occupational therapy business plan template

Occupational Therapy Business Plan Examples

Identify and understand the target market.

• 1 Market research firms
• 2 Online surveys
• 3 Focus groups
• 4 Interviews with potential clients
• 5 Analysis of competitor data

Conduct a competitive analysis

• 1 Identify competitors
• 2 Assess competitors' services and pricing
• 3 Analyze competitors' marketing strategies
• 4 Evaluate competitors' online presence
• 5 Assess competitors' customer reviews

Define operational requirements

• 1 Determine space requirements
• 2 Identify necessary equipment
• 3 Outline certification requirements
• 4 Consider staffing needs
• 5 Define scheduling and appointment system

Estimate initial startup costs

• 1 Equipment
• 3 Utilities
• 4 Licensing fees
• 5 Marketing expenses

Develop marketing and advertising strategy

• 1 Identify target market segments
• 2 Determine messaging and positioning
• 3 Choose marketing channels
• 4 Develop promotional materials
• 5 Allocate budget for marketing and advertising

Prepare financial projections

Identify staffing and personnel needs.

• 1 Occupational therapists
• 2 Support staff
• 3 Administrative personnel
• 4 Other specialized roles

Approval: Business Model

• Identify and understand the target market Will be submitted
• Conduct a competitive analysis Will be submitted
• Define operational requirements Will be submitted
• Estimate initial startup costs Will be submitted
• Develop marketing and advertising strategy Will be submitted
• Prepare financial projections Will be submitted
• Identify staffing and personnel needs Will be submitted

Find and secure a suitable location for the occupational therapy center

• 1 Research potential locations
• 2 Visit and assess potential locations
• 3 Consider accessibility and proximity to target market
• 4 Evaluate lease or purchase agreements
• 5 Negotiate terms and finalize agreement

Obtain necessary permits and licenses

• 1 Research required permits and licenses
• 2 Complete permit and license applications
• 3 Submit applications and pay fees
• 4 Follow up with authorities on application status
• 5 Obtain approved permits and licenses

Develop a client intake and record keeping system

• 1 Client demographics
• 2 Medical history
• 3 Insurance information
• 4 Treatment goals
• 5 Progress notes

Establish partnerships with healthcare providers and insurers

• 1 Research potential partners
• 2 Identify key contacts
• 3 Initiate contact and express interest in partnership
• 4 Negotiate terms and agreements
• 5 Formalize partnership with contract or agreement

Create a detailed business plan document

• 1 Executive summary
• 2 Company overview
• 3 Market analysis
• 4 Marketing and sales strategies
• 5 Operational plan
• 6 Financial projections
• 7 Risk assessment

Present business plan for professional review and feedback

Revise business plan based on feedback.

• 1 Update market analysis
• 2 Refine marketing and sales strategies
• 3 Adjust financial projections
• 4 Enhance risk assessment
• 5 Revise executive summary

Approval: Revised Business Plan

• Develop a client intake and record keeping system Will be submitted
• Establish partnerships with healthcare providers and insurers Will be submitted
• Create a detailed business plan document Will be submitted
• Present business plan for professional review and feedback Will be submitted
• Revise business plan based on feedback Will be submitted

Secure funding or investment if necessary

• 1 Research funding options
• 2 Prepare loan or investment proposals
• 3 Apply for grants or funding programs
• 4 Evaluate potential investors or lenders
• 5 Negotiate terms and secure funding

Launch marketing and advertising campaigns

• 1 Create marketing materials
• 2 Schedule advertising placements
• 3 Launch social media campaigns
• 4 Implement email marketing
• 5 Organize promotional events

Hire and train staff

• 1 Source potential candidates
• 2 Conduct interviews and check references
• 3 Assess qualifications and skills
• 4 Provide orientation and training
• 5 Implement ongoing professional development programs

Open occupational therapy center for business

• 1 Ensure all equipment is in place and functional
• 2 Stock necessary supplies
• 3 Prepare office and therapy rooms
• 4 Test appointment scheduling and record keeping systems
• 5 Review safety protocols with staff

Take control of your workflows today.

More templates like this.

Business Plan Template for Occupational Therapy

• Great for beginners
• Ready-to-use, fully customizable Subcategory
• Get started in seconds

Starting and growing an occupational therapy practice requires careful planning and execution. With ClickUp's Business Plan Template for Occupational Therapy, you can create a comprehensive roadmap for your practice's success.

This template is specifically designed for occupational therapy practices and clinics, helping you:

• Outline your business goals and strategies to stay focused and on track
• Develop financial projections to ensure profitability and sustainability
• Identify potential challenges and risks, allowing you to proactively mitigate them
• Define your target market and marketing strategies to attract clients

Whether you're just starting out or looking to expand, ClickUp's Business Plan Template for Occupational Therapy provides the structure and guidance you need to build a thriving practice. Get started today and make your occupational therapy business dreams a reality!

Business Plan Template for Occupational Therapy Benefits

A business plan template for occupational therapy practices and clinics offers a range of benefits, including:

• Providing a structured framework to define the vision, mission, and objectives of the business
• Helping to identify target markets, competitors, and key differentiators
• Outlining strategies for marketing, operations, and financial management
• Assisting in projecting revenue, expenses, and profitability
• Facilitating the identification of potential risks and mitigation strategies
• Serving as a communication tool for stakeholders, investors, and lenders
• Guiding decision-making and resource allocation for sustainable growth and success.

Main Elements of Occupational Therapy Business Plan Template

When it comes to creating a comprehensive business plan for your occupational therapy practice or clinic, ClickUp's Business Plan Template has got you covered!

Here are the main elements of this List template:

• Custom Statuses: Keep track of the progress of each section of your business plan with statuses like Complete, In Progress, Needs Revision, and To Do.
• Custom Fields: Use three custom fields - Reference, Approved, and Section - to add important details and categorize different aspects of your business plan.
• Custom Views: Access five different views - Topics, Status, Timeline, Business Plan, and Getting Started Guide - to organize and visualize your business plan in various ways, making it easier to navigate and understand.

With ClickUp's Business Plan Template, you can streamline the process of creating a well-structured and organized business plan, ensuring the success and growth of your occupational therapy practice or clinic.

How To Use Business Plan Template for Occupational Therapy

If you're an occupational therapist looking to create a business plan, we've got you covered. Here are four steps to help you make the most of our Business Plan Template for Occupational Therapy:

1. Define your vision and mission

Start by clearly defining your vision and mission for your occupational therapy business. What do you hope to achieve? What values and principles will guide your practice? This step will help you set a clear direction for your business and ensure that all your strategies align with your overarching goals.

Use Docs in ClickUp to write out your vision and mission statements and share them with your team for feedback and collaboration.

2. Identify your target market

Next, it's important to identify your target market. Who are your ideal clients? What specific needs or challenges do they have that you can address through occupational therapy? Understanding your target market will help you tailor your services and marketing efforts to attract and serve the right clients.

Use custom fields in ClickUp to track important demographic information about your target market, such as age, location, and specific conditions or challenges.

3. Develop your services and pricing

Once you have a clear understanding of your target market, you can start developing your services and pricing. What specific occupational therapy services will you offer? How will you differentiate yourself from competitors? Determine the pricing structure for your services based on factors such as costs, market demand, and perceived value.

Create tasks in ClickUp to outline each service you offer, including detailed descriptions, pricing, and any special considerations or requirements.

4. Create your marketing and growth strategies

Now it's time to develop your marketing and growth strategies to attract and retain clients. How will you promote your services and reach your target market? Consider digital marketing channels, networking opportunities, partnerships with healthcare providers, and other tactics that align with your target market and resources.

Use Dashboards in ClickUp to track your marketing efforts, set goals, and monitor the success of your strategies.

By following these steps and utilizing our Business Plan Template for Occupational Therapy, you'll be well on your way to building a successful and thriving occupational therapy practice. Good luck!

Get Started with ClickUp’s Business Plan Template for Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy practices and clinics can use the Business Plan Template for Occupational Therapy in ClickUp to create a comprehensive roadmap for their business and ensure success.

