We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. J.C. Baker a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. J.C., thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I created the Business Hospital® to provide a standardized, comprehensive approach to helping businesses in need. Instead of operating as a consultancy, my team and I identified a better way to meet the needs of small business owners. Given that health is the substance of all reality, business health was largely ignored and needed to be addressed. Many perspectives on a healthy business focus only on income and costs. The invention of the Business Hospital® has revised that narrative, and we now have a more effective way to assess a business’s strength. Just as the body has certain aspects that are standard for all humans and that any medical professional can diagnose, businesses have standard elements that can be easily identified and addressed. I invented the Business Health Index™ (BHI), similar to a body mass index (BMI) for businesses. Humans can receive treatment for any ailment that they are suffering from. Pets go to veterinarians for treatment options. Businesses now have a Business Hospital® to address their needs. Our structure mirrors a medical hospital’s operations through our Business Hospital Institute™, co-pay system, and subsidy programs.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I created the Business Hospital® to provide a standardized, comprehensive approach to helping businesses in need. Instead of operating as a consultancy, my team and I identified a better way to meet the needs of small business owners. Given that health is the substance of all reality, business health was largely ignored and needed to be addressed. Many perspectives on a healthy business focus only on income and costs. The invention of the Business Hospital® has revised that narrative, and we now have a more effective way to assess a business’s strength. Just as the body has certain aspects that are standard for all humans and that any medical professional can diagnose, businesses have standard elements that can be easily identified and addressed. I invented the Business Health Index™ (BHI), similar to a body mass index (BMI) for businesses. Humans can receive treatment for any ailment that they are suffering from. Pets go to veterinarians for treatment options. Businesses now have a Business Hospital® to address their needs. Our structure mirrors a medical hospital’s operations through our Business Hospital Institute™, co-pay system, and subsidy programs.

Can you talk to us about your experience with selling businesses?

As part of our work, I regularly engage with buying and selling businesses. The primary lesson relevant to entrepreneurs is that you must be ahead of your exit. Many business owners do not actively consider an exit strategy because they are either working hard to sustain or they do believe they will scale to the point of exit. However, all businesses have an exit, whether voluntary or involuntary. Building your business model and preparing your operations for due diligence are immediate and ongoing behaviors for a prudent business owner.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

I work with funding, fundraising, and capital raises daily for new and existing businesses. Conceptually, the exercise and principles are the same. Every business owner should have a financial strategist and an accountant. Financial experts are needed to assist with ramp-up schedules, breakeven analyses, and forecasting. A prudent plan is what I had to execute nearly 10 years ago when I launched The Business Hospital to ensure sustainability and scale. Every business owner must understand their cost, variables, and worthiness before launching or scaling a business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thebusinesshospital.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-j-c-baker-51216b113/