Looking for advice on renting a counselling room? You’ve come to the right place. We know that finding the perfect room to run your counselling business from can be a challenge. There’s a lot of advice around, which can at times, be overwhelming. In this guide, we’ve prepared answers to most concerns regarding renting a counselling room. 

Table of Contents: 

• Finding the perfect Counselling Room
• Think about Additional Fees
• Assess Your Opportunities
• Furnishing your Counselling Room
• What clients want from a Counselling Room
• Why Wellshare Counselling Rooms?

1. Finding the perfect Counselling Room

Finding the perfect room to rent and run your business from can be tricky. There’re a lot of properties and rental options around, so it’s important to consider these factors before you sign a lease:

1. Your ideal location - How long do you want to commute for? What are the parking or public transport options like? These questions will help you narrow down a focus area that will help you with your search. Research is an important step in deciding where you’d like to run your business from. Don’t skip out and end up stuck in a location that doesn’t suit your business. 
2. Your budget - Knowing the amount you can afford to spend on rent will help you to avoid financial strain early in your business. Seek help from a financial advisor, or a trusted friend or colleague as you strategise what you can afford. Unfortunately, sometimes your ideal location, and your budget, don’t see eye to eye. But knowing that you can’t afford an area before you sign a lease, is better than finding out down the track that it’s unsustainable. You may need to look slightly outside your dream area until something more affordable comes up - or your business finances change. By having an open mind, and a realistic budget you may even end up with a better rental. 
3. Tours are terrific - Before signing your lease, make sure you tour the space. Or if you can’t go in person, ask a trusted friend or family member to go on your behalf. Pictures can sometimes be deceiving, so a tour is important to make sure you know what you’re getting. On the day of your tour, it’s a good idea to take notes so you don’t forget any details later and bring a tape measure and a friend along. Don’t be afraid to ask any questions you may have to the estate agent or landlord. 
4. Hourly, Daily or Full-time rental lease? There is a wide range of rental arrangements around. Renting a room on a part-time basis can offer increased flexibility and an affordable option for those looking to ease their way into business - or who are looking for a different work/life balance. You only pay for the hours you use the room. Part-time room use can also open up a wider range of rental property options, everything from health co-working spaces, to offices in existing clinics. Hiring a counselling room for the hours your business needs is often a great place to start. Ask your realtor what lease terms are available. Is there the option to scale up from a part-time to full-time basis if needed? Or to scale back the rental hours if needed. 

2. Think about Additional Fees

Finding your counselling room is exciting! If you think you’ve found the base for your business to grow from, celebrate the win, but also consider assessing any additional fees before signing a lease. You don’t want to get stung with additional fees or expect services in your lease that are actually add ons. Here are a few additional fees to look out for. 

1. Fees for additional services — many rental spaces will advertise all their services, to make their rooms as attractive as possible to potential tenants. But you should be aware that some of these may not be included in your lease, but be additional add ons. If your rental advertises reception services, waiting rooms or access to printer facilities, ask how the cost of these services is covered. Is it included in your rent? Or is it an additional extra?
2. Cleaning fee — accidents happen, but so does everyday wear and tear. It’s worth familiarizing yourself with the policies of your rental when it comes to cleaning. Some regular cleaning is likely included in your lease, but mishaps might be something to expect you may have to cover. Depending on what materials you use in your counselling room (paint?) it might be worth making sure you’ve taken enough precautions to protect the space, or set aside some budget for when things go wrong. 
3. Lease termination policy — It may seem odd to begin with the end in mind, but you’ll thank us later. Sometimes, we need to move on unexpectedly. If you need to end your lease early, it’s worth being aware of what fees are involved from the get go. That way you can part ways from your rental room on amicable terms with your landlord, and not have any hidden surprises. 
4. Insurance — Many rental arrangements operate with the expectation that the tenant will have the necessary insurances to cover their business activities within the room. Look into what insurances you may need. While many insurers are catching up with the co-working space model, it’s still an area that many insurance companies are updating their policies on. Don’t get caught out, check that your insurer covers working from a shared rental space if necessary. Factor the cost of insurance into your operations budget. 

