counselling practice business plan

Home > Blog > Mental Health Private Practice Business Plan PDF Template

Mental Health Private Practice Business Plan PDF Template

Courtney Gardner, MSW

Hate writing progress notes? Join thousands of happy therapists using Mentalyc AI.

Turning Your Passion Into a Business: Creating a Counseling Private Practice Business Plan

As a therapist, you have already gained a wealth of experience and knowledge in helping people overcome their mental health challenges. Opening your private practice is the next logical step in your career progression. However, being your own boss means that you will have to manage various aspects of your practice, such as finances, marketing, and administration. You must have a well-structured business plan to ensure that your practice thrives and you can provide the best possible care for your clients. This article will help you identify your goals , target market, and strategies for growth and enable you to make informed decisions on how to run your practice sustainably and successfully.

What is a Private Practice Business Plan and Why do You Need One?

Owning your practice is attractive for many reasons. However, developing a solid business plan is essential before taking the plunge. A business plan for a therapy practice outlines your vision for the practice and how you plan to achieve it. It helps to ensure that you have  considered all necessary details  and are ready for any challenges. Without a comprehensive business plan, you could quickly become overwhelmed, underfunded, and struggle to keep your practice running.

Let Mentalyc AI Write Your Progress Notes Fast

✅ HIPAA Compliant

✅ Insurance Compliant

✅ SOAP, DAP, EMDR, Intake notes and more

✅ Individual, Couple, Child, Family therapy types

✅ Template Builder

✅ Recording, Dictation, Text & Upload Inputs

A well-crafted business plan will guide you through obstacles and help ensure the success of your private practice. Although it requires a lot of effort upfront, it provides you with a roadmap to follow and the assurance that you are ready for this new venture. With passion, planning, and persistence, you'll be on the right track to turning your vision into reality.

Creating a Compelling Business Description and Service Offerings

Your business description and services are vital for attracting clients. Make sure to explain precisely what you do in a simple yet engaging way. When highlighting your services, focus on the key elements defining your practice while appealing to your ideal clients. Being authentic and letting your passion for the work shine through is indispensable. Remember, your business description is your chance to connect with potential clients, so speak with empathy, warmth, and care directly to them.

Finding Funding Sources and Estimating Costs for Your Mental Health Private Practice

Funding a new private practice can be challenging , but options are available if you do your research. As a therapist, your passion is to help people rather than to handle numbers and finances. However, to turn your passion into a sustainable business, you must consider the costs of starting and keeping your practice running.

Take your time back! Get your progress notes done automatically.

A solid business plan should include a financial plan that estimates your expenses. Some costs to account for include:

• Rent for office space. Get estimates from commercial realtors on average rates in your area—factor in additional expenses like utilities.
• Equipment like a desk, chairs, a laptop, and a phone system. Price out options to determine a budget.
• Marketing materials include a website, business cards, and advertising. Estimate costs for an essential website and 500 business cards to start.
• Licenses and insurance. Research the fees in your state for business licenses, liability insurance, and malpractice insurance.
• Employees. Calculate their salary and benefits costs if hiring other therapists or support staff.
• Miscellaneous. Leave room in your budget for unforeseen costs like office supplies, accounting services, and legal fees.

With those estimates in hand, you should explore various funding options. You may finance costs, take out a small business loan, get a line of credit, crowdfund, or search for grants available for therapists and counselors. It is crucial to compare rates and terms from different sources to find the best solution for your needs.

A financial plan and securing funding are two essential steps in turning your passion into a sustainable private practice. You should do your homework, get multiple estimates, build a buffer for unexpected costs, and explore all options for financing your dream. With a thoughtful budget and funding, you will be ready to confidently open your doors and start helping your clients from day one.

Increase your practice's revenue and reduce therapist burnout

Critical elements of a successful counseling private practice business plan.

You should include the following crucial elements to create a successful business plan for a mental healthcare private practice:

Mission Statement

A mission statement is essential to defining the purpose and values underpinning your practice. It is a powerful tool to articulate your vision and communicate your practice's core beliefs to your stakeholders. A well-crafted mission statement can help you stay focused on your goals and guide you toward making decisions that align with your values.

For example, your mission statement could be:

• To provide empathetic counseling and therapy services for individuals and families in our community.
• To offer compassionate, client-centered mental health services to help individuals live their happiest, healthiest lives.
• To deliver comprehensive mental health services to help clients overcome life's challenges and thrive.

Have your progress notes automatically written for you!

Business description.

The business description section is vital to your website or marketing materials. It concisely summarizes your practice, target clients, and your services. This is your chance to highlight your experience, qualifications, and what makes your business unique. It's essential to mention all the different services and approaches you offer to provide potential clients with a clear understanding of what you can provide. You should also specify the type of therapy or counseling you provide, such as individual, couples, family, or group therapy.

For instance:

• I offer counseling and therapy services to adults, teenagers, and children struggling with anxiety and depression. My integrative approach combines cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness practices, and a holistic view of wellness.
• I specialize in helping busy professionals and parents navigate life's stresses and reconnect with their purpose and priorities.

Financial Plan

Your financial plan will detail your startup costs, operating expenses, revenue projections, and how you'll finance your business. Estimate costs for insurance, marketing, and supplies. Project potential income from clients at your desired caseload and fee. Look into small business loans, crowdfunding, personal savings, or investor funding.

Operational Details

Include business logistics, including your business structure (LLC, corporation), location, equipment, marketing plans, partnerships, employees, and licensing/certification needs.

Market Analysis

Before starting your therapy practice, conducting a market analysis to determine your fees is essential. You can research your target market and competitors to assess demand and determine competitive advantages. Additionally, you can investigate what other local therapists are charging to set your fees at a reasonable and competitive level.

Competitive Advantage

In your business plan, it is essential to include a section that outlines your competitive advantage. This will help you identify what distinguishes you from other therapists. In this section, describe what makes you unique, such as your experience, credentials, treatment approach, or niche.

For example:

• Utilizing an innovative, trauma-informed methodology, I have helped clients overcome trauma for over ten years.
• I have a master's in social work, am a licensed clinical social worker, and have twenty years of experience helping clients using a mindfulness-based, solution-focused approach.
• My goal is to provide a safe, compassionate space where you can gain insight into yourself and your relationships, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, set healthy boundaries, improve communication, and find greater peace and fulfillment.

Financial Projections

To plan for the next three to five years, you should create financial documents such as income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. Consider using key metrics and ratios to track your business's performance. Remember to factor in costs like rent, insurance, marketing, and your salary. If your revenue initially falls short, you should explore options like small business loans or lines of credit to help fund your business.

Avoiding Common Mistakes and Ensuring a Competitive Advantage

Creating a business plan that avoids common errors and establishes a competitive edge is imperative to develop a thriving private practice. You can accomplish this with careful planning and preparation. By anticipating potential obstacles and planning for lasting expansion, you can position your business for sustainable success.

Some of the significant mistakes to avoid include:

• Not having a business plan at all . Without a roadmap for your business, you'll struggle to secure funding or make critical strategic decisions. Sit down and create a comprehensive plan, even if you have to start small. You can always revise it later.
• Underestimating costs . It's easy to overlook expenses when you're passionate about your work. Do thorough research on the costs of renting office space, insurance, marketing, and other necessities. Build financial projections that account for both fixed and variable costs.
• Lacking a competitive advantage . What makes your practice unique? Maybe you specialize in a niche treatment area or offer flexible hours and payment options. Identify what sets you apart and makes you the best choice for clients. Promote this advantage in your marketing.
• Neglecting marketing . Don't expect clients to appear magically. You must actively market your services through a professional website, social media, networking, advertising, and more. Build marketing into your business plan and budget.
• Not planning for growth . A good business plan considers your initial startup and strategies for long-term growth. For example, you may eventually want to hire associate therapists, move to a larger office space, or expand into new treatment areas. Plan how you will fund and manage this growth.

Legal Requirements for Opening a Private Practice

Establishing a private practice requires meeting all the necessary legal requirements. These requirements may vary depending on your location and the type of practice you plan to run. Researching and understanding the legal obligations is crucial to ensure that your private practice starts on solid ground.

The most common legal requirements for opening a private practice include the following:

It is crucial to ensure that you meet your state's requirements for practicing, which typically include holding a master's or doctoral degree, obtaining supervised clinical hours, and passing your state's licensing exam.

Malpractice Insurance

Therapists must carry malpractice insurance to protect against lawsuits. Shopping around for coverage that meets your needs and budget is necessary.

Business Registration

To legally establish your business, you must register it as a sole proprietor, partnership, or corporation. Check with your local government to see if you require a business license or permit to operate in your city or county. Additionally, registering your business means you may need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS, similar to a Social Security number. You'll use your EIN when filing business taxes and other financial transactions.

HIPAA Compliance

As a healthcare provider, it is crucial to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This means establishing privacy policies, using secure electronic records systems, and training staff on HIPAA guidelines. Ensuring that your practice is configured to safeguard client information appropriately is essential.

These essential legal steps ensure your private practice opens on the right foot. Dotting your I's and crossing your T's from the beginning will allow you to focus on building your business with confidence. If you feel overwhelmed, don't hesitate to consult a lawyer specializing in healthcare practices. Their guidance can help set you up for success.

Your Own Comprehensive Business Plan Checklist

To ensure you're on the right track,  ask yourself the following questions :

• Have you defined your mission statement and business goals?
• Have you researched your target market and competitors?  Identify client demographics, unmet needs, and similar businesses in your area.
• Have you created a financial plan with realistic projections?  Test your assumptions and get feedback from experts.
• Do you have a marketing plan to attract clients?  Consider your online presence, referral sources, and networking opportunities.
• Have you outlined operating expenses like rent, supplies, insurance, and technology?  Estimate high to be on the safe side.
• Have you developed a business entity like an LLC and obtained the necessary licenses?  Check with your state's requirements for mental health professionals.
• Have you created professional branding materials like logos, websites, and business cards?  Consistency builds credibility and awareness.
• Have you secured an office location that is professional, comfortable, and HIPAA-compliant?  Look for space that fits your budget.
• Do you plan to address unexpected challenges and adapt your business model based on results?  Be flexible and willing to change aspects that are not working.

Mental Health Private Practice Business Plan Template

This Mental Health Private Practice Business Plan PDF Template offers a comprehensive and structured framework for launching and managing a successful mental health clinic. It covers essential aspects such as market analysis, services offered, financial planning, and operational strategies. Ideal for therapists and psychologists, it's an invaluable tool for creating a tailored business plan that addresses the unique challenges of the mental health sector.

You have the passion, skills, and determination to establish your private practice. It's time to take action and turn your dream into a reality. Building a solid business plan may seem daunting, but it's the key to setting yourself up for success. With a roadmap, you'll have a clear direction and avoid costly mistakes. You are responsible for doing this right to yourself and your future clients. So, get started! Put on some music, roll up your sleeves, and begin working towards opening the doors of your private practice.

Are you looking for a way to simplify your progress note-writing and administrative tasks? Consider  Mentalyc ! Our HIPAA-compliant , AI-powered progress note generator uses audio recordings to create detailed progress notes quickly and easily. And with  our team plan , you can ensure that everyone on your team is on the same page. Sign up today and experience the benefits of Mentalyc for yourself!

After creating a business plan, you may still have questions about how to implement it. Here are some frequently asked questions about private practice business plans.

How often should I review and revise my business plan?

Reviewing and updating your business plan every 6-12 months is recommended to ensure it aligns with your current goals. As things change, it is critical to ensure your plan is up-to-date. Evaluate what strategies are working and what are not, and make necessary adjustments accordingly.

How do I get funding for my private practice?

There are a few options for funding a private practice:

• Personal savings : Therapists typically fund their practice using their savings. It is recommended to save enough money to cover initial costs such as office space, equipment, marketing, and operating expenses for at least 6-12 months.
• Business loan:  You can obtain a small business loan from a bank by providing financial projections, tax returns, and personal and business financial statements. Interest rates will vary based on your credit score.
• Crowdfunding : Websites such as Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and GoFundMe enable you to raise funds from individual donors while providing rewards in exchange and generating excitement for your new practice.
• Business credit card : If you plan on going this route, using a credit card specifically for business expenses is a good idea. Look for cards that offer rewards like cash back, travel points, or office supply credits, and be sure to pay the balance in full each month.
• Angel investors : Wealthy individuals may invest in small businesses in exchange for equity, but be wary as it may result in losing control and direction. Consider this option only as a last resort.

What are the keys to a successful business plan?

The keys to a successful private practice business plan are:

• A clear mission and vision.
• Realistic and well-researched financial projections.
• A marketing plan targeting your ideal clients.
• Competitive positioning.
• Planning for challenges and obstacles.

Review and revise as needed to keep your plan up-to-date and aligned with your goals. With hard work and persistence, you'll be on your way to opening a successful practice.

How do I price my services?

Pricing plays a critical role in your business plan. Research comparable mental health practices and align your costs and revenue goals to determine a competitive price. Factors that affect pricing include:

• Your credentials, experience, and specialty
• The complexity of treatment and time spent with clients
• Local market rates
• Cost of your office space, supplies, and other expenses
• Desired income

Begin by calculating your minimum hourly rate to cover expenses. Then, add a profit margin to achieve your income target. You may provide discounts for long-term clients, package deals, or sliding scales for low-income clients.

What insurance plans should I accept?

When  deciding which insurance plans to accept , research the most common designs in your area and consider accepting those with reimbursement rates that you can expect for your target client demographic.

Consider accepting:

• Medicaid (if eligible)
• Commercial PPO and HMO plans from major carriers

It's fundamental to become credentialed with each plan you want to join, understand their requirements, paperwork, billing procedures, and claims processing timelines, and only accept plans that will provide adequate reimbursement for your services.

How do I market my private practice?

Effective marketing strategies for a private practice include:

• Building an online presence with a professional website and active social media profiles
• Reaching out to local healthcare providers, community organizations, and businesses for referrals
• Advertising in relevant online directories and local print/radio sources
• Creating brochures, flyers, and business cards to distribute locally
• Joining professional associations for networking opportunities and credibility
• Offering free consultations and workshops to generate interest
• Asking satisfied clients for referrals and testimonials

Start with the basics and build your marketing efforts over time as your practice grows. Focus on consistency, delivering excellent client service, and using metrics to track your progress.

• Bassi, B. (2023, March 27).   Starting a Private Practice? Don't Make These Common Mistakes in Private Practice!  TelepsychHealth.  https://www.telepsychhealth.com/blog/common-mistakes-to-avoid-private-practice/
• Bhatla, A. (2022, October 28).   Start Your Psychiatry Private Practice pt.1: 4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Take The Leap . Osmind.  https://www.osmind.org/blog/4-questions-to-ask-yourself-when-opening-your-private-psychiatry-practice
• DeGrossa, B. (2022, May 30).   How To Develop A Private Practice Business Plan . CounselingWise.  https://www.counselingwise.com/key-parts-of-a-successful-business-plan/
• GoodTherapy. (2019, September 23).   How to Create a Solid Business Plan for Your Private Therapy Practice .  https://www.goodtherapy.org/for-professionals/business-management/private-practices/article/how-to-create-a-solid-business-plan-for-your-private-therapy-practice
• GoodTherapy. (2020, January 8).   Your Checklist for Starting a Private Practice in Counseling .  https://www.goodtherapy.org/for-professionals/business-management/private-practices/article/your-checklist-for-starting-a-private-practice-in-counseling
• Griffin, M. (2016, November 1).   Starting a Private Practice: Part One . CAMFT | California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.  https://www.camft.org/Resources/Legal-Articles/Chronological-Article-List/starting-a-private-practice-part-one
• Lavinsky, D. (2023, December 26).   Mental Health Private Practice Business Plan Template . Growthink.  https://www.growthink.com/businessplan/help-center/mental-health-private-practice-business-plan

All examples of mental health documentation are fictional and for informational purposes only.

See More Posts

7 Benefits of Starting Your Own Private Practice

Process vs. Content in Therapy

Tips for Supervising MFT Interns in Mental Health Private Practice

Mentalyc Inc.

Copyright © 2021-2024 Mentalyc Inc. All rights reserved.

Meet the team

About our notes

Feature Request

Privacy Policy

Terms of Use

Business Associate Agreement

Contact Support

Affiliate program

Who we serve

Psychotherapists

Group practice owners

Pre-licensed Clinicians

Become a writer

Help articles

Client consent template

How to upload a session recording to Mentalyc

How to record sessions on Windows? (For online sessions)

How to record sessions on MacBook? (For online sessions)

Popular Blogs

Why a progress note is called a progress note

The best note-taking software for therapists

Writing therapy notes for insurance

How to keep psychotherapy notes compliant in a HIPAA-compliant manner

The best Mental health progress note generator - Mentalyc

Counseling Private Practice Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Counseling Private Practice Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Counseling Private Practice business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Counseling Private Practices.

Below is a template to help you create each section of your Counseling Private Practice business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Peaceful Minds is a private counseling clinic that provides family and marriage counseling to residents living in or near Tigard, Oregon. The clinic primarily services couples and families with a variety of concerns, such as communication problems, mental illness, major life transitions, and affairs. The clinic employs highly-experienced counselors to assist clients with their mental health, help them navigate life challenges, and improve their quality of life. Counseling sessions can be conducted in-person or remotely, and an affordable sliding scale fee system is offered to families earning below the local median salary.

Peaceful Minds is led by Lydia White, who has been a marriage and family therapist for ten years. She has worked in other private practices around the community and has sustained a very positive reputation. Lydia is trained in Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT) and will use that as her primary means of helping clients. However, she will employ other therapists who provide other forms of relationship and family therapy.

Product Offering

Below is a list of the counseling services that Peaceful Minds will offer to its clients:

• Marriage counseling: This service helps married clients to overcome challenges in their marriage/relationship. Marriage counselors can help married clients with communication problems, issues with intimacy, resolving major conflicts, and more.
• Family counseling: This service helps families work through their challenges and conflicts as a whole. Some example issues include integrating blended families, healing from divorce, and working through grief.
• Individual counseling: By request, clients who are part of family or couples sessions can have one-on-one sessions with the therapist to work further on their concerns. In these sessions, therapists help clients work through their emotions and thoughts concerning their marriage/family problems. Therapists can also help clients treat and cope with any mental health challenges they live with.

Clients will also receive a complimentary initial intake to ensure they find a therapist that can help them with their goals. All sessions are offered in-person or remotely, depending on the client’s request.

Customer Focus

Peaceful Minds will primarily serve residents that live in Tigard, Oregon and the surrounding areas. Tigard is one of Oregon’s largest cities and has a large population of families, married couples, and divorced couples. The city also has a very high median salary, which means that many residents have the disposable income to invest in counseling. The demographics of Tigard show that there is an enormous target customer base that will benefit from our services.

Management Team

Peaceful Minds is led by Lydia White, who has been a marriage and family counselor for ten years. She primarily utilizes the Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT) technique to help her clients with their marriage or relationship concerns.

While Lydia has never run a private counseling practice herself, she has worked in private clinics for the duration of her career. She began her counseling career in 2013 shortly after completing her Master’s degree from Portland State University and obtaining her counseling license.

Success Factors

Peaceful Minds will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Affordable sliding scale fee: Counseling is an expensive investment for many clients. That’s why Peaceful Minds offers an affordable sliding scale fee structure to families who make less than the local median income.
• Remote or in-person sessions: Some people are eager to meet their counselors in person again, while others feel more comfortable connecting remotely. We allow clients to determine what form they want their sessions to take. We will only override this policy if another pandemic or public health concern occurs.
• Specialization in marriage and family matters: Very few clinics in town specialize in marriage and family counseling. Peaceful Minds will focus primarily on these matters, attracting this clientele from our competitors.

