Mon, 10 Jan 2011
A man who established his own physiotherapy business in Hartlepool three years ago has continued his expansion by opening a fourth practice.
Paul Gough set up Paul Gough Physio Rooms in 2007 and has now started a business in nearby Guisborough, the Peterlee Mail reports.
He told the news source that while adding another premises to the firm has required "quite a sizeable investment", it has also opened up a number of new opportunities for the firm.
Over 400 people visit each of the practices every week and Mr Gough, 28, explained that keeping a "patient friendly focus from the outset" has been key to the expansion.
"It seems our patients have responded positively to the level of care that we like to offer," he was quoted as saying.
Mr Gough gained his experience in physiotherapy working for Darlington Football Club, where he spent four seasons as head physio.
"It was a great phase of my life," he remarked, adding that what he learnt in the job "definitely helped" him start his own enterprise.
He ran the firm by himself when he first set it up, but now employs a staff encompassing four secretaries and eight physios.
Those planning on following in Mr Gough's footsteps have been urged to plan thoroughly by John Grange of Business Link, who said that paying special attention to finance and budgets is crucial.
He urged would-be entrepreneurs to take their "rose-tinted glasses off" and make sure they understand how much getting the idea off the ground will cost.
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