Do you have a background in the field of drug testing? If not, it may be challenging to start your own drug testing business. You’ll need to get a certification and learn how to run these tests properly so that you can offer accurate results for your clients. There are plenty of ways a new company can lose money from the very beginning if they don’t know what they’re doing – but with some helpful advice from this article, you will have all of the information you need.
Know the Regulations
When starting a drug testing business, it’s important to be aware of the regulations in your area. Each state has its laws governing how and when employers can test employees for drugs and alcohol. It’s also important to familiarize yourself with the Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations if you plan to offer drug tests for employees in transportation-related industries. If you’re not familiar with the specific regulations governing drug testing, by getting training for specimen collection you can learn the rules that are specific to your state. Being knowledgeable about the relevant regulations will help you stay compliant and avoid any legal trouble. It’s also important to keep up with changes in the law, as these can occur frequently. Staying up-to-date on regulatory changes will help ensure that your drug testing business remains viable and profitable.
Be Able to Handle the Physical Demands
As mentioned above, once you have mastered the skills needed to run a drug testing business, it can be very rewarding financially. With that being said, however, there are several physical demands associated with running this type of business that should not be overlooked. Not only will your clients subject their employees to these types of tests on an ongoing basis but they may also require you to come out at all hours of the night and day if someone has failed or is suspected of using drugs during work hours. The specific requirements for each case vary greatly so make sure you ask lots of questions before taking any job offers.
Have a Well-Timed Marketing Plan
When starting a drug testing business you will want to look for opportunities where this service would be helpful or needed. Focus on those areas first and foremost before trying anything else out. You should also research what kinds of methods work best in these types of scenarios (word-of-mouth and social media) so that when the time comes to market your services they are already implemented into your strategy. It wouldn’t make any sense if after all this planning was done you were just throwing up random ads everywhere without knowing whether people even wanted them or seeing how well they worked first.
Make sure you are also targeting the correct audience, don’t waste time and money marketing to people who won’t be interested in what you have to offer. Do your research on who would want or need your services and gear all of your marketing efforts towards them. This will help save you a lot of trouble down the road! As always, measure the success of your campaigns so that you know which ones work best for future endeavors.
Have a Robust Customer Service Strategy
When you’re starting a drug testing business, it’s important to have a robust customer service strategy in place. This means ensuring that your customers always have the best possible experience when working with you. Here are some tips for providing great customer service:
Make sure your team is knowledgeable and friendly. Your team should be able to answer any questions customers may have about drug tests or the process of getting one done. They should also be polite and helpful, regardless of the situation. Be responsive to inquiries. Customers will appreciate being treated like a priority, so make sure you respond to all inquiries promptly. Keep track of order history and preferences. When returning customers need something quickly or want to order something that they’ve ordered before, you want to be able to provide them with exactly what they’re looking for. This will help your customers feel like their business is valued and show that you care about their individual needs. Offer flexible payment options. You can’t always predict when a customer might need an extra day or two to pay their bill, so it’s important to offer flexibility where possible. Let all of your customers know whether payment in full upfront, using financing (such as Klarna), paying overtime through PayPal Credit or some other option applies in each case. By doing this upfront, you’ll avoid any confusion later on and keep everyone happy.
Offer Competitive Pricing
As a business owner, it’s important to offer competitive pricing for your services. For example, you should make sure that prices are affordable and reasonable in comparison to the market average. In other words, keep an eye on what other businesses in your area charge for drug testing kits or lab tests if this is offered by their company.
If they don’t mention whether or not there’s competition around them offering these services at all (which most likely will be the case), then speak up! Ask how much they’re charging per test; many clinics may give you information like this right away without having to ask because of course, they want you as a new client due to increased revenue coming into the business. You can also compare prices online. Don’t be afraid to negotiate, either. You may be able to get a lower price if you purchase in bulk or agree to a long-term contract. And finally, always remember to ask about discounts for members of your organization (e.g., employees, students, military personnel, etc.).
Be Willing to Think Outside the Box
One of the most difficult aspects of starting a drug testing business is thinking outside of the box and taking risks. You can’t be afraid to take some financial risk in your company, such as buying equipment that you don’t need right away (like GC/MS). If this is an area where you’re skilled and passionate, then it’s worth pursuing even if there isn’t much competition yet because when people start reaching out for help on online forums or message boards they’ll think about this problem at least once. Then when a friend or acquaintance needs a lab-tested they might recommend someone local who does good work without having any other alternatives available so it’s important not to limit yourself during these early stages of marketing.
By understanding the industry and its regulations before starting your company, promoting it properly once up and running, and staying compliant with government standards everywhere in the country that you do business will help ensure success.