Financial Highlights

Peaceful Minds is currently seeking $300,000 to launch. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the office space and purchasing equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and marketing costs. Specifically, these funds will be used as follows:

• Clinic interior build out and design: $50,000
• Office equipment, supplies, and materials: $20,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $150,000
• Marketing costs: $50,000
• Working capital: $30,000

The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Peaceful Minds.

Company Overview

Who is peaceful minds, peaceful minds history.

After surveying the local client base and finding a potential clinic location, Lydia White incorporated Peaceful Minds as an S-Corporation on February 1st, 2023.

Currently, the business is being run remotely out of Lydia’s home office, but once a lease on the office location is finalized, all operations will run from there.

Since incorporation, Peaceful Minds has achieved the following milestones:

• Found a potential commercial space and signed a Letter of Intent to lease it
• Developed the clinic’s name, logo, social media accounts, and website
• Determined space design and required equipment
• Hired a virtual assistant to help with bookings and schedules

Peaceful Minds Services

Industry analysis.

The past few years have seen a revolution in the counseling industry. The importance of mental health and the benefits of talking with a counselor to cope with life’s challenges is on the rise. More than ever before, people are eager to work with a therapist as they navigate their challenges and improve their quality of life. This is creating a greater demand for therapists and counselors all around the nation.

There have also been some major shifts in marriage and divorce rates over the past few years. Divorces escalated during the pandemic, and marriages have been in decline for decades. We have also seen the rise of diverse families, such as families with same-sex parents and blended families. All of these changes create family, relationship, and marriage challenges that are far more diverse than decades past. Luckily, the stigma around therapy is dissolving, so more people than ever before are looking to counseling for help with their relationship or family matters.

Another recent change in the industry is the transition to remote services. Many people get their counseling sessions online through phone or video chat therapy, and this trend is expected to continue. However, now that the pandemic is over, more people want to go back to in-person sessions. Clinics that provide both options will have more resilience in the future.

A significant challenge that private practices face is major online therapeutic services. These services connect clients with therapists online from anywhere in the world. These essentially are “gig” opportunities for therapists and have gained popularity for several years for their affordable cost and convenience.

However, there has been significant pushback against these services due to the lack of quality counseling received and shady payment practices. As a result, many clients are returning to private practices to find therapists they can develop a true relationship with.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Peaceful Minds will serve the residents of Tigard, Oregon and its surrounding area. Peaceful Minds will primarily target clients who are married and have families. The community of Tigard has a large population of married couples, so there are many clients that could utilize our services. The community also has a significant proportion of affluent and middle-class residents that will be willing to pay for quality services.

The demographics for Tigard, Oregon are as follows:

Customer Segmentation

Peaceful Minds will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Married couples
• Millennials

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Peaceful Minds will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Riverside Therapy Center

Riverside Therapy Center has been a popular therapeutic clinic in town since 1988. It is a larger clinic, employing dozens of therapists, all with different backgrounds and areas of expertise. They offer counseling for individuals, couples, and families and have psychiatrists who can help with medication management. Clients who go to Riverside can get help coping with a diagnosis, navigating a major life transition, or working through conflict with their partners or family.

Tigard Mental Health And Wellness

Tigard Mental Health And Wellness was established in 2002 to address the mental health concerns of the community. Like Riverside, it is a larger clinic with many therapists to choose from. These therapists come from many backgrounds and offer a variety of treatments and counseling for many disorders and situations.

Portland State University Counseling Services

Portland State University offers affordable therapy offered by Portland State University. It is run by students who are training to become licensed therapists but do not have a license yet. They are supervised by their professors, who are trained, experienced, and licensed therapists. Because licensed professionals do not conduct the services, they are offered at an affordable rate and only to clients who are in the lowest economic brackets of the community.

Competitive Advantage

Peaceful Minds will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Peaceful Minds will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Convenient location
• Qualified and highly trained team of counselors and therapists
• Diversity of counselor team and clientele
• Comfortable, relaxing atmosphere
• Sliding scale for low-income families
• Option for remote or in-person sessions

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Peaceful Minds is as follows:

Website/SEO

Peaceful Minds will develop a professional website that showcases pictures of the clinic and the services we provide. It will also invest in SEO so that the company’s website will appear at the top of search engine results.

Social Media

Lydia White will create the company’s social media accounts and invest in ads on all social media platforms. The company will use targeted marketing to appeal to our target demographics.

Doctor’s Offices

Lydia will visit multiple doctors and primary care offices to ask them to refer our clinic to any patients looking for services. We will ask them to keep a handful of our brochures on hand and hand them out to whoever requests a counseling clinic or is in need of one.

Ongoing Customer Communications

Peaceful Minds will maintain a website and publish a monthly email newsletter to provide tips on common marriage and family challenges.

Peaceful Minds’s pricing will be moderate so clients feel they receive great value when utilizing our services. We will bill our clients’ insurance companies first and then charge our clients directly for whatever their plans don’t cover.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Peaceful Minds.

Operation Functions:

• Lydia White will be the Owner of Peaceful Minds and oversee the general operations of the company. She will also provide therapy services to her initial client base.
• Lydia recently hired a virtual assistant named Sanuye Grant. She will help with scheduling appointments, basic marketing tasks, and other general administrative duties.
• As the company’s clientbase increases, Lydia will hire several other counselors with diverse counseling techniques and backgrounds to meet her clients’ needs.

Milestones:

Peaceful Minds will have the following milestones completed in the next six months.

• 07/202X Finalize lease agreement
• 08/202X Design and build out Peaceful Minds
• 09/202X Hire and train initial staff
• 10/202X Kickoff of promotional campaign
• 11/202X Launch Peaceful Minds
• 12/202X Reach break-even

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

Peaceful Minds’s revenues will come primarily from therapy services. The company will bill the patient’s insurance for services provided, and the remainder will be billed to the patient. In cases where insurance is not accepted, the entire service will be billed to the patient.

The major cost drivers for the company’s operation will consist of salaries, supplies, equipment, the lease, taxes, and marketing expenses.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and pay off the startup business loan.

• Year 4: 100
• Year 5: 150
• Annual rent: $100,000
• Average counseling session cost: $150

Financial Projections

Income statement.

Balance Sheet

Cash Flow Statement

Counseling Private Practice Business Plan FAQs

What is a counseling private practice business plan.

A counseling private practice business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your counseling private practice business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your Counseling Private Practice business plan using our Counseling Private Practice Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Counseling Private Practice Businesses?

There are a number of different kinds of counseling private practice businesses , some examples include: Clinical psychology, Industrial-organizational psychology, Marriage and family therapy, and Social work.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Counseling Private Practice Business Plan?

Counseling Private Practice businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start a Counseling Private Practice?

Starting a counseling private practice business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Counseling Private Practice Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed counseling private practice business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. A solid private practice business plan should include market research on the counseling industry, potential market size and target customers, your mission statement, information about the services or products you will offer, marketing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your counseling private practice business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your counseling private practice business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Counseling Private Practice Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your counseling private practice business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws.

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your counseling private practice business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms.

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations.

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events.

7. Acquire Necessary Counseling Private Practice Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your counseling private practice business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation.

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your counseling private practice business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising.

Learn more about how to open a successful private practice :

• How to Open a Counseling Private Practice Business

Counseling Private Practice Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

Counseling Private Practice Business Plan Template

If you want to start a counseling private practice or expand your current counseling practice, you need a business plan.

The following Counseling Private Practice business plan template gives you the key elements to include in a winning business plan. It can be used for a mental health practice, therapy practice, marriage counseling or family therapy.

You can download our Business Plan Template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

Sample Business Plan for a Counseling Private Practice

Below are links to each of the key sections of a successful private practice business plan. Once you create your plan, download it to PDF to show banks and investors.

I. Executive Summary II. Company Overview III. Industry Analysis IV. Customer Analysis V. Competitive Analysis VI. Marketing Plan VII. Operations Plan VIII. Management Team IX. Financial Plan

Comments are closed.

Counseling Private Practice Business Plan Home I. Executive Summary II. Company Overview III. Industry Analysis IV. Customer Analysis V. Competitive Analysis VI. Marketing Plan VII. Operations Plan VIII. Management Team IX. Financial Plan

How to Start a Private Practice in Counseling

Free Counseling Private Practice Business Plan Template

13 Min Read

If you ever wish to make a difference by providing counseling services, then starting a private practice could be your ideal path.

There are many people across the country struggling with mental health issues, relationship problems, major life changes, and more. Yet access to quality mental health services can be limited. You could fill that need by offering compassionate counseling support.

Starting a counseling private practice does require proper licensure, education, training, and experience, but you don’t need to break the bank. Just an appropriate office space, your counseling expertise, and a passion for making a difference in people’s lives.

So if you’re a licensed counselor looking to be your own boss, this guide is your map to private practice success. We’ll show you everything, from launching your business to making it thrive. You’ll learn the ins and outs of launching your business legally and ethically.

Let’s get started and first learn about the things you should know before starting a private practice.

Considerations before starting a private practice in Counseling

Before jumping straight into opening your private therapy practice, take time to reflect on the big picture of this career move. Here are some key considerations:

Proper Credentials

First and foremost, you need to ensure you meet all the certification and licensure requirements in your state to legally operate. This typically means having at least a master’s degree in counseling or clinical social work.

Clinical Experience

While licensure allows private practice, most therapists find it extremely valuable to first gain 3-5 years of experience working in agencies, hospitals, or group practices. The clinical hours and mentorship better prepare you.

Business Acumen

You may be an excellent counselor, but running a private practice means wearing many other hats too – marketing, billing, scheduling, accounting, HR if you have staff, etc. Brushing up on entrepreneurial skills is wise.

Financial Resilience

It can easily take 12-18 months to build up enough of a steady client base for your income to feel stable. Having a financial runway of savings or supplemental income during that ramp-up phase is crucial.

Work/Life Balance

Private therapy practice is incredibly demanding, especially when just starting out. Be honest about your ability to maintain self-care, relationships, and general life responsibilities with such a workload.

If you take the time to diligently prepare yourself in each of those areas, you’ll be setting your counseling private practice up for long-term success. Going in half-ready tends to lead to burnout before you can really get started.

Now let us get to the point.

How to start a private practice in counseling

• Determine your counseling niche
• Create a detailed business plan
• Register your private practice
• Open a business bank account
• Obtain necessary licenses and permits
• Setting up your office space
• Get a business insurance
• Get your finances in order
• Marketing your counseling practice

1. Determine your counseling niche

One of the most critical early decisions for your private practice is defining your counseling niche. This specialty area will not only shape your professional identity, but also streamline your marketing efforts and attract the types of clients best suited for your talents.

Perhaps you want to focus on a particular demographic like teens, new mothers, or any other community. Or maybe you’ll zone in on specific mental health issues that ignite your passion – grief counseling, addiction recovery, couples therapy, etc.

The key is zeroing in on that intersection of YOUR interests and experience, mixed with an underserved market demand.

As business owner and therapist Meaghan Rice says, “Choosing a niche is everything.” Clients gravitate toward specialists who deeply understand their specific needs and lived experiences.

So ask yourself: “Who do I most want to help, and what clientele aligns with my background?” That guiding question will illuminate the path for intentionally cultivating your expertise in a focused area over time.

While picking a niche may feel limiting initially, the opposite is true. Becoming a recognized expert within that specialty niche allows you to attract more of your potential clients through targeted marketing. It shapes your entire practice environment and burnishes your reputation.

Determine the niche that energizes you most, then lean in fully. That intentional focus and client alignment sets you up for the greatest clinical impact – and business success.

2. Create a detailed business plan

Before starting, you absolutely must develop a private counseling business plan to guide your new endeavor. This living document will serve as your operational roadmap and help secure any needed financing.

Start by articulating a crystal clear vision for your practice’s overarching goals and specialties. Follow that with a mission statement that encapsulates why you’re launching this business and who you aim to serve.

From there, dive deep into mapping out all the tactical details:

• Executive summary of your business
• Market analysis of your local competition and target demographic
• Service offerings, treatment specialties, and fees
• Startup costs and financial projections for at least 3 years
• Marketing strategies across channels like social media, SEO, networking
• Technological needs like EHR systems and telehealth capabilities
• Operational logistics like office location, suppliers, permits, and regulatory requirements

As a business owner, be meticulous in thinking through every minor component. Outline worst-case scenarios and contingency plans. The most successful private practices are born from astoundingly thorough preparation and planning. You can get help from a business planning app that guides you through the entire process.

Crafting this master plan takes hard work, but it will enforce clarity while stress-testing your viability before opening the doors.

Not very good at writing? Need help with your plan?

Write your business plan 10X faster with Upmetrics AI

Plans starting from $7/month

3. Register your private practice

Officially registering your private therapy practice is a major milestone – you’re establishing the legal bedrock to support your professional vision long-term. It’s about far more than just hanging a shingle. Here’s how to lay that sturdy foundation:

Choose Your Structure Strategically

Selecting the right business entity is a cornerstone decision. For many private practitioners, the Limited Liability Company (LLC) offers an ideal balance of personal asset protection and attractive tax benefits akin to a sole proprietorship.

However, LLC isn’t always permitted for licensed psychologists based on state regulations. In those cases, a Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC) designed specifically for licensed professionals could be your optimal route, functioning similarly but complying with applicable rules.

The S corporation (S corp) is another option worth considering, shielding personal assets while allowing you to file business profits/losses separately.

Get legal affairs organized

After you’ve decided on your structure, it’s time to do the remaining legal paperwork. Register your official business name and obtain all required local/federal tax ID numbers – the core building blocks of your legal identity.

Then ensure you’ve satisfied every relevant state licensing requirement for your field based on a careful review of regulations in your area.

Secure Qualified Legal Support

Don’t go it alone – enlist an experienced business lawyer to provide invaluable guidance on entity selection and confirm you’ve checked every compliance box from day one.

Registering your practice is more than just paperwork; it’s an important investment in credibility and sustainability. By making informed structural decisions, handling paperwork diligently, and leveraging legal expertise, you’re establishing an unshakable foundation to build lasting success.

4. Open a business bank account

Separating your business and personal finances by opening a dedicated bank account for your counseling practice is absolutely essential. This proper accounting step protects your personal assets and simplifies bookkeeping.

When first opening the account, you’ll need to provide your business registration documents and IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN). Shop around for a bank that offers small business-friendly checking and savings accounts.

You’ll also want to apply for a business credit card to keep all practice expenses completely separate from personal charges. Many business cards offer lucrative cash back or rewards programs tailored for entrepreneurial spending.

Just be diligent about paying those balances in full monthly to avoid running up interest fees or debt. Using credit cards as a financing mechanism is extremely risky if not disciplined.

With dedicated business banking and credit accounts, you’ll experience far fewer financial headaches and liabilities. Establishing this proper money management foundation sets you up for an organized, stress-free operation from day one.

5. Obtain necessary licenses and permits

One of the most vital steps in launching your private therapy practice is making sure you have all the proper licenses and permits squared away. It is vital to address every legal requirement and follow every regulatory detail from the start.

First up, you’ll need to get an Employee Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. Think of it as a social security number for your business. You’ll use it for tax purposes, opening a business bank account, hiring employees or contractors, and more.

Next, you must obtain a National Provider Identifier (NPI) which is required for working within the healthcare system and submitting information electronically.

If you’ve been employed in healthcare before, you likely already have an NPI, but if not, you’ll have to apply through the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System.

Finally, ensure you understand and follow all licensing requirements for your state and locality when operating a counseling business. This includes staying compliant with HIPAA laws to protect client privacy and keeping up with any mandated continuing education.

Handling all these boxes may seem tedious, but it lays the groundwork for a legitimate, above-board practice.

6. Setting up your office space

Creating an optimal counseling environment demands careful planning around client comfort, privacy, and professionalism – whether you opt for a physical office or virtual space.

For Physical Offices:

Location is critical. Seek an accessible spot with ample parking that signals convenience. The office itself should have soundproofed spaces for sessions and a warm, inviting waiting area or reception. Don’t skimp on secure record storage either.

For Virtual Setups:

Identify a dedicated, quiet room with optimized lighting, professional backdrops, and acoustics for glitch-free video conferencing. Invest in high-quality webcams and microphones. Virtual waiting room software can also enhance the experience.

Most importantly for any telehealth component, only use HIPAA-compliant platforms and communication tools to protect client privacy and records. Cybersecurity is non-negotiable.

While virtual spaces are often more cost-effective initially, intentional design and amenities are still paramount. Your office environment shapes crucial first impressions and the overall client experience.

Whether physical or virtual, thoughtful planning around location, technology, and therapeutic ambiance paves the way for your practice’s success. Prioritize these factors from the start.

7. Get a business insurance

Obtaining proper insurance is vital when starting a private practice. As a counselor, you need insurance to protect your business and clients if problems arise. Two essential policies are professional liability insurance and general liability insurance.

Professional Liability Insurance

Also called malpractice insurance, covers insurance claims of negligence or malpractice during counseling sessions. It pays for legal fees and damages should a client sue you.

General Liability Insurance

General liability insurance covers injuries or accidents that happen on your property like a client slipping and falling. It pays for clients’ medical bills and other costs.

Cyber Liability and Business Owners Insurance

For full protection, also consider cyber liability insurance and business owners’ insurance. Cyber policies cover data breaches and privacy violations. Business owners’ policies bundle general liability, property damage coverage, loss of income coverage, and more.

Work with experienced insurance agents to find the right policies for your private therapy practice. Make sure you understand what each covers, along with their coverage limits and deductibles.

Prioritizing comprehensive insurance gives peace of mind when seeing clients, knowing you have financial protection. It also shows clients you take your practice seriously by having appropriate business safeguards in place.

8. Get your finances in order

Getting your finances squared away should be job one when starting a private counseling practice. Whether you’re setting up shop downtown or in a suburban office park, the money side of things needs to be airtight from day one.

The first step is securing startup funds. How much will you need?

That depends on overhead costs like rent, utilities, insurance, marketing, and any hired help. Your funding options include personal savings, loans from friends/family, small business loans, investors, or certain grants. Just be careful not to overextend yourself financially right out of the gate.

Next, put together a detailed budget projecting your income and expenses for at least the first year. Having a financial roadmap lets you set competitive rates for counseling services while still covering your costs. It also highlights areas where you may need to rein in spending.

You’ll also need to decide if you want to accept insurance, private pay only, or a combination. Many therapists start out private pay to avoid insurance hassles, then add insurance panels as their practice grows. Make sure this decision aligns with your target clientele and financial goals.

The good news is that starting a private therapy practice has relatively low financial barriers to entry compared to some other businesses, especially with the rise of online therapy.

Typical startup costs include LLC filing fees around $100, free EIN and NPI numbers, $40-60 /month for practice management software, $20-40/month for website hosting, $200-1000+/month for office rent, and an optional $400-1500 one-time fee for a website template.

Carefully forecasting and planning for costs lays the groundwork for your practice’s financial health and sustainability long-term. With smart money management from day one, you’re setting yourself up for success in this exciting new venture.

9. Marketing your counseling practice

Getting the word out about your new private practice is crucial. You’ll want to craft a marketing message that clicks with the clients you hope to serve and find effective ways to spread that message. Here are some key strategies to market your counseling business:

Build Your Brand

Branding helps your practice stand out from the crowd. This includes visuals like your logo and color scheme, but also the overall vibe and personality you present.

Consistency is key across all your marketing channels to build client familiarity and trust over time. Consider hiring pros of using online tools to develop branding elements.

These days, a strong online presence is non-negotiable. Your website acts as a virtual front door to your practice, providing info about services, credentials, and more. Make sure it reflects your brand identity and offers helpful resources like blogs or online scheduling.

