Local nurse staffing agency (per-diem shifts)

Nursing homes, assisted living communities, rehab centers and clinics that need extra staff at short notice.

You bill the facility an hourly rate for each nurse shift and pay the nurse a lower hourly rate. The difference covers payroll taxes, insurance, overhead and profit.

• Sales and relationship building with facility managers
• Organizing schedules and paperwork
• Recruiting and vetting clinical staff
• Understanding of healthcare settings

• Many states require a license or registration for nurse staffing agencies, so check with your state health department
• Nurse licenses, background checks, drug screens and credential checks need to be verified for every placement
• You pay nurses before the facility pays you, so plan enough cash to cover payroll for a couple of months
• Workers' compensation, professional liability and employee vs. contractor classification rules, check with an attorney or accountant
• Facilities may require you to meet their vendor requirements before you can send staff

Startup costs are typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on your setup and how much cash you hold back to cover payroll, since you pay nurses before the facility pays you.

Many states require a license or registration for nurse staffing agencies, so check with your state health department. Also check how you will verify nurse licenses, background checks, drug screens and credentials, and what vendor requirements facilities set before you can send staff.

Monthly revenue is typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on how many facilities you serve and how many shifts you fill. Plan enough cash to cover payroll for a couple of months while you wait for facilities to pay.