You went into the health business because you want to help people, but you still need to get them to come to you. Whether you're a doctor, naturopath, midwife, massage therapist or dentist, your small business hinges on your ability to attract and retain clients. Here are five ways to foster and build your health business:

1.Focus on customer service. The easiest client to get is the return client. By working on a strong sense of customer service, from yourself to your assist staff, you'll be ensuring a positive experience and a repeat patient.

2.Stand out. If your office is located in a family-focused area, try offering weekly appointment slots with included daycare. If you're situated in a fast-paced urban environment, try home visits for busy professionals. Do something that makes your service stand out from the pack.

3.Offer accessory products. If you're a massage therapist, offer home aromatherapy oils. If you're a nutritionist, offer pre-made meals, recipe books, or shopping guides. If you're a physiotherapist, have wraps on hand. Whether you want to give these away or sell them is up to you.

4.Be a part of your community. Get involved in your local community. When you're first starting out as a health professional, you need to build a level of trust. One of the quickest ways to do that is to be a known face. Whether you're sponsoring and coaching a soccer team, posting on your local community's online message board, or just sparking up conversations at the dog park, it all adds up.

5.Remember word-of-mouth. Especially in the health field, potential clients are likely to refer to their friends and peers for advice on choosing a professional. By implementing referral rewards and working on the customer service mentioned earlier, you'll make sure that you're on the top of that list.