Social media is also a must for connecting with prospective clients where they’re already hanging out online. Research which platforms your target clients use most, then focus your efforts there with engaging, shareable content.

Network Away

Online marketing is powerful, but don’t overlook tried-and-true in-person networking too. Attend events, conferences, and meetups related to counseling to build connections and potential referral sources. Getting involved with local community groups is another way to expand your reach.

Put these marketing techniques into practice, and you’ll be well on your way to attracting a steady stream of clients excited about the unique services you offer. Stay flexible, keep refining your approach, and watch your private practice thrive!

Launching your own private counseling practice provides meaningful independence and financial upside for mental health professionals. However, achieving success requires a private counseling business plan , passion, and hard work.

Follow the steps in this guide to create a practice you enjoy while providing meaningful care to your community. The journey will stretch you, inspire you, and allow you to reach your greatest potential as a counselor.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks, AI-assistance, and automatic financials make it easy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do i need a business license for a private practice in california.

Absolutely – launching a private practice in California requires obtaining the proper business licenses and permits. While specifics vary across cities and counties, you’ll generally need a business license, fictitious business name filing, plus any additional local permits mandated for businesses in your area. Thoroughly research the precise licensing steps and requirements for your city or county.

Is it hard to start a private practice?

Starting a private practice definitely presents its fair share of challenges. Building a client base from scratch, managing finances effectively, marketing your services, and staying on top of administrative duties all come with steep learning curves initially. 

However, with a genuine passion for the work and diligent preparation, starting a thriving private practice is an eminently achievable goal. To make things easier, you can get help from a business planning app that guides you through the entire process.

What business structure should I choose?

Most therapists opt to register their private practice as either a sole proprietorship or a limited liability company (LLC). Sole proprietors file business taxes under their personal tax ID, while an LLC allows you to file separately and offers legal protection by shielding personal assets – though with somewhat more administrative paperwork involved.

How much does it cost to start a private practice?

Upfront costs can vary significantly based on location, office size, insurance needs, and other expenses. Most experts estimate initial startup costs of around $10,000 to $15,000 or higher for licensing, office space, furnishings, liability insurance, marketing, legal/accounting support, and capital to sustain operations until building a client base. Ensure a substantial financial runway for the first year.

About the Author

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

Reach Your Goals with Accurate Planning

No Risk – Cancel at Any Time – 15 Day Money Back Guarantee

• Sign up and Get Listed

Outside of US & canada

Be found at the exact moment they are searching. Sign up and Get Listed

• For Professionals
• Worksheets/Resources
• Find a Therapist
• Find a Treatment Center
• Find a Marriage Counselor
• Find a Child Counselor
• Find a Support Group
• Find a Psychologist
• If You Are in Crisis
• Self-Esteem
• Sex Addiction
• Relationships
• Child and Adolescent Issues
• Eating Disorders
• How to Find the Right Therapist
• Explore Therapy
• Issues Treated
• Modes of Therapy
• Types of Therapy
• Famous Psychologists
• Psychotropic Medication
• What Is Therapy?
• How to Help a Loved One
• How Much Does Therapy Cost?
• How to Become a Therapist
• Signs of Healthy Therapy
• Warning Signs in Therapy
• The GoodTherapy Blog
• PsychPedia A-Z
• Dear GoodTherapy
• Share Your Story
• Therapy News
• Marketing Your Therapy Website
• Private Practice Checklist
• Private Practice Business Plan
• Practice Management Software for Therapists
• Rules and Ethics of Online Therapy for Therapists
• CE Courses for Therapists
• HIPAA Basics for Therapists
• How to Send Appointment Reminders that Work
• More Professional Resources
• List Your Practice
• List a Treatment Center
• Earn CE Credit Hours
• Student Membership
• Online Continuing Education
• Marketing Webinars
• GoodTherapy’s Vision
• Partner or Advertise

• For Professionals >
• Business Management >
• Private Practices >
• Article >

Your Checklist for Starting a Private Practice in Counseling

If you’ve already finished school and are licensed in your state, this checklist can help you open a thriving private practice. If you’re new to the world of therapy and looking for help becoming a therapist, review this guide instead.

Understand the Challenges of Running a Practice

Working for yourself might seem like a dream come true, especially if you already love being a therapist. But private practice requires a hefty dose of business acumen and adds myriad new responsibilities to your daily life. So talk to other therapists in private practice to get a better understanding of what they like and what they don’t. Some important considerations include:

• The expenses of private practice. You will likely face higher taxes if you are a business owner or self-employed. You’ll also have to plan for retirement and fund your own health insurance. If you hire employees, you’ll need to pay payroll taxes, offer benefits, and provide a competitive salary. Office space, phones, internet, and other costs can further eat into your budget.
• Work style. When you’re in private practice, no one else tells you what to do. You’ll have to manage your own time, which can be both a blessing and a curse. Time management and organization skills, as well as significant motivation, are key here.
• The endless paperwork. You’ll need to seek insurance reimbursement, ensure you comply with state, local, and federal laws, provide your clients with the right forms, and keep track of therapy notes. Plan to spend at least an hour or two of each day managing the business side of your work.

Understand Various Legal Requirements

Every state and municipality has its own regulations governing businesses. Plan to consult with a business lawyer so you can follow the laws in your area. Some important considerations include:

• State and local zoning laws that may limit where you can practice.
• Whether or not you need a business license.
• How best to incorporate your business as a separate entity.
• Malpractice and professional liability insurance.
• Scope of practice concerns.

Formulate a Business Plan

If you seek a loan to start your business, you’ll likely have to provide a detailed business plan . Even if you’re funding everything out of pocket, a business plan can help you succeed as early as possible. This should be an evolving document that changes as you learn and do more. 

Some things to include in your plan include:

• How much money you need to make each year to keep practicing.
• How much you need to bring in each year to earn a decent living.
• Financial goals, such as earning enough to hire a second therapist.
• Your marketing plan.
• Goals for the first months, first year, and first 5 years. This enables you to track your progress and assess whether your plans are realistic as you hit various benchmarks.
• A loan repayment plan, if you need a loan.
• Funding options. For example, do you have savings that can help fund your marketing costs?

Make Decisions About Office Space and Logistics

To run a successful business, you must have a safe and inviting space to see clients. That doesn’t mean you have to invest in a fancy office. Some therapists cordon off a room in their home to use as a home office. Others share office space with another therapist. No matter what you choose, you’ll need to ensure you’ve budgeted for all of the following:

• A secure, confidential space to meet clients.
• Office furniture and decorations.
• Office technology, such as a phone or answering service, and internet access.
• Security concerns. Depending on the client population you counsel and where you see clients, you may need to consider security issues. Some therapists may need to install a panic button or ensure their office is only accessible with the right security code.

Decide Whether to Hire Help

An office administrator can save you time, and possibly money, by answering the phone, managing paperwork, tracking down payments, and performing other key duties. If you pay an administrator half of what you make hourly, for example, the time the administrator frees up is time you can spend earning money on paying clients rather than dealing with administrative hassles.

Of course, hiring help also presents some additional expenses: salaries, benefits, payroll taxes, and more. Spend some time weighing the costs and benefits of employees such as a receptionist, office manager, or even a second therapist.

Join Insurance Provider Panels

Joining insurance provider panels can help you find more clients since you’ll be listed as part of the insurer’s provider network. Joining a provider panel allows you to receive payments directly from insurers. This makes therapy more accessible and affordable and may expand the network of clients to whom you can provide therapy. Start by applying to the largest providers in your area. You can usually find an application and information about joining the provider panel on the insurer’s web page.

Network with Other Therapists

Networking is free marketing. Other therapists can offer tips for running a business, refer clients to you, and serve as a sounding board when you need advice. But networking is about more than just letting someone know you’re opening an office. Networking should be a reciprocal relationship built on mutual trust, not name-dropping. So get to know other therapists. Invest in their work and businesses. Find ways to partner on projects together. Gaining the respect of your colleagues takes time, but it is well worth the effort.

Market Your Business

There are dozens of ways to market your business and not all require a significant financial investment. You’ll need a quality website, since many clients find a therapist by searching online. Others search for specific problems or questions, then choose their therapist when they find a therapist who offers a quality, compassionate answer. So a website full of useful information and inviting language is a potent marketing tool.

Some other affordable strategies for marketing your business include:

• Posting useful, helpful content on other websites. Writing blog posts and web articles raises your profile and displays your knowledge.
• Attending professional seminars where you can network with other therapists.
• Answering mental health questions on online forums and message boards.

Providing quality care remains the single most important thing you can do to market yourself, so don’t spend too much time focusing on marketing gimmicks. Establishing a niche can help you do the best possible work, since clients who know you’re experienced at treating a particular issue may recommend you to friends and family.

Other strategies for marketing your business include:

• Creating a social media following.
• Investing in social media or Google ads.
• Getting quality, professional-looking business cards.
• Investing in a professional headshot to post on your website and use in bios for professional events.

Set Clear Policies

Clear policies help you better manage your practice while ensuring clients know what to expect. Some considerations include:

• What types of payment are you willing to accept?
• What will you charge per session? Can you offer discounts, such as sliding-scale fees or multiple session discounts?
• What is your appointment cancellation policy?
• What specific steps will you take to protect client privacy and comply with laws such as HIPAA ?
• What will you do if a client is a danger to themselves or to others?
• Under what circumstances will you refer a client to another treatment provider?

It’s important to memorialize these policies in clearly worded forms. But don’t assume that clients will read through these forms. During your first session, discuss your policies with clients. This fosters a sense of mutual trust and ensures clients understand what they can and can’t expect when they choose you as their therapist.

Assemble the Right Forms

Building forms might seem like a pain, but over time, they can streamline the process of running your practice. Some forms to consider include:

• A client intake form to gather basic information that can inform treatment.
• Client disclosure forms that outline your office policies, privacy policies, and other important guidelines.
• An informed consent document authorizing treatment.
• A referral form for clients whom you refer to other therapists.
• Insurance reimbursement forms built to comply with the guidelines you must follow for each provider panel you join.
• Client information forms that ensure all basic client information is in one place.

Do Excellent Work

Ultimately, the most important marketing strategy is to do good work for clients whom you are qualified to treat. When you make a meaningful difference in someone’s life, they are more likely to recommend you to a friend. Supporting a person as they change their life for the better can be immensely fulfilling, making it easier to juggle the many roles you must fill in private practice.

GoodTherapy offers many resources, including a directory to help you market your business, continuing education seminars to help you sharpen your skills and become a better manager, and a wide range of articles about best practices in the field of mental health. Become a member today so you can begin growing your business.

References:

• DeAngelis, T. (n.d.). Are you really ready for private practice? Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2011/11/private-practice
• Establishing a private practice. (2019, March 22). Retrieved from https://ct.counseling.org/2019/03/establishing-a-private-practice
• Getting on insurance panels: Preparing for the process. (2012, December 17). Retrieved from https://www.counseling.org/news/aca-blogs/aca-member-blogs/aca-member-blogs/2012/12/17/getting-on-insurance-panels-preparing-for-the-process

Learn from Experts: Improve Your Practice and Business

Trusted by thousands of mental health professionals just like you.

Every month, GoodTherapy will send you great content, curated from leading experts, on how to improve your practice and run a healthier business. Get the latest on technology, software, new ideas, marketing, client retention, and more... Sign up today .

More Like This

• For Therapists: 7 Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Practice
• It’s More Than the Couch: Decorating a Therapeutic Office
• 6 Benefits of Appointment Scheduling Software for Therapists
• Techniques for Therapists: Coping with the Low Season

JAVASCRIPT IS DISABLED. Please enable JavaScript on your browser to best view this site.

The Practice of Therapy

Resources, tips and advice for success private practice.

• PsychCraft LLC
• Starting Phase
• Growth Phase
• Scaling Phase
• Money Matters In Private Practice | The Course
• G-Suite for Therapists E-Course
• Accounting Templates for Google Sheets
• Love the Work, Hate the Job | The Course
• Paperwork Packet
• Session Note Helper 2.5
• The “Works”
• Profit First Resources
• The Full Focus Planner™
• Private Practice Office Set-Up
• Private Practice Start-Up Guide
• Start Your Website
• Podcast Notes
• Starting Up
• Creating Websites
• Productivity
• Facebook Live
• Private Practice Marketing
• Online Therapy
• Office setup
• More Resources…
• FOCUS GROUPS!
• LISTEN TO THE PODCAST!

In private practice you have to wear a “business hat”…

When starting or building a counseling private practice you not only have to wear a “therapist hat” but also have to wear a “business hat”. Because in reality, a private therapy practice is a business! Even if it is a non-profit organization, you have to know something about business models and have some basic business knowledge to make it successful.

In this article, I want to outline some basic “business models” for running a private therapy practice (not business plans; I hope to cover that later). First of all, what is a business model and how does it differ from a business plan? One definition of a business model is simply the design or plan for making money. It is how you identify where the money comes from and how it flows in the private practice. It also defines who runs the business and provides the services. A business plan differs in that it is more specific. It lays out specific financial goals and how you will reach them.

To put all this in counseling or therapy jargon:

Business model = treatment approach/model, business plan = treatment plan.

Let’s look at some examples business models for private practice as a therapist. What I will focus on is how the money “flows” or comes from in these examples which ultimately determines your salary as therapist.

Business Models

(download your free copy of this infographic), sole proprietor model.

This is essentially the simplest model and what most people tend to think of when they go into private practice as a counselor. In this model you are responsible for generating your own referrals, record keeping and paying yourself from your own business account. Clients contact you and simply pay you directly for your time. You are also responsible for paying your overhead or the cost of doing business (rent, electric, phone, advertising, and other office expenses, etc.). Your net profit (take home pay) is the money you have left after paying the bills. As mentioned already, it is the simplest way to do business.

Another, sub-category of this model would be if you decided to take third-party or insurance payments. This adds another layer of overhead in that you would have to make insurance claims or hire someone to do this for you. There are several pros and cons of accepting third-party payments. Pros would be that it does tend to increase the number of referrals you get. It also can be more convenient for clients who want to use their health insurance benefits. The cons are that you will have to settle for what the insurance companies say they will pay you (lower rates) and that extra layer of overhead I mentioned.

Co-op or Shared Practice Model

In this business model you essentially operate as a sole proprietor but with the benefit of sharing overhead costs with a partner or other therapist. Each person involved in the private practice operates independently. You would still be responsible for generating your own referrals, record keeping and paying yourself. The difference though is being able to split or share the cost of running an office with someone else that is a therapist.

Many times people that partner like this will also take the step of forming an LLC or other legal partnership, like a corporation, to protect themselves legally and have a way to handle the accounting and tax implications. It does require that you form a legal entity which can be done easily with a service like  Swyft Filings * or other attorney services. Also check with an accountant about possible tax implications in forming an LLC or other business entity. It is an extra step and expense. But do seek the advice of a professionals on this (attorney, CPA, etc.).

*In the spirit of full disclosure, this is an affiliate link which simply means we receive a commission at no extra cost to you if you use this link to purchase. Thanks in advance for using the link!

Contract Counseling Models

With this type of business model there are two sides of the equation to consider. One side of this would be the private practice owner that is “hiring” a contract counselor to provide therapy services for the practice. The other side of this would be from the perspective of the therapist that was being contracted. Usually with this model the fee contract counselor receives is either on a per case flat rate or as a “split fee”. With a “split fee” the private practice owner would give the contract counselor a percentage of the total fee collected for the practice. Typical fee splits are 60/40 or 70/30. For example, with a 60/40 split, the therapist that provides the session keeps 60% of the total fee collected and the practice keeps 40%. A flat rate is just a set per session fee the practice would pay the therapist for seeing that client at their practice regardless of what is collected from the client.

Contract Counseling “PRN” Practice Model

In this business model, the private practice is still operating as a sole proprietor or business entity, but is essentially “free lancing” or offering to provide their services as a therapist to other established practices. It may or may not be a group practice. This is often referred to as “PRN” or “as needed” work or. It might be that an established practice has a waiting list and they need to get clients in to see a counselor before the clients decide to go somewhere else. The practice would contract with a therapist to see those clients for set fee or split fee. Another example would be if a private practice therapist were to go on vacation and needed another therapist to be on-call or see clients for them while they were gone.

With the contract counseling models of private practice, the therapists you have “hired” are not employees and they will need to bill you for their services to keep the IRS happy. At the end of the year you will need to complete a 1099 form with the IRS showing what you paid them during the year. If a person is working as contract therapist, they are responsible for paying their own withholding and income taxes. If you are working as contract therapist it might be to your advantage to pay quarterly, prepaid taxes. Again, consult professionals on this!

Group Practice Models

Group practice business models can vary quite a bit. Typically, they use one of the previous mentioned shared practice or contract counseling models or a combination of them with the counselors working within the group.

Independent Group Member Model

In this sub-model of group practice, each person that is part of the group is considered in private practice on their own, but are simply using the “brand” of the group to promote their own individual practice. It might be that the group practice does all of the advertising and referral generation as part of what they provide in return for the fee split. Any number of fee arrangements could be made as part of this type of business arrangement. Usually with a group practice like this, there is one or two “owners’ of the practice and it is usually set up as a legal entity. Essentially, all of the members of the group are contracted by the practice to provide services. Some or all of the group members might own a part of the practice.

Employer Group Model

The other thing a group practice might do is simply employ therapists for a set salary or hourly rate. Unless it is a large practice, hiring therapists as employees has some disadvantages. Number one is that, as an employer, you have to provide benefits such as disability insurance and health care for those people employed by the practice. All of this adds to the overhead expense and somewhat to your liability. You also have to abide by the employment laws of your state and pay for workman’s compensation insurance. You have to track and pay withholding taxes for employees. Needless to say, as the owner of this type of private practice you will be managing employees and be responsible for much more paperwork. This, of course, affects your bottom line. Of course for therapists working for a private practice that has employed them you are technically not in their own private practice. They are an employee of that private practice.

There is not one counseling private practice business model that is necessarily better than another. It all depends on your individual needs and financial goals. For most therapists in private practice, they start as a sole proprietor and build from there. And there are some that simply start as a contract counselor for an already established practice. Regardless of how you start or grow your private practice as a counselor, educate yourself and just do it!

Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT

Comments are closed.

Privacy Overview

Counseling Private Practice Business Plan

• Previous Post

As Mental Health Professionals, you pursue your passion – Helping People. However, your practice is also your business! If your business is not successful, you won’t be able to pursue your dream of helping people for long.

If you’re wondering how to start a private practice, the first step in the process is to create a Counseling Private Practice Business Plan.

Why a business plan? Have you ever gone on a road trip for vacation? What did you do to make your vacation as fun and exciting as it could be? You planned! Is my car ready for the trip? Do I know where I am going? Do I need hotel reservations? What is the best route to take me there? Do I have the tools to make my trip successful: map, GPS, a good functioning car?

A Business Plan is just that – planning out all the details of where you want your practice to go and what you need to make that trip a success. Whether you are a sole practitioner, a group practice or part of a major company, you need a plan

iTherapy Team

Related posts.

Start Now to Safe Guard Against Seasonal Depression

Let’s not worry about what people think.

Missing out on clients, does your family (know how to) talk to each other, what therapist want you to know.

COVID 19 – I know what I can’t do – What can I do?

When You Hate Your Job

3 things that make you the best person to be around

Comments (15).

Thank you, kind people

Thank you for your interest. We hope we can continue to be a resource for you and your counseling private practice.

I LOVE it. I know biz plans are so important. So I really look forward to the step-by-step help. Thanks!

Thank you! We are glad to help. We look forward to continuing to help each step of the way. Check back periodically for more post and information to help your office or online counsling practice grow.

This is a very kind gesture. I think it is wonderful that you are lending your expertise to the counseling community. ? Bravo

Thank you! We are excited to help the industry. We are listening to our providers and finding ways to help them and the industry grow.