3. Furnishing your Counselling Room

The level of furnishing your counselling room needs can vary, depending on what is included in your lease. Some rental counselling rooms will provide all necessary furnishings and others will offer more flexibility for you to customise the room. Here are a few things to consider as you look at furnishing your rooms. 

1. Personal Items — Including some personal items in your space, such as your credentials, or drawings from past clients may assist clients in feeling reassured. It is important however to strike the right balance, as too much personalisation may make a client feel like a “visitor” rather than feeling at home in the space. 
2. Bookshelves — In particular if you’ve rented your room on a full-time basis, a bookshelf can be useful for you to have materials you may need on hand. This can be particularly helpful before or after your session, if you’d like to look something up — or if you employ bibliotherapy with clients. 
3. Materials & Storage — Present a professional appearance by having everything you need for your session on hand. Whether it’s calming music, pens, paper, or art supplies — these items need to be stored somewhere. Consider some shelving, or ask your landlord if there is storage facilities available elsewhere, if you don’t have exclusive use of your room. Ensuring you have onsite storage for your materials will save you the hassle of carting your items between home and work. You’ll also save yourself the potential stress of forgotten materials. 
4. Create a Design  — If you have the ability to fully customise your room, get creative and make a design for how you’d like the space to look when finished. This can be on a scrap of paper, on your computer, or even a Pinterest board. But get inspired to make this space special for yourself and your clients. Having a clear picture of what you’d like the room to look like will help you avoid clutter, and stick to a budget. 
5. Budget — Setting up a counselling room can be costly. But it doesn’t have to be. Once you have a clear picture of how you’d like your room to look, make a budget. This should be realistic, considering the funds you have available. Then compare your design and budget, and see what creative solutions you can come up with to make your vision a reality. You’d be surprised what you can achieve for a low price, with a little thinking outside the box. Great style can be affordable. Keep in mind department stores or even second hand. Or ask your friends and family - you may be surprised what is within your budget after all. 

4. What clients want from a Counselling Room

Knowing what your clients expect to experience as they enter your space can be helpful in making sure you’ve offered the best service. Having a great space will enhance the patient’s experience and ultimately make them more open to receiving your care. 

The design of your counselling room can play an important role in the comfort of your clients. 

1. Consider colour - If you’re renting a counselling room, you may not have a lot of control over the colour of the walls of your room. But if possible, try and opt for a space that is painted in neutral colours, such as beige - or light and soothing colours such as cool blues and greens. If the room you’re renting has a wild paint scheme, consider how you may be able to tone it down with some neutral decorations or wall hangings. 
2. Incorporate Nature - The presence of natural elements, even just a small houseplant, has been shown to have a relaxing effect on people. Consider how you could bring some natural elements into your counselling room. 
3. Lighting - Consider lighting options that are adjustable. People have different preferences for how bright or dim they prefer their environments. So long as the lighting is adequate for safety, it can be a nice idea to consider incorporating lamps into your room. This allows your clients to exert some appropriate control over the environment, which in turn can boost their comfort levels. Wherever possible, encourage natural lighting - so if your space has a window, that’s a bonus!
4. Non-Confrontational Seating - Wherever possible, do not place seating areas directly opposite one another. Instead, place chairs on a diagonal, or off centre so that clients do not feel as though the space is confrontational. In the same token, your seating should consider your clients and be appropriate for their needs. Consider what is most comfortable and appropriate for different patients, and accommodate accordingly. Whether the elderly, or a family with children, your clients should be safe and comfortable in your counselling room. It may be helpful to consider seating that is flexible and can be rearranged to how would best suit your clients. 
5. Positive Distractions - In your counselling sessions, difficult topics may arise. By placing items such as artwork or even comforting toys, your clients can shift their attention to these items and receive a break from distressing topics as needed. This can assist in supporting them as they explore topics that may leave them feeling vulnerable. 

Assess Your Opportunities

Now you’ve established your business in your leased counselling rooms, it’s time to consider what opportunities you have. Continuing to evaluate the opportunities available to you through the space you lease is an important factor in making the most of your room and experiencing business growth. 

