As a medical practitioner, you may already feel pretty time-poor. Continuing to offer quality healthcare to patients takes up a lot of the day. So if the idea of marketing on top of what you’re already doing, fills you with dread, know you’re not alone. As a busy medical practitioner, it’s important to ensure your marketing strategies and tactics are offering you the best return for your investment. 


Whether you’re looking to attract new clients, or boost client engagement with your brand, here are our top nine tips to market your business well. 

1. Website Optimisation
Having a clunky and outdated website is no longer something modern medical practitioners can get away with. Your website is your virtual waiting room, the first impression of your business that potential patients will receive. 

Ensure your site is easy to navigate, fully functional and free from clutter or unnecessary pop-ups. By having a website that is easy to use and presents a modern and professional appearance, your brand will benefit.

Double-check your site carefully for any potential errors, and make sure your written copy is clear and direct about what next steps your potential patients should take. Whether it’s booking an appointment or filling out a survey — keep your goals and messages clear online. Keep sentences short and to the point. Provide the information your patients are likely to be visiting your website for (contact details, booking information) highly visible. 

Want to go to the next level?

• Beyond these basic steps, ensure that you are making the most of your website’s functionality. How can you use your website to better reach your patients? This may involve creating educational content. Or by offering an online appointment booking, or script renewal system so your patients can schedule a time at their convenience.

 

• Mobile optimisation. Ensure that your site is fully functional and aesthetically pleasing when accessed from various devices. Many people, particularly patients from younger generations, will be accessing your site from a mobile phone, or tablet. If your site doesn’t function well across different devices, it’s more likely these potential patients will click away. 

 

• Look at optimising your site for key phrases relating to your business and the services you offer. While you can do this yourself, it is often less stressful to trust this to an SEO expert. Though it may take a few months before you see results, with an SEO optimised site, Google and other search engines will begin to drive traffic toward your website. 

A well set up website will serve your business by converting visitors into your patients. Set it up always with your patients in mind. Emphasis should be placed on information, clarity and convenience. A good website is worth the time and investment for the potential benefit it can bring to your business.

2. Focus on your Team
Ideally, you or your team should be one of the first things seen when patients visit your website or clinic in person. Keeping your team of medical professionals up front can foster trust between patients and practitioners before even getting into the consultation room. 

There are multiple ways you could do this, and some may be worth repeating over time as new patients are attracted to your business.

• #teamtuesday - Many businesses have taken the initiative to introduce their team members on social media. This usually involves sharing a photo and a brief bio, or interview about the staff member. Medical practitioners can get on board with this too! People love to see behind the scenes of business, and this can foster a connection between patient and practitioner outside the consult team.
• Meet the team - websites should always contain an area for patients to get to know their medical practitioners. Having this on the website can assist new patients in selecting a practitioner when booking, or even foster a sense of trust. Take a friendly but professional headshot of each member of your team and upload these to your site. 
• Slideshow/photos - in your waiting room, it may be worthwhile establishing how you will display your team’s photos and bios. This should be done in a professional and strategic manner.    

 
3. Offer Bilingual Marketing Material
In a similar vein to our point on focusing on your team, consider how you can best market the skills of those involved. 

 If you or your colleagues speak multiple languages, be sure this is highlighted through your marketing material. Producing marketing material in both English, and in another language shows that your clinic is professional and proficient in assisting patients who may otherwise not realise they can access your care in their language. Doing this may provide you with a competitive edge to other medical professionals who although may also speak multiple languages, do not advertise this strategically. 

Areas to consider ensuring translations are available:

• Your website
• Social media campaigns 
• In clinic marketing material: flyers, posters etc.

4. Respond where your patients are
Social media is a fact of life for business now. But with a plethora of social media platforms around, it can feel overwhelming to know where to start. Yes, you could start up an account on all the platforms, but this likely isn’t going to be the most effective strategy. Yes, there are automated systems that will allow you to create one content piece and post it everywhere. But this will likely be a case of taking aim at all the targets and hitting none. 

Instead, focus your attention on where your patients are. It may be Instagram, or Facebook, or even Twitter. Once you know where they are, start up an account and take the time to study what content the most successful practitioners in your industry are producing. While you shouldn’t directly copy, this can be a good way to get inspired about connecting with your patients.  Learn about what works and what doesn’t. Some of this will be via trial and error, but by developing an online presence on social media, you open another avenue of contact with your patients. 