To get started, hit “Add Template” to sign up for ClickUp and add the template to your Workspace. Make sure you designate which Space or location in your Workspace you’d like this template applied.

Next, invite relevant members or guests to your Workspace to start collaborating.

Now you can take advantage of the full potential of this template to create a solid business plan:

• Use the Topics View to organize different sections of your business plan, such as market analysis, financial projections, and marketing strategies
• The Status View will help you track the progress of each section, with statuses like Complete, In Progress, Needs Revision, and To Do
• The Timeline View will provide a visual representation of your business plan's milestones and deadlines
• The Business Plan View will give you an overview of all the sections and their statuses, allowing you to easily monitor progress
• The Getting Started Guide View will provide step-by-step instructions on how to use the template effectively
• Utilize custom fields like Reference, Approved, and Section to add additional information and track important details
• Collaborate with team members to brainstorm ideas, assign tasks, and provide feedback
• Regularly review and update your business plan to ensure it aligns with your goals and objectives
• Monitor and analyze your business plan's progress to make informed decisions and adjustments as needed.
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Start (and Grow) Your OT Private Practice

• Post author By Doug Vestal & Sarah Lyon, OTR/L
• Post date --> October 26, 2023

The occupational therapy profession depends on private practice owners—not only to drive innovation and improve the quality of our care, but also to keep the profession itself moving forward. In the rapidly changing healthcare landscape, there are always new opportunities for us to serve our clients.

Entrepreneurship is exciting and fulfilling, and it takes you on a journey that is unlike anything else you will ever experience.

But, taking that plunge can be downright scary—and justifiably so!

Luckily, we’ve witnessed a major sea change over the past few years.

While we business owners used to be largely left to our own devices, we now enjoy access to countless resources and experts to help us get our business ideas off the ground in the first place—and then take them to the point of thriving.

That’s why we rounded up resources for occupational therapy professionals who are interested in starting and growing private practices.

There are already hundreds of OT private practice owners out there. 

We want you to know you are not alone, when you start an OT private practice. Check out our map below to see the members of our OT directory who have tagged “private practice” as their setting.

What will 2023 hold for private practice OT? 

The resources that you will find below in this blog post have been assembled over many years. And, many of these resources have withstood the test of time. 

But, each new year also brings new challenges and opportunities.

So, before you dive in below here our conversation about starting an OT private practice in 2023:

How much money can an OT private practice owner make?

Money is such a taboo topic, isn’t it?  

And one of the reasons it remains taboo is we aren’t used to having open and frank conversations about it.  

How much you can make as an OT private practice owner depends on a lot of factors.  Here are just a few:

• How much do you charge per session?
• Do you accept insurance or are you private pay?
• How many clients do you see a week/month?
• Do you have other therapists working for you that you need to pay?
• Do you have support staff (e.g. front desk, etc.) that you need to pay?
• What are your fixed monthly expenses?  This includes items like real estate, cleaning services, software, etc.

Now, most of us didn’t go to business school but there’s some simple concepts we should all know.

• Revenue : this is how much money your private practice brings in from the services you provide.  This is adding up all the money the business brought in that year.
• Expenses: this is exactly what it sounds like!  You simply add up all the costs associated with your practice.
• Income (or Profit): this is just Revenue – Expenses.  Having a profit in your private practice means that you can invest in growing it.

One of the biggest changes for an OT opening their private practice is that the way you get paid changes!

As an employee it is very easy to get used to earning a fixed amount.  But, as an OT private practice owner you should expect that your earnings will vary month to month.

Things like seasonality, cancellations, new referral sources, etc., will all mean that your revenue will vary month to month.  

To manage this, many private practice owners will pay themselves a lower, fixed amount each month (in the expense category).  And then once a quarter, or once a year they will determine the profit the practice is making and pay themselves additionally from that category.

But – this type of variability is actually good!  

And it is good because it means you have the ability to increase how much you are paid.

By focusing on increasing your practice revenue, managing expenses wisely, and providing amazing client care then you can see your profits increase – which directly contributes to how much you can make.

Lastly, on this topic we want to note that we could not find reliable data on exactly how much private practice OT owners end up making. (We combed through OTsalary.com and the AOTA workforce & compensation survey, but found nothing.) If you know of any credible data source, please let us know in the comments!

Is being an OT business owner is right for you?

Most occupational therapists that I’ve spoken with who have taken the plunge into owning their own business have two things in common: they see a need to serve and they desire an ability to have more autonomy in their work.

Many occupational therapists who become business owners will tell you that they feel called to entrepreneurship.

But the reasons they feel called vary from person to person.

Some want just a small practice that gives them more control over their schedule.  And they have no desire to grow big.  They want flexibility in their schedule while also providing great care for clients.

Others have a desire to manage people and one day even own multiple locations.  

And there are a few questions that you can ask yourself:

• Can you take a long-term view?   Building a business takes time.  It takes time to build referral relationships.  It takes time to learn how to manage your time between working IN your business (seeing clients) and working ON your business (the things you need to do such that clients find you).  It takes time to learn how to manage employees.  Starting a business will not immediately replace your income. But, over the course of 3 – 5 years you can build something that gives you more freedom.
• Are you willing to acquire new skills?   Marketing.  Sales.  Finances.  These are all typically new skills for most occupational therapists.  And no doubt they can be intimidating.  But, deciding to become a business owner is deciding that you can acquire these skills.  And guess what?  You can!  These are skills just like any other and business owners truly embrace the growth mindset that they can figure it out or find someone to learn them from.

Here are great resources out there to get your creative juices flowing, as you consider if business ownership is right for you! 

The therapy podcasts listed below all focus on the business of therapy, and feature interviews with therapists who have been in the trenches growing their own practices.

If your business idea is in incubation, there are great resources out there to get your creative juices flowing.

• The Brave OT Podcast | Carlyn Neek, OT
• Health, Wealthy and Smart | Karen Litzy, PT, DPT
• Laura’s previous podcast: Mind Your OT Business
• OTs in Pelvic Health | Lindsey Vestal, OTR/L
• The Cash-Based Practice Podcast | Dr. Jarod Carter, PT
• Therapy Entrepreneurs and Leaders of Color | Tomeico Faison
• The OTPreneur Podcast | Jayson Davies and Sarah Putt

I also highly recommend following the WebPT blog , which covers pretty much everything OTs would need to know about starting, running, and growing their practices.

Here are books that members of our OT Entrepreneurs FB group recommended as being critical to their own business journey.

• BE 2.0 (Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0): Turning Your Business into an Enduring Great Company | Jim Collins
• Dare to Lead | Brene Brown
• Profit First | Mike Michalowicz
• The Small Patient Practice | Jeanine Gregoire Colburn, DPT
• The Prepared Leader | Erika H. James and Lynn Perry Wooten

Consultants and coaches who help you launch and grow your OT business

Once you are ready to launch or grow your business, you may desire more in-depth or one-on-one help.

Whether you are looking for an ebook, a mastermind, a coach, or a consultation, there is someone out there to help. Here are a few therapists who can help you take your business to the next level!

Tomeico Faison, OT

Here’s Tomeico’s mission in her own words:

“As a business consultant and coach, my goal is to partner, guide and support health and human service entrepreneurs so that they can freely provide quality services in their dream businesses while still making a profit—it is possible. It is my hope that more therapists and health care providers will start more businesses that focus on serving and meeting unmet needs and I am available to help make that happen!”

You can check out the OT SEE conference that she co-hosts, and the OT Entrepreneurs facebook group that she manages.

Laura Park Figueroa 

Laura Park Figueroa is a business coach who works with pediatric practitioners who want to start profitable nature-based outdoor businesses. Her own nature-based practice, Outdoor Kids OT , quickly grew to multiple 6-figures in revenue and has been profitable every single year.

If you’re interested in taking your work with children outdoors into nature, join the free Therapy in the Great Outdoors Community for tons of nature-based therapy resources and support!

Scott Harmon, OT – Start a Therapy Practice

StartaTherapyPractice.com is a place for therapists already in private practice or interested in starting a practice.