1. Advertising opportunities — As you move into your new counselling room, consider what opportunities you have to make people aware that your business is in operation. Ask about displaying some marketing material at reception, putting your name and business logo on the door, and considering external signage to direct clients to you. Don’t neglect the waiting room, particularly if it’s a shared space. Signage is affordable and easy now, thanks to online printing, so there’s no reason to miss out on extra business by not putting up a sign. Be sure to comply with your landlord’s policies for advertising, particularly in shared spaces. 
2. Networking — If you’re working out of a room that’s in an existing office, or health co-working space, chances are you’ll cross paths with other professionals. Whether you’re introverted, extroverted or somewhere in between, cultivating these relationships can foster potential referrals for your business. Take the time to be courteous and friendly to others in your space. Attend conferences, workshops or events hosted by your co-working space. Running your own practice can be isolating at times, and the business can become exhausting. By connecting with others in a similar working situation to yourself, you’ll develop a professional support system that may become vital to your business. 
3. Professional Development — Keep a lookout for learning opportunities that may be advertised. This is one of the advantages of renting a counselling room through a co-working space. Co-working spaces are spaces that are often purpose-built for like-minded professionals to run their businesses. As a result, these facilities may run events designed to facilitate development and awareness professionally or promote business skill development. If you’re considering hiring a room from a co-working space, ask if they run any events like this. 
4. Word of Mouth — Attracting new clients can be a challenge, but the role of word of mouth shouldn’t be underestimated. Let your network know that you’re now operating, and where. Update your social media and website to announce your business launch. 
5. Mentoring — As previously mentioned, many co-working spaces facilitate what practitioners need to grow their business successfully. Mentoring can be a useful skill for helping your business to grow, and for you to develop as a professional. If renting a room from a co-working space, or an existing clinic, it may be worth exploring mentorship options. Learning in mentorship is beneficial to both parties. 
6. Room to grow — As you continue to practice out of the room, assess how you’d like your business to grow. What opportunities do you have to streamline your services, or reduce wait times, or offer better services? Does your room allow you to grow your business as you’d like to? Continuing to ask this question is important for the development of your business, as a self-reflective practitioner.

Why Wellshare Counselling Rooms?Wellshare is a health co-working facility operating in Sydney CBD, in the beautiful Dymocks building. Wellshare has a range of rooms for hire, including counselling rooms. Wellshare is distinct from other co-working spaces because it has been developed with the needs of health and wellness professionals in mind. 

Wellshare provides you with a beautiful environment for you to grow your business autonomously. We value flexibility, and offer both full-time and part-time leases to our tenants. 

All leases include:

· 24/7 Access
· Access to internal breakout areas
· Access to kitchen facilities
· Building outgoings included
· Electricity usage included
· Regular cleaning
· Secure high-speed NBN internet​
· Branding on your room door
· Branding at reception
· Direct access to public transport
· Disabled access and facilities
· End of trip facilities e.g shower
· FREE use of HICAPs terminal
· Professional working environment
· Retail and shopping mall in building

Our counselling rooms are designed for your brand to shine through. Customize the space to suit your business and clients. We have a wide range of room sizes, from small to large. Our rooms are an affordable option, providing you with everything you’ll need. 

Each room has been designed to make the most of natural light, and provide spaces that are cozy, but not cramped. For convenience, we have secure facilities to allow you to store your equipment on site. 

But the benefits to your lease don’t stop there. 

Additional Services:
Wellshare loves to offer the best value for its tenants. That’s why we offer a range of additional services that can be added on to your Wellshare experience for an additional fee. 

• Marketing services
• Reception services
• Admin services 
• Appointment management

Mentorship opportunities — Wellshare offers free business development mentorship sessions. In these sessions, you’ll learn from Sydney’s top therapists, what it takes to run a successful counselling business in the CBD. 

Also on the Wellshare team are a number of business experts across — digital marketing, video content producer and copywriting — who are available to assist you in developing your business further. 

Community — Working for yourself can be an isolating experience. We know this because we’ve been there. That’s why at Wellshare, we’re developing a culture of like-minded professionals who strive for success in their business. We offer in-house events and webinars to assist in professional development. These opportunities help you create a name for yourself amongst your peers. 

