Starting an Online Medical Supply Business – A Short Guide

With the population continuing to increase, the need for healthcare and other related services is also mounting.

However, pressure from manufacturers to move beyond the wholesales and vice versa has put a hindrance to the potential of the industry.

That is where the significance of online medical supply businesses comes in handy.

If you have to start a medical supply company, take a step by:

Research to decide which products you have to sell

Some online medical suppliers offer thousands of items for professional use, from exam gloves to feeding tubes. Other companies such as antigen test kit suppliers offer diagnostic tests.

Once you have marked the products to sell, pick an appropriate business and brand name so that consumers can quickly attach it with medical supplies. For instance, if you have to compete with dermal filler manufacturers, you can decide on a name such as “Fine Dermal” etc.

Gather funding to begin your business

Since several medical supplies rely on the latest technology, medical products can be quite expensive. Depending upon the kind of medical supplies you offer will dictate how much money you will have to get your business up and running.

For instance, if you are offering home-care medical products such as diabetic medicines or bath seats, you might need a few thousand dollars to kick start.

Register your business

Once you have arranged enough money to begin an online medical supply business, you will have to register with different levels of government. All registration related to the federation should be done with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Consult the American Medical Association for specific licenses for specific product types. Comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act if you sell products that require a prescription (HIPAA).

Find a warehouse or an office space

For your customers to visit and see your products, you will require some kind of office or retail store to house supplies.

As more likely you will conduct transactions online, consider keeping a printer, computer, and fax machine to keep track of orders.

Seek out a medical products distributor or manufacturer

Unless you are planning to make the medical supplies for your business, you will have to find a contract manufacturer or distributor that can offer you medical supplies.

Some brands must be purchased directly from the manufacturer, while others may only be purchased from specific distributors, depending on the contracts between the manufacturer and distributor.

Find and hire qualified staff to sell your medical supplies

At first, you may be able to run your business on your own but it’s always a workable idea to hire

• a sales representative with a great understanding of medical equipment,
• a client service rep to phone calls and answer emails from customers,
• warehouse workers to package and ship orders, and
• an accountant for tracking of order shipment and billing

This gives you more flexibility in running and growing your business, and it also allows your companies to thrive operating if you go on vacation or have an emergency.  

Make a website and promote your business

Promotion is a key aspect of making a client base for your medical business. However, to get your brand name in the market, you will have a website that features high-quality content, professional photographs, and precise products descriptions you offer.

Look at other online medical suppliers and observe their prices and set your prices accordingly to remain competitive. Promote your site in medical publications and on medical websites.

The healthcare sector offers a variety of opportunities to select from. So, building an online medical supply business is a wonderful opportunity for entrepreneurs.

However, consider starting as a reseller or relocating to a popular location where your business has a better chance of succeeding. Remember the above advice the next time you want to start an online medical business.