The need for nurses outstrips the supply in many parts of the country and will continue to grow.

With the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 15 percent increase in demand for registered nurses between 2016 and 2026.

For an entrepreneur with a good agency representing reliable nurses, willing to work where the demand exists.

It‘s an opportunity to make a lot of money.

Before you can do that, you need to setup your business well.

And recruit some of these high-demand nurses – particularly those with strong hospital experience.

Research the names of your competitors. A lot of nursing agencies are out there, and you will need a name that stands out and represents you well. The national players can easily be found online, but you may need to use local directories to learn about smaller, local agencies in any given market.

Create your business entity. If you plan to create a corporation, limited liability company or limited liability partnership, you should apply to your state’s secretary of state or division of corporations. If you plan to operate as a proprietorship or partnership, then register for a fictitious business name through your county clerk, registrar or recorder.

No matter which business form you take, also apply to your city or county for a business license. All of these government agencies make information and applications available online.

Check with your state department of labor and department of health to see if you need to register your agency. While most states don‘t require this of health care staffing firms, Illinois does.

Before you attempt to secure financing, you‘ll need to create a business plan. Begin by listing your objectives under your company‘s mission statement. Afterward, list your services and the roles and responsibilities of your employees. If you have any expenses, such as rent and equipment, that will come next. Finally, you’ll need to include your pricing strategy and what you project your yearly profit to be.

Secure financing sufficient to operate for at least six months without revenue. It takes time to recruit nurses build clients. But even more challenging is that hospitals and other health care businesses often take their time in paying invoices. In the meantime, you have to make payroll and support your business costs.

Purchase professional, general liability and workers compensation insurances. Providing patient care always comes with risks. As an employer, you are liable for your nurses‘ actions and mistakes even though you do not directly supervise them. In addition, you have no oversight as to the safety and proper operation of your employees’ work environment – which places you at higher risk for workplace accidents and injuries.

You can purchase software and checks to do it yourself. Or, you can do what many startup businesses do and outsource to a payroll company, which can ensure you comply with all state and federal requirements.

Purchase mailing lists and directories of nurses in your target areas as recruiting tools. You can get these from mailing list brokers, state licensing agencies, and nurses organizations and associations. Ideally you want lists and directories that include phone numbers and emails, but this is not always possible.

Obtain a directories of hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies in your target areas. These can help you identify and contact potential clients. Trade organizations, including the American Hospital Association, sell such directories.

Develop your web presence with a website and social media subscriptions. Your website needs to establish your branding and explain clearly to nurses and clients why they should work with you as opposed to your many competitors. Many agencies list their job openings on their sites so nurses can see the opportunities an agency has available.

Create collateral marketing materials – including business cards – you can use with both clients and recruits. You will need these to follow up on conversations and also to use for face-to-face meetings.

Subscribe to job boards and sites, particularly health care and nursing industry specific sites. You can use these to sort through job seeker resumes, and to advertise your company and openings you are trying to fill.

Subscribe to a background and drug screening service. Before you can put nurses on the job, you need a thorough background check. The Joint Commission – the main accrediting agency for hospitals and other health care providers — requires facilities to comply with state laws on backgrounding.

Most state departments of health require a seven-year history in a background report and a ten panel drug screen. Assume all your clients will want this.

Interview your recruits carefully and check their license statuses and any disciplinary records. Nurses with bad histories and questionable skills can create enormous liabilities and problems for an agency, so curb your enthusiasm about a recruit enough to also do your homework. You can find sample clinical interview questions online or ask a nurse or nurse manager you know and trust to help you develop them.

Conclusion

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