orthodontic practice with a baby

Practical Tips for Opening an Orthodontic Practice While Preparing for a Baby

By Eleanor Wyatt, Remote Work Wellness

 

If you are expecting a new baby, you have a lot on your plate. Many people might even think you are bonkers for wanting to open an orthodontic practice simultaneously, but you know they’re wrong. But it doesn’t mean you are not overwhelmed. 

Becoming a mother can give you new insight into how you start and run your business, among many other perks. Below are some practical tips for preparing a new business while you get ready for your baby.

Setting Up a Workspace

Even if you will not be running your orthodontic practice out of your home, you will need a home workspace that allows you to handle all of the administrative and preparation tasks involved in starting a business. Make sure you have a comfortable desk that sits at the right height and an ergonomic chair that supports your spine through long workdays. 

Also, consider giving the walls a makeover while painting a color that brings you calm or inspires productivity. And, if possible, set up your primary workstation where you can get plenty of natural light flowing through; sunshine is great for mental health and can even boost productivity.

And let’s not forget the bun in the oven—make sure you have plenty of space for your baby’s pack-n-play, saucer, and any other gear that will keep your infant happy and healthy as you launch your company.

Conducting Market Research

You may already know where you will be setting up your orthodontic practice. Still, it can help to know the area inside and out to ensure you are offering services that many other practices are not offering. Also, by researching potential competitors, you can get an idea of how you can develop a brand that helps you stand out. Furthermore, expand your research to orthodontists worldwide if you need inspiration for branding, design, or any other marketing aspects.

Writing a Business Plan

Once you’ve done some research, write a business plan that details everything possible about your practice. The more thorough your business plan, the more helpful it will be for making decisions going forward and securing funding. 

Every business plan should include an executive summary, a mission statement, marketing strategy, financial needs, financial projections, target market, milestones, and more. Ultimately, this document will direct your steps so that you can focus more on the practice that you do on the business side of things.

Staying Organized

You probably learned a few organizational hacks while in school. But that doesn’t mean you won’t be overwhelmed when launching your company. Use all the tools at your disposal to stay on track for your short- and long-term goals. 

For example, you could use a monthly planner template with a 30-day view of tasks you need to knock out. Some templates are customizable, allowing you to add videos, notes, and graphics. Planner templates are one of the best ways to organize your time differently and ensure that you hit all of your deadlines.

Creating a Brand 

Finally, many orthodontists don’t see the value in investing in marketing. But marketing is critical for all types of businesses (it’s essential to view your practice as a business). The first step to creating an effective marketing strategy is developing your brand. 

Create an attractive logo that paints your practice in the tone you were hoping to get across. Select some colors and fonts to include in your marketing materials. And build a website that showcases your brand and the services you provide. Your website should also be easy to navigate and provide useful information for your target audience.

Opening an orthodontic practice is demanding. Opening one when you are about to have a baby is next-level. Consider the advice above as you prepare to launch your practice, and keep looking for other ways to make your work and home life easier, more productive, and enjoyable!

 

Would you like to read more helpful content or take your orthodontic practice to the next level? Visit OrthoThrive.com today!