Scott offers a podcast, blog, ebooks, free forms, and tools.

Iris Kimberg, MS PT, OTR

Iris is a veteran in the business end of the therapy world. She grew her own practice (from scratch) into a $14M multi-branch therapy company that she sold to a Fortune 500 Company.

She now consults privately with therapists across the country and also offers affordable workbooks, live and on-demand webinars, and generic business-related templates for contracts and forms. You can find her materials at privatepracticeopportunitiesandguidance.com .

Iris’ goal is to help therapists set up fiscally and legally sound practices, as well as offer actionable ideas on how best to strategically grow and eventually sell private practices.

Emmy Vadnais, OTR/L- Holistic OT

Emmy helps health care practitioners who would like to integrate holistic/integrative health care into their practices—or begin a private practice with a holistic/integrative, prevention, or health and wellness approach.

She has been studying and practicing holistic/integrative health care for nearly 20 years. She has provided care in both mainstream health care and holistic/integrative health care settings, and now blends the two.

Through her business, Holistic OT , her mission is to bring holistic/integrative health care into mainstream health care. She provides coaching/mentoring, individual sessions, continuing education, and guidance for OTs and health care practitioners on how to integrate these approaches into their practices–– whether in private practice, as coaches or consultants, or in employed positions.

Doug Vestal, PhD

Doug helps OTs start and grow thriving Private Pay practices so they can attain treatment freedom, time freedom and money freedom.

Doug and his wife built a highly successful OT private pay practice in NYC which allowed them to payoff their student loan debt, save for retirement and achieve occupational choice without burnout.

For OTs looking to remove the treatment shackles of insurance, Doug offers both paid and free resources, through Freedom of Practice, to learn how to price your services with confidence, develop authentic marketing plans based on relationship building and operate your OT business smoothly.

You can learn with Doug with these resources:

• The OT Freedom Foundation Checklist – A FREE checklist of the 13 steps you need to legitimize your OTPrivate Pay business.
• The OT Private Practice One Page Business Plan – A FREE video training on how to create a simple one-page business plan for your OT Private Pay practice with the 5 most critical components.
• The Freedom of Practice School – It’s no secret that OT school doesn’t teach business skills. The Freedom of Practice School fixes this with weekly, free videos, released specific to OT business.
• Private Pay MBA – The fastest way to build your OT Private Pay practice – guaranteed. A step-by-step online and group coaching program tailored specifically to OTs wanting to start their own Private Pay practice.

Patrice Maynard, OTD, OTR/L

Special shout out to Patrice Maynard for her work running the OT Entrepreneurs of Color (OTEC) instagram and facebook group ! You can sign up for the mailing list here . And, keep on the look out for a return on the annual conference…possibly in fall 2024.

Website building resources

Having a great website is a tremendous asset to your business. Building OT Potential has been life changing for me.

I’m very passionate about helping fellow OTs build their own websites either for their private practice or other entrepreneurial endeavors.

If you are beginning the website creation process, I encourage you to check out our occupational therapy websites blog . This page showcases websites from OTs around the world.

I also encourage you to consider if you can start without full website. Maybe you just need a landing page, like the one bundled with with Therabyte . Then once your business has been validated, you can consider the help of someone like Corey Hiben.

Corey Hiben, OT/L

Corey is an OT turned healthcare marketer, with a focus on building websites. You can check out his portfolio of work on his website .

Copywriting and Marketing for Your OT business

Once your company is launched, the work of marketing and bringing in leads can feel like a full time job unto itself. Luckily there are several OTs, who are focused on helping you with this stage of your business as well! 

Krista Frahm, MOT/L

Krista helps clinicians diversify their income and increase their impact through human-centered, conversion-focused copywriting. (Yes, your marketing can be ethical, authentic, and effective!) 

Her copywriting specialties include sales pages, email marketing, and launch strategy for clinicians with online courses, coaching programs, memberships and mentorships. 

She has 10 years of clinical OT experience, working with adults from the ICU to outpatient and every setting in between. After moving to a rural area with limited career and childcare options, she started Krista Frahm Agency and began supporting clinicians who are serving clients in innovative ways. 

Krista’s Resources:  

• Leveraging Testimonials to Supercharge your Health & Wellness Marketing — Free training!
• Website in a Weekend — Template + course to get your new OT business online without the headache.
• Uncommon OT Podcast interview — get to know Krista

Jenny Gill, MS OTR

If you’re an OT business owner, Jenny is here to turn your word vomit into words & ideas of marketing magic. As an outpatient OT-turned-copywriter, Jenny dove into the world of online entrepreneurship and launched Jenny Gill Copywriting.  

Her signature offer is a Brand Message Intensive that gives you the clarity and words that sell your brand across your marketing efforts. And if you’re looking for a website that captures the voice of your brand, her services include website consulting and done-for-you website copy that gets found in Google while connecting with the hearts of ideal clients. 

Forever a believer in the value of OT, Jenny views marketing and communication as the key to sharing that value. That’s why she offers training and resources tailored to the needs of OT business owners who want to confidently build an online presence that shares their message and services with the world.  Just like a first impression, the first line of copy is the most important. Grab the free Hooks, Headlines and Subject Line Idea Guide to nail that opening line so you get more opens, reads, and views for every piece of content.

For some more concrete ins and outs on marketing, you can check out our full blog post on the topic: Marketing Your OT Practice .

I’m incredibly passionate about seeing fellow OTs pursue entrepreneurship. I hope this article has been helpful to you as work toward making your dreams a reality.

If I am missing any resources that have helped you grow your occupational therapy business, please let me know in the comments.

33 replies on “Start (and Grow) Your OT Private Practice”

Thank you for such an amazing post, Sarah! I can’t wait to get started with all of these wonderful resources.

Thanks, Jaime! Are you taking on private clients or have you been working on your website? Or a different venture?

Also! Do you know Iris? She is from your neck of the woods!

This is a very nice post, thanks for sharing, it’s very helpful.

Thanks for this list! I’m a business book and podcast junkie and I didn’t know about a lot of these resources. Can’t wait to explore more.

Once again, I google something OT related and Sarah Lyon is to my rescue! 🙂 Thank you so much for creating and maintaining OT Potential. I want to open my own practice in a few years, and this information is wonderful!

Ha! Thank you, Steve! Have you joined our Facebook group occupational therapy entrepreneurs? It is one of my favorite corners of the internet. https://www.facebook.com/groups/otentrepreneurs/

I didn’t see this resource listed, but thought this would be helpful; It was for me: J. Kyle Meades, CCC-SLP has a great podcast specializing in speech therapy private practice: Speech Therapy Private Practice Startup Podcast

Hi John! This podcast looks awesome and has some great reviews! I finally got it added to the post. Thank you so much for the recommendation!

Love your posts and emails but this is my favorite of all. Thanks, Sarah!

Ahhhh! Thank you, Aileen! It is such a privilege to be able to create resources for fellow OTs and this is a topic that I am particularly passionate about!

Hi!! Great post!! Great resources!! I’m in Texas & been doing home health with peds (mostly Medicaid). From your list do you recommend a specific business guide to help grow my field? I didn’t see any specific peds areas but may have missed it. I’ve been practicing for 20 yrs, mostly HH & some yrs in schools to fill in gaps. Prefer to expand (or keep it flowing) my HH area. Thanks!!

Ohhh! Good question. I don’t know of anyone who specializes in HH practices, but Scott Harmon runs his own pediatric clinic and I bet that most of Jena Casbon’s customers are in pediatrics. Might be worth messaging both of them to see if they could help you! Good luck!

Thanks! I will contact those 2! Thanks again for all your resources!

Great post Sarah! So much excellent advice and resources. The marketing part is my strongest and most fun! Happy to be a resource in that section and for the readers.

I have been passively following your page for a couple years now & decided that its time to get outta by comfort shell and be more vocal!

Thank you so much for the heart and soul you put into OTPotential and being my cup of courage as I enter this oh so exciting yet scary world of entrepreneurship. These resources are great and I am stoked to dive into some serious business development homework!

