How to Run a Family Pharmacy

Opening a pharmacy is a complex and challenging process, but it can be extremely rewarding. Not only will you be able to serve your community and help people in need, but you’ll also be able to build a business that can be passed down from generation to generation. Here are some of the key considerations for opening and running a family pharmacy.

Location is Key

When choosing a location for your pharmacy, you’ll want to consider the demographics of the surrounding area. Are there a lot of families? What is the median income? What is the healthcare infrastructure like? These are all important factors to consider, as they will impact your business in a variety of ways.

The Right Licenses and Permits

Before you can open your doors, you’ll need to make sure that you have all of the necessary licenses and permits in place. Depending on your state, this process can be fairly complex. You might want to consider working with an experienced attorney to ensure that everything is in order. Before you start investing, you need to make sure you understand all that is involved in this process.   

Good Suppliers
In order to run a successful pharmacy, you’ll need to find reliable suppliers for all of your pharmaceutical needs. This can be a challenge, as there are many variables to consider (cost, quality, delivery time, etc.). However, it’s essential that you take the time to find suppliers who can meet your needs and who you can build a long-term relationship with. You can find suppliers online, like RxRise, which can provide details on their inventory.

A Strong Marketing Plan

Marketing is one of the most important aspects of running a successful family pharmacy. You’ll need to find creative ways to reach your target audience and let them know about your business. Traditional marketing methods (such as print ads and direct mail) can be effective, but don’t forget about digital marketing tactics as well (such as social media marketing and email marketing). Consider offering discounts and sales to draw new customers to your pharmacy. 

Opening and running a family pharmacy can be a complex and challenging process, but it can also be extremely rewarding. By following the tips outlined in this blog post, you can set yourself up for success! Make sure to have a good location, proper permits, trustworthy suppliers, and a strong marketing plan. With these in place, you can’t go wrong! 


Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her three-year-old husky, Snowball. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook: @LizzieWeakley; https://www.facebook.com/lizzie.weakley


Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

How Pharmacists Can Lead an Opioid Exit Plan

Managing post-op pain is a team effort—and who better to lead the team than a medication expert?

from ModernMedicine

A paper in JAPhA highlights the important role pharmacists can play in leading an opioid exit plan (OEP). The paper, “Opioid exit plan: A pharmacist’s role in managing acute postoperative pain,” is a case study of how the pain management team at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI, operates. St. Joseph’s developed a pharmacist-led OEP that has been successful in helping to manage postoperative pain and provide patient education.

Read More →

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Diabetes and Rural Areas: Pharmacists Identify Neuropathy

The incidence of diabetes is 17% higher in rural areas than it is in cities.

from Pharmacy Times

Diabetes is quickly becoming a rural problem in the United States, where its incidence has been reported to be 17% higher in rural areas than in cities. Patients in rural areas who have diabetes often have lower access to care and are more likely to be uninsured, hospitalized, or poor. Nationally, between 28% and 45% of patients who have diabetes develop diabetic neuropathy, which often leads to unregulated glycemic control if left untreated.

Read More →

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

1st Pharmacy Tech Administers Immunization

In March, Idaho passed the first law in the U.S. allowing pharmacy technicians to administer immunizations.

from Drug Store News

An Albertsons pharmacy technician has become the first in the nation to administer an immunization to a patient. The new ability for the technician is the product of new law in Idaho brought about by a partnership between Albertsons and Washington State University College of Pharmacy, who worked together to develop the first pilot program to train pharmacy technicians to provide immunizations with permission from the Idaho board of pharmacy.

Read More →

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

The World’s 10 Most Expensive Medications

From a $1.2M gene therapy to a $450K lymphoma med, these are the 10 priciest medications out there.

from FiercePharma

FiercePharma takes a look at the ten priciest medications, including a treatment for lipoprotein lipase deficiency (Glybera, $1.21 million per year), a treatment for urea cycle disorders (Ravicti, $793,632), a therapy used to treat Pompe disease (Lumizyme, $626,400), and more.

Read More →

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Finding Humor in Pharmacy Work

Coworkers and patients can offer a source of camaraderie and humor, if we only focus on finding it.

from Pharmacy Times

Sometimes the workload and expectations of pharmacists can be enormous. Add to that unexpected obstacles and frustrations. It’s easy to become irritable and grumpy at work. However, I would like to offer an antidote to that path. I’d like to suggest instead focus on the positives. Count your blessings. See the workload as job security and comfortable wages.

Read More →

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Case Study: When Chronic Pain Leads to a Dangerous Addiction

How did an educated, elderly engineer wind up with a heroin habit?

from Scientific American

It was 4 P.M., and Andrew* had just bought 10 bags of heroin. In his kitchen, he tugged one credit-card-sized bag from the rubber-banded bundle and laid it on the counter with sacramental reverence. Pain shot through his body as he pulled a cutting board from the cabinet. Slowly, deliberately, he tapped the bag’s white contents onto the board and crushed it with the flat edge of a butter knife, forming a line of fine white powder. He snorted it in one pass and shuffled back to his armchair. It was bitter, but snorting heroin was safer than injecting, and he was desperate: his prescription pain medication was gone.

Read More →

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

The Bright Future of Pharmacies

The rapid development of medical technology affects every aspect of medicine and healthcare—even pharmacies are not immune.

from The Medical Futurist

Although pharmacies play a key role in the healing process, the impression of patients about pharmacists and their drug store is often that they offer a type of commercial/business-like service. The doctor prescribes the appropriate medicine with the appropriate instructions, and the pharmacist provides it in exchange for money. A clear business.

Read More →

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.