by The Health Sciences Academy — Get free science updates here.
The best way to avoid making mistakes is to know how to identify and avoid them! And the same principle can carry over into your nutrition business…
Many nutrition professionals have placed such an emphasis on positive thinking and visualisation (which isn’t a bad thing), that sometimes they forget to acknowledge and address potential problems.
Fortunately, we’re here to help!
Let’s take a look at some of the most common nutrition business mistakes, and what you can do to avoid making them…
1. Overstepping your bounds
Some nutrition professionals can get overconfident or never learn where to draw the line between advice and actual treatment.
This can take you far beyond just an ethical grey area. Misguided advice that infringes on medical knowledge or recommendations can land you in jail, or worse, cause harm to your clients!
We, at The Health Sciences Academy, abide by three very simple principles:
- Protecting our clients from harm
- Practicing applicable science
- Personalisation
And protecting your clients from harm starts with understanding what you can and can’t do for them!
This means knowing when to tell them to seek help from licensed medical professionals and understanding the scope of your capabilities.
Yes, we teach you the most up-to-date nutrition science, and you may be absolutely sure about what you’d like to recommend – but if that recommendation isn’t within your scope of legal practice, then you need to encourage your client to seek input from their physician!
The best way to avoid this particular mistake is to be up front with both your clients and yourself about what you can and can’t do.
You’re there to advise based on the scientifically backed information you’ve gained through your certification programs…
You can help them make good meal choices, discover things about their own nutrition, and meet with them to give them the necessary advice regarding healthier decisions…
All according to which certifications you’ve achieved (the more certifications, the more advice you can give).
2. Seriously undercharging
This is another mistake that should be easy to avoid, but that many nutrition professionals really struggle with.
Undercharging is an industry problem that’s forcing the price of nutrition advising much lower than it should be.
The bottom line?
You invest your hard-earned money into a premium education, and you offer your clients some of the best nutrition science available…
You’re using your knowledge to change the lives of others for the better…
And you DESERVE to be charging accordingly!
We wouldn’t expect anyone else to offer a premium product or service for next to nothing, and we – as industry leaders – need to set the bar higher for ourselves and our fellow nutrition practitioners.
Many of us get into this profession because we genuinely care about people and want to make a difference…
But this doesn’t mean we can operate free of charge.
Think of it like this:
The more money you make, the more time and resources you can dedicate to growing your practice, and the more people you can ultimately help!
That’s why we advocate for a MINIMUM of $700/USD per 8-week client session. This usually includes weekly meetings, daily supportive materials, and other methods of tracking and ensuring progress…
All tied into your customised advising packages (which you’ll create as you develop your business). Your clients deserve the best, and you can only provide that if you can provide for yourself!
3. Not recognising your own potential
This ties into not charging enough for many nutrition professionals.
Sometimes, you may not feel like you really belong in this field, or you start to doubt your capabilities…
And it can lead to a full-blown case of impostor syndrome, a lack of confidence, and a skewed personal valuation of your services.
All the positive affirmations in the world may not help you if you don’t take the time to recognise and celebrate your own potential.
You’ve gotten one of the best and most credible certifications in the industry. Meaning that we know what you’re capable of, and it’s just a matter of practicing until you’re perfect!
So, take a deep breath, relax, and start interacting with clients as much and as often as possible…
Because this will help you get used to the types of interactions that you’ll experience in the field, and experience is the best teacher.
And if you still don’t feel like you’re ready to give useful nutrition advice, then don’t be afraid to revisit your program materials (or consider expanding your certifications to include more practical information).
4. Starting your nutrition business without a plan
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to hit the ground running!
Unfortunately, far too many people mistake this for running headlong into their businesses without doing the necessary research or building out a business plan.
This recklessness can lead to a lack of proper business registration, licensing issues, and a bad reputation if you continue like that!
While we want you to be able to start your nutrition business as soon as you graduate, it’s still a good idea to create a business plan and do some basic market research…
Doing this acts as a fail safe, allows you to work within your scope, and gives you a road map that you can turn to any time that you start to experience insecurities. It’s also a great tool for investors and the future of your company (but that’s another conversation altogether).
Your business plan can also act as a checklist of things to do before you begin practicing, and it offers you a fluid idea of your professional direction…
Excited yet? Because you should be!
When you can see your business plan, it makes it real in so many ways – giving you a glimpse of your future as a nutrition professional.
5. Failing to understand the benefit of a multi-service practice
The science of nutrition is constantly evolving!
And we’ve said it before – we’ve discovered more about the way that the body functions in the last 5 years than we have in the last fifty…
So the type and number of certifications that you choose are both dependent on your professional goals and on the needs of your clients.
Needless to say, the more certifications you have, the more people you’ll be able to help.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with stopping at one certification…
Especially if you got it to augment your current professional position, or for personal use.
But if you plan on turning your nutrition practice into your full-time career, then it’s important to recognise the value of a multi-service practice.
Having a wealth of nutrition knowledge at the ready is the best way to expand and sustain a successful and truly versatile business.
With the right combination of certifications, you’ll be able to help a wide range of clients achieve their nutritional goals…
And the more clients you can help, the more likely your practice is to thrive and grow.
Interested?
When you’re ready to make that professional leap, we’ve got what you need to take your nutrition business to the next level!
