How do you test if there is a market for what you are offering?

[slipperandpjsmum]

Early days in my plan to set up my own business. I just wondered how do you do the research to test if people want what you are offering?

have you been asked by people to provide it?
not a daft comment - when I was employed I did homers so when I left employment the homers became my main work.

No, no one has asked me to provide it.

hmmm - are there other people selling / doing what you plan - how do they market themselves, how did you spot your niche : its a tricky thing

Its a break off from what I do now. I am a social worker looking at setting up a therapy business. There certainly is demand but if I can get in with the people who could refer or look at the private market. I am going on a course in a few weeks around how to get GPs to refer to your practice but also want a base of private clients as know the payments can be very slow from local authorities/NHS. If I can't get referrals they will be my only source of client base.

Aha - have you looked into the costing and funding side - would what you do come under essential or optional - as sadly in these days even the best idea will not get paid for if the cash has to go somewhere else.

Local councils are not too bad on paying - DH normally waits 45 days. But I do know that SS departments can be slower.

Can you go under the umbrella of another practice initially - like physios or something - so that you are part of a known service till you are known more and then strike out fully alone?

I intend the continue working in my existing role in the early days - just to make sure!

I did think about renting a room in an existing business that had some kind of connection and have looked on line at a few reasonably prices rooms. I won't need much really to set up. Think my main outlay will be how to attract clients which is my main worry and links back to how I work out if anyone would want me!!