I am in the works of building my online platform addressing various aspects of healthy aging. Any general advice for someone who is new the blog world ( in both writing and participating) and general advice on things that worked for you while developing a strong foundation?

Thanks so much, aloha! Monica Quehl OTR/L [email protected]

Hi Monica! It means the world to me to have you as a reader! And, I’m so excited for you to enter into the wonderful world of entrepreneurship and blogging!

My #1 piece of advice is to be persistent and just keep learning as much as you can. I love it because it is so multi-dimensional. With any given task, I might get called upon to use the techie side of my brain, or the creative side, or the empathetic side, etc. etc.

Please keep us posted on how things progress for you!

Best, Sarah

First off, WOW! what a plethora of helpful information. and second, WOW! Thank you for the direction and insight. Here is to the start of something great.

Questions, I’m an entrepreneur with a B.S. in Exercise Science and almost ten years in the industry. I got burnt out, left to go serve to do humanitarian aid work overseas. When I came back home to the U.S., I didn’t see a future in the fitness industry. So I found a new home in Advertising / Marketing agencies for the last five years.

Exercise Science, Fitness, and working with people in this capacity remains a passion for me. I’m now 38yrs old and debating going back to school for my MS in Kinesiology.

1) Can I become an OT with an undergrad in Exercise Science and a Masters in Kinesiology?

2) What is the minimum amount of experience I need to start my own practice?

I’d like to take everything I’ve learned in Marketing & Advertising and apply it with my passion for helping people physically and create my own business. Any help or advice anyone can provide me would be amazing.

Hey Michael! Great questions! Time may be of the essence for you- as it sounds like your main obstacle to getting started will be whether your undergrad classes still count. I bet your undergrad degree contained many necessary pre-reqs, but I know for my OT program that pre-reqs have to have been completed in the past 10 years. So, first step for you would be to look into specific programs you are interested in and see their requirements. There may be some out there that don’t have the 10 year cap! Beyond that I think you will be well prepared for private practice with your background. In general, people do recommend that you work at another facility/clinic first, but I do know new grads who have successfully transitioned to private practice. I think with all of the coaches in our industry that there are ways to get mentorship and draw on others’ experiences other than working a traditional job to start with.

Oh! And I literally have blog post coming out next week on how to become an OT, so be sure to check back!

I am a college student planning on majoring in entrepreneurship in hopes of starting a private practice. However, I am starting to question if that would be a good major and if I would be prepared for OT school. Do you have any suggestions on what should be my major(s) or minor(s)?

Ohhhh good question! I’ve actually been thinking about this recently because I just published this article on How to Become and OT: https://otpotential.com/blog/become-an-occupational-therapist

My personal advice, is simply to pursue what ever major is most interesting to you right now! I really believe that any path can be a great path to OT, and you can learn what you need to along the way! (Obviously still get your pre-reqs in of course 🙂

You could be a dance major and still be a great private practice OT.

I was a religion major and the critical thinking skills I learned have helped me so much as an OT.

I’m also reading a book right now, which is influencing my thinking on this called "Range: Why generalists triumph in specialized world," which might be interesting for you!

Hi Sarah, I would like to start my own business and have been looking into vocational rehab as a means of getting client referrals. Do you have any resources that can help me in that direction? The information on the VR website is very limited and geared more toward clients than vendors. Thanks!

Hi Sarah, I have been an OT for 19 years and always entertained the idea of going out on my own. I am in the process of becoming a provider for the Gardiner Scholarship (Step up for Students) in Florida. Do you have any creative ways on how to network? I have reached out to a few organization including the pretty substantially large church we attend. Churches typically have families that have either adopted or provide foster care and as I am sure you know many of these families need OT. I feel like the area that I am living in is pretty underserved. Do you have any suggestions about going forward beyond what I have mentioned? I appreciate any information that you have to offer.

Sincere regards,

Keith Tisdell, OT/L

Wow! Congrats on your work, Keith! Sounds like you have a great mission. I think the best place to brainstorm ideas for you would be in our OT Entrepreneurs group, so we can get some more OT minds on this: https://www.facebook.com/groups/otentrepreneurs/

Hello Sarah, my name is Reyes Nino and I owned a staffing agency for 14 years. I sold my company to a large publicly traded company. After working for that company as an area director I blew the dust off my PTA license and began working as an independent contractor. I have enjoyed the freedom and flexibility of working when and where I want. I utilize agreements similar to those used by my staffing agency and charged agency rates for my services. I wrote a book that shows other therapist how to properly operate as an independent contractor. I hope you don’t mind me sharing but my website is https://www.independenttherapist.com . I believe it is a great resource for any PT, PTA, OT, COTA or SLP wanting to work as an independent contractor.

Hi Sarah – great article! I’m putting together a panel on OT entrepreneurs to feature at the AOTA Inspire annual conference. Would you have time to discuss? Thank you!

Hey Katie! Totally! Do you want to message me at [email protected] ?

I found this article incredibly informative and interesting! Would anyone be open to presenting to my Student Occupational Therapy Association club?

Thank you for putting these all together in one place!

HI Sarah and happy new year! Thank you for keeping this blog post alive. There are many therapists who reference it when they reach out to me. 2023 is already starting out as a very busy year for therapists starting, growing and selling their practices and I am happy to be service to so many in our industry.

Any resources for a COTA looking to start a business as well?

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Occupational Health Business Plan

Start your own occupational health business plan

Executive Summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. It describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">

Workwell is a premier Occupational Medicine Program of Centroplex Health System (CHS) designed to reduce health care costs, increase productivity, reduce absenteeism, enhance employee morale, attract and retain high-quality employees and create a positive return on investment. Workwell will be Killeen’s pioneer Industrial Occupational Medicine Program and will serve area businesses, helping them to become more productive, while lowering their overall costs.

In their attempt to reduce health care costs, employers “want” occupational medicine clinics that provide them with the following components: accessibility, drug screening services, high quality staff, state-of-the-art care, and a wide scope of services. Through its mission of promoting total health–body, mind, and spirit–while developing and nurturing partnerships with regional businesses, Workwell will fulfill area employer “wants” and “needs.”

Workwell’s existence is based on two simple facts:

• Healthy employees are more productive than chronically ill employees.
• It costs less to prevent injuries than to treat them after they occur.

By helping employees change their behavior patterns and choose more healthy lifestyles, Workwell will lower a company’s health care expenditures, while raising worker productivity. Health care expenditures will decrease due to reduced medical insurance premiums, reduced absenteeism, reduced turnover rates, reduced worker’s compensation claims, reduced tardiness and shorter hospital stays.

A key advantage that Workwell has and should maximize is its relationship with Centroplex Health System (CHS). As the provider of choice for health care services in its service area, CHS already supports the essential structures required to develop a successful Occupational Medicine program, such as Workwell. These structures include an Emergency Department, a free standing walk-in facility (i.e. COMC), a network of primary and specialty physicians and an MCO(currently being developed). All four of these structures should form a loop that serves as a catalyst to feed business into the Workwell program, and in return Workwell should refer back into these four structures, which completes the loop. The proposed model is to provide Occupational Medicine services– Workwell– and primary care services under one setting, that setting being COMC. This mix of services will offer an alternative comprehensive system of Occupational Health and Primary Care services to our client employers. The result will be a synergy that expands the market, establishes new relationships, reduces operating expenses, and generates new revenue.

Workwell’s keys to success and critical factors for the next three years are:

• Development and implementation of a successful marketing strategy/plan to employers.
• Recruitment of experienced medical and administrative talent.
• Enter the Occupational Medicine market and build a “brand” name before the competition.
• Commitment to continuously improve the quality of service.
• Demonstrate a financial return on investment.
• Commitment from Senior Management

The business plan justifies the development and implementation of an occupational medicine program by CHS. The market research shows that last year total worker compensation injuries were 7,720 of which CHS treated 2,532. In addition, worker compensation injuries are projected to increase to a total of 9,446 in the next four years. The five-year goal of this business plan is to position CHS to treat 5,064 worker compensation injuries and thus attain 53 percent of the market.

