This month we launched Next Level Practice, it’s a supportive community that helps people start practices. Our goal is for it to be as essential as a website. But, we’re learning a lot. We totally let this first cohort know that we’re still learning.

We’ve learned a ton!

It’s so good to start with a small group that knows you’ll screw things up, then do a massive launch. Our webinar, payment system, and more just failed on several levels. But we’ve learned and grown from it.

From a financial side, if we can get 500 people connected, that will be around $37k per month in recurring revenue. Think what we could create for clinicians with that kind of recurring money! So I think we’re onto something. Click here to request get access.

Also, Next Level Mastermind (our program for $100k+ practices) is growing like crazy. This month it hit almost $12k!

How to Get to the Next Level of Private Practice

In trying to make money in private practice you have to know what stage you are in, are you:

Starting a private practice, where you focus on keeping costs low and learning a lot!
Growing a private practice, where you look at your use of time and start outsourcing a bit.
Scaling a private practice, where you do the opposite of what you did under $100k, you outsource as much as you can and try to scale beyond yourself.

Last Month’s Popular Article & Podcasts

6 Must-Haves for a Child and Family Therapist

As a therapist who works with kids, teens, and parents, having a bag of tricks is essential. Clients come to a stranger and, almost immediately, we ask for their trust. It’s nothing sort of a miracle to do the sacred work that we all do.

The Systems to Get to the Next Level

In the last post, we covered how to get way more done using the 3E approach I use every day. Is your mind spinning? It’s ok, take it one step at a time!

Three Differences Between Six-Figure and Multi-Six Figure Practices

When I was first starting my career as a counselor, I was talking to my dad on the phone. He said, “The best way to get a raise is to leave your job”. My dad worked for the schools as a doctoral level psychologist.

Podcasts

18 Practical Tips for Rocking Out Private Practice in 2018 | PoP 272

As we kick off 2018, what better way to begin than to go through 18 tips to make sure you rock out your practice this year! Everything from setting goals to making your practice more efficient through the use of technology is included in this comprehensive list.

Your Office Lighting is Hurting Your Business and other Tips from Cheryl Janis | PoP 273

Did you know that one of the primary reasons why patients may not return to your practice is because the environment unsettles them in some way? In this episode, Cheryl Janis reveals this and other eye-opening facts relating to the design of your counseling office. She also shares easy and affordable tips and advice on how to improve your space!

Intellectual Property and How to Not Get Sued with Bobby Klinck | PoP 274

Bobby Klinck ‘fell into’ intellectual property. He used to be a Federal Prosecutor. He then joined a small entrepreneurial law firm. Soon after he joined them, he was put in charge of a patent infringement case. Bobby loved doing this and so decided to expand his services within the intellectual property area and go into it full-time.

Phil Singleton Moved to Asia and Came Back a Different Man | PoP 275

In this episode, Phil Singleton provides comprehensive tips and advice on how to improve your ranking in Google, how to write a blog post, and how Google has changed their algorithms. We’ve also included some helpful resources in the form of video guides and links to Practice of the Practice’s Blog Sprint and Authoritative Guide to Blogging blog post.

Caleb Breakey Writes A Lot of Books and So Can You | PoP 276

Caleb has always loved to write. From a young age, he was the one that wrote the family newsletters etc. He then studied journalism at University and went into sports journalism. After about two years, he felt a calling to go into books.

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!

2017 Private Practice Income: $456,983.53

How to Grow a Private Practice December 2017 Income $32,044.57
Costs of Starting a Private Practice November 2017 Income $43,930.55
How to Scale a Business October 2017 Income $39,154.45
How much money can a counselor in private practice make? September 2017 Income $29,227.97
Private Practice Income August 2017 Income $35,382.59
Is there money in private practice? July 2017 Income $62,227.47
How do private practices make money? June 2017 Income $32,578.72
How to Add Multiple Streams of Income May 2017 Income $31,329.66
Make Money in Private Practice April 2017 Income $29,248.40
How much do counselors make? March 2017 Income $33,780.54
How much do therapists make? February 2017 Private Practice Income $28,062.84
January 2017 Private Practice Income $28,686.11

2016 Private Practice Income: $323,047.89

2015 Total Private Practice Income $234,969.14 (working 25-30 hours per week)

2014 Total Private Practice Income $110,736.79 (working 10-15 hours per week)

2013 Annual Counseling Income: $54,513.97 (January-December 2013)

January 2018

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: I’ve started paring down my side of the practice to see only returning clients and ones that are directly referred to me by past clients. $1,571.40

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: $9,467.20

Private Practice Paperwork Packet: $825

Private Practice Start-Up Packet: This packet is awesome! You get over $700 worth of start-up solutions including my Paperwork Packet, Blog Sprint, best MP3s, a Workbook, and tons more! I quietly launched it recently and it’s starting to take off! $1,197

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

$2,216.45

LLPC Supervision: $842.50

Podcast Sponsorship: $972.54

Hiring out my virtual assistant: $774.26

Practice of the Practice Consultants: $5,380.80

Next Level Mastermind Group: Aimed at people above $70k that are scaling, adding clinicians, looking to save time and increase money, and have big ideas: $11,961.56

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: $67.36

One Year Private Practice Plan: 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 $398.75

Private Practice Start Phase Kit: This is the newest solution for starting a practice. It’s only $77 and helps people that are just starting a practice to thrive quicker, stay organized, and know exactly what to do. It includes an e-book, nine infographics, graphic quotes to use on Instagram to build a following, seven worksheets to learn how to attract an ideal client, and a worksheet to help you organize your first year of practice. $0

Practice of the Practice Magazine | Summer 2017: This magazine’s theme was “Start a Practice” stories and solutions for starting a private practice $0

Next Level Practice: This is the premier supportive community that combines webinars, community, and practical tools to help start a practice. $2,655

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! $14.70

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! $750

Cupla Media: They have these great videos to help you promote your business. Use code “thanksjoe” to get a ton off. $0

Jeff Gunther’s SEO Course: $0

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: $11.89

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: $17.09

LegalZoom: Legal Zoom is a great way to file your PLLC or LLC paperwork and all other legal forms: $0

SwiftFile: I just started using them instead of LegalZoom, they’re cheaper and way better with customer service! $935

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. $600

Psychology Today: It’s a great way to build your practice. $0

Gross Total: $40,658.50

Private Practice Expenses

1099 Counselors: $7,374.50

Additional Supervisor: $0

Rent and Utilities: $2,065.25

Marketing FB+YouTube+Twitter: $400

Charter Internet/website: $90

MeetEdgar: $49

Grasshopper: $81

Affiliate Commission: $0

Video Production: $200

Libsyn: $35

Dropbox: $0

Jamendo: $0

Virtual Assistants: $4,600.93

Mic Flag: $50

That’s Great News: $199

Business Cards and Rack Cards: $0

Drinks for the Office: $74 (see my blog post about should I offer drinks in my private practice)

Shipt: $12

IT Support and Hosting: $95

Family Health Insurance: $603.36

QuickBooks + Harris Group CPA: $9

Other Consultants: $3,398.40

TOTAL EXPENSES: $19,336.44

January 2018 Income Totals

Gross Income: $40,658.50 – Expenses: $19,336.44 = Total Net: +$21,322.10

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-private-practice-consultant-headshot-smaller-version 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+ .