I have a LMSW and I am also an ordained minister , so is there a possibility of someone like me obtaining a private practice ?

Thank you for your question! I forwarded your contact info to one of our specialists to help you.

This is going to be a good experience and a great learning opportunity

We sure hope so! We are listening to our providers and others in the counseling community. We want to help you and the office and online counseling industry continue to grow.

Where can I find additional updates? I’ve already completed the checklist and information on who to serve. What’s next?

We’re working on the next part, which is a SWOT analysis (Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats).

Robyn, this site will give you some ideas too https://www.dramberlyda.com

Please tell me what kind of certifications are needed to do private practice in USA? I have a PhD in developmental psychology from India.

Thank you Priya for your inquiry. Certifications will vary state-to-state in USA. You will have to determine which state or states you want to get certified in order to narrow down patient base.

For example, here are some links for North Carolina: 1. Mental health license requirements https://www.google.com/search?q=north+carolina+mental+health+license+requirements&oq=north+carolina+mental+health+lic&aqs=chrome.3.0j69i57j0l4.8303j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

2. LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) license: https://www.humanservicesedu.org/north-carolina-lpc.html

3. Licensure Information: https://ncpsychology.org/pdfs/Handout_Licensure_Information_North_Carolina.pdf

Hope these help!

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Wordpress Premium Site Deposit

• $100.00

Ready to Join Our Group?

We want to hear from you!

We’re expanding our Clinical Consult Group.

If you’re interested in joining our clinical consult group, let us know!

We’re still determining what the schedule for these two meetings per month will be. We’ll email everyone who completes this form to get their input on schedules.

This form collects information we will use to send you updates about this iTherapy peer consultation group. We will not share or sell your personal information. You can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy

• Consent * Yes, I consent to receiving emails. *
• Client's Name * First Last
• Country * Please select your Country United States Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Greenland Grenada Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati North Korea South Korea Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Sudan, South Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe
• State * Please select your State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Europe Armed Forces Pacific
• Appointment Type * Select One In-Person Phone Video Chat (if provided by Therapist) Other
• Please consent to this data being stored for the use of further communications related to this contact. Privacy Policy

Notice: This message is not HIPAA compliant. If you are concerned with keeping this information private, please contact the counselor by phone. His or Her phone number is provided on their page.

How to Open a Counseling Private Practice

Opening a counseling private practice can be very profitable. With proper planning, execution and hard work, you can enjoy great success. Below you will learn the keys to launching a successful counseling private practice.

Importantly, a critical step in starting a counseling private practice is to complete your business plan. To help you out, you should download Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template here .

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here

15 Steps To Open a Counseling Private Practice :

• Choose the Name for Your Counseling Private Practice
• Determine the Type of Counseling Private Practice You Will Launch
• Develop Your Counseling Private Practice Business Plan
• Choose the Legal Structure for Your Counseling Private Practice
• Secure Startup Funding for Your Counseling Private Practice (If Needed)
• Secure a Location for Your Business
• Register Your Counseling Private Practice with the IRS
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get a Business Credit Card
• Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
• Get Business Insurance for Your Counseling Private Practice
• Buy or Lease the Right Counseling Private Practice Equipment
• Develop Your Counseling Private Practice Marketing Materials
• Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Counseling Private Practice
• Open for Business

1. Choose the Name for Your Counseling Private Practice

The first step to opening a counseling private practice is to choose your business’ name.  

This is a very important choice since your company name is your brand and will last for the lifetime of your business. Ideally you choose a name that is meaningful and memorable. Here are some tips for choosing a name for your counseling private practice:

• Make sure the name is available . Check your desired name against trademark databases and your state’s list of registered business names to see if it’s available. Also check to see if a suitable domain name is available.
• Keep it simple . The best names are usually ones that are easy to remember, pronounce and spell.
• Think about marketing . Come up with a name that reflects the desired brand and/or focus of your counseling private practice.

2. Determine the Type of Counseling Private Practice You Will Launch

The next step is to determine the type of counseling private practice you will launch. The four main types of counseling private practices are:

• Couples Counseling : This type of counseling helps couples to build better relationships, identify and resolve conflicts, and improve communication.
• Individual Counseling : This type of counseling helps individuals to address issues such as depression, anxiety, anger management, trauma, and more.
• Group Counseling : This type of counseling works with multiple people at the same time to address issues like relationships, substance abuse, and more.
• Psychiatric Services : This type of counseling provides mental health assessments and medication management.Once you have decided on the type of counseling private practice you will launch, you can move onto the next step in the process.

3. Develop Your Counseling Private Practice Business Plan

One of the most important steps in opening a counseling private practice is to develop your counseling private practice business plan . The process of creating your plan ensures that you fully understand your market and your business strategy. The plan also provides you with a roadmap to follow and if needed, to present to funding sources to raise capital for your business.

Your business plan should include the following sections:

• Executive Summary – this section should summarize your entire business plan so readers can quickly understand the key details of your counseling private practice.
• Company Overview – this section tells the reader about the history of your counseling private practice and what type of counseling private practice you operate. For example, are you a solo practice or do you have a team of counselors? 
• Industry Analysis – here you will document key information about the counseling private practice industry. Conduct market research and document how big the industry is and what trends are affecting it.
• Customer Analysis – in this section, you will document who your ideal or target customers are and their demographics. For example, how old are they? Where do they live? What do they find important when purchasing services like the ones you will offer?
• Competitive Analysis – here you will document the key direct and indirect competitors you will face and how you will build competitive advantage.
• Marketing Plan – your marketing plan should address the 4Ps: Product, Price, Promotions and Place.
• Product : Determine and document what products/services you will offer 
• Prices : Document the prices of your products/services
• Place : Where will your business be located and how will that location help you increase sales?
• Promotions : What promotional methods will you use to attract customers to your counseling private practice? For example, you might decide to use pay-per-click advertising, public relations, search engine optimization and/or social media marketing.
• Operations Plan – here you will determine the key processes you will need to run your day-to-day operations. You will also determine your staffing needs. Finally, in this section of your plan, you will create a projected growth timeline showing the milestones you hope to achieve in the coming years.
• Management Team – this section details the background of your company’s management team.
• Financial Plan – finally, the financial plan answers questions including the following:
• What startup costs will you incur?
• How will your counseling private practice make money?
• What are your projected sales and expenses for the next five years?
• Do you need to raise funding to launch your business?

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

4. choose the legal structure for your counseling private practice.

Next you need to choose a legal structure for your counseling private practice and register it and your business name with the Secretary of State in each state where you operate your business.

Below are the five most common legal structures:

1) Sole proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is a business entity in which the owner of the counseling private practice and the business are the same legal person. The owner of a sole proprietorship is responsible for all debts and obligations of the business. There are no formalities required to establish a sole proprietorship, and it is easy to set up and operate. The main advantage of a sole proprietorship is that it is simple and inexpensive to establish. The main disadvantage is that the owner is liable for all debts and obligations of the business.

2) Partnerships

A partnership is a legal structure that is popular among small businesses. It is an agreement between two or more people who want to open a counseling private practice together. The partners share in the profits and losses of the business. 

The advantages of a partnership are that it is easy to set up, and the partners share in the profits and losses of the business. The disadvantages of a partnership are that the partners are jointly liable for the debts of the business, and disagreements between partners can be difficult to resolve.

3) Limited Liability Company (LLC)

A limited liability company, or LLC, is a type of business entity that provides limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners of an LLC are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The advantages of an LLC for a counseling private practice include flexibility in management, pass-through taxation (avoids double taxation as explained below), and limited personal liability. The disadvantages of an LLC include lack of availability in some states and self-employment taxes.

4) C Corporation

A C Corporation is a business entity that is separate from its owners. It has its own tax ID and can have shareholders. The main advantage of a C Corporation for a counseling private practice is that it offers limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The disadvantage is that C Corporations are subject to double taxation. This means that the corporation pays taxes on its profits, and the shareholders also pay taxes on their dividends.

5) S Corporation

An S Corporation is a type of corporation that provides its owners with limited liability protection and allows them to pass their business income through to their personal income tax returns, thus avoiding double taxation. There are several limitations on S Corporations including the number of shareholders they can have among others.

Once you register your counseling private practice, your state will send you your official “Articles of Incorporation.” You will need this among other documentation when establishing your banking account (see below). We recommend that you consult an attorney in determining which legal structure is best suited for your company.

5. Secure Startup Funding for Your Counseling Private Practice (If Needed)

In developing your counseling private practice plan , you might have determined that you need to raise funding to launch your business. 

If so, the main sources of funding for a counseling private practice to consider are personal savings, family and friends, credit card financing, bank loans, crowdfunding and angel investors. Angel investors are individuals who provide capital to early-stage businesses. Angel investors typically will invest in a counseling private practice that they believe has high potential for growth.

6. Secure a Location for Your Business

Having the right space can be important for your counseling private practice, particularly if you’d like to meet clients there. When looking for a location, there are several factors to consider, including how much space is needed, how accessible the space is to clients and how much it will cost.

To find the right space, consider:

• Driving around to find the right areas while looking for “for lease” signs
• Contacting a commercial real estate agent
• Doing commercial real estate searches online
• Telling others about your needs and seeing if someone in your network has a connection that can help you find the right space

7. Register Your Counseling Private Practice with the IRS

Next, you need to register your business with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) which will result in the IRS issuing you an Employer Identification Number (EIN).

Most banks will require you to have an EIN in order to open up an account. In addition, in order to hire employees, you will need an EIN since that is how the IRS tracks your payroll tax payments.

Note that if you are a sole proprietor without employees, you generally do not need to get an EIN. Rather, you would use your social security number (instead of your EIN) as your taxpayer identification number.

8. Open a Business Bank Account

It is important to establish a bank account in your counseling private practice’s name. This process is fairly simple and involves the following steps:

• Identify and contact the bank you want to use
• Gather and present the required documents (generally include your company’s Articles of Incorporation, driver’s license or passport, and proof of address)
• Complete the bank’s application form and provide all relevant information
• Meet with a banker to discuss your business needs and establish a relationship with them

9. Get a Business Credit Card

You should get a business credit card for your counseling private practice to help you separate personal and business expenses.

You can either apply for a business credit card through your bank or apply for one through a credit card company.

When you’re applying for a business credit card, you’ll need to provide some information about your business. This includes the name of your business, the address of your business, and the type of business you’re running. You’ll also need to provide some information about yourself, including your name, Social Security number, and date of birth.

Once you’ve been approved for a business credit card, you’ll be able to use it to make purchases for your business. You can also use it to build your credit history which could be very important in securing loans and getting credit lines for your business in the future.

10. Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits

The business licenses and permits you need for your counseling private practice will vary depending on the state you operate in. However, there are some general licenses and permits that are typically required for most businesses, including:

Business License : A business license is a permit that is required to operate a business within a certain jurisdiction. In order to get a business license, you typically need to submit an application and pay a fee.

Tax Identification Number (EIN or TIN) : An EIN (or TIN) is a number that the IRS issues to businesses for the purpose of tracking their payroll tax payments. Most banks will require you to have an EIN in order to open up an account.

Sales Tax Permit: A sales tax permit is a permit that allows businesses to collect sales tax from their customers. In order to get a sales tax permit, you typically need to submit an application and pay a fee.

Nearly all states, counties and/or cities also require:

• Zoning Approval : typically at the city or county level, this provides authorization for construction or use of a building or land for a particular purpose
• Health Facility Licensing & Certification : to ensure safe rendering of healthcare services
• Fire Department Approval : a process by which the local fire department reviews and approves the installation of a fire alarm system.

Depending on the type of counseling private practice you launch, you will have to obtain the necessary state, county and/or city licenses.

11. Get Business Insurance for Your Counseling Private Practice

Business insurance is essential for protecting your counseling private practice from potential risks and liabilities. Some of the most common types of business insurance include:

Commercial Property Insurance : This insurance protects your business property from damages, such as fire, theft, and vandalism.

General Liability Insurance : This insurance protects your business from third-party claims, such as injuries or property damage.

Professional Liability Insurance : This insurance protects your business from claims that arise from professional services you provide.

Business Owner’s Policy : A business owner’s policy is a package policy that combines general liability and property insurance into one policy. This can be a helpful option for small businesses who want to simplify their insurance needs.

Find an insurance agent, tell them about your business and its needs, and they will recommend policies that fit those needs. 

12. Buy or Lease the Right Counseling Private Practice Equipment

When starting a counseling private practice, there are a few key pieces of equipment that you will need. This includes:

• A desk and chair for your office
• A computer and printer for your office
• A phone for your office
• Medical supplies, such as bandages, gauze, and tape

You can lease or buy the equipment you need for your counseling private practice. If you have the funds, buying the equipment will save you money in the long run. However, if you don’t have enough funds to purchase the equipment outright, leasing can often be a good option.

13. Develop Your Counseling Private Practice Marketing Materials

Marketing materials will be required to attract and retain customers to your counseling private practice.

The key marketing materials you will need are as follows:

• Logo : Spend some time developing a good logo for your counseling private practice. Your logo will be printed on company stationery, business cards, marketing materials and so forth. The right logo can increase customer trust and awareness of your brand.
• Website : Likewise, a professional counseling private practice website provides potential customers with information about the services you offer, your company’s history, and contact information. Importantly, remember that the look and feel of your website will affect how customers perceive you.
• Social Media Accounts : establish social media accounts in your company’s name. Accounts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and/or other social media networks will help customers and others find and interact with your counseling private practice.

14. Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Counseling Private Practice

The software you need to run your counseling private practice depends on the type of practice you plan to have. However, some of the most common types of software used in counseling private practices include:

Computer-based billing software : This software allows you to track payments, generate invoices and manage your billing.

Client management software : This software helps you keep track of client information, appointments, treatment plans and more.

E-mail marketing software : This software helps you cultivate customer relationships by sending targeted e-mails about your services.

Research the software that best suits your needs, purchase it, and set it up.

15. Open for Business

You are now ready to open your counseling private practice. If you followed the steps above, you should be in a great position to build a successful business. Below are answers to frequently asked questions that might further help you.

How to Finish Your Counseling Private Practice Business Plan in 1 Day!

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your Counseling Private Practice business plan?

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

How to Open a Counseling Private Practice FAQs

Is it hard to open a counseling private practice.

Counseling private practice can be a very rewarding career path. 

By following the steps outlined in this article, you can give yourself the best chance of success.

How can I open a counseling private practice with no experience?

If you have no experience in the field of counseling, you may want to consider first working as a counselor's assistant or intern. This will give you the opportunity to learn about the counseling process and how to work with clients.

You may also want to consider taking some courses in counseling theory and techniques. This will help you develop the skills you need to run a successful counseling private practice.

Finally, make sure you are well-organized and have a good business plan in place. This will help you manage your counseling private practice effectively and efficiently.

What type of counseling private practice is most profitable?

Couples counseling private practices tend to be the most profitable, as couples counseling typically involves two people, so it can lead to higher fees than individual counseling. Other types of counseling private practices that are often profitable include substance abuse and addiction counseling, family therapy, mental health counseling, and career and executive coaching.

How much does it cost to open a counseling private practice?

Opening a counseling private practice can be a relatively affordable endeavor. The average start up costs for a counseling private practice vary. These costs include the cost of office space, marketing materials and services, and software. Of course, these costs may vary depending on how large your practice is and how much equipment you need to purchase.

What are the ongoing expenses for a counseling private practice?

The ongoing expenses for a counseling private practice can vary depending on the size and scope of your business. These expenses often include rent or mortgage payments for the office space; internet and phone bills; costs for equipment maintenance and repairs; marketing materials; insurance premiums; website hosting fees; professional association membership fees; and taxes.

How does a counseling private practice make money?

A counseling private practice can make money in a number of ways. The most common methods include charging clients by the hour, charging for sessions in advance, and offering package deals. Counselors can also charge for phone consultations, provide consulting services, or offer workshops and training seminars.

Is owning a counseling private practice profitable?

Yes, owning a counseling private practice can be very profitable. However, the profitability of a counseling private practice will vary depending on the specific industry and services offered.  

Some of the key things you can do to make your counseling private practice more profitable include:

• Offering a variety of services
• Charging a fair price
• Investing in marketing and advertising
• Maintaining a high level of professionalism
• Optimizing your website for SEO to increase online visibility
• Providing outstanding client service

Why do counseling private practices fail?

One of the main reasons that counseling private practices fail is a lack of planning. This can include not having a detailed business plan, not doing research on the industry, and not targeting the right customers.

Another reason is a lack of marketing and sales skills. This can include not creating a sales process and not have a clear and strong value proposition.

The last main reason is a lack of financial management skills. This can include not having a realistic budget, not tracking expenses, and not investing in the business.

Who are key players in the counseling private practice market?

The counseling private practice market is made up of a variety of different players, including small businesses, large enterprises, and even individuals.

Some of the key players in the market include:

• BetterHelp  
• TherapyAppointment
• Insight Counseling Centers
• National Institutes of Health

However, there are many other players in your specific target market, and it is important to research the market to identify the key players that may have the most direct influence on the success of your business.

How much should I charge for my counseling private practice services?

Counseling private practice fees can vary depending on the type of counseling private practice services being offered, as well as the size and scope of the project.

However, some common counseling private practice fees include:

• Hourly rate – $75 - $150
• Flat rate – $350 - $1,000
• Retainer/Monthly Agreement – $800 -$2,500

The best way to determine the right fee for your counseling private practice services is to research the rates of similar businesses in your industry, and to also consider the value that you will be providing to the client.

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

Creating a Business Plan to Grow Your Counseling Practice

August 25, 2021

by Cory Miller

Growing Your Mental Health Practice

Have you heard the saying that a goal without a plan is just a wish? You don’t want your private counseling practice to be just a wish. You have goals to establish and grow your practice. And the best way to accomplish them is to create a counseling practice business plan.

Why You Need a Business Plan

You’re ready to start your private counseling practice. Or maybe you started your practice and now you want to watch it grow. Either way, you need a counseling practice business plan to help strategically guide your practice. A business plan is basically a roadmap for your practice. It helps you set goals and determine strategically how you will meet them. It’s a good practice to think about these aspects of business and document them so you can track your progress and continue developing.

You need a business plan to:

• Show Commitment. A business plan shows you’re committed to strategically growing your practice because it forces you to think through exactly how you’ll grow and sustain it.
• Plan Growth. A business plan will help you plan growth milestones for your practice. Most businesses don’t just grow by accident. A formal plan will help you think through how you want your business to grow, by when, and what you’ll do to make that growth happen.
• Understand the Environment. Your business plan will help you better understand the market you’re practicing in and the people you serve. You’ll define your therapeutic niche, research others with similar practices, and outline who your ideal patients are and how to reach them. You’ll also be able to think through and articulate why your practice is different or better for your ideal clients.
• Be Realistic About Finances. A business plan requires you to think about exactly how much your practice will cost and how you will generate that income. Setting up any business without fully considering the financial implications is irresponsible to yourself, your staff, and your clients. 
• Establish Your Brand. How do you want people to think of you and your practice? How will you establish and market your brand? Your business plan makes you think through and document these critical components of success.

Components of Your Counseling Practice Business Plan

You’re convinced you need a business plan. Now what? Write the business plan. If only it were that easy, right? The good news is that business plan formats are relatively standard. You can use the components described below to understand what to include in your counseling practice business plan. Knowing the components frees up your brain space to really think about how to apply them to your business. 