Ensure you are responsive to direct messages on the platforms and have a plan for your content. What are the goals for your social media? How will you know if your presence on the platform has made an impact on your business?

Be sure as a medical practitioner to always maintain your professional image online. Keep aware of AHPRA’s guidelines regarding online content for what you can and can’t do. 


5. Email Marketing
Email marketing from medical practitioners is often overlooked. You might be worried about ‘spamming’ or annoying people, but this often isn’t the case. Effective email marketing can provide added communication and information for patients, which is often appreciated. 

By popping up in people’s inboxes as a regular occurrence (weekly, or monthly is a good aim) you remind them of your service and can continue to be useful to them—even outside the clinic.

Not sure what to email about? Here are a few ideas:

•  Meet the team profiles . This can be an excellent way to introduce a new staff member, or even refresh the patient’s memories about the existing staff.
• Update on new in-clinic services or technology
• Seasonal informational sheets and advice, such as cold and flu season or allergies. This may include information regarding what to do, and the signs your patients should look out for if things escalate.  
• “It’s time for…” Remind your patients when they are due for a check-up, or another exam.
• Share helpful expert commentary on health issues your patients may be interested in.

Emails can be scheduled in advance and utilise automated technology to communicate with your patients. This means there’s a lot of potential for positive impact on your business, for relatively minimal effort. However, whenever possible, it’s best to go for personalising emails as these tend to be far more effective than those produced and sent en masse.

6. Focus on the Patient
One of the most effective marketing strategies is to provide exceptional patient care. This means all aspects of your business should focus on what you can offer your patients. From the information listed on your website to checking in with reception, their appointment and the follow up—your patients should feel valued and cared for. 

If your patients feel this way, they’re more likely to stay with your business and even refer people to your business.

Ensure you have a welcoming environment and a staff strategy for how to interact with your patients. A consistent experience is reassuring. 

Build systems that make the experience better for your patients. Listen to the feedback they provide to you. Lots saying they get lost finding their way to your rooms? You may need to provide better signage, website directions or even escort your clients in. 

7. Be Transparent
Patients appreciate knowing how much they’re going to be out of pocket. By displaying your fees prominently on your website and in the clinic, your patients are able to financially plan for their appointment. This reduces stress and frustration for many people.

While it may seem odd marketing advice, displaying your fees may contribute to attracting new patients. At a glance, they are able to determine if your services will be financially accessible for them. Some patients may be considering swapping health service providers and knowing your fees may be the deciding factor. 

You’ll also build a reputation of your business as one which is honest and direct. This continues to foster a trusting relationship between patient and practitioner.   

8. Build your referral network
Getting to know fellow practitioners can be a great marketing strategy. Networking is an opportunity for you to grow the scope of your services, and collaborate with others in your industry. You never know what opportunities will arise from this. 

Often when patients have a rapport with practitioners they will ask for their advice regarding other areas of health that they may not specialise in. By ensuring you have a good relationship with other professionals, this increases the likelihood that another medical practitioner will refer some of their patients to you. 

How to build your network?

• Attend in-person conferences/education opportunities
• Meet those in a close-by location by arranging a time to catch up and introduce yourself. 
• Share the love. If you refer your patients to someone, there’s a good chance that the referring relationship will be reciprocal and they’ll return the favour. 
• Always say thanks! It should go without saying, but if you know that someone has referred a patient to you, it’s polite to acknowledge the vote of confidence in your professional abilities. A brief email goes a long way!

9. Video content
Video content is perfect for engaging patients. Typically people prefer the opportunity to see medical practitioners in their element. This type of content is also very shareable across social media, which can give your brand extra reach. 

Educating and entertaining are excellent ways to increase brand awareness and video is a great tool for this when used well. Some health clinics and medical professionals now have YouTube channels where they engage with patients. 

Not sure what you’d make video content about?

• Clinic tour
• Interviews 
• Fast facts about seasonal topics (eg. allergies)

When making video content keep it short and direct. A few minutes is best to capture your patient’s attention. For those who want to explore an alternative to blogging, video content is a great option.

