Local nursing agency with a small office

Private hospitals, aged care providers, clinics, disability services and sometimes councils or community health organisations.

A margin on each hour worked, plus placement fees when a client hires one of your staff permanently. The monthly revenue shown is gross billings, not profit.

• Management and compliance record-keeping
• Recruiting and retaining nurses and carers
• Sales and relationship building with providers
• Handling payroll and invoicing

• Labour hire licensing in the states and territories that require it
• Verifying AHPRA registration, police checks, screening and immunisation for every worker, and keeping records up to date
• Payroll, super, payroll tax, awards and workers compensation once you hire staff directly
• Heavy cash flow pressure, as wages are paid before clients settle invoices
• Professional indemnity and public liability cover, and what happens if a placed worker makes a mistake
• Dependence on a few large clients, which can cut your income quickly if they leave

Startup costs are typically around $25,000 to $80,000, depending on your office, systems, insurance and recruitment setup. These are estimates only. Wages are paid before clients settle invoices, so cash flow pressure is worth planning for.

Monthly revenue is typically around $30,000 to $150,000, depending on the size of your staff pool and the clients you supply. That is revenue before wages and costs. Relying on a few large clients can cut income quickly.

Check labour hire licensing in your state or territory. Also check AHPRA registration, police checks, screening and immunisation records for every worker, plus payroll, super, payroll tax, awards, workers compensation, and professional indemnity and public liability cover.