleton Business Plan Appendix B - Useful Contacts Appendix C - Stationery Samples Appendix D - Written Statement of Employment Appendix E - Glossary of Terms