• Mission Statement –  Who do you serve? What do they need? And how do you fulfill those needs? These three questions are the components of a mission statement. Spend some time thinking about them. Then state them in the simplest, shortest way possible. Write and rewrite your mission statement until you are happy with it. It should be easy to understand and remember, so you and your staff can use it to guide the decisions they make within your practice.
• One-Year Goals –  You have to start setting time-bound goals. Thinking about and documenting what you want to accomplish this year in your practice is an excellent place to start. Set SMART goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timebound. Your goals should challenge you while still being achievable. For example, you probably aren’t going to see 50 patients a week in your first year, but could you see 25? If so, that becomes a SMART goal worth working toward. Once you set your annual goals, think about and document what you need to accomplish each month to meet them. Review these plans monthly to ensure you’re making progress.
• Products and Services –  Define the products and services you offer. Name and explain the services exactly, including how you will perform them. Also, outline the pricing structure for these products and services.
• Facilities – This part of the plan should address your location, furniture, technology, and any other tangible items that help your office function.
• Front Office – This part of the plan refers to interactions with potential clients and others who come to your business. How do you want things like intake, phone calls, reception, scheduling, and in-person payments to work?
• Back Office – What do you want the patient experience to be like during and after their visit? This part of the plan includes documenting patient notes, prescribing medications, making insurance claims, and billing.
• Your Team – What roles do you want on your team? Include job titles and descriptions. You also may want to think about what’s realistic now and plan for the future. You probably can’t start your practice with a full staff. So, outline what your staff needs to look like now and what your ideal staff would be.  
• Financial Plan –  You need a strong financial plan for your counseling practice to survive, grow, and thrive. Document a detailed plan about how you’ll make money and where that income will go. Include a spreadsheet of startup costs, and fixed and variable expenses. Make a budget for this year, then provide a projection for five years from now. How will you get there? Write down those plans. Be as specific and detailed as possible, adjusting when necessary.
• Market Research –  Include and explain your research showing the need for your services in your community. If you haven’t done this research, you need to. You shouldn’t establish your private counseling practice just because it’s a dream to do so. You also need to know how to carve out a niche where it’s needed so your practice will succeed.
• Marketing Strategy –  Your clients won’t just come to you for the most part. You’ll need a plan for finding them. Consider what platforms you’ll use, like a website or social media, to attract clients. How will you  advertise your counseling services ? What message do you want to communicate with potential clients? What do you want them to do as a result of receiving these messages? Create specific plans for how you’ll reach clients and grow your business through marketing. 

Creating a counseling practice business plan won’t necessarily be fun, but it is essential. This plan helps you set goals for your practice and think strategically about reaching those goals. It means you’re planning, not just wishing for your practice to grow and succeed. Since most people start their search for a counselor online, you need to have an online presence for your business to thrive. 

Cory Miller

How to Build Therapy Websites Using WordPress

August 18, 2021

Finding the Right Counselor for You

August 28, 2021

Join The Weekly

Therapist Success Series FREE

Sign up today

Join All Counseling today for FREE!

Developing A Business Plan for Your Mental Health Private Practice

Business plans act as the foundation for any type of business and are important for setting benchmarks to measure success. But how do you write a business plan for a mental health private practice? Valant takes a look at the components of a business plan and translates it into an easy-to-use framework for both mental health professionals looking to start their own private practice and those looking to expand their current practice. Check out our guide to creating an effective private mental health practice business plan below.

Mission Statement / Vision Statement:

As behavioral health providers, you all are in the business of saving lives. But what makes your services unique? What value are you bringing? Make sure when you are drafting your mission statement you answer these four questions:

• What does my practice do?
• How do we do it?
• Whom do we do it for?
• What value does your practice bring?

Description of your Practice and Service:

What is your service delivery model? What kinds of patients do you want to see, including age range and presenting problems? How many hours per week do you wish to work and on what days? What types of services will you provide (e.g. therapy versus medication management)?

Legal Framework:

The three basic choices for your psychiatric business entity are: sole proprietorship, LLC, and S corporation . The choice is based mainly on relative costs, tax implications, and general business liability (rather than professional liability). If you do plan to expand to a group practice, you should probably consider an LLC or S corporation so you have the option of continuing under the same tax ID number, but we recommend consulting with a local accountant and lawyer with experience working for other health care providers before deciding.

Mental Health Practice – Operations Model:

Operating processes can be broken up into four categories: facilities, front office, back office, and insurance.

Facilities refers to your plan for location, furniture, phone, internet, hardware, and any other tangible item or service that enables you to provide your clinical services.

Front-office refers to your plan for handling non-clinical patient facing interactions such as your intake process, administrative phone calls, reception and scheduling, eligibility and verification checking, handling of patient payments, no show and cancellation policies, and prescription management policies and procedures.

Back-office functions are dominated by medical billing but could also include transcription services and handling of documents.

Insurance refers to the package of insurance that you’ll need, including general liability, professional liability, or any other insurance you might want for you or your staff (medical, dental, and long and short term disability).

An electronic health record has the potential to influence and streamline all operation models, so it is important to have the right EHR in place.

Watch our product videos to see how Valant’s EHR and practice management system streamlines operations for mental health private practice

Team refers to internal staff and outside consultants such as a lawyer, accountant, bookkeeper and medical biller. We recommend developing a strategic employee incentive system that addresses benefits, compensation, appreciation, and recognition. One of the most costly expenses your practice can endure is staff turnover. Want to learn more including recruiting tips? Watch our webinar “How to Recruit and Retain Top Talent in your Mental Healthcare Practice”

Get a Personalized Live Demo

We would love to show you how Valant can help your practice.

Starting Your New Practice

Chart a Path to Start a Successful Practice

Developing A Business Plan for Your Mental Health Private Practice continued…

Marketing Strategy / Generating Patient Flow:

Especially for new practices, it’s important to dedicate a certain number of hours each week to marketing your private practice , generating patient flow, and supporting your practice’s capacity goals. Many practitioners find that word-of-mouth marketing and/or referrals are their most effective sources of new patients; in today’s saturated therapeutic market, however, establishing a digital presence may also be necessary.

Building A Website

With that in mind, building a website (or hiring a professional to build one for you) is the natural first step in promoting your practice online. Your website will act as the home base for all of your digital marketing efforts — meaning, every other digital marketing initiative you try should direct traffic back to your website. As the foundational piece of your marketing strategy, your website should be intuitive, attractive, and optimized for search engine visibility.

It will also be important to support your website with new, high-quality content once it is built out and launched. Starting an informative, active blog can be a fantastic way to highlight your expertise, reach engaged audiences, and support your positioning in search engine results.

Referrals & Directories

In most cases, the two most common means for finding new patients are to 1) utilize and nurture a referral network and 2) be on insurance contracts. This makes sense in practice; people trust other people to give honest referrals of a practitioner and their practice. They also want to ensure the provider is on their insurance network before moving forward.

With that in mind, you will need to develop referral sources to generate patient flow and to build the kind of practice that you want. Your referral sources will know your strengths and weaknesses and will refer accordingly.

In the online space, users often look to directories, insurance networks, and review sites to determine whether a provider is a right fit for them. Having active, complete profiles or listings on as many directories as applicable ensures you’re considered in the most relevant patient-provider searches possible. Additionally, directories and review sites act as an opportunity for current patients to leave reviews, providing invaluable feedback to support your practice’s long-term success.

A few examples of relevant, high-traffic directories you could sign up for include Google My Business , Psychology Today , GoodTherapy , or most social media platforms. Depending on the supply and demand characteristics in your area, however, being on insurance contracts and having profiles on insurance networks is sometimes all that is needed. 

Generating Patient Flow:

The two most common means for finding new patients are to utilize and nurture a referral network and to be on insurance contracts. Depending on the supply and demand characteristics in your area, being on insurance contracts is sometimes all that is needed. But, in most cases, you will need to develop referral sources to generate patient flow and to build the kind of practice that you want. Your referral sources will know your strengths and weaknesses and will refer accordingly.

Financial Model:

It is not necessary to have fancy financial projections to start and successfully operate a small psychiatric private practice, but it’s important to have an idea of what your net income will be and to understand the variables. Let’s break down the equation: net income = revenue – expenses.

Revenue Revenue = Average fee per face to face hour x hours worked It’s easy to overestimate this number by overestimating collections rates, fees paid by insurance for a unit of service, show rate, and patient flow. We recommend budgeting for 20% less than whatever you come up with in your plan, at least until you get validation from real revenue.

Expenses Expenses = Facilities + Front Office + Back Office + Insurance

A basic rule of thumb for expenses is that they represent anywhere from 15-30% of total revenue for a solo practice. If you employ staff or outside services for front office and back-office work, they tend to be divided pretty equally between the three. If you do not employ staff, then these expenses are more heavily loaded on facilities. Make no mistake, you are paying for those front office and back-office functions with your time. This is where the concept of opportunity cost applies. The cost of your time is dependent upon either the value you place on your time or the revenue you could generate by seeing patients during that time. However, opportunity cost does not explicitly appear in your financial statements.

If you would like to learn more about these financial metrics, we recommend reading our blog Financial Metrics 101

Behavioral Health Performance Indicators

20 Important KPIs for Private Practices

Private Practice Business Plan Template

Private therapy practice tips:.

• Don’t sweat excessively about location. You will probably move within 2 years. At that point, you’ll better understand your needs. You’ll also better understand the nature of your local market and the level of competitor saturation ; especially in areas where therapy is popular, it’s important to identify your niche and find an area where you can assert yourself as the local expert, rather than offer the same expertise as competitors in your neighborhood. Modern telehealth technology also makes the location of your practice less important. By offering virtual sessions in addition to in-person visits, you can reach a larger network of patients, regardless of their proximity to your practice. Learn more about Valant’s telehealth software .
• Networking always pays off in terms of building the type of practice you want. Start early since that is when you will have the most time.
• Most small business owners overestimate revenue, especially during transitions. Make sure that you have other sources of cash during your ramp up including other part-time work, savings, or a line of credit.
• Understand the opportunity cost. There are many things in life that you love and do well. If you don’t love medical billing, don’t do it. That time could be better spent elsewhere.
• Start with a behavioral health care focused Electronic Health Record. By using an EHR focused on your specialty, you’re eliminating spend on features and functionality that is not going to be pertinent to your practice, plus gaining efficiencies in having technology workflows that are intuitive for your discipline. It’s easier to build it into the fabric of your practice from the beginning rather than switching later.

At Valant, we’re focused on providing great technology — as well as the business knowledge you need — to help your practice run smoothly and profitably. Want to learn more about Valant’s EHR and practice management suite for behavioral health?

Visit us on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn

Related Resources

Counseling Private Practice Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business Plans » B2C Sector

Are you about starting a counseling private practice? If YES, here is a complete sample psychological counseling private practice business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE .

Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a counseling private practice. We also took it further by analyzing and drafting a sample counseling private practice marketing plan template backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for counseling private practice companies. So let’s proceed to the business planning section.

Are you a Psychologist, Social Worker or a Marriage Counselor? Do you know that you can make money from a thriving industry by going into private practice as any of the above practitioner?

Yes indeed, the Psychologists, Social Workers and Marriage Counselors industry is one pretty large and profitable industry in the united states that is open for aspiring entrepreneurs who are qualified and competent to come in as a private practitioner and rake in huge revenue.

This is true because, reliable statistics has it that the Psychologists, Social Workers and Marriage Counselors industry in the United States of America generates roughly $15 billion annually. If you are qualified and well positioned, you can get your own fair share of the available market in the industry and smile to the bank on a regular basis.

If you want to partake in this thriving industry, you would need to obtain all the necessary licenses and certifications and then launch your own counseling private practice business. The truth is that, the market is still pretty much open for new practitioners to come in.

Although there are competitions at various levels in the industry, but if you are able to come up with a good business strategy, you are sure of getting your own fair share of the available market in the industry.

So, if you have decided to start a counseling private practice business in the United States, then you should make sure that you carry out thorough feasibility studies and also market survey. Below is a sample counseling private practice business plan template that will help you successfully write yours without much stress;

A Sample Counseling Private Practice Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

The Psychologists, Social Workers and Marriage Counselors industry of which professionals who are into counseling (private practice belongs to) is composed of mental health practitioners who diagnose and treat mental, emotional and behavioral disorders brought about by mental illness, substance abuse or physical and emotional trauma.

These practitioners consist of psychologists, social workers and marriage counselors. It is important to state that the industry mental health professionals who have a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree or a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degree are not included in this industry.

A close study of the Psychologists, Social Workers and Marriage Counselors industry shows that in the last half a decade, the industry has grown consistently. Private counseling services are needed regardless of economic conditions, which insulate the industry from economic fluctuations.

Going forward, as people continue to be employed and regain a steady income, private health insurance will become more affordable, prompting consumers to seek private counseling services when needed.

A recent report published by IBISWORLD shows that the Psychologists, Social Workers and Marriage Counselors industry has a low level of concentration, with the majority of firms employing less than five people and no industry firm accounting for more than 1.0 percent of total industry revenue.

The practices and theories of psychology are highly fragmented. For instance, cognitive and behavioral psychologies have developed in isolation from each other. This makes it difficult to create large practices that dominate any particular area.

The report further stated that, the benefits to achieving scale in the industry are minimal because fixed costs are low. Group practices are increasing in number, but these are not large operations either. One major benefit of group practices is the ability to spread administrative costs across several practitioners

The Psychologists, Social Workers and Marriage Counselors industry is a thriving sector of the economy of the United States of America and they generate a whopping sum of well over $15 billion annually from more than 141,495 registered and licensed Psychologists, Social Workers and Marriage Counselors scattered all around the United States of America.

The industry is responsible for the employment of well over 231,393people. Experts project the industry to grow at a 3.4 percent annual rate within 2011 and 2016. It is important to state that there is no single organization that has a lion share of the available market in the Psychologists, Social Workers and Marriage Counselors industry.

It can’t be over emphasized that the demand for the services offered by the private counselors grows when public confidence declines and people’s ability to handle the issues on their own wanes. When the housing bubble burst and the US economy fell into a recession, consumer confidence plummeted.

This decline, coupled with high unemployment, falling incomes and bleak outlooks, caused Americans to seek out the assistance of professional psychologists and counselors, benefiting the industry.

However, as the economy slowly continues to recover and consumer confidence returns, demand for their services is expected to diminish. Going forward, clients and potential clients alike will likely require less guidance, high-income households will serve as the primary vehicle of growth for the industry

Lastly, as a private counselor, the key attributes needed to be able to make good success from the trade is patience, enthusiasm, passion about the specific area to be handled, and constant positivity. You are also expected to be highly proactive; you would need to be good at planning, preparation, and certain other organizational skills.

It is one thing to have a skill and it is another thing to know how to counsel people into becoming successful; which is why you must constantly get feedbacks from your clients to be able to measure their progress and your performance.

2. Executive Summary

Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP is a professional and licensed counseling (private practice) firm that is specialized in helping her clients overcome their challenges and achieve their personal goals and improving their competence, capacity and productivity.

The scope of our business offerings cover areas such as clinical psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, all other psychology, mental health social work, marriage and family therapy, child, family and school social workers, online counseling Services and retailing of self – help books and materials et al.

Our business will be located in – between a well – populated residential estate and a business district in Smethport – Pennsylvania, United States of America.

Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP is a client-focused and result driven private counseling organization that provides broad-based counseling, learning approaches and experience at an affordable fee that won’t in any way put a hole in the pocket of our clients.

We will ensure that we work hard to meet and surpass all our clients’ expectations as it relates to their career and personal goals whenever they hire our services. At Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP, our clients’ overall best interest would always come first, and everything we do is guided by our values and professional ethics.

We will ensure that we hire professional and certified psychologists, social workers and counselors with various skills set who are well experienced and passionate in helping our clients achieve their personal goals within record time.

Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP will at all times demonstrates her commitment to sustainability, both individually and as a private counseling organization, by actively participating in our communities and integrating sustainable business practices wherever possible.

We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our clients’ needs precisely and completely. We will cultivate a working environment that provides a human, sustainable approach to earning a living, and living in our world, for our partners, employees and for our clients.

Our overall business goal is to position our private counseling organization to become the leading private counseling brand in the psychologists, social workers and marriage counselors industry in the whole of Smethport – Pennsylvania, United States of America, and also to be amongst the top 10 private counseling business in the United States of America within the first 5 years of operations.

This might look too tall a dream but we are optimistic that this will surely come to pass because we have done our research and feasibility studies and we are enthusiastic and confident that Smethport is the right place to launch our private counseling business.

Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP is founded by Dr. Boston Smith and he will run the business with his business partner for many years Dr. Becky Allison. Dr. Boston Smith is a certified and renowned psychologist and marriage counselor.

He has well over 20 years of experience working with top government officials, corporate executives, celebrities and sports people both in the United States of America and Canada.

3. Our Products and Services

Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP is going to offer varieties of psychology and counseling services within the scope of the psychologists, social workers and marriage counselors industry in the United States of America.

Our intention of starting our private counseling business is to help our clients overcome their challenges, achieve their personal goals and improving their competence, capacity and productivity and of course to also make profits from the psychologists, social workers and marriage counselors industry and we will do all that is permitted by the law in the US to achieve our aim and business goal.

Our service offerings are listed below;

• Clinical psychology
• Industrial-organizational psychology
• All other psychology
• Mental health social work
• Marriage and family therapy
• Child, family and school social workers
• Online counseling services
• Retailing of self – help books and materials

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our vision is to build a highly competitive and effective private counseling business that will become the number one choice for both individuals and corporate organizations in Smethport – Pennsylvania and the whole of the United States of America.
• Our mission is to provide affordable, professional and highly effective private counseling services to a wide range of clients that cuts across different divides. We want to position Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP to become one of the leading private counseling brands in the industry in the whole of Smethport – Pennsylvania, and also to be amongst the top 10 private counseling firms in the United States of America within the first 5 years of operations.

Our Business Structure

Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP, is a private counseling firm that intend starting small in Smethport – Pennsylvania, but hope to grow big in order to compete favorably with leading firms in the psychologists, social workers and marriage counselors industry both in the United States and on a global stage.

We are aware of the importance of building a solid business structure that can support the picture of the kind of world class business we want to own. This is why we are committed to only hire the best hands within our area of operations.

At Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP, we will ensure that we hire people that are qualified, hardworking, creative, passionate, result driven, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stakeholders ( the owners, workforce, and customers ).

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff / partners and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as agreed by the board of trustees of the company.

In view of the above, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

• Principal Partner / Chief Executive Officer
• Psychologists, Social Workers and Marriage Counselors

Office Administrator

• Marketing Executives

Client Service Executive

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Principal Partner / Chief Executive Officer:

• Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; developing incentives; developing a climate for offering information and opinions; providing educational opportunities.
• Creates, communicates, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization

Psychologist, Social Worker and Marriage Counselor

• In charge of clinical psychology services
• Responsible for handling industrial-organizational psychology services
• Handles all other psychology services
• Handles mental health social work
• Provides marriage and family therapy
• Handles child, family and school social works
• In charge of online private counseling services
• Retails of self – help books and materials
• Handles any other duty as assigned by the Principal Partner / CEO.
• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP
• Designs job descriptions with KPI to drive performance management for psychologists, social workers and marriage counselors
• Regularly hold meetings with key stakeholders to review the effectiveness of the organizations’ Policies, Procedures and Processes
• Maintains office supplies by checking stocks; placing and expediting orders; evaluating new products.
• Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; calling for repairs.
• Defines job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carries out staff induction for new team members
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Responsible for arranging travel, meetings and appointments
• Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
• Oversees the smooth running of the daily activities of Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP.