Final Thoughts
Marketing can feel overwhelming at times. But with these 9 tactics, you’ve got options. Rather than trying everything at once, pick one and give it a try. It may take time to figure out what will work best for your business, but the effort will be worth it in the end. 

Thinking about starting up your own medical centre, but don’t want the cost and hassle? More and more health professionals have been looking for alternatives to the traditional medical centre model. Renting a medical centre room may be the solution you’ve been looking for.

Enjoy the independence and financial freedom of being your own boss, without the expensive costs of setting up your own practice. Renting a medical centre room in Sydney has never been easier. 

We know the process of setting up your own business can be a stressful one. That’s why we’ve put together our ultimate guide for renting a medical centre room in Sydney.  

Location
Where your premises are located is one of the most important factors when it comes to establishing your business. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you begin your property search.

• Known building: Will patients get lost easily? Have a practice run by putting the address into your map app of choice. It’s best to be aware of potential issues early on, so you can make a plan to combat them. 
• Accessibility: Ensure your location has accessibility options. Where can clients park their car if they choose to drive? What are the public transport options? Are there lifts or ramps for those with mobility concerns?
• Complimentary businesses: do your research. What other businesses are nearby? While too much competition isn’t a good thing, being close by to other health services can have its advantages. It can allow you to potentially build a referral network, and patients will appreciate the convenience of having a ‘health hub’ where they can go to have multiple needs met. 
• Appearance: looks are everything in this post COVID world, people typically prefer entering premises that are clean and well maintained. Patients should always feel safe when visiting for their appointments. The entry to the reception and the walkways to the room should be tidy and well lit to avoid potential hazards, and form a good impression.  
• Look outside Macquarie St: Macquarie St is old-school. Modern health professionals are customer centric and nothing beats the convenience of Geoge St for health practitioners and their patients. Don’t worry, your business doesn’t need to be on Macquarie St to succeed. Widen your search and you may be pleasantly surprised by what is available. 

Budget
Closely related to location is budget. When searching for a room to rent, ensure you have worked out a good business plan and know what you can afford. 

This may mean a bit of homework before you begin, and getting your financials in order. But in the long run, it’s worth it for the stress it will save you. Consider how you may be able to save costs, particularly as you start up and if there are areas where you can reallocate money. For example, many health professionals are opting to forgo the expense of a receptionist in favour of digital programming or handling aspects of the business personally.   

As you consider your budget, it is worth looking into the different rental arrangements around. Traditional leases tend toward a 3-5 years, which can mean you’re locked into making that property work well for your business, for a longer period of time. If COVID has taught us anything, it’s that situations beyond your control can mean a change in the workplace. With a short term lease you can have flexibility and affordability in one. 

For ultimate flexibility ensure you consider health specific co-working spaces. These typically come already equipped, and offer a range of lease packages. Everything from a few days a week, to longer-term exclusive use leases. Investigate what options are available in your area. Because of the already equipped nature of co-working spaces they are a fantastic option for the budget-conscious practitioner. 

Amenities
As you begin your property search its important to consider what amenities you need for your business to function well. Here are a few to consider essential:

• Storage: Lockable storage is important to ensure equipment is stored safely and neatly. This is especially important if you are renting a medical clinic room where you intend to have multiple health professionals using the space. 
• Sink and tap: For hygiene, having internal access to a sink is vital when considering any space for a medical centre room. 
• Power points: Consider what services will be running from this room. What equipment is needed? When inspecting, take note of how many and the position of powerpoints in the room. 
• Other amenities fees: Ask your landlord about amenities fees. Is the cost of electricity, water, maintenance etc. included in the advertised rent? Or are there additional costs you should be aware of. Knowing about these costs early on can allow you to make a better financial business plan. 

Room to grow
Finding the perfect room for your business is exciting! But it’s sometimes helpful to consider if the room is suitable and dynamic enough to change as your business does. In time, if you become busier you may decide to put on additional health professionals. Ideally, your room or lease should be able to adjust with your business. This saves time and stress when it comes time to switch things up. 

• Does the room have space for more than one practitioner? 
• Are there other rooms you can add onto your lease? 
• Can additional rooms be hired at the same rate?
• When does the lease expire? 
• What benefits apart from the room are offered?

