Saturday, February 27, 2010

Nancy's Medical Billing Operation

Today's business start up story comes from the USA - the land of opportunity.

Nancy McClendon, from the Detroit area, has recently launched Horizons Comprehensive, providing electronic medical billing and related services to organizations and doctors.

With over 20 years experience in the medical claims sector Nancy is confident that she has the knowledge required to create her own business. Medical claims procedures can be complex and in the US organizations need the confidence that their supplier will deliver a highly professional and cost-effective service.

Nancy laid the foundations for her business a few years ago when she sensed that her employer was considering major changes. Early in 2009 the cut-backs began and by October she was no longer in employment, allowing her to focus full-time on the new venture she'd been planning.

Horizons Comprehensive finally went live in December 2009. The first few contracts are already being processed and Nancy expects to see significant commercial activity in 2010, with the business reaching its target level of operation the following year.

The nature of a business usually determines the level of investment required to get it off the ground. Nancy has made a substantial investment to buy the equipment and resources that she needs to deliver a professional service from day one.

She's also having to deal with the usual problem facing a start up - a significant drop in income. When you've been earning a good salary for 20 years it can be hard to adjust to a different way of living. Nancy's not afraid of that challenge and has cut her living costs dramatically. Like the cash she's put into the business, it's an investment in her future, as are her long working hours.

Nancy has learned that when you're starting your own business you can't be an expert in everything. She had to find a way to promote Horizons Comprehensive and decided to use sales and marketing reps with the skills and knowledge needed to open the right doors. She understood that the steps taken to make potential customers aware of a business will determine the level of success.

Her advice to anyone starting their own business is: "It is not easy but at the end of the day you have a satisfaction that is unexplainable. Never give up."

If you'd like to know more about the services that Nancy's business offers, why not pay a visit to the Horizons Comprehensive website?

Have you set up a business in the last few years? Have you got a story to share? Drop us a line via email.

Read more business start up stories like this one.