Marketing Executive

• Identifies, prioritizes, and reaches out to new students, and business opportunities et al
• Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts; participates in the structuring and financing of projects; assures the completion of development projects.
• Writes winning proposal documents, negotiate fees and rates in line with organizations’ policy
• Responsible for handling business research, market surveys and feasibility studies for clients
• Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
• executes and evaluates new plans for expanding increase sales
• Documents all customer contact and information
• Represents Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP in strategic meetings
• Helps to increase sales and growth for Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP
• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports; analyzes financial feasibility for the most complex proposed projects; conducts market research to forecast trends and business conditions.
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting for one or more properties.
• Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensures compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP
• Serves as internal auditor for Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP.
• Welcomes clients and visitors by greeting them in person or on the telephone; answering or directing inquiries.
• Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
• Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services
• Manages administrative duties assigned by the principal partners in an effective and timely manner
• Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the organizations’ products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to clients when they make enquiries
• Receives parcels / documents for Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP

6. SWOT Analysis

Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP engaged the services of a core professional in the area of business consulting and structuring to assist our organization in building a well – structured private counseling business that can favorably compete in the highly competitive psychologists, social workers and marriage counselors industry in the United States and the world at large.

Part of what the team of business consultant did was to work with the management of our organization in conducting a SWOT analysis for Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP. Here is a summary from the result of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP;

Our core strength lies in the power of our team; our workforce. We have a team that are considered experts in the industry, a team with excellent qualifications and experience in private counseling practice.

Aside from the synergy that exist in our carefully selected team members and our strong online presence, Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP is well positioned in a community with the right demography and we know we will attract loads of corporate and individual clients from the first day we open our doors for business.

As a new private counseling organization in Smethport – Pennsylvania, it might take some time for our organization to break into the market and gain acceptance especially from top profile clients in the already saturated psychologists, social workers and marriage counselors industry; that is perhaps our major weakness.

• Opportunities:

No doubt, the opportunities in the psychologists, social workers and marriage counselors  industry is massive considering the number of individuals and corporate organizations who would want to overcome their challenges and achieve their goals and to perform excellently well in their jobs and personal life. As a standard private counseling organization, we are ready to take advantage of any opportunity that comes our way.

Every business faces a threat or challenge at any part of the life cycle of the business. These threats can be external or internal. This shows the importance of a business plan, because most threats or challenges are to be anticipated and plans put in place to cushion what effect they might bring to the business.

Some of the threats that we are likely going to face as a private counseling organization operating in the United States of America are unfavorable government policies that might affect business such as ours, the arrival of a competitor within our location of operations and global economic downturn which usually affects spending / purchasing power.

There is hardly anything we can do as regards these threats other than to be optimistic that things will continue to work for our good.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

The trend in the psychologists, social workers and marriage counselors industry shows that in the last half a decade, the industry has grown consistently. Private counseling services are needed regardless of economic conditions, which insulate the industry from economic fluctuations.

One thing is certain, the trend in the psychologists, social workers and marriage counselors industry is such that if you want to be ahead of your competitors, you should be able to acquire as much certifications as possible and you should be able to have loads of testimonies from your clients.

The truth is that, if your clients experienced huge difference in their life as a result of hiring the services of your organization, then they will be compelled to help promote your organization.

Another notable trend in this industry is the influence of technology; the advent of technology is responsible for the increase in income generated by private counselors all over the world. With technology, it is no easier for private counselors to counsel their clients that are thousands of kilometers away from them.

Tools like video calling / Skype, YouTube, live chat and Webcast et al are being used by private counselors to counsel clients in different parts of the world.

8. Our Target Market

The target market for private counseling firms is all encompassing. Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP is a professional and licensed private counseling firm that is specialized in helping her clients over life challenges, achieve their personal goals and improving their competence, capacity and productivity.

As a standard private counseling organization, Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP offers a wide range of services hence we are well trained and equipped to services a wide range of clients (public figures, celebrities and non – celebrities alike).

Our target market as a private counseling firm cuts across people of different class and people from all walks of life. We are coming into the psychologists, social workers and marriage counselors industry with a business concept and company’s profile that will enable us work with the clients from different background and different status. Below is a list of the clients that we have specifically design our private counseling services for;

• About to wed couples
• Married couples
• Religious organizations
• Working class adults / corporate executives
• Politicians
• Business people / entrepreneurs
• Government officials
• Celebrities
• Public figures
• Applicants / school Leavers
• Sports men and women
• College students
• People with undergoing depression
• People with mental challenges

Our competitive advantage

No doubt, the psychologists, social workers and marriage counselors industry is indeed a very prolific and highly competitive industry. Clients will only hire your services if they know that you can successfully help them overcome their challenges, and achieve their personal goals.

It is the practice for private counselors to acquire as much certifications as it relates to their area of specialization; it is part of what will make them stay competitive in the industry

We are quite aware that to be highly competitive in the psychologists, social workers and marriage counselors industry means that you should be able to deliver consistent quality service, your clients should be able to experience remarkable difference and improvement and you should be able to meet the expectations of your clients at all times.

Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP might be a new private counseling firm in Smethport – Pennsylvania, but the management team and the owner of the business are considered gurus in the industry.

They are people who are core professionals, licensed and highly qualified psychologists and marriage counselors that can successfully help her clients overcome their challenges and achieve their personal goal within a short period of time. These are part of what will count as a competitive advantage for us.

Aside from our robust experience and expertise of our psychologists, social workers and marriage counselors, we have a very strong online presence that will enable us counsel clients in different parts of the world from our online portals.

Lastly, our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category (startups private counseling businesses in the United States) in the industry. It will enable them to be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our business aims and objectives.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the psychologists, social workers and marriage counselors industry and we are going to go all the way to ensure that we do all it takes to attract clients on a regular basis. Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP will generate income by offering the following private counseling services;

10. Sales Forecast

One thing is certain, there would always be corporate organization and individual who would need the services of psychologists, social workers and marriage counselors in other for them to overcome their challenges and achieve their personal goals and also to enable them become peak performer in the career and in their family life.

This is the major reason why the services of private counseling firms will always be needed. We are well positioned to take on the available market in Smethport – Pennsylvania and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough income / profits from the first six month of operations and grow our private counseling business and our clientele base.

We have been able to critically examine the private counseling market and we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. The sales projections are based on information gathered on the field and some assumptions that are peculiar to similar startups in Smethport – Pennsylvania.

Below are the sales projections for Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP, it is based on the location of our personal training and coaching company and of course the wide range of trainings that we will be offering;

• First Fiscal Year-: $150,000
• Second Fiscal Year-: $350,000
• Third Fiscal Year-: $750,000

N.B : This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and there won’t be any major competitor offering same additional services as we do within same location. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

We are mindful of the fact that there are stiffer competitions amongst private counseling firms in the United States of America; hence we have been able to hire some of the best marketing experts to handle our sales and marketing.

Our sales and marketing team will be recruited based on their vast experience in the industry and they will be trained on a regular basis so as to be well equipped to meet their targets and the overall goal of Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP.

We will also ensure that our clients’ overcome their challenges in record time; we want to build a standard and first – class private counseling business that will leverage on word of mouth advertisement from satisfied clients (both individuals and corporate organizations).

Our goal is to grow Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP to become one of the top 10 private counseling organization in the United States of America which is why we have mapped out strategy that will help us take advantage of the available market and grow to become a major force to reckon with not only in Smethport – Pennsylvania but also in other cities in the United States of America.

Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP is set to make use of the following marketing and sales strategies to attract clients;

• Introduce our private counseling firm by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to corporate organizations, religious organizations, households and key stake holders in Smethport – Pennsylvania.
• Print out fliers and business cards and strategically drop them in offices, libraries, public facilities and train stations et al.
• Use friends and family to spread word about our private counseling firm
• Post information about our private counseling firm on bulletin boards in places like schools, libraries, and local coffee shops.
• Placing a small or classified advertisement in the newspaper, or local publication about our private counseling firm
• Advertise our private counseling firm in relevant educational magazines, newspapers, TV stations, and radio station.
• Attend relevant educational expos, seminars, and business fairs et al
• Engage direct marketing approach
• Encourage word of mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied clients.

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

We have been able to work with our brand and publicity consultants to help us map out publicity and advertising strategies that will help us walk our way into the heart of our target market.

We are set to become the number one choice for both corporate clients and private clients in the whole of Smethport – Pennsylvania which is why we have made provisions for effective publicity and advertisement of our business. Below are the platforms we intend to leverage on to promote and advertise Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP;

• Place adverts on both print (community based newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
• Sponsor relevant community based events / programs
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote our brand
• Install our BillBoards on strategic locations all around Smethport – Pennsylvania.
• Engage in road show from time to time in targeted neighborhoods
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
• Contact corporate organizations by calling them up and informing them of Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP and the services we offer
• List our private counseling firm in local directories / yellow pages
• Advertise our life private counseling firm in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site.
• Ensure that all our staff members wear our branded shirts and all our vehicles are well branded with our schools’ logo et al.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

Generally counseling and consulting services are billed on per hour billing rate and flat fees on a weekly or monthly basis as it applies. As a result of this, Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP will charge our clients flat fees except for few occasions where there will be need for us to charge special clients on hourly basis.

At Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP we will keep our fees below the average market rate for all of our clients by keeping our overhead low and by collecting payment in advance. In addition, we will also offer special discounted rates to all our clients at regular intervals.

We are aware that there are some clients that would need special assistance, we will offer flat rate for such services that will be tailored to take care of such clients’ needs.

• Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation of the United States of America.

Here are the payment options that Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP will make available to her clients;

• Payment via bank transfer
• Payment with cash
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via mobile money
• Payment via Point of Sales Machines (POS Machines)
• Payment via check
• Payment via bank draft

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our client make payment for private counseling services without any stress on their part. Our bank account numbers will be made available on our website and promotional materials to clients who may want to deposit cash or make online transfer for our services.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

In setting up a personal training and life coaching business, the amount or cost will depend on the approach and scale you want to undertake. If you intend to go big by renting a place, then you would need a higher amount of capital as you would need to ensure that your employees are well taken care of.

This means that the start-up can either be low or high depending on your goals, vision and aspirations for your business. The start – up capital for a home based private counseling business without any overhead might fall between $500 and $2,000, while that of a medium and large scale would definitely be higher.

The materials and equipment that will be used are nearly the same cost everywhere, and any difference in prices would be minimal and can be overlooked. As for the detailed cost analysis for starting a standard private counseling firm with a handful of employees; it might differ in other countries due to the value of their money.

However, this is what it would cost us to start our own standard and world class private counseling firm in the United States of America;

• Business incorporation fees in the United States of America will cost – $750.
• The budget for liability insurance, permits and license will cost – $3,500
• Acquiring an office space that will accommodate the number of employees we intend employing for at least 6 months (Re – Construction of the facility inclusive) will cost – $35,000.
• Equipping the office (computers, printers, projectors, markers, pens and pencils, furniture, telephones, filing cabinets, and electronics) will cost – $10,000
• The cost for accounting software, CRM software and Payroll Software – $3,000
• Other start-up expenses including stationery – $1000
• Phone and Utilities (gas, sewer, water and electric) deposits – ( $3,500 ).
• Launching an official website will cost – $500
• Amount need to pay bills and staff members for at least 2 to 3 months – $70,000
• Additional Expenditure such as Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions will cost – $5,000
• Miscellaneous – $5,000

Going by the report from the market research and feasibility studies conducted, we will need about one hundred and fifty thousand ( 150,000 ) U.S. dollars to successfully set – up a medium scale but standard private counseling firm in the United States of America. Please note that the salary for the payment of staff members for the first 3 months is included.

Generating Funds / Startup Capital for Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP

Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP is a partnership business that will be owned by Dr. Boston Smith and he will run the business with his business partner for many years Dr. Becky Allison. They are the sole financial of the business which is why they decided to restrict the sourcing of the start – up capital for the business to just three major sources.

These are the areas we intend generating our start – up capital;

• Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings and sale of his stocks
• Generate part of the start – up capital from friends and other extended family members
• Generate a larger chunk of the startup capital from the bank (loan facility).

N.B: We have been able to generate about $50,000 ( Personal savings $35,000 and soft loan from family members $15,000 ) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $100,000 from our bank. All the papers and document has been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the numbers of loyal customers that they have the capacity and competence of the employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business (company), then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.

One of our major goals of starting Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without the need for injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to offer our private counseling services a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are well prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.

Safe Refuge Private Counselors®, LLP will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner of our business strategy.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of three years or more as determined by the board of the organization. We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List / Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check: Completed
• Business Incorporation: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts various banks in the United States: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of All form of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Leasing a standard office facility in a good location plus reconstruction: In progress
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating part of the start – up capital from the founders: Completed
• writing of business plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents: In Progress
• Design of Logo for the school: Completed
• Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: Completed
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the needed furniture, office equipment, electronic appliances and facility facelift: In progress
• Creating Official Website for the business: In Progress
• Creating awareness for the business in Smethport – Pennsylvania: In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement: In Progress
• Establishing business relationship with vendors and key players in various industries: In Progress

Related Posts:

• Pressure Washing Business Plan [Sample Template]
• Personal Concierge Business Plan [Sample Template]
• Digital Print Shop Business Plan [Sample Template]
• Wedding Planning Business Plan [Sample Template]
• Freelance Paralegal Business Plan [Sample Template]

• Our Offerings
• Rave Reviews

How To Develop A Private Practice Business Plan

• May 30, 2022
• Becky DeGrossa

Last week, Howard Baumgarten of Smart Practice Central joined me to share his expertise with the CounselingWise community. In the webinar, he talked about the importance of having a private practice business plan for counseling, as well as what goes into creating one.

One of the things I took away from his presentation was to be successful, you need to be prepared, and you need to have a plan.

As the owner of a small business myself, I know that having a solid plan in place has been a vital aspect of CounselingWise’s growth and success. I’ve found that having a plan is what drives a business forward to achieve its goals . Without a plan, as Howard mentions, you are less successful.

During the webinar, Howard talked about the 11 different parts (or “modules”) of a business plan . Each part is equally important and pieces together an organized view of any business. Today, I am going to highlight five parts of Howard’s business plan. To learn about the other six (equally as important) parts, be sure to check out the webinar replay here .

Before we dive into the different parts of a successful business plan, I want to lead you with something to think about. During the webinar, Howard advised, “ Think about your business plan as a matter of survival in your professional life . It’s an opportunity for you to really organize yourself and appraise what is going on in your business.”

5 Key Parts of a Successful Business Plan

1. the four c’s of your vision.

If you are familiar with the SWOT technique (a planning method use to evaluate your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats), then the 4 C’s will be something you relate to . 

Because he didn’t want to focus on a person’s weaknesses or threats, Howard viewed this planning method through a different colored lens.

The 4 C’s stand for:

• What Are Your Capabilities? (your strengths)
• What Are Your Challenges? (your weaknesses)
• What Are Your Chances? (opportunities)
• What Are Your Concerns? (threats)

This piece of the counseling business plan is key to evaluating your practice from a personal and professional level. 

Take out a pen and paper and jot down all of the above as they apply to you.  Get a piece of paper and breaking it into four columns. In each column, write down your professional and personal capabilities, challenges, chances and concerns. One thing to keep in mind—it’s okay to have the same thing in multiple categories.

By having your capabilities, challenges, chances, and concerns outlined on paper, you can better plan for the future of your practice and your personal life .

It forces you to take what’s kind of hazy and abstract in your head and makes it a tangible reality. That way then you know where you stand and how to move forward with your vision for your practice. 

2. Your Mission Statement

The next part of the private practice counseling business plan I want to highlight is your mission statement. In Howard’s presentation, he said to ask yourself… 

“What is my purpose? What was I born to do? What do I really want to do? How do I want to affect the populations I am working with? What am I empowered to do?”

By answering the above questions, and really digging down into the meat of the reason you get up every morning , you will develop a wholehearted mission statement for your practice.

But what does developing a mission statement look like in practice? 

For his therapy practice, Howard’s mission statement is, “ Build something new in order to change something old in order to grow .”

One thing to keep in mind when writing your own mission statement… 

Make sure you are writing the statement in lay terms , and not professional/clinical terms. Try to stay away from words like “depression,” “anxiety,” etc. You are writing this not only for yourself, but also for your clients.

3. Your Services

This is the who , what , when , where and why of your services as a private practitioner. 

This part of the private practice business plan is key to giving you the clarity you need in terms of the services you provide , and the services you may want to offer in the future.

• Who? Who are you working with? Who are the populations you treat? Do you work with couples, adults, children (what age children?), teens? What kind of couples do you work with? For example: high conflict, couples about to get married, etc. Really dig deep into the “who” of your services to determine what clients you have and what clients you want.
• What? What are the issues you want to focus on? If the “who” is couples, what type of couples issues do you want to work with? Howard’s example was that he likes to work with couples that have a high degree of conflict and are tired of fighting with each other.
• When? When are you providing your services? When you are first starting out, as Howard mentioned, it could be Fridays and Saturday mornings. When you build your practice more, you can shift your hours more and more. Determine when you want to practice and include it in your plan.
• Where? Where do you want to practice? Maybe you want to do a day in a doctor’s office. Maybe you want to offer therapy out in the community, or in the wilderness. Think creatively about where you want to practice. It will maximize the benefits of your services.
• Why? For the why, you will want to see your mission statement. The why is all about your passion and purpose.
• How? How do you treat your patients? This is all about your treatment intervention style (EFT, mind-body-connection, EMDR, etc). What are your technique leanings?

This part of the plan is powerful. It helps move you in terms of defining yourself and who you are. You will also draw from this part as your quick “this is what I do.”

As you are completing this part of your business plan, keep in mind that you will probably have three or four different sub-sections under each of these .

Answer each question for each service you offer or want to offer. Eventually, this will all be useful information that you’ll want to include on your website. 

If you’re thinking ahead and want to use this exercise to generate content for your website, check out how to write informative specialty pages .

4. Personal Growth

To grow professionally, it’s important to take care of yourself so you can grow personally. 

In order to have a healthy work-life balance, you will want to focus on 4 main areas :

• Nutrition: Are you eating a healthy, well-balanced diet?
• Sleep: Are you getting enough sleep?
• Exercise: Are you moving your body?
• Spirituality: Are you expressing yourself spiritually? This could look like anything, such as a religious practices, time in nature, yoga , etc.

Think of things that are important to you on a personal level and write them down. Personal growth is a key piece of your business plan.

Because if you don’t grow yourself, how can you expect to grow your private practice? It all works in concert, together. 

5. Administration

The Administration part of the private practice business plan can be hard, especially if you are used to being a one-person show. 

And  if you think you can run the show without any professional support throughout your entire career, you will be spread very thin .

As part of your counseling business plan, you need to create an administration plan to ensure you have the support you need to build a successful practice—and keep your sanity. 

Think about the people who you currently have supporting your practice professionally. Then think about the people you may want to include in your group of practice professional support.

Naturally, some people may not be ready for this, so think about this part of your private practice counseling business plan when you are ready. 

You know you’re ready when you say to yourself, “I am getting really sick and tired of doing this admin task, and I am now in a place where I can afford to hire someone to do it for me.”

By getting support, you free up emotional space so you can pursue things that drive your interests and passions . This is a vital piece to your professional growth.

Administrative support includes but is not limited to… 

• a medical biller (if you accept insurance),
• a bookkeeper,
• an accountant for tax purposes,
• a financial manager/adviser,
• an investment banker,
• a corporate attorney,
• an insurance agent,
• a commercial real estate broker (rent or buy)
• and a virtual/actual assistant.

Each part of the counseling business plan that I discussed today is vital to a successful practice. Your business plan, however, really isn’t complete without the remaining six. To learn about all 11 parts, and to learn more from Howard about a successful business plan, watch the webinar replay here .

You can also download the Business Plan Template here .

One last tip : Don’t just write your plan and forget about it. Howard recommends going back every six or so months to revisit the plan and stick to your goals.

You can also watch my interview with Howard Baumgarten, founder of Smart Practice Central, below. 

Enjoy the replay!