Knowing the answers to these questions from day one helps you to equip your business well for the future. 

Setting up your room
So you’ve found your medical centre room? Nice work! Depending on what your lease includes, your room likely needs some setting up. Here are some great tips to ensure you have a room that serves your business well. 

• Layout: depending on the services offered in each room, layout can vary. But there are a few guiding principles to consider. Accessibility- are all walkways and doorways clear? Can those with mobility concerns navigate the space well? Privacy - ensure patient privacy is able to be maintained. This can be assisted with the use of privacy screens and frosted glass.
• Storage: As mentioned previously, storage is key to ensuring optimum functionality of the space. If the room does not have adequate storage you may need to bring in drawers, desks etc.
• Lighting: The space should be well-lit. Additional lighting such as lamps may need to be brought in.
• Decor: receiving medical care can sometimes be stressful for patients. To ensure they have the best experience possible consider including artwork, or a houseplant to provide a source of distraction and therefore comfort for your patients. Wherever possible opt for a neutral palette, with natural elements such as plant life included where you can. If your demographic includes children, it is a good idea to consider how you can make them feel welcome in your space. Whether it’s a basket of toys or age-appropriate artworks, these small touches will make a big difference in your patient’s experience. 
• Clutter: Keep your workspace clean and tidy. This will present a professional image to your patients, as well as reassure them of the quality of service you are providing.  
• Furnishings: As you will spend a lot of time in your medical room, it’s important the space functions well for you. Consider ergonomic chairs, desks and other furniture that will enhance your ability to provide excellent care for your patients. You should also be mindful in selecting furnishings that will be comfortable for your patients. It is also a good idea to provide seating for a support person (family, friend or caretaker) who may attend appointments with your patient. Having this provision already taken care of, before you need it, will demonstrate to patients your care and attention to detail.  

Finding Patients (Marketing)
So now you’re all set up, it’s time to start seeing patients. Whether an established business or one just starting out, a solid marketing plan is important to build your business. Marketing can get a bit of a bad rap, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are a few steps to get you started. 

1. Identify your ideal patients. This point may seem simple, but you’d be surprised how often it’s overlooked. 
2. Consider what your ideal patient’s needs are. 
3. How does your business meet those needs?
4. How can you best reach your patients to tell them about how your business meets their needs? 

Once you’ve answered these questions you’re in an excellent position to begin effectively marketing. Struggling with a particular step? Check out the following tips:

• Identifying your ideal patient: For specialist medical professionals, you may have a pretty good idea about who these patients are. If you’re not sure, it may be helpful to take some time to collect data and figure out who your regular patients are, and if there are any patterns among them. This can also be a good way to identify gaps in your services or demographic. Research plays a key role!


• Consider what your patient’s needs are. Depending on your demographic, the needs of your patients and the services they need to access may vary. The elderly may not need the same services that those who have young children do. The set up of your rooms should also reflect the needs of your ideal patient to make them feel welcome (and therefore more likely to return) From the decor, to the informational pamphlets available, consider the patient's needs first. For example, after researching you may discover that a large proportion of your patients do not speak English as their first language. 
• How can your business meet their needs? Once you’ve gotten to know your patients and their needs, it's time to maximise your business’s usefulness to them. Whether it’s increasing your referral network to needed services, offering those services within your business, or providing informational pamphlets on topics of interest - this will build credibility and trust between your business and its patients. For example, you may hire doctors who speak more than one language, prominently display information in non-English languages, or place emphasis on doctor’s cultural sensitivity training and access to translators.
• How can you let your patients know your business can meet their needs? Start with the patients you have. They may benefit (or know someone who will) from your business's desire to meet their specific needs. Think about how this will be communicated to patients you already have - via a noticeboard in the waiting room? Email? Pamphlet? Doctor discussion? The way to best communicate this will depend on your patients and their specific demographic (age, gender, language). Returning to our example, it would be ineffective to communicate the clinic’s changes for better language diversity in doctors in only English. 

