December was a soft landing for the year. I worked from December 1-15. Then I took the last two weeks off. But as you can see it was huge financially!!!
- My brother was in town with his new wife and dogs.
- I stayed in my pajamas and didn’t shower all day more than I care to tell you.
- My birthday (Dec 22nd) was amazing! I had a big breakfast with my wife and two girls, went to see Rogue One (freakin’ amazing!), and had a bunch of friends/family over for Indian food (see the video in my Facebook Live feed).
Slowing down this much is really hard for me. I always have a ton of ideas that inspire me. When you slowly work toward creating a career that aligns with your passions, it’s easy to mix work, ideas, life, and passion.
Conversations when slowing down
So setting really clear goals and boundaries were important. At the beginning of the break, Christina and I sat down and talked about a few things:
- What household things would great to have finished by the end of the vacation?
- What experiences did we want to have as a family? Building a snowman was one, as you’ll see, my daughter wanted it to have a beard.
- How do we stay connected, with all these family and friend activities?
Our Polish Wigilia
My favorite meal of the year is Christmas Eve. My dad is 100% Polish, his grandmother came over when she was a teen. His parents, like many, wanted to be seen as American, not Polish. So, one of the only remnants of Sanok, Poland is our Wigilia Christmas Eve dinner. There are traditions of:
- Having unmarried people pull hay from under the table to figure out who will get married next (this year it was my two-year-old)
- We eat opwatki, a thin wafer that is similar to the Catholic wafer from communion. Each person passes theirs around and we each say, “Merry Christmas” to each person as we take part of their wafer.
- We eat lima beans and prunes (together!), potato borscht with mushrooms, fish, pierogies, and this year chicken cordon bleu (not a Polish tradition, but awesome none the less. Thanks to my brother-in-law who can’t eat fish!)
Here’s a video I made of us making pierogies as a family:
Reflections on 2016
I’m amazed at the business growth in 2016. It’s interesting that I worked less (I went from 4 days per week to 3) and made more money. So I reduced my work by about 22%, since I often would have a meeting here and there or checked some email on days off. But instead of losing 22% income, it went up. Right now, it looks like it will be about 25% higher. Next I’m going to share some big things that will help you grow faster in 2017.
How to double your income in 2017
We’d all love to make more and work less, have more passion for our work, and create an impact on the world. In 2017, I’m continuing to edit what I spend my time on. In doing this, I’m looking at how I can help the most people and put my energy into things that create the biggest change in the field of counseling and small businesses.
It’s so cool to see counselors have practices that have become the envy of others in their town. They are serving clients, hiring clinicians, and genuinely changing the world.
2017 is going to be a year of change. We have a new president that was unexpected. Changes to health care are expected. Our own families may deal with things. But, if you can improve your business, that may serve as a foundation of support to your community, finance your family goals, and give you even more of a purpose.
Here’s how you can grow in 2017:
- Slow Down School July 31-August 2, 2017: Come to the Slow Down School conference in northern Michigan. We’ll be slowing down, having campfires on the beach, looking at the stars, doing yoga, hiking, and hanging out on the water (your family can come too). Then, we’ll take that extra energy and practice sparking innovation! To apply go to: www.SlowDownSchool.com
- Pinot & Practice August 3-4, 2017: Last year, a group of counselors came together to grow their practices. I mentored them to quickly create a plan. We had hot seats, evaluated websites, and looked at their marketing plan. Then we went wine tasting. Apply at: www.practiceofthepractice.com/pinot
- Start Consulting: In one-on-one consulting, we work together so you can have your ideal practice with your perfect clients. Each plan is unique, but typical plans will have four 30-minute sessions and four 45-minute sessions over 6 months. As well, we’ll usually have other things added in like social media assessments, planning a podcast, a Facebook community, call recording, and project management software. Packages are $595-$995/month. If you’re ready to take your practice to the next level and you want a guide, schedule a free 30 minute pre-consulting interview.
Past Monthly Income Reports
People often ask me why I disclose all this information? To me, I am inspired when other people are open and honest. Then I can learn from how they succeed or fail. My hope is that this helps others to grow in their businesses!