Growth — Join Wellshares online directory. We’ll provide you with a professional headshot and advice from our in-house entrepreneur, Anthony Bloomfield. Anthony is the founder of Wellshare, with over 15 years experience in helping businesses grow.

Affordability — We know that the cost of owning your own private practice isn’t always worth it. While your name may be on the door in traditional clinic-based practice, the stress and financial strain can be exhausting for many professionals. At Wellshare, we offer affordable solutions for practitioners looking for a new model of private practice. Over the years, we’ve learned that most patient’s don’t care about who owns the clinic, but rather what’s inside. We’ll provide you with the counselling room, waiting room and other facilities so you can reap the benefits of business, without the strain and financial pressure.   

Location — Wellshare is located in the historic Dymocks building in Sydney CBD. Established on George St, your room will be close by to public transport to offer both yourself and your clients’ convenience. Our rooms offer clean and modern design, blended seamlessly with the historical charm of the Dymocks building. With great design and affordable prices, Wellshare offers a wonderful base for practitioners to establish their business.

Ready to hire a counselling room in Sydney? Book a tour at Wellshare.

So you’ve decided to start your own therapy business? Congratulations! We know that starting your own business is a big step. It’s both exciting and scary. But it doesn’t have to be. At Wellshare, we’ve been where you are. We’re passionate about helping health and wellness professionals launch their business from our modern and functional co-working space.

Table of Contents:

1. Things to consider before renting a therapy room?    
2. Choosing the Right Therapy Room    
3. Booking a therapy room    
4. How to set up a beautiful therapy room    
5. Attracting Clients to your Room    
6. Keeping Staff and Clients Happy    
7. Ongoing Considerations in Renting a Therapy Room
8. Why Wellshare?  

Many of our tenants have started and grown their businesses using our rental rooms. Today we’ll be sharing our ultimate guide for renting a therapy room and growing your business! Are you ready?

1. Things to consider before renting a therapy room?
Where do you want to work? There is a wide range of options available to you. You could work from home, set up in an existing clinic, or explore something a little different… like co-working spaces.
Thanks to co-working spaces you no longer need to commit to a long term lease. Working from a rental therapy room will give you a bunch of benefits including:

• Affordable rent
• Low start-up fees
• Access to amenities 
• Great locations
• Flexibility 
• Business growth opportunities. 
• Being a part of the community

With all these benefits, it’s easy to get very excited about rental therapy rooms (we know we’re excited!). But there are a few things you should think about before you sign a lease. 

Insurance. It can sound boring, but insurance is one of the most important factors to consider when renting a therapy room. Making sure your insurance is in order early on in your business can save headaches (and money) later on! While we’re not insurance professionals, we think it’s a good idea. Do yourself a favour and ask the following questions:

• Do you have professional indemnity insurance?
• Who is liable if one of your clients injures themself in your therapy room?
• Does my current insurer cover me if I’m working from a co-working space/shared office? (You’d be surprised how many don’t.)
• Have you consulted an insurance professional?

Finances. Before starting any business venture, it’s a good idea to check your finances are in order. Doing so will help you start your business off on the right foot, and foresee some of the challenges that may be in store for you. 
Minimise your stress and ask yourself:

• Do I have enough capital to launch my business well?
• Do I have a business financial plan?
• What will I do if something goes wrong?
• Do I need to consult a financial advisor?

Your support crew. Starting your business can be incredibly stressful. Between paying bills and hustling to find new clients, you may find yourself burned out quick. In times of good times and bad, it’s important to have people to support you. Before you open the doors to your business, identify people in your life who can support you in your new venture.  Having a supportive network can protect your physical and mental health amid the strain you may be under. Think about those you can rely on. You’ll thank yourself later. 

• Who will I ask advice when I need it?
• What people in my life will encourage me?
• Who will give me honest feedback when I need it?
• Are there networking groups in my area I could join?

