How to Start a Health Consulting Business

The first step in becoming a healthcare consultant is to gain experience in a health-related field. If you love the wellness and health industry, and you have gained knowledge and experience through working in a health related area, you may consider starting your own health consulting business.

1. Create a business plan. Every business that wants to be successful should have a well-written business plan. It is your blueprint to the success you desire and is usually essential to help get financing, if needed. Describe your target market and who your competitors are. Include information about your products and explain the promotional methods you will use to generate sales. Give a conservative estimate of all costs. Also, explain the legal structure you will choose for your health-consulting business. 


2. Decide how you will get financing for your health-consulting business. Make a list of all your business start-up essentials, including any training and health licenses, building costs, exercise equipment and office supplies and expenses. If you find out that you don't have adequate funds to cover your start-up expenses, then look into financing options like small business loans, venture capital, business credit cards or government grants.


3. Obtain the necessary business licenses and permits. Contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at 1-800-829-4933 to apply for an EIN. If you like, you can apply online by visiting the IRS website. EIN is a federal tax identification number. Obtain your state tax permit, if required in your state. Check with your Secretary of State's office. Find out what specific licenses are required to start a health consulting business in your state.


4. Rent an office space in an area where there are other health and fitness professionals, such as doctors and personal trainers. Locating your office in such areas may help you get clients through referrals.


5. Begin marketing and promoting your health-consulting business. You can market and promote your business in several ways. Create business cards and brochures, and then hand them out to people in health-related businesses, such as the managers, workers and owners of health-themed businesses. Go to Facebook.com and create a "fan" page for your health-consulting business, and encourage your friends to promote your business for you. Advertise in local newspapers, and also join networking groups in your area that can help spread the word about your business.