What Private Practices Can Learn From Google’s Leak (And What To Do About It)

In light of Google’s recent leak—which has been interesting to say the least—we’ve learned a lot, particularly how Private Practices can take advantage of what’s been revealed to refine their sites and improve their rankings.  Happy for us, 90% of the leak confirmed what we already do. (Previously we had to base our strategy on experiment

AI in Search: Google’s Latest Update and Its Impact on Private Practices

On May 15, 2024, Google integrated AI into their search results for everybody. What this means is, if you head to Google and search for something like “anxiety,” you may now see an AI overview at the top of the results, which for me just defines the term. We’ve known this integration was coming for

It’s Not Just You: GBP Verification Sucks

Google Business Profile (GBP) verification can be an extremely frustrating process, and it’s likely to become more frustrating, especially since Google is increasingly relying on video verification. And not just for Private Practices. No matter the industry, Google is a pain. Even businesses that have been around for years are being forced to reverify their

How To Conduct Teletherapy For Kids

Teletherapy has introduced unique challenges, especially when it comes to younger clients so that it’s important to ensure your telehealth sessions are engaging, with clear communication and a calm atmosphere. Below, we consider some of the necessary steps for creating effective teletherapy for kids. Discuss The Camera Set Up Make sure the child is in

Need a business plan? Call now:

Talk to our experts:

• Business Plan for Investors
• Bank/SBA Business Plan
• Operational/Strategic Planning
• L1 Visa Business Plan
• E1 Treaty Trader Visa Business Plan
• E2 Treaty Investor Visa Business Plan
• EB1 Business Plan
• EB2 Visa Business Plan
• EB5 Business Plan
• Innovator Founder Visa Business Plan
• UK Start-Up Visa Business Plan
• UK Expansion Worker Visa Business Plan
• Manitoba MPNP Visa Business Plan
• Start-Up Visa Business Plan
• Nova Scotia NSNP Visa Business Plan
• British Columbia BC PNP Visa Business Plan
• Self-Employed Visa Business Plan
• OINP Entrepreneur Stream Business Plan
• LMIA Owner Operator Business Plan
• ICT Work Permit Business Plan
• LMIA Mobility Program – C11 Entrepreneur Business Plan
• USMCA (ex-NAFTA) Business Plan
• Franchise Business Planning 
• Landlord Business Plan 
• Nonprofit Start-Up Business Plan 
• USDA Business Plan
• Cannabis business plan 
• eCommerce business plan
• Online Boutique Business Plan
• Mobile Application Business Plan
• Daycare business plan
• Restaurant business plan
• Food Delivery Business Plan
• Real Estate Business Plan
• Business Continuity Plan
• Buy Side Due Diligence Services
• ICO whitepaper
• ICO consulting services
• Confidential Information Memorandum
• Private Placement Memorandum
• Feasibility study
• Fractional CFO
• How it works
• Business Plan Examples

Private Counseling Practice Business Plan

Published Nov.19, 2020

Updated Apr.23, 2024

By: Jakub Babkins

Average rating 5 / 5. Vote count: 1

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Table of Content

Private Counseling Practice business plan for starting your own social service agency

Are you a psychologist, social worker, or marriage counselor? Did you know that you can make money from a prosperous business by going into private practice like any of the trainers mentioned above? Yes, the profession of counseling, social workers, and marriage counselors are one of the largest and most lucrative professions in the United States, open to interested entrepreneurs who are qualified and able to come in as a private trainee and earn a great income. This counseling private practice business plan has the insights.

Executive Summary

USA Private Counselors LLP is a professional and licensed consulting (private practice) organization that specializes in helping its clients cope with their challenges, achieve their personal goals, and improve their skills, competence and productivity.

The scope of our private counseling practice business offerings covers areas such as clinical psychology, industry-organizational psychology, all other psychology, psychosocial work, marriage, and family therapy, child, family and school social workers, online counseling services and retail sale of self-help books. And materials and others.

Our business is located between a well-populated residential estate and a business district in Pennsylvania – Smethport, Pennsylvania, USA.

USA Private Counselors LLP, is a customer-centric and consequently operated private consulting firm that offers a wide range of consulting, learning approaches and experience at an affordable fee that is in any way to put a hole in our clients’ pockets. We make sure to work hard to meet and exceed the expectations of our customers because whenever they hire our services, it is related to their professional and personal goals.

The Business

USA Private Counselors LLP is the overall best interest of our clients comes first, and everything we do is entirely guided by our values ​​and professional ethics. We make sure to hire professional and certified psychologists, social workers and counselors of various skills who are well experienced and enthusiastic.

Management of Social Service Agency

In the private counseling practice business plan , we ensure that we are responsible for the highest standards by accurately and fully meeting the needs of our customers. We will cultivate a work ambience that gives a humane, sustainable approach to practicing, earning and living in our world for our associates, employees and our clients.

Customers of Social Service Agency

While starting a social service agency it may seem like a dream too high, but we are sure it will attract more customers like celebrities, public figures, and Private Job based customers. As we have done lots of research and feasibility, studies and we are excited and confident that Smethport is the right place to start our private consulting business.

Business Target

Our primary goal is to satisfy our customers and establish our business location. So people can learn about us and our dress code. Our business plan Private counseling practice is to gain as many customers as possible and expand our Social service agency line to many countries. Profit is a secondary thing, but the primary concern is to satisfy our customers and their queries.

1. How to start a business?

Well, this is the most challenging part because the person starting the business never knows about the future. Whether the business will work or not; it will always be an opportunity, and because of this, many are sacred. Most people ask how to start a business? Therefore, the answer here is, you need to identify the needs of the people. You need to check the latest market trends and what people want to do.

2. What are the costs involved in opening a business?

The start-up cost of the counseling business can be low or high depending on your goals, vision and aspirations for your business. The start-up capital for a home-based private consulting business without any overhead can be as low as $250,000 to $350,000, while a medium and large scale value is definitely higher.

3. How to implement business management?

Our management staff and this is based on the performance of the company for a period of three years or more. We know that if it is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best staff for management, which we can get in the industry. They will be more dedicated to helping us build the business of our dreams.

4. What target of this business?

We have a private counseling practice business plan, our target areas are local people, celebrities, and social media influencers, and they can advertise our agency differently.

Company Summary

  plan your business.

USA Private Consultants LLP will ensure that the right foundation, structures, and processes are in place to ensure that the interests of our customers employees are well taken care of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to move our business to greater heights, and the training and retraining of our employees will burn at the top of our business strategy.

Define your brand

The new business will have to face the initial problems in establishing a brand name in the head of the customer. We treat our customers well and take care of their needs and recommendations. We also did tailor-made projects for clients. We discuss with our team what the customer needs and how to apply it.

How to promote & market a business

The truth is, if your customers have experienced a big difference in their lives as a result of hiring your company’s services, they will be compelled to help improve your company.

Establish a web presence

Another notable trend in this field is the influence of technology; the advent of technology has led to an increase in the income of private consultants around the world. With technology, it is not easy for private consultants to provide advice to their client’s thousands of kilometers away from them.

Company Owner

USA Private Consultants LLP- may be a new private consulting agency in Pennsylvania, but the board of directors and business owner are considered gurus in the industry. The woman is a leading professional, licensed and highly qualified psychologist and marriage counselor. She can help her clients cope with their challenges and successfully achieve their personal goal in the short term. These are the areas where we consider a competitive advantage.

Why the social service agency is being started

Our owner loves to start new social services agency, but they feel like they can share their social ideas with others. They are learning about social causes and are now going to propose a big agency or business project so that people can also benefit from their practicing department.

How the social service agency will be started

Being talented is one thing, knowing how to make people successful is another; That’s why you need to constantly get feedback to measure the progress and performance of your agency. Keeping all these things mind and with the help of private practice counseling business plan template, the business will be started.

Our mission to start our private practice counselling business is to help our clients and staff to meet their challenges, achieve their personal goals, improve their skills, competence and productivity, and of course, make a profit from the field of counseling. In addition, you can work on starting your own counselling practice agency as well.

Our service offerings are listed below;

• Clinical Psychology
• Industrial-organizational psychology
• All other psychology
• Social work on mental health
• Marriage and family therapy
• Child, family and school social workers
• Online consulting services

Marketing Analysis of Counseling Services

Market trends.

The trend in the field of Counseling Services, social workers and other counsellors over the past half-decade shows that the industry continues to grow. Private consulting services are required regardless of economic conditions, which protect the industry from economic fluctuations.

Marketing Segmentation

USA Private Consultants LLP will generate revenue by providing the following private consulting services;

• All other counselling
• Retail sale of self-help books and supplies

After opening a private practice business , our business target cuts across different classes of people and people from all walks of life. We come with a business concept and company profile in the field of psychologists, social workers and marriage counselors, which will help you, work with clients from different backgrounds and different positions.

Business plan for investors

Product pricing.

Generally, starting your own counselling practice services are charged flat rates on an hourly billing rate and a weekly or monthly basis. As a result, USA Private Consultants LLP will charge flat fees to our clients, except for a few cases where special clients will have to pay on an hourly basis.

Marketing Strategy

We note that there is fierce competition among private consulting firms in the United States; So we were able to hire some of the best marketing staff to handle our entire sales and marketing.

Also, our sales and marketing staff will be recruited based on their vast experience in the industry, and the goals of USA Private Consultants LLP.

Competitive Analysis

Being more competitive in the field of counselling, the staff, counsellor and practitioners will provide consistent quality service, and our clients can experience significant difference and improvement, and meet the expectations of your clients at all times you can meet.

Sales Strategy

USA Private Consultants LLP is all set to use the following sales strategies to attract customers. The sample proposal for counseling services will include the followings-

• Introduce our private consulting firm by sending introductory letters with our brochure to key stakeholders in Corporate, Religious Institutions, Families, and Smethport – Pennsylvania.
• Print flyers and business cards and drop them strategically in offices, libraries, public facilities and train stations and more.
• Use close friends and family to spread the word about our private consulting firm.
• Put information about our private consulting agency on bulletin boards in places like schools, libraries and local coffee shops.
• Placing a small or classified ad in the newspaper or a local publication about our private consulting firm
• Advertise our private consulting firm in relevant educational magazines, newspapers, television stations and radio stations.

Sales Monthly

Well, here is a chart below where you can find monthly sales.

Sales Yearly

We are also exploring the market and its sales in the marketing plan for counseling center . Well, the counsellng is doing well, as you can see in the chart below.

Sales Forecast

Excellent work.

excellent work, competent advice. Alex is very friendly, great communication. 100% I recommend CGS capital. Thank you so much for your hard work!

We were able to critically explore the private consulting market, explore our opportunities in the industry, and we were confident and able to come up with the following sales forecast. Sales forecasts are based on data collected in the field and some strange assumptions for similar startups in Smethport – Pennsylvania.

Below are the sales forecasts for USA Private Consultants LLP, which are based on the location of our personal training and training company, and of course the wide range of training we offer-

• First financial year : $150,000 to $400,000
• Second financial Year : $350,000 to $500,000
• Third financial year : $500,000 to $550,000

 Personnel plan

Company staff.

Considering the above counseling services, we have decided to appoint qualified and competent hands to hold the following posts;

• Chief Partner / CEO
• Psychologists, social workers and marriage counselors
• Office Administrator
• Marketing executives
• Customer Service Administrator

Average Salary of Employees

Well, this is the most important process for counseling private practice business plan . However, in the table below we have mentioned all the details about the salary.

Financial Plan

In setting up a private counselling practice business plan, size, or cost depends on the approach and size you want to undertake. If you rent a space and want to go big, you will need a large amount of capital as you need to make sure your employees take good care of you.

Important Assumptions

According to our assumptions, we will follow this plan to increase our business naturally. If there are any natural disasters, we control the things of our human condition. You can see the map.

Break-even Analysis

The Break-Even Analysis is based on our private counseling practice business plan to reach the level in only one year.

Projected Profit and Loss

Our private counselling practice business works well, but we don’t cover the monthly budget, so we try to cover it for the next four months.

Profit Monthly

The monthly profit chart will be as below-

Profit Yearly

The yearly profit chart will be as below-

Gross Margin Monthly

The below gross margin lines are showing the future figures, and we hope they will get thicker by the time.

Gross Margin Yearly

Slow, dense lines, as we can see. This year we will cover.

Projected Cash Flow

The psychotherapy finances or cash flow can be seen below where we can not only get out of debt, but also find profits.

Projected Balance Sheet

Business Ratios

Download Private Counseling Practice Business Plan Sample in pdf

OGSCapital’s team has assisted thousands of entrepreneurs with top-rate business plan development, consultancy and analysis. They’ve helped thousands of SME owners secure more than $1.5 billion in funding, and they can do the same for you.

Ice Vending Machine Business Plan

OGScapital at the National Citizenship and Immigration Conference

How to Start a Plumbing Business in 2024: A Detailed Guide

Vegetable Farming Business Plan

Trading Business Plan

How To Write A Textile Manufacturing Business Plan

Any questions? Get in Touch!

We have been mentioned in the press:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Search the site:

Sample Counseling Private Practice Business Plan

Private counseling practice business plan sample.

Counselling practice is a business which belongs to the psychologists, social workers, and marriage counsellor’s industry. The business basically consists of mental health practitioners who particularly focus in diagnosing and treating emotional and behavioural disorders, mental disorders, etc.

If you are very interested in starting up a counselling practice business, and are at the point of writing a business plan for your business, then you must keep reading this article.

In this article, you will find a counselling business plan sample which you would find beneficial towards helping you write a simple business plan for your counselling business.

Need to write a plan for your venture? Download a FREE Business Plan PDF Sample to develop a template for your own startup.

Here is a sample business plan for starting a mental health business.

BUSINESS NAME:  The Real Deal Private Counsellors, LLP

• Executive Summary
• Our Products and Services
• Vision Statement
• Mission Statement
• Business Structure
• Market Analysis
• Sales and Marketing Strategy
• Financial Plan
• Sales Forecast

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Real Deal Private Counsellors, LLP is a duly registered and licensed counselling practice business which will do everything under the laws of the United States to operate in Las Vegas, United States. We will be very interested in providing our customers with a number of our amazing products and services which will include clinical psychology, marriage and family therapy, mental health social work, online counselling services, etc.

The Real Deal Private Counsellors, LLP will be owned and managed by Peter Baker, who will also be the CEO of the business. So far, Peter Bakers has been able to raise half of the startup budget which amounts to $100,000. The other half will be obtained as soft loan from the owner’s bank to complete a total of $200,000.

OUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

The Real Deal Private Counsellors, LLP will be offering psychology and counselling services within the scope of the industry to clients in the United States. The following are our product and service offerings which we will be providing our clients:

• Clinical psychology
• Every other psychology
• Marriage and family therapy
• Mental health social work
• Online counselling services
• Child, family and school social workers
• Sales of self-help materials such as books, CDs, etc

VISION STATEMENT

Our vision is to establish a private counselling practice business which will become very competitive in the industry, and be renowned as the leader in the industry not just in Las Vegas, but in all of the United States.

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to be a private counselling practice business which will particularly provide professional, quality, and affordable services to clients from all walks of life. We are very concerned with building a counselling business which will become the number one choice for clients in all of the United States before our 10th year anniversary.

BUSINESS STRUCTURE

Our plan for The Real Deal Private Counsellors, LLP is to start it small and grow it big into the counselling practice business that we envisage, before we hit our 10th year anniversary. We well know how important building a strong business structure is to every business. This is why we will take out time to select only employees that meet our standard selection criteria of experience, commitment, hard work, honesty, amongst other things. The following are the positions we will employee qualified candidates to fill in our business structure.

• Chief Executive Officer / Principal Partner
• Office Administrator
• Psychologists, Social Workers and Marriage Counsellors
• Accountant / Cashier
• Client Service Executive
• Sales and Marketing Executive

MARKET ANALYSIS

Market Trend

One of the trends in the industry is that the industry has seen a steady growth in the last five years in the United States. Regardless of the economic status of the United States, the industry is one whose services are always needed at all times.

Target Market

The following groups are what we have considered to make up our target market in the industry:

• Couples about to wed
• Married couples
• Corporate Executives
• Religious Organizations
• Business People
• Politicians
• Celebrities
• Government Officials
• Public figures
• College students
• Sports People
• All people of all sorts, including those undergoing mental challenges and depression

SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

We know for a fact that there is stiff competition in the industry in the United States; hence, we will leave no stone unturned in our quest to promoting our business and setting it in its rightful position in the industry. We have been able to consult experts and we have come up with several sales and marketing strategies which we will do well to implement:

• We will introduce our counselling practice business to various groups which make up our target market by sending them our introductory letters, and our business brochure.
• We will make sure to drop our business fliers and handbills and give out at strategic locations all around the United States.
• We will make sure to place adverts on newspapers, magazines, radio stations, as well as on TV stations so as to promote our business.
• We will not forget to create an online presence for our business to be able to reach a larger audience.

FINANCIAL PLAN Source of Startup Budget

Starting up our counselling practice business in Las Vegas would require a total of $200,000. This startup budget would be sourced from the owner, and from his bank. The owner, Peter Baker has been able to raise $100,000 while the other $100,000 will be sourced as soft loan from the owner’s bank.

SALES FORECAST

First Fiscal Year                   $200,000 Second Fiscal Year               $400,000 Third Fiscal Year                  $800,000

Above is a sales projection for our counselling practice business which will be located in Las Vegas, United States.

This sales projection is only a calculated reflection of what we aim to achieve in our first three years of doing business after startup. This projection has not taken into consideration any negative future impact in the industry.

CONCLUSION This article contains a counselling practice business plan sample which bears the name, ‘The Real Deal Private Counsellors, LLP’. This business will be located in Las Vegas, United States, and it will be focused on offering a number of counselling services to its customers all over the United States. The business will be owned by Peter Baker, who will also be the Chairman Executive Officer of the business.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

235 – Making a Counselling Business Plan

235 – Making a Counselling Business Plan

Introjected values – carl jung’s theories on ego and self.

In Episode 235 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly are back with this week’s three topics:

• Firstly in ‘Theory in Practice’, we look at introjected values.
• Then in ‘Practice Partner’, Rory and Ken discuss making a counselling business plan.
• And lastly in ‘Practice Matters’, Rory speaks with Dr. Jessica Bockler about Carl Gustav Jung’s theories on ego and self.

Introjected Values [starts at 02:40 mins]

This episode of counselling tutor podcast is sponsored by, webhealer.net.

• WebHealer are the go-to provider of websites for private practitioners in the UK.
• Established over 20 years, WebHealer offers a non-technical and fully supported service to help therapists grow their private practice.
• Just one customer from your website each year pays for their service.

Go to  WebHealer.net   and use coupon CT100 for £100 off their "Do it for me" service.

We start today with Rory and Ken discussing introjected values, and how these may present themselves in the therapy room.

The key points of this discussion include:

• Introjected values are views we adopt from our caregivers and society.
• Some people struggle when they find themselves having a view through their own experience that opposes these values.
• Introjected views are unseen to the person who holds the value – to them, it is a ‘truth’.
• In therapy, you have to treat disarming these ‘truths’ carefully.
• A sign of introjected values may be that the client recognises that their beliefs are different from the values they know .
• When people ‘find themselves’ this is an example of recognising and stepping away from these introjected values in order to find your own.
• It is important to remember that these introjected values don’t exist solely within the client, they exist within us too.

Theory to Practice is sponsored by

Counselling Skills Academy

Learn counselling techniques by seeing  counselling skills used in real sessions by qualified therapists . Real sessions – real-life presentations – real skills.

Making a Counselling Business Plan [starts at 21:01 mins]

In a discussion that will be continued in next week’s podcast, Rory and Ken list a few things that you might want to think about when making a business plan for your counselling service.