2. Choosing the Right Therapy Room
There is a wide range of therapy rooms available for you to base your business from. Whether you feel excited or overwhelmed by the choices is another question entirely. Regardless of how you’re feeling, here are a few tips to help you choose the therapy room that’s right for your business. 
Hourly or daily use. Rental therapy rooms now have a wide range of lease availabilities. No longer are you trapped into a yearly contract, left feeling mildly panicked, wondering if your fledgling business will fly or fall. When you’re just starting, consider renting a room that gives you the option to rent the room for shorter periods. The flexibility of coworking rooms is one of the biggest advantages for your business.  Some questions that might help you figure out what type of lease is best for you? 

• How many hours a week can I work with my existing client base?
• How many hours do I want to work? Does this space give me the flexibility to shift my leased hours if I need it?

    
Amenities. Many coworking spaces, such as Wellshare come with a range of amenities included in your lease. Think about what you need to run your business. In traditional startups, you need to pay for everything, from the furniture to the photocopier. All these amenities can add up as you start your business! Save yourself some cash and choose a therapy room that has what you’ll need. Put your money toward other areas of your business, like marketing that otherwise might get neglected. 

Wellshare therapy rooms include the following amenities:

• High-speed internet 
• Printer 
• Furnishings
• Access to kitchen, bathrooms and waiting areas. 
• 24/7 Access

Location. Where your business is located is vital. If clients can’t find you, your business won’t grow. Studies have shown that convenience is one of the most important factors in clients choosing which clinic to visit. They want to be able to access your services quickly. This means ensuring your business is located close by to public transport and is easily accessible. When picking your therapy room, consider your clients. 

• Will your clients need disability ramps or elevators? 
• How will they be able to travel to your business?
•  Is the signage for your business location visible?

Want to read more about what matters most to health care consumers? Check out this study:
https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/life-sciences-health-care/us-lshc-cx-survey-pov-provider-paper.pdf

3. Booking a therapy room
Once you’ve decided on a facility you’d like to operate your business from, it’s a good idea to take a closer look. 

Book a tour, chat to the team from the facility. This is an opportunity to ask all the questions you might have about what operating from the room looks like. The team at Wellshare are all friendly, professionals who are keen to help you achieve your business goals. 

Following your tour, take your time reading over the lease and sign on the dotted line. As you assess your therapy room lease, take special note of the following details. 

Maintenance. Before you sign to book a room, take the time to understand the expectations of renting that space. Depending on the space, some facilities may expect you to pay an additional fee if the facility is damaged in any way during your hire time. Generally, best practice is to ensure that at the end of your hire time, leave the facility in the state you hired it in. If there’s any problems with maintenance, document these and report them to management early. 

• Who’s job is it to clean the facility? 
• Who do you call when something gets broken?

Minimum rental hours. Ensure you have a good understanding of what hours you would be able to rent the room for. If you’re just starting, you might only need the room for a few hours, rather than the whole day. Ask what rental packages are available, hourly or daily leases are common. The ability to hire a room for a few hours provides flexibility and can save you cash - don’t pay for a full day if you haven’t got a full day’s work. 

• Can you rent the room on an hourly basis?
• What is the minimum number of hours a room must be rented for?

Exit Policy. It may sound strange to think about leaving before you arrive, but it’s a good idea. Learn about the cancellation policy of the hired room to ensure you don’t accidentally incur fees when it’s time to eventually move on. Most facilities have at the very least a minimum 24hr notice cancellation policy. 

• What exit fees are there?
• How much notice must be provided for room booking cancellation

Ask what additional resources are available. Some co-working spaces, (including Wellshare) have a range of other services that may be helpful for you. Ask about these early on. Whether it’s consulting with a business advisor, marketing expert or a copywriter you may be surprised what additional services you can access when you hire the room. 

• Are there professionals available for business advice consultation?
• What PD or networking events does the facility host?

4. How to set up a beautiful therapy room
So you’ve chosen your therapy room! Well done! But your work isn’t over yet. It may seem fairly basic, but don’t undervalue the impact decorating and design can have on your business. Clients who feel welcomed into your space may feel more comfortable and have a positive experience. If they have a positive experience, they may tell their friends and family about your business! This can lead to… new clients. Here are a few things to think about to ensure your therapy room is looking and functioning its best. 

