As Loretta Freifeld approached the end of her university studies, she already had a clear idea of where she wanted her career to take her.
With a Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition and a Bachelor of Health Science in Naturopathy, Loretta hoped to establish her own clinic in South West Rocks, on the NSW Mid North Coast, and build a business that would allow her to support people in her local community.
"I wanted to bring more accessible, genuine healthcare to my community, and I could see that opening a naturopathic clinic was the way I could do that," Loretta said.
While Loretta had the qualifications and vision, turning that ambition into a business presented an entirely new challenge.
"Business was completely new territory for me," she said. "I had to learn how to actually get a business off the ground and build something sustainable, not just practise naturopathy."
Loretta first heard about VERTO's Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) program during her final year at university and saw an opportunity to develop the skills she would need to turn her plans into a business.
"Having a program built specifically to help new business owners get started felt like exactly the support I'd need," she said.
Loretta initially attended a session to explore her business idea, assess its viability and begin developing a plan for Natural Paths Naturopathy.
With support from the program, she developed a business plan and financial forecasts, explored potential revenue streams including consultations, products and workshops, and considered the additional costs involved in opening a physical clinic.
In August 2025, she joined SEA's 12-month Small Business Coaching service, giving her access to ongoing mentoring as she prepared to launch and grow the business.
The following month, Natural Paths Naturopathy officially opened its doors in South West Rocks.
Through Natural Paths, Loretta offers naturopathic consultations, specialising in women's health.
“I firmly believe there is no one-size-fits-all approach to health. Everyone is different, and I wanted to create a service that recognises those individual needs,” Loretta said.
With ongoing support from VERTO Business Coach Margo Muir, Loretta continued to set goals, develop a consistent brand and profile, and better understand how the business was performing.
For Loretta, the quarterly check-ins became a particularly valuable part of the program.
"They gave me a regular moment to stop and reflect: where I was, where I wanted to go, and what I actually wanted to achieve," she said. "That structure kept me on track and accountable to my own targets, rather than just reacting to whatever came up week to week."
Since opening, Natural Paths has continued to grow, with many clients returning to the clinic. Loretta is proud of how far the business has come.
"One of Loretta's strengths is that she doesn't just focus on where the business is today. She's always thinking about what she can learn, what can be improved and what the next stage could look like," Margo said. "She's been proactive in seeking out additional courses, workshops to continue building her business knowledge and skills."
Looking ahead, Loretta hopes to continue growing Natural Paths in ways that allow her to support more people in her community, including through group appointments and educational talks.
As the business becomes more established, she would also like to find ways to make her services more accessible to people who may otherwise be unable to afford them, and potentially welcome other naturopaths to the clinic.
For Loretta, the next chapter is about continuing to grow a business that stays true to why she started Natural Paths in the first place: making a positive difference in the community she calls home.
And for others considering self-employment, she has no hesitation recommending SEA.
"Starting a business, especially as a sole operator, can feel like you're figuring everything out alone," Loretta said. "Having the right guidance and someone to keep you accountable made a real difference for me."
For more information about the Self-Employment Assistance program, contact VERTO on 1300 483 786 or visit verto.org.au/our-services/self-employment-assistance.
To learn more about Natural Paths Naturopathy, visit naturalpaths.com.au.