The main aspects of this discussion include:

• A business plan is a layout of what your business will look like – complete with your motivations for starting your own private practice.
• Consider things like where your sessions will take place – will they take place in your home? Online? Will you rent a space or go to the clients’ house? What considerations are necessary due to this choice?
• Think about the cost of set up and what you might need e.g. comfy seating, stable internet, a work email, lockable filing cabinet, a clock, tissues, you may even consider a card reader.
• Consider accessibility to clients who may use a wheelchair or have other mobility issues.
• Part of making a counselling business plan is thinking about how you will advertise your business.
• Take into account costs to yourself (such as possible travel costs) when deciding how much you’ll charge.
• When making a counselling business plan, consider too whether you’ll set up as a sole trader or a limited company – research the differences and decide which is a better fit for you.

Get on-demand Certified CPD that is implementable in your practice

Counsellor cpd library.

• Over 150 hours of on-demand CPD lectures to help you stay current with your CPD ethical requirements
• Support, and be supported , by thousands of other counsellors as a member of the exclusive online community.
• Access your learning anytime you want ... anywhere you choose ... using any device type — desktop or mobile.

Carl Jung’s Theories on Ego and Self [starts at 40:47 mins]

In this week’s ‘Practice Matters’, Rory speaks with Dr. Jessica Bockler about the theories of Carl Gustav Jung including the collective unconscious and archetypes.

• The collective unconscious is something primal and that we are unaware of.
• We embody archetypes that can be seen throughout history in art and literature – things like heroes, sages, rebels etc.
• When working with archetypes you will encounter what is called the shadow – this is a place where all the traits we’ve been told are bad about ourselves are kept e.g. maybe a young boy has been consistently told that boys don’t cry, and this will create an adult man who holds back from showing such emotion.
• We are able to see qualities in other people that we don’t like within ourselves (projection) – it takes looking within and taking ownership over these traits to fully explore this.
• Carl Gustav Jung also looked at dreams vs active imagination. He decided that dreams where the conscious mind is not in charge is good for free flowing engagement with deeper materials, but it is active imagination that is a more powerful route to engage with unconscious contents – you have more control to frame and challenge the ego.
• By beginning to write down your dreams your recall will improve, and you may begin to spot themes.

The National Counselling Society is proud to sponsor Practice Matters.

NCS are really excited to have launched their Children and Young People Therapist Register for counsellors working with the younger age group.

Free Handout Download

Introjected Values

Links and Resources

Advanced Certificate in Counselling Supervision

Basic Counselling Skills: A Student Guide

Counsellor CPD

Counselling Study Resource

Counselling Theory in Practice: A Student Guide

Counselling Tutor Shop

Facebook group

Online and Telephone Counselling: A Practitioner’s Guide

Online and Telephone Counselling Course

Spotted out-of-date info or broken links? Kindly let us know the page where you found them. Email: [email protected]

Private practice toolkit Resources for members

Whether you're seeking support on managing your current practice, looking to develop your business, or thinking about starting out on your own, this toolkit aims to help you on your private practice journey.

Quick links: Setting up your private practice ... Managing your private practice ... Developing your private practice ... Working as a private practitioner

More than 30,000 BACP members currently work in private practice in some capacity. In partnership with the Private Practice division , we've compiled this toolkit of resources to support you with all aspects of setting up, managing, developing and working in a private practice.

We brought forward the launch of this toolkit to support members during the current crisis. We're producing additional content and will be updating the resources regularly to ensure the information is current and relevant to your business.

Using the resources

Most of these resources are free access for all members, but:

• a few of the new resources are open to Private Practice division members only
• to read articles from Private Practice journal you'll need to be a member of the Private Practice division or sign up for a free online journal subscription  
• to access the CPD resources, you'll need to subscribe to our CPD hub . This costs £25 a year and is in addition to your standard membership fees. This has now moved to our Learning centre .

Find resources to help with...

Setting up your private practice.

• Is private practice right for you?
• Self-employed or limited company?
• Who will you work with?
• Specialist or generic?

Managing your private practice

• Finance, tax and insurance
• GDPR and record-keeping
• Contracting
• Working with clients

Developing your private practice

• Working online
• Developing your skills

Working as a private practitioner

• Personal safety
• Supervision
• Ethical support

Latest from the Private Practice division

Other useful resources, acknowledgments.

We'd like to thank Lesley Ludlow and Caz Binstead from the Private Practice division executive for their work on the compilation of this toolkit and the development of new resources.

If you have any questions or comments about the toolkit or would like to suggest additional content, please contact us at [email protected] .

LET US HELP

Welcome to Capella

Select your program and we'll help guide you through important information as you prepare for the application process.

FIND YOUR PROGRAM

Connect with us

A team of dedicated enrollment counselors is standing by, ready to answer your questions and help you get started.

• Bachelor of Science in Business

Build career skills with our BS in Business, Health Care Management

At Capella, we help you explore how the business administration skills you learn relate to your career goals. Discover the practical value of your studies and learn how your skills can help you shape your future.

• Health Care Management
• Career Skills

Track and build your skills in health care management

Our BS in Business with a specialization in Health Care Management offers a variety of courses that can help you develop career skills. So how do you know which courses are best for your professional growth? Start by setting goals. Make a list of career-related skills and identify any knowledge gaps you may have. Then look for the courses that can help you gain those skills or build on your knowledge. As you complete courses, track your progress and practice regularly so you can stay on top of the latest industry trends. Our Career Development Center can help you with your resume and job search as you learn each new skill.

Develop professional traits that can help you pursue your career

Cultivating professional traits is another means to help you stand out in the workplace. For the BS in Business, Health Care Management program, we focus on helping you to become:

• A confident leader
• A creative problem-solver
• An effective communicator

Health care management skills taught in our BS in Business program

Students learn an understanding of a wide array of health care management skills, such as quality assurance, risk management and health care operations.

Clinic and practice management skills

• Contribute to the supervision and evaluation of work activities of nurses, technical staff, maintenance staff and other workers
• Maintain computerized record management systems to store and process data
• Contribute to fiscal operations, including helping to plan budgets, expenditures and rates for services
• Understand issues that contribute to quality of patient care

Business operations skills

• Use data to identify problems, opportunities, solutions, efficiency and productivity
• Think creatively to contribute solutions that meet the needs of the organization
• Ensure that projects are on time, within budget and meet the needs of stakeholders
• Understand health care management-specific communication and customer service issues

Ready to get started?

Enrollment counselors are standing by to answer questions about scholarships or help you apply.

Take the next steps. Make your plan to earn your degree.

How to apply, what are the bs in business, health care management admission requirements.

Applicants to the BS in Business, Health Care Management program must provide the following information for admission:

• An admission application – no application fee required
• A high school diploma or equivalent
• A transcript of any reported GED
• Military applicants and veterans
• Applicants with 24 or more quarter credits of prior college or university coursework (transferable college coursework and/or credentials that map to preapproved credit for prior learning opportunities may be considered toward the 24-credit minimum equivalency total)
• Applicants who do not have any credits eligible for transfer must successfully complete a university-approved reading and writing assessment; by evaluating your skills prior to your first course, Capella can more effectively provide resources to prepare you for a successful learning experience
• A valid, government-issued form of photo identification

SAT and ACT are not required for admission.

FlexPath admission requirements

Applicants for our  FlexPath  self-paced learning option must also meet the following criteria:

• Have a minimum of 45 transferable credits
• The recommended minimum GPA is 2.8 OR at least 100 applied transfer college credits; those with a lower GPA and less than 100 applied transfer college credits may be considered by providing additional documentation for review

Transition to FlexPath: Applicants whose GPA is below the FlexPath admission threshold may be considered once they successfully complete at least two GuidedPath courses (or 8 credits, whichever is greater). Those learners will also need to meet the requirement of 45 transfer credits to be approved for the transition into FlexPath.

International student requirements

If you live outside the U.S. or aren’t a U.S. citizen, you may be considered an international student.

To meet the requirements for Capella admission, you must:

• Earn the minimum score on an acceptable test for proof of English proficiency
• Attend an internationally recognized institution
• Provide transcripts for evaluation

Learn more about international student admissions .

Choose your learning format

We offer two online learning formats, GuidedPath and FlexPath, so you can choose the one that meets your needs and learn on your time. Compare our learning formats or take our quiz to discover which learning format fits best with your learning style.

• GuidedPath offers a preset schedule and deadlines, with the freedom to study on your own time.
• FlexPath provides the additional flexibility to complete courses at your own pace and take one or two courses at a time, depending on your schedule.

Find savings and scholarships

Are you looking to earn your bachelor’s degree online but have questions about the cost? Many students are looking for ways to save money on their education and online learning can be a great way to do it.

Here are just a few of the potential savings you can enjoy when you earn your degree online.

Employer and association discounts

More than 900 organizations – including corporations and healthcare organizations – invest in their employees by partnering with Capella University to offer access to tuition savings and other educational benefits. See if your employer is a partner of Capella .

$15,000 scholarship toward your bachelor’s degree

Apply for a $15,000 Capella Progress Reward , a scholarship to help fund your bachelor’s degree.

Transfer credits

Learn more about Capella’s transfer credit process . You may be able to transfer previous college credits to cover up to 75% of select bachelor’s degrees.

Federal grants

Capella University accepts federal grants , which are education funds that you may not have to repay. Find out more about federal grants and what’s available to you. 

Explore program courses and skills

Start working on the career skills that can help you develop your understanding of basic health care business functions – including finance, accounting, human resources, communications and marketing, in addition to more focused functions like quality assurance, risk management and health care operations.

Our curriculum is designed to help you:

• Understand the day-to-day functions within a health organization or department
• Integrate the political, economic and consumer-driven forces to effectively deliver quality consumer-driven health care services
• Use professional and effective communication to build organizational relationships

Take the first step toward earning your degree and achieving your goals. {page-tel}

Please Exit Private Browsing Mode

Your internet browser is in private browsing mode. Please turn off private browsing mode if you wish to use this site.

Are you sure you want to cancel?

Adobe is having a terrible month

• The Department of Justice is suing Adobe over deceptive subscription practices.
• The lawsuit claims Adobe hides fees and makes it hard to cancel subscriptions.
• This follows backlash over new terms of service that led some users to quit.

Adobe spent the first half of June addressing user fury around its terms of use . Before the controversy fully settled, the company is facing another significant challenge: a lawsuit from US regulators.

On Monday, the Department of Justice sued , saying Adobe violated consumer protection laws by hiding expensive fees and making it difficult to cancel subscriptions. The lawsuit follows a Federal Trade Commission investigation into Adobe's practices.

Regulators said in the complaint that Adobe entices people to "enroll in its default, most lucrative subscription plan without clearly disclosing important plan terms."

Per the DOJ, Adobe fails to tell users that when they sign up for an annual plan that's charged monthly, they are agreeing to a year-long commitment — including a termination fee that could be hundreds of dollars.

The disclosures are hidden behind optional textboxes and hyperlinks and are "designed to go unnoticed," the lawsuit said. Early termination fee details only appear when users try to cancel, effectively trapping them in subscriptions they don't want.

"Through these practices, Adobe has violated federal laws designed to protect consumers," prosecutors wrote.

Prosecutors wrote that the company has been made aware of government scrutiny into its subscription practices since June 2022, but continued with them.

The suit also names two Adobe executives as defendants: Maninder Sawhney, the senior vice president of digital go-to-market and sales, and David Wadhwani, the president of the digital media business. The complaint says both executives "directed, controlled," or "participated" in Adobe's practices.

Adobe plans to refute the government's claims in court, the company said in a statement.

Related stories

"We are transparent with the terms and conditions of our subscription agreements and have a simple cancellation process," Dana Rao, Adobe's general counsel, said in the statement.

Adobe previously sold its popular products, like Photoshop, for an upfront fee. In recent years, it switched to monthly subscriptions, which investors prefer because revenue is easier to predict.

The company nearly doubled its subscription revenue from 2019 to 2023, to $14.2 billion. Adobe made $19.4 billion overall last year.

New terms of service lead to outcry

The lawsuit comes on the heels of another serious concern artists and designers have recently raised with Adobe products.

Earlier this month, the tech giant asked users to sign new terms with language that some thought implied that their content could be reproduced, displayed, or modified by Adobe — a big concern since Adobe is pushing hard into generative AI.

Some creators said they quit the platform over their licensing and AI scraping concerns, prompting the company to clarify the new terms in two blog posts over the last two weeks.

"Your content is yours and will never be used to train any generative AI tool. We will make it clear in the license grant section that any license granted to Adobe to operate its services will not supersede your ownership rights," a pair of Adobe executives wrote in the post.

The news even frustrated Adobe employees, who complained internally about the company's poor communication, Business Insider reported last week.

"The general perception is: Adobe is an evil company that will do whatever it takes to F its users," an employee wrote in an internal Slack message.

The clarifications did little to calm some customers.

"Pretending that this wasn't intentional only makes Adobe and its employees look even more pathetic," said Sasha Yanshin on X. Yanshin said that he canceled his Adobe subscription after many years as a customer.

More from Shubhangi Goel

Most popular

Watch: top takeaways from the massive fox news settlement with dominion.

• Main content

Watch CBS News

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms.

These 2 debt relief options won't hurt your credit, according to experts

By Aly Yale

Edited By Matt Richardson

June 11, 2024 / 12:09 PM EDT / CBS News

With inflation and interest rates high, many consumers are struggling financially. The burden can be particularly heavy for those carrying credit card debt . The average interest rate on credit cards now sits at over 21% , up from just 14% a few years ago. The result is steadily rising balances and minimum payments that can often feel out of reach.

Fortunately, there are options for tackling that debt effectively — and without hurting your credit score in the process. We asked some experts for their thoughts on the best ways to do so.

See what debt relief option works best for your situation here now .

2 debt relief options that won't hurt your credit, according to experts

Looking to reduce your debt without damaging your credit score? Here's how the experts we spoke to suggest you proceed.

Debt consolidation

Consolidating your credit card debts — or moving them all to one lower-interest product like a personal loan — is arguably the best way to tackle your debt if you want minimal damage to your credit. 

"Debt consolidation can be helpful if you can get a lower interest rate," says Kendall Meade, a financial planner at SoFi. "It reduces the total amount you owe and allows you to pay it off more quickly."

Initially, you might see a small dip in your credit score , as taking out a new loan requires a hard credit inquiry. This lowers your score by three to five points for two years, according to Saundra Curry, co-founder of BC Holdings of TN, a financial wellness and educational platform.

Consolidation could also hurt your score by reducing the average age of your accounts, which accounts for 15% of your score, Curry says. First, it adds a brand new loan to the mix. It can also hurt if you close out the credit card accounts you're consolidating — especially if you've had them for a while. 

"If the average age falls below 10 years, it will lower your score," Curry says. 

Still, many experts say consolidation is your best option for paying off debts while minimizing credit damage. And if you make on-time payments consistently and don't rack up additional credit card debt, it could actually help your score in the long run.

Explore your debt consolidation loan options here today .

Debt management plan

A debt management plan is your next-best option if you want to pay off debts without too much of an impact on your credit score. With these, a credit counseling or debt relief company secures lower rates with your creditors, and then develops a payoff plan on your behalf. You'll then make monthly payments to your debt relief company, which will divvy that out among your creditors as necessary. 

"Debt management programs can provide additional assistance," says Brittany Pedersen, director of deposit and payment operations at Georgia's Own Credit Union. "Not only can you consolidate your debt into one payment, in many cases, you can get your interest rate reduced. You pay the debt management company, and this is reported to your creditors."

A debt management plan won't directly impact your credit, but there may be some elements of these plans that can bring your score down along the way. Some plans may require you to close accounts, for example, which could lower your credit age and take down your score. This might also send your credit utilization ratio up, as you'd suddenly have less credit available. This could lower your score as well. 

"While consolidation loans have the least impact on your credit, debt management programs are also a good option," Pedersen says. 

See if a debt management plan is right for you now .

Create your own debt reduction plan

You can also just DIY your debt strategy. You can use the snowball or avalanche payoff method, or combine the two into what Meade calls the "fireball" method.

"I tell my clients debt with interest rates lower than 7% can be considered 'good debt,' while 7% or higher is considered 'bad debt,'" Meade says. Once you know which camps your debts fall into, pay the minimums on all your accounts, and put any extra money you have available to your "bad debt" with the lowest balance. Once that's paid off, put the money from that payment toward the next-lowest bad debt, and so on.

Curry says focusing on one debt at a time — while making minimums on the others — is a great way to "turbo charge" your debt payoff . It also won't hurt your credit and, Curry says, will actually increase your score as you reduce your debts.

"The best way to eliminate debt is through self-management with strict budgeting and a plan to reduce debt and interest charges quickly," says Michael Sullivan, personal finance consultant at credit counseling agency Take Charge America. "It costs nothing and has no negative impact on credit ratings."

Options that will hurt your credit

The two things you don't want to do if your credit score is a priority? That'd be debt settlement or filing for bankruptcy .

With settlement, a debt relief company negotiates with the creditors on your behalf, trying to get them to settle your debts for less than you owe. Typically, these require you to stop making payments for some time — a sure-fire way to hurt your credit score.

"The basic idea of withholding all payments until creditors agree to settle for less than the amount owed, requires accounts to go to default and collections, causing havoc on the your credit report for seven years," Sullivan says. "If successful, it can also result in amounts forgiven being declared as income and subject to taxes."

Bankruptcy is even worse. Not only does it come with hefty fees, but it stays on your credit report for up to 10 years. 

"Bankruptcy is a last resort," Pedersen says. "It's costly and does the most damage to your credit score."

Talk to a professional

If you're not sure how to proceed with tackling your debts — or you need help safeguarding your credit score — contact a credit counselor in your area. They can help you create a personalized plan to pay off your debts while minimizing the impact on your credit. 

And if you opt to use a debt relief company, be sure to shop around first. Check reviews, compare fees, and ask for recommendations from people you trust. You can also research them with the Better Business Bureau to assess their business practices.

Get started here .

More from CBS News

Need your credit card debt to be written off? 3 options to consider

Watch out for these 3 expensive money mistakes in June, experts say

Does cooling inflation mean credit card debt will become cheaper soon?

6 creative ways to find a lower mortgage rate this summer, according to experts

• Kreyòl Ayisyen

On your side through life’s financial moments.

Talk with an expert about your housing needs for free

• Find a housing counselor

Submit a complaint about a financial product or service

• Start a complaint

Find answers to your money questions

Credit reports

Debt collection

Credit cards

See all money topics

The CFPB is standing up for you

• 4 million+ consumer complaints received responses
• $20.7 billion+ in financial relief as a result of CFPB actions
• 205 million+ people eligible for financial relief

Protecting you from junk fees

The CFPB is working to save households billions of dollars a year by reducing exploitative junk fees charged by banks and financial companies.

Get help planning for future goals

Swedish Nuclear Plant Owners Plan to Extend Lifetime of Reactors

By Alastair Reed

Owners of the Forsmark and Ringhals nuclear power plants in Sweden to extend the operating lifetime of the reactors at the plants to 80 years from 60.

• “This would enable further fossil-free electricity into the 2060s, which favors the industry transition as well as the availability of efficient electricity supply to Swedish consumers,” Vattenfall says in emailed statement
• Extending the operating life of the five reactors at Forsmark and Ringhals by 20 years could provide more than 800 TWh of fossil-free electricity
• An in-depth investigation phase will now take place, which will include more detailed cost calculations and an analysis ...

Learn more about Bloomberg Law or Log In to keep reading:

Learn about bloomberg law.

AI-powered legal analytics, workflow tools and premium legal & business news.

Already a subscriber?

Log in to keep reading or access research tools.