Furniture layout. Consider how the room is arranged. Depending on the arrangement of your lease, some furnishings may or may not be provided for you. Ensure furniture is comfortable and heavy enough to protect everyone’s safety (no one wants a chair thrown). Regardless, take a moment to consider how best to set up the room for your clients. 
- Avoid trip hazards like rugs, particularly if your clients may be prone to falls. 
- Consider the placement of chairs and other seating. Often, face-to-face seating can feel confrontational, so place chairs slightly off to the side to allow client comfort. 

Lighting. Through the use of lights, lamps and candles the atmosphere of your therapy room can be adjusted to suit the service you’re providing. Lighting also plays an important role in the safety of your practice. Ensure that the room is well lit so you can conduct your service safely, and people don’t stumble or trip because of poor lighting. 

Materials. Natural materials such as light woods seem to be preferred by clients, as opposed to glass and chrome.  Often, clients don’t want to think about the previous occupants in the room, so avoid materials that may show fingerprints more easily. 

 Go natural. Plantlife is a trend in decorating for a reason. Plants, whether real or artificial can have a big impact in the atmosphere of your therapy room. Consider how you can include the natural element into your therapy room. Whether through the inclusion of plant life, or a painting of a nature scene. These can often have a calming effect on clients. Likewise, your colour palette should be relatively neutral. 

Clean. It should go without saying, but presenting your therapy room in a tidy and clean state is one of the easiest ways to have a beautiful room. Show your professionalism in your space by avoiding clutter or rubbish. Clients will appreciate the attention to detail and will assume this extends to your quality of care. 

Budget. Decorating your room is essential, but it doesn’t have to be costly. Many quality decor items can be found at affordable department stores, second-hand shops and online. You might even be able to reach out to friends and family. Get creative. 

Artwork. Artwork can be surprisingly divisive. Be conscious of what pieces you choose to decorate your room with. A safe bet is usually calm, nature-themed pieces - such as of trees. 

5. Attracting Clients to your Room
You’ve got your business ready to go, your room is looking gorgeous, but without clients, your business won’t last long. Welcome to the hustle. Attracting clients is often one of the most challenging aspects of starting your business. There’s a wealth of advice online on this topic, and it can certainly feel overwhelming. So here are a few of the top tips we’ve heard of (and tested for ourselves). 

Marketing. It’s a word many in business are familiar with, but what does it mean? Marketing is your plan of action to attract (and keep) a steady influx of clients to your business. It’s how you get the word out. While you could just wait for people to show up, consider how you can actively market your business. Research and make a plan of action. 

LinkedIn. Social media can sometimes be overlooked by health professionals. But online platforms can be a great place to connect with clients, educate and attract them to your business. Choose a platform where your clients are spending time, be it Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest (the list goes on, so I’ll stop there) and engage with them. We don’t mean spam their feed but offer great content. Spotlighting members of your team, sharing some top tips or sharing useful resources are a few ideas. On social media, it’s easy for clients to tag friends and family or provide reviews of your service. Leverage this for your business. 

Signage. It sounds pretty basic, but you’d be surprised how many businesses don’t use signage to their advantage. Increase your visibility by ensuring your rooms use signs that are easily visible to passersby (or other clients if you’re in a co-working space).

Networking. Connecting with other professionals provides the opportunity for referrals. Be friendly and open to discussing your work with others, you never know who might refer someone to you down the track. Return the favour when you can. Both clients and businesses benefit when collaborative care is given. 


6. Keeping Staff and Clients Happy
Running your own business comes with many challenges. One of these can be retaining good staff. While there’s always a natural time for people to move on, retain staff the best you can by providing a respectful workplace and valuing their work. Manners shouldn’t be under-appreciated. 

When it comes to keeping clients happy, focus on what you can control and what you know about your client’s needs. Evaluate your business and do your best to provide an efficient and comfortable service. Keep wait times to a minimum when possible, and utilise technology that enhances your service. 

• Clients value convenience.
• Clients value economic transparency. 
• Clients value collaboration and opportunities for feedback. 

Healthcare clients are functioning more and more as consumers. Speed and ease of access are important. Enable your patients to plan for the financial impact of their visit, many will appreciate not needing to ask the price - but have it offered readily. 