2016 Private Practice Income
November 2016 Private Practice Income Report $29,365.76
October 2016 Private Practice Income Report $37,487.87
September 2016 Private Practice Monthly Income Report $21,233.43
August 2016 Private Practice Monthly Income Report $23,402.56
July 2016 Monthly Income Report $21,780.77
June 2016 Monthly Income Report $41,700.26
May 2016 Monthly Private Practice Income Report $22,925.73
April 2016 Monthly Income Report $31,776.33
March 2016 Monthly Income Report $27,512.81
February 2016 Monthly Income Report $17,790.27
January 2016 Monthly Income Report $20,862.33
2015 Total Private Practice Income $234,969.14 (working 25-30 hours per week)
December 2015 Monthly Income Report $20,030.69
November 2015 Monthly Income Report $28,470.34
October 2015 Monthly Income Report $23,215.45
September 2015 Monthly Income Report $22,257.19
August 2015 Monthly Income Report $23,330.67
July 2015 Monthly Income Report $17,953.38
June 2015 Monthly Income Report $28,680.91
May 2015 Monthly Income Report $13,647.91
April 2015 Monthly Income Report $18,397.42
March 2015 Monthly Income Report $18,077
February 2015 Monthly Income Report $10,258.02
January 2015 Monthly Income Report $10,650.16
2014 Total Private Practice Income $110,736.79 (working 10-15 hours per week)
December Monthly Income Report $11,746.06
November Monthly Income Report $11,695.30
October Monthly Income Report $13,784.57
September 2014 Monthly Income Report $7,084.45 (but took 2 weeks off for baby)
August 2014 Monthly Income Report $11,541.71
July 2014 Monthly Income Report $8,477.47 (Accompanying podcast)
June 2014 Monthly Income Report $8,486.38
May 2014 Monthly Income Report $8,113.28
April 2014 Monthly Income Report $7,834.16
March 2014 Monthly Income Report $10,645.70
February 2014 Monthly Income Report $6,483.14
January 2014 Monthly Income Report $4,834.57
2013 Annual Counseling Income: $54,513.97 (January-December 2013)
December 2013 Monthly Income Report $4,774.58
November 2013 Monthly Income Report total: $5,148.16
October 2013 Monthly Income Report total: $4,689.99
September 2013 Monthly Income Report total: $3,137.30
August 2013 Monthly Income Report total: $3835.74
July 2013 Monthly Income Report total: $5,691.65
June 2013 Monthly Income Report total: $4,471.29
May 2013 Monthly Income Report total: $6,022.91
April 2013 Monthly Income Report total: $2,116.96
March 2013 Monthly Income Report total: $2,476.92
February 2013 Monthly Income Report total: $2,685.12
January 2013 Monthly Income Report total: $2,707.09
December 2012 Monthly Income Report total: $2,287.97
November 2012 Monthly Income Report total: $1,219.18
October 2012 Monthly Income Report total: $3,213.87
September 2012 Monthly Income Report total: $1,361.60
December 2016 Private Practice Earning Report
What I’m going to be reporting about how to make extra money and what I’m not going to be reporting
Private Practice
I do 5-6 sessions a week in my private practice. I don’t take insurance, so it is private-pay. As a result, I don’t have many expenses in time or actual money. I also do consulting with private practice clinicians and supervision for LLPCs in Michigan (Limited Licensed Professional Counselors), a 100 hour requirement in Michigan.
Passive Income
The term “passive” makes it sound like I don’t have to do work. What I mean is money that I make that is not in direct exchange for my time. I will outline what these are under each item.
Private Practice Expenses
For a while I have been getting emails about my expenses. My total is the gross (total before expenses) and then I report the expenses and subtract to get the net (total after expenses).
Making Money in Private Practice | December 2016
Disclosure: many of the links below are affiliate links that will earn me a commission if you purchase through them, it’s one way that I help support the work I put into the website. Please click on them to help support Practice of the Practice.
