Are you looking at setting up a private clinic in the UK? It can be an exciting and rewarding venture, but it also requires careful planning.
As a healthcare marketing agency specialising in helping private clinics grow their business, at Ignite Growth, we understand the challenges that aspiring clinic owners face.
From years of experience working with clinics and practices throughout the UK, we’ve compiled a list of expert tips to follow for setting up a private clinic in the UK. Remember – keep up to date with rules and regulations in your sector, as these may change!
1. Define your niche
Before diving into how to set up a clinic, it’s crucial to define your clinic’s niche. Identify the specific treatments or services you want to offer.
This focus allows you to position your clinic effectively in the market and target your marketing efforts towards the right audience. Consider the demand for your chosen treatments, the competition in the area, and the unique value you can provide patients.
Your niche may be affected by your qualifications and those of your future staff, so take this into consideration, too.
2. Develop a business plan
Creating a well-thought-out business plan is essential for the long-term success of your clinic. Outline your mission, vision, and goals. Identify your target audience, market analysis, and pricing strategy.
Include financial projections, operational plans, and a comprehensive marketing strategy. A solid business plan serves as a roadmap and helps you make informed decisions throughout the setup and growth phases of starting your own clinic. If you’re looking for funding, this will be a crucial element in securing it, which leads us to our next step!
3. Secure funding
Most clinic owners look for loans and funding for their clinics. It’s a critical aspect of setting up a private clinic. Assess your financial requirements, taking into account costs such as premises, equipment, staff salaries, marketing, and ongoing operational expenses. Your business plan should help with this!
Explore funding options such as business loans, partnerships, or personal investments. A sound financial foundation ensures you can cover your initial expenses and sustain your clinic until it becomes profitable.
4. Choose the right location
Selecting the optimal location for your clinic is crucial for attracting patients and driving footfall. Research the demographics and patient demand in various areas. Consider accessibility, visibility, and proximity to complementary businesses.
Assess the competition and the potential for growth in the chosen location. A strategic location makes a huge contribution to the overall success of your clinic.
And we aren’t just talking about which neighbourhood. The very street your clinic is located on can either increase or decrease your chances of getting your name out there and getting footfall.
5. Keep up to date with regulations
Complying with regulations and obtaining the necessary licenses is vital to ensure your clinic falls within the legal guidelines.
Familiarise yourself with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) requirements. We’ve written a blog on how to get an outstanding CQC score which you can find here.
Make sure you understand any relevant health and safety guidelines, data protection regulations, and any other regulations relating to your specific treatments. Apart from keeping you and your clinic out of trouble, it helps build trust with patients and demonstrates your commitment to quality care.
6. Recruit and train staff adequately
Your clinic’s success relies on the skills and expertise of your staff. Recruit qualified professionals who align with your clinic’s values and share your commitment to exceptional patient care.
Develop a robust onboarding and training process to ensure your team is well-equipped to deliver high-quality services. Continuously invest in staff development and create a positive work environment allowing space for everyone to voice their doubts and any feedback. This will help staff feel valued in their positions, help you create a better working environment, and slow staff turnover, helping you to maintain a great, committed and qualified team.
7. Build strong referral networks
Collaborating with other healthcare professionals and building referral networks can help generate a steady stream of new patient enquiries.
Establish connections with general practitioners, specialists, therapists, and other relevant professionals in your area. Attend networking events and join professional associations to expand your referral network.
Create a system where you can refer your patients to someone else, just as they will refer them to you. You can also promote your clinic in local businesses such as hair salons or cafes, offering a discount if they arrive at your door from there.
A strong referral system enhances your clinic’s reputation and credibility. To learn more about this, check out our blog post.
8. Embrace Digital Marketing Strategies
Effective marketing is essential for attracting new patient enquiries in today’s digital age. Develop a robust online presence through a professional website highlighting your clinic’s services, expertise, and testimonials. Make the website user-friendly, easy to navigate and include all the information they will need to encourage them to book an appointment.
Create an account on Google and make sure your website shows up in the Google search for your area. You’ll need to work on search engine optimisation (SEO), including keywords prospective patients search for throughout your site.
Utilise social media platforms to engage with your target audience, share educational content, and promote your clinic’s treatments.
Consider using Google Ads to increase your online visibility and reach potential patients. We’ve written several blogs to help you with Google Ads, but if you would rather hand over the responsibility to the experts, read on to our next point.
9. Partner with a healthcare growth agency
Growth agencies look to improve different aspects of marketing for overall growth. For your clinic, you’ll need to look at working with a specialised growth agency that focuses on healthcare.
Why is this so important?
Well, healthcare marketing is different. Patients are different from regular customers, with different pain points and fears. You need an agency that really understands this, especially when setting up a private clinic.
At Ignite Growth, we’ve spent years working with practices and clinics to offer our specialised services. We don’t just send a bunch of leads your way and leave you to it.
We work closely with clinics and their teams, keeping them in the loop and helping them follow up with the enquiries that come in.
We leverage the power of social media platforms to attract potential patients. Our team will develop targeted campaigns highlighting your clinic’s unique treatments and expertise, driving patient enquiries and fostering a loyal online community.
Through strategic Google Ads campaigns, we ensure that your clinic appears at the top of relevant search results. By targeting specific keywords and demographics, we optimise your online visibility, leading to increased website traffic and new patient enquiries.
Setting up a private clinic
If you’re looking to promote your clinic, get in touch with us to find out how we can help you grow your clinic and reach new patients before you’ve even opened your doors!
We’ll need a few weeks to set the campaigns up, publish them and tweak them to ensure they reach the intended audience. We aim to get you high-quality leads – patient enquiries that are likely to convert.
For more resources on setting up a private clinic, have a look below:
Registration of independent health care service via government website
Register as a new provider with CQC
Opening a medical practice guide with requirements to start a clinic
