Knowing your competition

If you are setting up your own physiotherapist practice, you will probably already be aware of any other physiotherapists practicing in the same area as you. You may also be aware of other practitioners such as osteopaths or sports therapists who are also based in the same location.

You will need to find out as much information as you can about these other practitioners in your area so that you know all you can about your competition.

Find your competitors

To find who is your local competition you can:

• Use the internet to search Google for physiotherapists in your area.
• Visit www.physio2u.co.uk the CSP's directory of private physiotherapists
• Visit www.physiodirectory.co.uk the OCPP directory of private physiotherapists
• Look in your local BT, Yellow Pages, and Thompson'��s directories

When you have found a list of your competitors ask yourself these questions:

• Who are your competitors?
• How much local or regional competition do you face?
• How many practitioners work at each practice?
• Where are your competitors geographically?
• Do you know their charging/fee structure?
• Are you competitive, more expensive, less expensive, or similar in price? How long are their treatment sessions?
• Do they offer more services than you?
• Do they specialise in particular treatment areas or not? If so which?
• Do the specialised practices take a large amount of patients in areas of specialist treatment?
• What are your competitors facilities like, bigger, smaller, more modem, better sited, better equipped?

By answering these questions you can make decisions on the types of services you are going to offer, the prices you are going to charge and you can check out which areas are under or over serviced by other physiotherapy practices. You can use the information you find to help you to maximise your profits.