The following chart illustrates the over-all highlights of the business plan over the next five years. Total visits to COMC are projected to increase from 11,085 to 15,918 by Year 5. This will in-turn generate increasing total revenues and net surplus.

1.1 Objectives

• The key objective of Workwell will be to help ESTABLISH Centroplex Health System as the “ONE STOP SHOPPING” MEDICAL CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE IN ITS SERVICE AREA.”
• Provide a full continuum of Industrial Occupational Medicine services that provides responsive, quality medical care to all injured employees.
• Provide Occupational Medicine services to 10 major Killeen employers (50 < employees) and 20 small employers (50 > employees) by the end of Year 1.
• Expand the target market to provide Occupational Medicine services to employers in these zip codes: 76540-43, 76548, 76513, and 76559, by the end of Year 2.
• Expand the target market to provide Occupational Medicine services to the Centroplex Health System Service Area (Bell, Lampasas and Coryell county) employers by the end of Year 3.
• Become the Provider of Choice for Occupational Medicine in the service area.

1.1.1 Observation & Recommendations

OBSERVATION Occupational health programs have been stepchildren in hospitals because they’ve historically not brought in much revenue. But they could become more lucrative if health systems develop the necessary competencies and sell them directly to employers. As the health care dollar shrinks due to the limitations of discounted managed care, providers must be proactive and aggressively pursue new revenue streams. Occupational health services offers the venue and format to establish positive relationships with local employers and their employees that can lead to tapping into entirely new revenue streams.

RECOMMENDATIONS The underlying factor in these recommendations is TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE FOR DEVELOPING WORKWELL .

Following are the recommendations (options) being made:

Obtain the services of a consultant to start the program

Two main reasons for this recommendation: First, expertise is required in developing an occupational medicine program. Second, why reinvent the wheel when we can learn from proven techniques. All of the programs researched either hired an experienced occupational medicine director or an outside consultant specifically to bring the the program to fruition. Because CHS lacks expertise in this area and currently does not intend to hire a seasoned director to champion this effort, hiring the services of a consulting firm should be considered seriously.

Other reasons are:

This option will allow CHS to start offering area employers as well as its own employees a formalized occupational medicine program within 30 – 45 days. The personnel burden ($$$) required in developing this program can be utilized towards paying experts to implement their proven techniques. By spending the monies to acquire consultants, senior leadership will find a renewed commitment to the success of the program.

Although CHS runs the risk of having a “canned” program, it is understood that the positives outweigh the negatives. Three consulting firms have submitted their bids towards this project. These are Concentra Health Services, Florida Hospital and Occupational Health Research. I have included a copy of this information in your presentation.

Develop the occupational medicine program in-house

Positives: Save money. Customized program. Negatives: Time frame. Lack of expertise. Lack of commitment from senior leadership.

Decision to remain status quo: In this option, the program will continue operating as currently.

Positives: None. Negatives: Continue to lose revenue. Potential to lose market share. Lose opportunity to network with area employers. Miss the opportunity to become a “one stop shop” for health care services. CHS employee injury costs will continue to escalate.

Divestiture of COMC This option considers placing COMC on the marketplace to be sold.

Positives: Lots of money. The $$$ can be invested to expand or develop new programs. Leadership can spend more time focusing on issues closer to “home.” Improve CHS bottom line (at least in the short term). Negatives: Lose new revenue stream. Lose market share. Loss of prime location. Have a competitor establish itself in that setting. Lose identity within the market.

1.2 Mission

1.3 Keys to Success

Workwell’s keys to success are:

• Entering the Occupational Medicine market and building a “brand” name before the competition.

Organization Summary organization overview ) is an overview of the most important points about your company—your history, management team, location, mission statement and legal structure.">

Workwell is a non-profit taxable subsidiary of Centroplex Health System. Workwell is committed to providing customized services to meet the occupational health, safety, and rehabilitation needs of area businesses and industries in its target market. Workwell is based on the belief that healthy employees are more productive and efficient employees. For this reason, it provides wellness strategies/programs to businesses . This combines promotion of total health–body, mind and spirit–designed to facilitate positive lifestyle changes of a company’s work force.

2.1 Organization History

Last year Centroplex Occupational Medicine Center (COMC) had 18,050 and 11,085 total procedures and visits respectively. Worker’s Compensation/Occupational Medicine visits accounted for 4,611 visits and a total of 9,116 procedures. This represents 52 percent of total procedures and 42 percent of total visits at COMC during the prior year.

This generated total charges of $298,050 and total payments of $243,110– 82 percent reimbursement. For Prior Year 2 total charges were $337,326 and total payments of $284,264– 84 percent reimbursement. Additionally, the Centroplex Hospital Emergency Department had Worker’s Compensation visits totaling 1,170 during Prior Year 1. It is imperative to understand that this volume has been achieved without any marketing efforts.

Centroplex Occupational Medicine Center

Workers’ Compensation

Last year there were an additional 1,170 W/C injuries treated at the Centroplex ER. 213, of these W/C injuries, were Centroplex employee injuries and represented a cost of $437,000 to the hospital. (This $$ includes lost wages, training etc…)

Occupational Health

2.2 Locations and Facilities

The Workwell Program is based at the Centroplex Occupational Medicine Center, located at 2202 S.W.S. Young Dr., next to the Killeen Mall.

We provide services 7 days a week 24 hours a day. Our office hours at the Centroplex Occupational Medicine Center are Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The Centroplex Hospital Emergency Department provides our services during the off-hours. Workwell will evaluate patient visit hours and will expand operating hours accordingly.

We will gladly offer our Workwell programs at the employer’s work site as long as the minimum employee participation requirements are met. We will also provide numerous classes at the Centroplex Hospital campus through the monthly wellness programs.

Workwell is convinced that the well-being of client/company is imperative to the health of our community. Workwell understands that accidents, illnesses, and sick days directly affect business efficiency, morale and profit. Maintaining healthy employees translates into a more productive work force. Workwell exists to encourage employees to set personal health improvement goals while reinforcing good principles.

Workwell will work with the company’s senior management to develop a wellness strategy that best suits the needs of each individual employer. The wellness strategy will be a continuous effort that combines both health-promotion and exercise-related activities designed to facilitate positive lifestyle changes in members of a company’s work force. Workwell is a multi-faceted program, designed to address the spectrum of services that employers require to take care of their employees. Workwells’ spectrum of services will include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Work Environment Assessment.
• Screening and Testing Services.
• Tailored Physical Evaluation & Ability Assessment Services.
• Patient Tracking and Information System.
• Regulatory Compliance Services.
• On-site Professional Staffing & Consultation Services.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Health Promotion & Wellness Services.
• Rehabilitation Services.

Our Workwell programs will help companies achieve the following results:

• Reduce employee health care costs.
• Increased productivity.
• Reduced absenteeism.
• Enhanced morale.
• Attract and retain high-quality employees.
• Create a positive Return On Investment (ROI).

3.1 Service Description

Work Environment Assessment:

This is the first step in the Workwell program. This simple questionnaire assesses an employee’s lifestyle habits and medical history to determine which programs will help reach the company’s health goals. It also assesses the readiness of a person to change. (It can be taken on-line or in person; printed versions available in English or Spanish). Once the employees have taken the survey, the employer receives a report summarizing their strengths and risks, as well as their stage of readiness for change to better health. (The online version responds with the individual report within seconds).

Workers’ Compensation & Case Management:

The Workwell Center provides a premier program of care and case management of workers’ compensation injuries. Our proactive approach program utilizes a multiple level system which begins prior to an individual employee’s first day of work. Workers’ Compensation costs and disability costs are driven by lack of early intervention, lack of communication, and poor oversight. Workers’ Compensation claims can be profoundly reduced by early return to work through coordination with the employer to provide immediate temporary assignments. Workwell offers a state-of-the-art facility for the acute management of work injuries. We promote early mobilization through modified duty and excellent communication to allow the employer maximum involvement:

• Easy access, walk-in care clinic.
• Early communication (called at time of patient arrival).
• Post-treatment physician communication.
• Case Management by a Board Certified provider.
• Physician-to-Physician communication for outside referrals.