Private Practice: $4,657.66
Other counselors: In 2015 we launched the Addictions Treatment: Intensive Recovery Program, which has started to bring in more clients that need additions help. I have four counselors that work for my Traverse City counseling private practice as 1099 contractors and I get a portion of what is brought in. In the past I reported just my portion, but I’m going to be reporting the gross sales that came in: $8,749.40
Paperwork Packet: $965
Consulting: (this sometimes includes building a website as part of the private practice coach session) I do private practice coaching. Usually there are three parts to private practice consulting:
- Website Evaluation and Tips
- Consulting: developing a niche within the private practice, building stronger referrals, increasing rates, and launching products to grow income
- I’m also growing my Consultant-to-Consultants side of my consulting (say that 10x fast!)
- Project management software and call recording
- This includes some speaking and events
$5,814.18
LLPC Supervision: $1,418.80
Podcast Sponsorship: $1,785
Hiring out my virtual assistant: $774.06
Mastermind Group: I launched two, six person Mastermind Group for counselors that have established private practice and want to grow. It’s a monthly meeting for six months. $348.66
E-books these sales are down since I started giving my book away for free, click here to get Practice of the Practice: A start-up Guide to Launching a private practice for free, instead of spending $9.99: $69.60
Member’s Newsletter: This is the weekly newsletter that walks people through exactly what they need to do when starting a private practice. I dropped the price from $149 annually to $17 as a one time fee $97.26
Passive Income Sources
Aweber: This is the service I use to create emails, manage lists, and create follow-up emails where they can be in order for the person. It’s super cool! $63.40
BlueHost Referrals: If you are setting up a website, this is the best hosting because of their customer service and the ability to have unlimited websites hosted! $600
Amazon Affiliate Referrals: If you are buying something on Amazon, it’d be great if you clicked the link. I get a small commission without you having to pay anything more: $22.33
NameCheap is who I use to purchase my URLs, they are so easy to work with when you’re setting up a website!: $0
Google Ads: $2.97
LegalZoom: Legal Zoom is a great way to file your PLLC or LLC paperwork and all other legal forms: $67.05
SwiftFile: I just started using them instead of LegalZoom, they’re cheaper and way better with customer service! $55
Grasshopper: This is the amazing virtual phone system I use, rather than an expensive land line system. I have the $12/month one and it is awesome. At least check them out and watch some videos. $900
December 2016 Gross Total: $26,390.37
Private Practice Expenses
1099 Counselors: $5,561.50
Additional Supervisor: $0
Rent and Utilities: $2,065.25
Marketing FB: $567.66
Charter Internet/website: $85
MeetEdgar: $49
Grasshopper: $15
Affiliate Commission: $0
Libsyn: $35
Dropbox: $0
Jamendo: $0
Virtual Assistants: $1,056.50
Business Cards and Rack Cards: $0
Drinks for the Office: $0 (see my blog post about how Starbucks saved my practice)
IT Support: $30
Family Health Insurance: $603.36
QuickBooks + Harris Group CPA: $9
Dedicated Hosting: $89
TOTAL December 2016 EXPENSES: $10,166.27
December 2016 Income Totals
Gross Income: $29,390.37 – Expenses: $10,166.27 = Total Net: +$19,224.10
REACH YOUR AMBITIOUS RESULTS
Let’s do some consulting.
CLICK HERE to discover more about my private practice consulting.
Some of the numbers from Google Ads, Amazon, NameCheap, and my e-books will not be paid until they reach a certain amount or 60-90 days after the sale.
Joseph R. Sanok, MA, LLP, LPC, NCC
Joe Sanok is an ambitious results expert. He is a private practice business consultant and counselor that helps small businesses and counselors in private practice to increase revenue and have more fun! He helps owners with website design, vision, growth, and using their time to create income through being a private practice consultant. Joe was frustrated with his lack of business and marketing skills when he left graduate school. He loved helping people through counseling, but felt that often people couldn’t find him. Over the past few years he has grown his skills, income, and ability to lead others, while still maintaining an active private practice in Traverse City, MI. To link to Joe’s Google+ .