Consider how you can collaborate with other health and wellness professionals to offer holistic care to your clients. This can be as simple as having a flyer available for a complimentary service from a practitioner you trust and are happy to refer to. 

At the end of the day, you won’t make everyone happy. Thinking you can lead to exhaustion. Just do your best and focus on offering quality service to your clients and staff. 

7. Ongoing Considerations in Renting a Therapy Room
So you’ve been in your rental therapy room for a while, and you’re thinking ‘what’s next?’. Here are a few things to consider as you continue to operate your business. 

Room to grow. Has your business outgrown your room? You may need to consider other options for your business if your room is starting to feel a little small. Maybe you’re thinking of taking on a team member to help you manage your client list. Evaluate where your business is at, and reflect about where you’d like to be in future. 

Opportunities. You may have unexpected opportunities arise from working from a co-working space. Maybe it’s attending a networking event, speaking at a conference or building a referral network. Whatever the opportunity, you’ll need to evaluate these on an ongoing basis. Your time is limited, especially as your business grows. Say yes to those that are likely to take you toward your goals, or you’re interested in. 

Consider mentoring. Starting your own business, you will have learnt a lot! Consider registering with a mentor program, or taking someone under your wing to share your knowledge with. You’ll reinforce your learning, as well as be a part of someone’s professional/personal journey. 

Professional Development. While many professionals require a certain level of professional development to maintain registration, this isn’t the case for all health and wellness jobs. Or for business owners. Education is inherently valuable and can help your business grow. By investing in yourself, you shift your business model towards that of practice-focused. The skills and lessons you learn, you take with you wherever your career takes you. 

-What conferences are on in your field?
- What online courses could you take?
- Do you subscribe to any journals or industry newsletters?
- Do you attend business growth events?

Wellshare knows how important development and learning is in our professional journey. That’s why we have a team of in-house entrepreneurs and business experts. We regularly put on events designed to help you grow your businesses. No, attendance isn’t compulsory if you rent a room from us - but you’ll be missing out! 

Remember why you started. Sometimes, in the humdrum of running our business, we can lose sight of why we started. It’s important to reflect and try your best to keep your goals in front of your mind. Doing so can make the journey more motivating, and rewarding. 

8. Why Wellshare?

​You’ve made it through the Ultimate guide for renting a Therapy Room! Well done! Before you go, here’s one question we haven’t answered yet. 

Why rent a therapy room from Wellshare? 

If you’ve been looking into rental rooms, you probably know there’s a bunch available. What makes Wellshare different?

Wellshare is specifically designed with health and wellness practitioners in mind. We know that as a health and wellness business, you have unique needs from a rental space that your average co-working space may not be equipped for.

Wellshare therapy rooms are located in Sydney CBD in the historical Dymocks building. Your clients will enjoy our purpose-built waiting room (great for building those business referrals) and cozy, but not cramped, therapy rooms. All rooms ensure patient/practitioner privacy. You can enhance the room to your preferences, to offer your clients the experience you want. 

Store your equipment on-site and enjoy 24/7 access to grow your business how you want, when you want. 

Our various therapy rooms are suitable for:

• Psychology
• Psychotherapy
• Counselling
• acupressure 
• acupuncture 

• Chiropractic therapy
• massage therapy
• occupational therapy
• physiotherapy
• speech therapy
• craniosacral therapy

If you’re an allied health practitioner looking to attract new clients, you’re in the right place. If not, these tips may still apply to you, so read on!

There are only 3 ways you will be found by patients:

1. Digital search (e.g. Google, social media)
2. Referral (patient friends & family, other health professionals)
3. Physical location signage

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Today we’ll be looking at the way allied health practitioners have harnessed the following marketing tools to get more clients. More clients = more business for you. 

1. Have an awesome website

Expectations are high in 2020 when it comes to websites. A well presented, functional website is a must for allied health businesses. 

Often, a website is one of the earliest impressions a client will have of your business. It’s a ‘virtual waiting room’ in a sense. 

Just as in a physical waiting room, clients look around and form ideas about the business, based on what they see. 

It is well understood in website UX design that the way your website looks will influence a potential patient's beliefs about the quality of your service, even more than the actual information presented. What kind of impression are you making with your website?

