I'm frequently asked by new nurse entrepreneurs, and sometimes seasoned nurse entrepreneurs, how much they should be spending on marketing. This is not an easy question to answer and the answer isn't the same for all nurse businesses.

Your marketing budget will most likely be a percentage of what you anticipate will be your gross income for the year. Are you having trouble deciding how much to budget for marketing? If so, start by aiming for 10 - 20 percent of your expected gross annual income.

Even if you are busy with work that has already come in, you need to continue to focus on marketing. If you let up on marketing your incoming business will also let up when you stop marketing. You need to keep the name of your nursing business and your name in front of your current customers so they think of you when they need your services.

The best time to create your marketing plan is at the beginning of your fiscal year or the end of the previous fiscal year. However, if you haven't already created a marketing plan, now becomes the best time to create it.