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Starting your own business in health and healing provides many exciting options for creating a way to live and work that allows you to express your deepest core values and explore your own health and well-being more fully. Determining how to start your own business requires insight, and specific steps help ensure the process is successful.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe key elements necessary to start a business in holistic and integrative health. The health effects of job stress, possible career options in holistic and integrative health and wellness, advantages and disadvantages of being your own boss, steps to take in preparation for a career shift, and key educational issues to consider related to careers in the areas of holistic and integrative health and wellness are examined.

Innovations in health care directed toward improved health outcomes, the utilization of more varied diagnostic and holistic treatment options, and the increasing diversity of patient populations supports healthcare providers and other interested individuals who are seeking unique career alternatives, including starting their own business. Once individuals decide to create their own business, one of the important first steps is to decide how that business will be structured. This decision can impact the longevity and success of the business and has important legal and tax implications.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe the six basic types of business structures (sole proprietorship, limited liability company (LLC), cooperative, corporation, partnership, and S Corporation). The characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, and tax considerations for each type are discussed.

Just like a builder needs a blueprint to ensure a house will be structurally sound and resemble the vision laid out on the blueprint, a successful healthcare entrepreneur needs to create a business plan for their vision. Creating a business plan provides a blueprint for your business and is the first important step in achieving your entrepreneurial goals. Your business plan will provide you with a description of your business, help you understand start-up and ongoing costs, persuade others to invest in what you are creating, help you successfully compete in your target market, and support you as you assess the opportunities and challenges you may face with your new enterprise. By creating a business plan and doing your homework, you hold yourself accountable to goals and objectives and greatly improve your chance of success.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe the purpose of a business plan and the elements and functions of each aspect of that plan. Possible business exit strategies will also be reviewed.

Creating a successful business means understanding the world of finance. Although this world is often intimidating, financial literacy is a critical skill for entrepreneurs. Many businesses fail because of a lack of adequate funding, so this remains one of the biggest challenges faced by entrepreneurs when starting, operating, and expanding their business. Understanding your business' financing needs and knowing the range of financing options available to you will improve your odds of success.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe the financial issues facing new or growing businesses, including types of startup expenses, crucial financial statements for business success, common types of financing available for businesses, and key investment ratios used in business.

An effective, well-developed marketing strategy is one of the most important documents you will create in your business. This document communicates what customers receive from your company and helps secure customers for the future. Marketing strategies take time, resources, and money to implement. Since all three are often in limited supply (especially for new companies), an effective marketing strategy must be carefully and thoughtfully designed and measured.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to explain how to effectively develop a marketing strategy for a health and wellness business. The purpose of marketing for business success, the difference between marketing and sales, effective ways to conduct marketing research, the four Ps and five Fs of marketing, ways to define a target market, product profiles and life cycles, marketing vehicles and tactics, and issues to consider when marketing on the Internet are discussed.

Starting a new business takes a lot of work. Despite the intense effort required to launch a new venture, successful entrepreneurs have many diverse characteristics that provide the stamina to support their achievements and enhance their ability to create a successful business. By cultivating these characteristics, continually learning, being open to new and creative ideas and possibilities, and committing to their vision, entrepreneurs can help ensure the success of their business.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to provide an overview of the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs. The stages of entrepreneurship, the various types of mentors that may be helpful to entrepreneurs, and a more detailed examination of specific characteristics are discussed.