At other times, you may be trying to reach prospective patients, those who have not yet experienced your clinical services. Here are a few general tips for that situation:

• Ensure your business is visible. Use good physical signage, have an effective website and be present on the social media your patients frequent. 
• On social media seek to engage meaningfully with prospective clients on topics they may be interested in. Need content ideas? Here are a few (meet the team, educational mini-series, seasonal health tips and tricks eg. allergy/cold and flu)

Retaining Patients and Staff
One of the hardest parts of running a small business can be retaining good staff and patients. But be reassured that a little goes a long way. 

Retaining Staff:
Retaining staff can be a challenge at times, but there are a few things to consider to increase the likelihood of staff staying on board. Or for you to reflect on if high-turnover of staff is a problem in your business. 

• Workplace culture: ensuring your staff feel respected is important to their overall satisfaction. It may seem obvious, but using manners and treating people with respect is vital. 
• Offering opportunities for advancement and to professionally develop. Keeping staff engaged and invested in what your business is doing can be tricky, but if done right can leave you with a staff that is effective and passionate about what they do at work. Consider how you can support your staff’s careers and in turn, they will often invest back into your business.
• Practice what you preach. We all know that work/life balance is important to avoid burn out. But setting the culture of your business starts with you. Build your business so it can function without you (or any other individual) present. Family and downtime is important. 

Retaining Patients:
Finding patients is one thing, ensuring they stick around is another. Building patient loyalty can at times feel challenge, particularly in the midst of fierce competition. If your retention of patients leaves something to be desired, the next few tips will come in handy.

• Consider how your business can add value for your patient. Whether it’s referring to another practitioner for a service your clinic doesn’t offer, or providing payment plans for out of pocket services - patients generally appreciate these efforts to go above and beyond in their healthcare. 
• Listen to feedback. Ensuring your patient’s comfort and convenience is key to maintaining their satisfaction. While it may not be a deal-breaker, if you get lots of complaints about the chairs in the waiting room, it might be time to switch them out. You don’t want things you can control to be negatively impacting the experience your patient has in your clinic. 
• Offer new services & demonstrate a commitment to ongoing development. Keep up to date with your patient’s needs. While you don’t necessarily need to incorporate every health trend into your clinic, an awareness of these and reflection show patients a commitment to ongoing quality of service. 
• Convenience. How can your business be more convenient to patients? This often involves assessing where in your business you can incorporate technology to ensure a better experience for your patients. Two examples that are becoming more commonplace is the ability to book an appointment online, and having an up-to-date, functional website

Making the most of your lease
While your medical centre room is the primary component of what you’re paying for with your lease, there may be other ways your business could benefit. Consider these ways you can make the most of your lease. 

• Does your lease entitle you to any perks within the community or building? Some landlords, particularly if you’re renting through a co-working space may have arrangements that entitle you to particular benefits. Whether it’s access to shared storage, discounted parking, free networking events or appointments with business experts - be sure to ask your landlord when you inspect the room.​
• Networking. It doesn’t have to make you groan, we’re not necessarily talking about events (though there’s a place for those too) but rather being friendly to your fellow tenants. Smiling, introducing yourself or sending a quick email to say hi can go a long way. If these businesses are in the same industry as you, you can often make valuable connections and boost your client base as a result. You may even be able to build a reciprocal referral network this way by discussing how one anothers businesses could help each other out. Ask your landlord and do your research to find out what businesses are nearby. 

Why Wellshare
Wellshare is an option well worth considering for health professionals looking for a medical centre room for rent in Sydney. Located in the historic dymocks building on George St, our rooms blend character and modern design.

With a range of room sizes and lease lengths available, we have the flexibility to accommodate medical practitioners looking for a change from the traditional clinic model. Our rooms come fully furnished, so you can get to work straight away. Looking to customize your space? That’s no problem either, we welcome tenants to make the room their own.

In Wellshares medical clinic rooms you can expect access to these amenities:

• Internal sink
• 24/7 access
• Storage 
• Kitchenette
• HICAPs terminal
• Highspeed Internet
• Shower/bathroom facilities
• Shared patient waiting room
• Easy access to public transport

In addition to these amenities you’re able to access much more. Including networking opportunities, business growth seminars and appointments with experts in marketing and business development.

We can also provide support with reception and administration duties. 

Build your business at Wellshare

​Book a tour and speak with a member of our friendly team today. 

​

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