KristinMcNealus, DPT, MBA

Customer service. This can often be neglected, especially if your patients are getting referred to you or if you are the contracted clinic for a particular payer. Do not forget that patients are your customers. How are your patients greeted when they arrive at your clinic? Is there a receptionist who may or may not welcome them by name? Do they have to wait at a counter to check in? This is the first impression client have of your clinic… and it is often overlooked because we

Now that you have the ground work, people need a way to reach you. I would recommend not giving out your personal information, and separating your business from you. You can get a free phone number through Google Voice or similar service with it’s own voicemail. This way you don’t have to give out your personal number, carry two cell phones, or set up a land line that you have limited access to. You can put the app on your phone and now your cell phone receives your personal

Did you move ahead with the first three steps? Good work! See - you can do this! Here we go: Determine any permits you may need for your particular license. Consider both state and federal level. I got a city business license, using my home address. If you have a partner or group of partners, you may want to organize a corporate structure. Since I was a sole proprietor, I kept my DBA for 3 years before becoming an S-Corp. As a physical therapist, I cannot operate as an LLC (L

As we move forward with some specific steps to take, I want to say that you may be surprised with how much people are willing to help you! Do not be afraid to share your idea and vocalize what your needs are. I am not good at asking for money, and funding was not what I needed initially anyway. But I had friends who helped with the logo and the website and giving advice I didn’t know I needed. This would not have gotten off the ground without each and every person I interacte

I am sure that many of you have had an idea for a business, and dreamed of taking that leap from not “working for the man!” to be your own boss. For me, this wasn’t my dream… I was at a job where I did not like changes being made and saw a need that I could fill. I am in health care, and don’t know the first thing about business. I think this nativity actually worked in my favor. There are likely many reasons that you have kept your own dream from becoming a reality… It’s not