Screening and Testing Services:

The Workwell center offers a complete spectrum of screening examinations designed to meet the changing needs of industry. Whether mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or indicated by corporate policy, Workwell can create and provide an examination program specific to the employer needs. We offer low cost screening programs as a first line approach in looking for health problems in the work force. Comprehensive testing services are also available from Workwell. We offer a range of specific tests designed to identify potential problems and arrive at a diagnosis. A partial listing of the screening and testing services available include:

• Pulmonary Function- performed by NIOSH certified technicians using the most accurate spirometry equipment available.
• Audiometry- reviewed by NIOSH certified audiologist in compliance with OSHA hearing conservation standards.
• Cardiac- including EKG and low-risk cardiac stress testing.
• Vision- including visual acuity, peripheral vision and color blindness testing, as well as glaucoma screenings.
• X-rays- performed by registered technicians using the latest equipment and read by a board-certified radiologist.
• Alcohol and drug- sample collections supervised by trained technicians; DOT and non-DOT testing available; Medical Review Officer available.
• Laboratory Services- complete blood count, blood chemistry profile, urinalysis, and other specialty blood work upon need or request.

Tailored Physical Evaluation & Ability Assessment Services:

• Post – Offer (pre-placement).
• Periodic (including medical surveillance).
• Bus Driver.
• Vaccines/Immunizations.
• Respirator Clearance.
• Fitness-For-Duty (evaluation and examination to determine patient’s ability to return to work safely).
• Return-To-Work.
• Disability Evaluation.

Patient Tracking and Information System:

The comprehensive patient tracking and information system will enable us to either call or fax information to the respective employer regarding the medical status of the employee during the initial injury treatment session. This provides the employer with up-to-the-minute information helpful in making accommodations so their company operation can continue with as little interruption as possible. The employer is informed regarding the employee’s diagnosis, current status, recommended treatment plan and any follow-up appointment(s) required. The employer also receives a phone call or fax after each follow-up visit. All records are collected and stored in one place, making them accessible with just one phone call. Each patient signs an authorization to release pertinent records to the employer and the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. Future confidentiality issues are avoided by this proactive approach, making records and reports available when needed.

Regulatory Compliance Services:

As part of the comprehensive approach to occupational health and safety, Workwell will offer a set of services to guide businesses through federal, state, and local safety and environmental compliance issues. Through a Professional Network, Workwell will be able to provide legal and technical resources in the following areas:

• Asbestos Management.
• OSHA/EPA Regulatory Compliance.
• Hazardous Waste/Materials Management.
• Back Injury Prevention.
• Chemical Right-To-Know Inventory & Data Processing.
• Facility Safety Audits.
• OSHA Citation Defense/Remediation.
• Indoor Air & Industrial Hygiene Studies.

On-site Professional Staffing & Consultation Services:

This is a service provided for larger companies, specifically those who outsource their medical staff. It entails the medical professionals in conjunction with the mobile services van, providing a comprehensive medical clinic right at the employer’s place of business. The services provided are:

• Conduct health screenings and appraisals (i.e. cholesterol, blood pressure, cancer, heart attack risks, stress) to promote healthier lifestyles and identify medical concerns in the early stages.
• Train employee in basic emergency medical skills (first aid, CPR, etc.)
• Active medical surveillance for employees in hazardous jobs and those at risk of medical conditions that develop over time.
• Assistance with policies and procedures for compliance with federal, state and company regulations.
• Walk-through assessments to help evaluate the effectiveness of safety, ergonomics and industrial hygiene programs.
• Implement and manage programs for injury and illness prevention (job modifications, back care education, safety education programs etc.)

Employee Assistance Program:

The EAP service offers an integrated continuum of services for employees and family members having personal problems such as alcohol/substance abuse, emotional, marital, family, career, legal or financial concerns. EAP services are designed to provide employers, employees and their families with confidential and professional resources to address problems that affect their quality of work and quality of life. Following are some of the services provided:

• Immediate 24-hour access to qualified clinicians.
• Face-to-face counseling in off-site offices.
• Substance Abuse Professional Services.
• “Brown Bag” Psycho-educational seminars.
• Articles for internal company newsletter.
• Financial/Debt management consultation and referral.

Health Promotion & Wellness Services:

An employee is a company’s greatest asset. So how can employees stay healthy? The answer is with health & wellness programs through Workwell. We offer a customized package of programs to help employees recognize and overcome health habits.

• Stress Management Classes and Critical Incident debriefing- provides employees with information about stress and how it affects the body, with practical techniques to turn stress into positive energy on the job and at home.
• Smoking Cessation Classes- strives to reduce the desire for tobacco through a combination of behavioral modification, stress management, and nutritional awareness tips.
• Back Care program-a comprehensive look at the principles of preventing back injury. Instruction emphasizes personal responsibility and provides the foundation for back injury prevention and safety in the work place.
• Cancer Screenings- screening tests for the early detection of colo-rectal, prostate, skin, and breast cancer.
• Heart Attack Prevention Program- a comprehensive assessment of an individual’s risk for heart attack that is further enhanced by counseling, education and follow-up to motivate the individual to take action.
• Health Risk Appraisal- a computerized risk factor analysis which pinpoints an employee’s health risks and ways to reduce or eliminate those risks.
• General Health Program- a general program of education and screenings, including total cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, body fat composition, and nutritional analysis.
• Customized Fitness & Nutritional programs- physician prescribes exercise programs personalized for each employee group or individual. Exercise programs can focus on cardiovascular fitness, muscular fitness, and/or endurance training. Our staff is also available to provide consultation and management services at your company-located exercise facility or gym. Nutrition education programs are provided through the guidance and supervision of a licensed nutritionist who can custom design a healthier eating program for the work force.

Mobile Services:

Our mobile unit is a 36-foot customized Barth van that houses equipment, supplies, materials and staff. The wide variety of services available through our mobile services program fall into two main categories: medical screening/testing/examination services and safety, health promotion & wellness programs. As with all the services available through Workwell, you can select the individual programs that best meet your needs. In addition, many of the offerings can be bundled into a single money-saving package.

All of our health & wellness services are available through our mobile services program or at the Workwell facility and are conducted by our professional staff.

Rehabilitation Services:

Patients who require follow-up rehabilitation services will be referred to the new Centroflex Rehabilitation Center. This state-of-the-art facility is staffed by a Board Certified Physiatrist who will provide our patients with quality acute outpatient care, inclusive of physical therapy and occupational therapy. Some of the treatment includes aquatic therapy, computerized multi-joint , isotonic, and testing.

3.2 Alternative Providers

Workwell’s distinguishing factors are:

• The pioneer Industrial Occupational Medicine Program.
• Sponsored by Centroplex Health System.
• Established network of Primary and Specialty Providers.
• Tailored Wellness Strategies.

Workwell will be Killeen’s pioneer Industrial Medicine program. It will be the first of its kind, providing Killeen and the surrounding service-area employers with the full spectrum of occupational medicine programs. Additionally, being part of Centroplex Health System will enable Workwell to offer its services in conjunction with state-of-the-art ancillary and specialty services, were the need to arise. As part of Centroplex hospital, our patients/clients will belong to a network of providers allowing for prompt scheduling of referrals.

Workwell’s main objective will be to work with client employers to implement an unmatched wellness strategy that will ultimately improve employee productivity while significantly reducing health care costs. Workwell will develop a vested interest in each work force being that an integral component of this service is following up and monitoring each individual employee.

3.3 Printed Collaterals

The business will begin with a brochure establishing the position and describing the services provided. The sales literature will include services offered at the Centroplex Urgent Care Clinic, the Centroplex Emergency Department, Centroflex, Pavilion, Home Care, and through our network of primary care and specialty physicians.

Direct mail pieces are being developed.