Give an impression of cohesion, professionalism and welcoming to clients who may be investigating your services online. If your website looks cluttered, dated and is difficult to use, prospective clients may click away. 

Hire a website developer, or a UX / UI designer if you have the budget. Websites such as Upwork and Freelancer.com often provide cost-effective solutions.

Some specialise in healthcare and can give you an excellent site that speaks to your patients. 
Short on financial resources? Do it yourself! 

There are several easy to use website builders such as WordPress, Squarespace and Wix. Using tutorials online, you’ll be surprised what you can achieve. Build a website you can be proud of, and that clients will enjoy visiting. 

2. Use Social Media Marketing

Social media allows you to engage with your existing clients and find new ones. 

Don’t waste your time doing social media for the sake of it. Have a presence on the platform where your ideal patient spends time. 

For some allied health professionals, this can mean Instagram, for others, maybe LinkedIn. Sometimes both. Sometimes neither.

Having a social media marketing strategy enables you to get the word out online about your business. Running targeted ads can be a helpful strategy, allowing you to interact with new clients in a way that is relevant in 2020. 

Social media is an easy way to share information your clients may be interested in. Show your business to be one that is useful, by sharing tips and helpful info in your posts. Answer common questions and be as useful as possible.

The principle of reciprocity is very powerful in marketing. If you continuously provide value upfront with no expectation of anything in return, eventually you will be surprised how many people reach out to you when they encounter a health problem. 

Try and consider what your clients would like to see in their feed and share accordingly. This is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of your brand and learn about your clients. 

3. Word of mouth 

This method is tried and true for a reason. If you’re looking for new clients, look to your existing ones. Ask yourself how you currently incentivise them to refer someone to your service? 

For professionals regulated by AHPRA, this may be tricky. But there are still ways that make it easier for them to do so. Do you provide them with spare business cards with your contact detail so they can easily pass on your information to people they know?

For non-AHPRA regulated health professionals, do they get a reward for encouraging clients to refer friends and family to your business?

Social media interacts closely with this point. If you have a strong social media presence, it’s easy for clients to ‘tag’ and direct new clients to your business. 

4. Build referral relationships with health professionals

Existing clients aren’t the only ones who can refer new clients to you. Develop a good rapport with the GPs and other health professionals in your area. 

When people are looking for an allied health service, they will often ask for a recommendation from health professionals they are already in contact with. This means doctors, pharmacists, and nurses are all critical contacts for you to build a relationship with. 

Look for allied health professionals who provide services you don’t. These businesses don’t have to be your competition. Instead, both businesses may benefit from a reciprocal referring relationship. 


5. List yourself on directories and referral search engines.

It can be worth considering listing yourself on a range of online directories and referral search engines. As a new business, this can be a great way to get broader exposure.

Keep an eye on the return for your investment, and choose which referral search engines you list on carefully. Opt for those that are established and reputable, such as HealthEngine. 


6. Offer to speak to local groups or businesses 

Slightly outside of the box, this method works on building your practice and reputation as an ‘expert’ in your field. By speaking at events, to groups or businesses interested, you establish yourself in your field.
 
Consider what groups may be interested and what information you could present. You may be surprised what opportunities are out there for you. Some groups to consider may be aged care facilities, Probus or Rotary clubs, conferences or networking groups. 

Not all speaking opportunities need to happen in person. Developing a webinar, or short online course can be an effective way of sharing your knowledge with interested parties. These can have a boosting effect on both your reputation and your client list!

7. Use effective signage

Many of the methods we’ve focused on so far occur primarily online. However, effective signage is one method of attracting new clients that is often underutilised. 

Put yourself in the place of a new client visiting your practice for the first time. Signage can be in the form of brochure handouts or physical signage on a shopfront or reception desk. Is the signage visible and clear? If not, clients may become frustrated or anxious around locating your business. 

Likewise, listing your services assists in transparency. A client may be using one service from you and heading elsewhere for another service because they’re unaware you offer both. Have a list of services visible in a prominent position in your business.

​The waiting room is often a good place. Ensure the design of signage is easy to read and be considerate of those who may be visually impaired.