You can become a physical therapy clinic owner in many ways, whether you’re a physical therapist eager to start their clinic or think the industry is worth investing in. We break down the various methods for becoming an owner and what advantages and disadvantages they offer below.
Build One from Scratch
Many physical therapists likely think of building a clinic from scratch when they consider owning a clinic. While building from the ground up offers physical therapists the most creative control of the clinic, there are some drawbacks.
For instance, this strategy comes with the greatest financial risk as it requires the most investment and capital to get the practice off the ground and keep it sustainable for a few years. Starting a PT clinic from scratch is a long and arduous process, and it could be years before it creates a steady stream of income and sustainable profit.
Acquire an Existing Clinic
Physical therapists can instead acquire an existing clinic to cut down on the startup costs and hit the ground running. Acquiring a practice offers some notable advantages—you walk into a business with an established list of clients, a marketing plan, and a proven workflow process.
You must consider other factors when buying a practice—like the existing debt—but the process is much quicker and simpler. Ultimately, acquiring a PT clinic outright is the fastest option to hit the ground running.
Partner With an Established Practice
You could consider entering an established clinic as a partner if you don’t think you’re ready to immediately become the boss and take over a physical therapy practice. Partnering could mean joining an existing practice as an associate, earning experience, and cultivating trust with the owner before buying into the partnership.
Or, you could look for any physical therapy clinics that may require extra capital and would be willing to take on a partner. This strategy is also a long-term one for getting involved in a PT clinic and has the advantage of not having to build from scratch or become the primary proprietor with all the financial responsibility that role holds.
Partner With a Gym or Fitness Studio
Rather than acquiring an existing clinic or partnering with one, starting a new physical therapy practice in partnership with another business, like a gym or fitness studio, is also possible. Many gyms include health and wellness-focused services to members, including a physical therapist on-site.
This route also has benefits as it allows you to join an existing business with an immediate pool of potential clients to cater to. And the studio likely already has a physical space to use, so you don’t have to search high and low for the right clinic space.
Let Private Practice Transitions Help You Find the Ideal PT Clinic
Private Practice Transitions can help if you’re interested in becoming a physical therapy clinic owner! We have many online listings of physical therapy practices for sale and are constantly updating with new postings. Browse our listings and contact our staff if you’d like to learn more about becoming a physical therapy clinic owner.