Market Analysis Summary how to do a market analysis for your business plan.">

Recent studies indicate returns on investment in wellness programs for various companies ranging from $1.91:1 to $5.78:1. General Electric’s aircraft engines division, for example, saves $1 million per year through its wellness programs . Traveler’s Corporation reported a $3.40 return for every dollar invested in health promotion, yielding total corporate savings of $146 million in benefits costs.

The health of a business is affected by the health of employees. Consider these facts:

• Absenteeism costs businesses in the U.S. $30 billion per year.
• Unhealthy lifestyles account for 40% of U.S. health care costs.

Statistically it has been shown that for every 100 employees:

• 50 have a risk factor of moderate stress.
• 35 are at least 20% overweight.
• 25 have cardiovascular disease or high cholesterol.
• 10 have high blood pressure.

Employees with 4 – 5 health risk factors have four times the medical expenses. Those with six or more have eight times the medical costs.

U.S. Employment/Economic Profile

Important demographic changes are taking place in America that point to the importance of worker productivity in coming decades.

• 19 million new jobs will be created by the year 2006, but there will only be 17 million workers to fill them.
• Service-producing industries (i.e. hotels, advertising, health care etc.) will account for virtually all the job growth. Only construction will add jobs in the goods-producing sector, offsetting declines in manufacturing and mining.
• The Manufacturing industry’s share of total jobs is expected to decline, as a decrease of 350,000 manufacturing jobs is projected.
• An estimated 80 percent of jobs to be filled in the immediate future will require more than a high-school education. Only 74 percent of Americans, however, finish high school, and only 67 percent graduate with adequate skills.
• The number of skilled workers available to fill new jobs is decreasing, meaning that employers are facing more severe competition for labor. Thus, the health and productivity of each employee becomes crucial to a company’s success.

Within the Killeen ZIP codes we have identified 40 major employers with approximately 20,000 total employees. A total of 18 major employers have been identified in the Belton ZIP codes representing 3,390 employees. And, within the Copperas Cove zip codes, 37 major employers have been representing 3,339 employees. Although Workwell will concentrate its initial efforts in the Killeen market, both Belton and Copperas Cove are areas where Workwell should consider expanding its services to. By the end of 2000 it is anticipated that Workwell will expand its service area to cover all employers in Bell, Lampasas and Coryell Counties.

4.1 Market Segmentation

The market for Workwell is not particularly segmented, as potential customers include all Bell, Lampasas and Coryell county employers that offer their employees some type of medical benefits, are experiencing escalating health care costs, and wish to more effectively manage those costs. Workwell, however, segments its services for individual employers. Workwell works with senior management to design and develop personalized health and wellness programs for its employees.

• During 1987 to 1997 this target area gained approximately 23,000 new jobs. Fifty-seven percent of these new jobs (13,000) were gained during the five-year period of 1993 to 1997. The trade, services and government sectors accounted for 12,090, or an astounding ninety-three percent of the new jobs during this period. In 1998, over three-fourths of the area’s employment, or 57,900 jobs, out of an employment total of 77,200, was concentrated in these three sectors.
• Between February 1997 and February 1998, employment in the target area increased by 4,200 jobs, or 4.9 percent, the third highest rate of increase among the state’s 27 metropolitan areas and over half a percent higher than the state average.
• During 1997 the greatest job growth in the target area occurred in the trade and services sectors followed by high growth in the construction, manufacturing and government sectors. In February 1997, the trade sector employed approximately twenty-six percent of the total labor force and accounted for twenty-nine percent, or 1,200 total new jobs. Construction jobs increased by 16.2 percent, or 600 jobs. The manufacturing sector brought an additional 400 new jobs to the area for a 4.2 percent increase.
• The government sector makes up almost on-quarter of the Killeen metro area employment. Fort Hood, large school districts, state prisons, as well as a variety of local, regional, state and federal agencies contribute to government employment. As of February 1995, the active duty population assigned to the base was 45,000, thus making it the largest employer in the state of Texas. Fort Hood has a direct financial impact of $1.8 billion annually to the local economy.

4.1.1 SWOT Analysis

An analysis of Centroplex Occupational Medicine Center’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats concluded the following:

• Centroplex Health System’s reputation for excellent quality service along with a caring attitude.
• Convenient and easy access location from 190 and Killeen Mall.
• The only occupational medicine center in Killeen.
• Ability to offer 24-hour coverage through affiliation with Centroplex Hospital Emergency Department.
• Ability to customize programs to meet the needs of the client companies.
• Already have the equipment and space required. Only a minimal capital investment is required.
• Ability to deliver services at the work site.
• The Centroplex Health System history of utilizing a holistic approach toward health care delivery. 
• The new and improved Centroflex Rehab.
• High overhead expenses along with a negative cash flow.
• Lack of an automated, controlled and coordinated financial and clinical information management system.
• Lack of any coordination and formalized relationship with Centroplex hospital emergency department.
• No marketing strategy.
• No Leadership Accountability.
• Lack of a consistent pricing schedule and discount policy.
• Poor market penetration.
• Lack of market information.
• Lack of networking/working relationship with referral sources and payers.
• Lack of clear understanding regarding COMC’s role in Centroplex Health System community service efforts.
• Lack of specific expertise/resources.

Opportunities

• Companies have an increasing need for assistance with OSHA compliance issues.
• Companies have an increasing need for assistance with ADA compliance issues.
• Increasing cost of workers’ compensation as well as other health care benefits to employers.
• Increasing need for companies to implement accident prevention (safety) programs.
• Renewed interest among employers for maintaining a healthy, fit workforce.
• Opportunity for Workwell program to manage many of the employee health functions and thus decrease Centroplex Health System workers’ compensation costs.
• Centroplex Health System interest in increasing outpatient activities.
• Lack of automated information management system.
• Lack of a sales/marketing force.
• Medium sized industrial area.
• Competition from Scott & White.

4.2 Target Market Segment Strategy

We cannot survive just waiting for the customer to come to us. Instead, we must get better at focusing on the specific market segments whose needs match our offerings. Focusing on targeted segments is the key to our future. We have the components in place to capture and satisfy the identified need.

Therefore, we need to focus our message and our product offerings. We need to develop our message, communicate it, and make it good.

4.2.1 Market Needs

Presently there is no one providing a comprehensive industrial occupational medicine/workers’ compensation program in the service area. This can be considered an untapped segment of services that neither Scott & White nor Centroplex Health System, the two main health care systems in this area, have ventured into.

1998 W/C OTJ Injury – Treatment Location

• Employer Clinic: 1,423(18%) Phy. Office: 1,695(22%) Hosp. ER: 2,785(36%)
• Urgent Care CTR: 1,363(18%) Other: 454(6%)
• 1998 Total OTJ’s: 7,720

MARKET NEED ANALYSIS

**There is a 15%; 30%; 35%; 40%; and 45% per year reduction in E.R visits and added to COMC visits. This is achieved as the E.R and COMC better coordinate their scope of services. Commitment from senior leadership is crucial in making this happen.

Centroplex Health System as a major employer itself will benefit from the services provided through Workwell. In 1998, the 213 OTJs at Centroplex Health System accounted for over $437,000. By implementing an occupational medicine program and promoting its services to employees, the Centroplex hospital will be able to educate its employees on how to prevent OTJ and thus significantly reduce its own workers’ compensation costs.

4.3 Service Providers Analysis

Buying patterns vary by the size of the employer and according to the internal organization.

Companies with 50 to 100 employees may have health care handled by the owner or a key executive. Often it is the responsibility of the Personnel Administrator as an individual (if that function is internal to the company). Also, Personnel Administration may be outsourced, but benefits may not. Sometimes an independent benefits brokerage firm handles all recommendations.

Larger companies from 200 to 500 employees may have Personnel Departments of several people. They might also employ a brokerage or consultant.

Thus, it is imperative that Workwell have flexible programs and sales and marketing efforts that are targeted to a diverse set of potential buying patterns.

