How to Start a Nurse Staffing Company
Starting a nurse staffing company could be a lucrative venture, especially based on predictions of nursing shortages. Knowledge of health care and nursing, along with business acumen, are fundamental to running a successful nurse staffing agency. The sequence of steps necessary for starting your own nurse staffing agency starts with learning about the health care industry and nursing occupations. Numerous resources are available for aspiring entrepreneurs in this field.
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Instructions
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Research the health care industry and nursing occupations. An online resource such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is a starting point for business owners learning basic information about the field. According the the BLS, the majority of positions for registered nurses are within hospitals. Nursing opportunities are also in clinics, physicians' offices, assisted living facilities and home health services.
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Consult resources for information about starting a business. The U.S. Small Business Administration provides comprehensive checklists for writing business plans, securing financing and obtaining contracts for services. Calculate the expense of running a staffing agency, including startup costs, office space, wages for administrative staff, licensing, advertising, and memberships in professional associations and recruiting networks.
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Discuss your business plans with a partner or trusted adviser. Contact your state government business division for information on corporate structures. Decide what type of corporate structure is most appropriate for your business needs; there are benefits as well as disadvantages to forming a sole proprietorship, limited liability company or corporation. Visit your local government offices to register your business for zoning, regulatory and tax purposes.
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Identify your market. Determine current vacancies and projected hiring for hospitals and urgent care facilities. Explore national chain drugstores that operate in-store clinics, retirement and assisted living centers, and opportunities for private duty nursing needs. Assess the demographics of your geographical area to determine if anticipated population changes -- such as retirement communities and aging residents -- might result in increased opportunities for nurses.
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Network with recruiting associations and other staffing agencies. Get your company name in front of health care executives and hiring managers. Peruse advertisements job vacancies. Assess the labor market for recruiting qualified nurses through data obtained from your state department of labor. Individual states prepare labor market data that contains the number of qualified professionals in various fields. You can use this information to target your advertisements for nurses you intend to place in jobs.
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Prepare a draft business plan. If possible, enlist the assistance of a business partner with health care expertise to improve your chances of securing financing based on the potential success of your agency. Incorporate all the research you've conducted, using a template to ensure you construct a persuasive business plan to attract the interest of your lending institution or investors.
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References
- Nurse Together: List of Nurse Recruitment Agencies for U.S. Based Employment
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition: Registered Nurses
- American Hospital Association: Advancing Excellence in Patient Care - Workforce Challenges
- Nursefinders, an AMN Healthcare Company: Nursefinders History
- Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing: Assisted Living/Nursing Home/Long-Term Care
- U.S. Small Business Administration: Writing a Business Plan