4.3.1 Alternatives and Usage Patterns

Scott and White currently offers an Occupational Medicine program in Temple but it is not considered a strong competitor due to its distance from COMC. Scott and White does pose a threat being that they have clinics in the vicinity of COMC and the Centroplex hospital that could easily duplicate their occupational medicine services currently in Temple. Time is of the essence for developing Workwell.

Strategy and Implementation Summary

By tailoring services and developing customized programs for companies and individual employees, Workwell will develop a reputation for quality and customer service.

Workwell services will be directly marketed to employers via telephone calls and on-site consultations. The strategy is to target all industries within the services area, with a primary focus upon the government and service industries, which are the major components in the market. Once Workwell becomes a recognized program, we will rely more on reputation and word of mouth and less on direct marketing.

5.1 Marketing Strategy

Workwell will begin by targeting the large-to-medium size–500+– businesses within a 15 mile radius of COMC. We have 11 businesses, encompassing 83 percent of the total work force in Killeen, within 15 miles of COMC. This will allow us to receive the greatest return on our marketing efforts/dollars. This does not mean that we will not aggressively target the small and more distant employers. There is significant amount of services to be provided to this segment and we will cater to their needs.

The first task is to convince senior executives of the benefits and needs of occupational health services. This will be accomplished by aggressively pursuing interaction and relationships with business professionals who would profit from using this service. Once a strong image is established in the Killeen market, Workwell will use similar strategies to market its services to corporations in Copperas Cove.

5.1.1 Pricing Strategy

Following is a price list for the most commonly performed procedures at Workwell:

Wellness Programs

Pricing varies according to topics and class size. Some programs may be offered free of charge.

Injury Treatment

Pricing varies according to injury severity and required medical services.

5.1.2 Promotion Strategy

Following initial promotional activity through advertisements in newspapers, magazines, television and radio, Workwell will significantly reduce its promotional efforts in the hope that word-of-mouth will attract potential customers. Promotional activity will still be utilized through these media outlets, but only minimally.

We recognize that a comprehensive marketing strategy is a critical component in the success of this program. To achieve this, a full-time marketing coordinator will be charged with the responsibility of selling the program to all employers in the area.

Advertising and Promotional Options

Newspaper Display Advertising Suggested Budget: $1,000

This will cover production and insertion costs for a 1/2 page, black and white ad to run three consecutive times in the Killeen Herald.

Quarterly Newsletter Suggested Budget: $1,500

This will cover costs for writing, producing, and printing a two color, 2 to 4 page newsletter four times a year.

Quarterly Wellness Education Seminars Suggested Budget: $1,000

On a quarterly basis area Employee Benefit Coordinators will be invited to attend the health promotion and wellness seminars to learn more about back care programs, dealing with stress, smoking cessation, etc. These will be held at the Centroplex Hospital. Lunch will be provided.

Direct Mail Campaign Suggested Budget: $5,000

This will be directed towards recruiting new referral sources – program based on contacting 10 people per month for 12 months at a cost of $25 to $50 per mail piece.

Public Relations Suggested Budget: $???

A public relations campaign could encompass community newspaper articles, articles in internal hospital publications, and articles in area and state-wide professional journals. The campaign could also include the production of a year-end “annual report” document or letter that could be sent to all referral sources, employers, etc.

Quality Aspect No direct costs.

A patient satisfaction survey should be utilized to address questions relating to the ability of the program to meet the needs of the patient, referral person, and others, as well as gauge the patient and referral person’s level of expectation, areas for improvement, new program development, etc.

5.1.3 Marketing Programs

Workwell’s most important marketing strategy is establishing a “one-on-one” relationship with the person in charge of employee health and benefits of each employer in our service area. This is intended to serve as a venue by which to communicate to the employers about our current and new services available to them through the Workwell program. Achievement will be measured by the number of employer contracts that are active on a monthly basis. Currently there are 60 current accounts.The goal is to double this number of accounts in a one-year time frame.

Another key marketing program is to revamp the quarterly health & wellness seminars. We will invite the Employee Health and Benefits Coordinators to attend these seminars. This will enable us to offer workshops on such topics as stress management, smoking cessation, back-care program, etc. while at the same time receive feedback from our clients on what they like and dislike about the Workwell program.

Additional marketing tactics are listed below:

• Advertising through the local chamber of commerce.
• Mass mailings to area companies’ human resources executives and safety engineers.
• On-site educational presentations by the marketing coordinator and accompanied by a physician.

The key is to constantly communicate with our patients/clients to inform them who we are and what we offer.

5.2 Fundraising Strategy

The following table and chart give a run-down on forecasted sales. Total revenue is projected to grow 30 percent by 2001.

Note: It is estimated that irregularities in coding and billing cost COMC approximately $150,000 in 1998.

5.3 Milestones

The following table shows the important milestones for Workwell.

Management Summary management summary will include information about who's on your team and why they're the right people for the job, as well as your future hiring plans.">

The following table summarizes our personnel expenditures for the first three years, with 3 percent compensation increases and 20 percent benefits. These figures are solely for the office/clerical staff.

The medical professionals will be compensated as follows:

• The provider contract is currently being developed but in essence these are the stipulations. The physician will be compensated on a 80:17 productivity basis with 3% going to a “cash pool.” The physician will be compensated 17% and be eligible to receive the additional 3%, if the quarterly chart audit shows a 90% accuracy achieved in the coding process.
• $33,276 wage for physician coverage. The coverage will be contracted to Scott & White or Darnell Medical Residents.

Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

The following sections outline the financial plan for Workwell.

7.1 Break-even Analysis

The following table and chart summarize our break-even analysis.

7.2 Important Assumptions

The financial plan depends on important assumptions, most of which are shown in the following table as annual assumptions. From the beginning, it has been recognized that collection days days are critical, but not a factor that is influenced easily. This is an element that needs to be recognized and dealt with accordingly. Interest rates, tax rates, and personnel burden are based on conservative assumptions.

7.3 Key Financial Indicators

The following chart shows the planned benchmarks for Workwell.

7.4 Projected Surplus or Deficit

Our projected surplus and deficit is shown on the following table, with net surpus increasing over the next three years. This is achievable through a reorganization of the current personnel structure, leadership accountability, increase in productivity (from 3.2 to 4.3 visits/hr), accurate coding and billing process, formal marketing effort, and introduction of new products/services.

7.5 Projected Cash Flow

The following chart and table are the projected cash flow figures for Workwell.

7.6 Projected Balance Sheet

The projected balance sheet is included below.

7.7 Business Ratios

The following table outlines some of the more important ratios from the {Health and Allied Services, nec} industry. The final column, Industry Profile, details specific ratios based on the industry as it is classified by the Standard Industry Classification (SIC) code, 8099.

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Occupational Therapy Business Plan Sample

Published Nov.12, 2013

Updated Apr.23, 2024

By: Jakub Babkins

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Table of Content

Occupational therapy business plan for starting your own business

If you want to know how to open an occupational therapy business, you are in the right place. We will give you all the information and guidance for nonprofit business planning as well as for-profit. Our business plan for physical therapy has helped a lot of people start their own business.

Occupational therapy is a field of health sciences. It is focused at helping people correct mental and behavioral irregularities using meaningful activities (occupations) that are imparted in their daily routine. We will have a look at how Alpha Occupational Therapy plans to be the leader of the industry.

Executive Summary

2.1 the business.

Alpha Occupational Therapy will be a registered business in Seattle. It will be owned by Dr. William Petronas. William is a retired psychiatrist who has conducted substantial research in the field of behavioral therapy and interventions.

2.2 Management of Occupational Therapy Business

For starting an occupational therapy business, it is of paramount importance to make a strong management plan. William will hire an experienced CEO to manage the business. As there are two faces of the business, operations and public relations, experts will be hired to take care of both. This document will tell you in sheer detail how to start an occupational therapy business and make it successful.

We’ll also tell you how to get a non profit occupational therapy business license.

2.3 Customers of Occupational Therapy Business

This is not as simple as a pharmacy business plan. To make the strategic business plan for this business, we need to know the customers first. The main customers of this business will be:

• People who want to improve their lives by therapy.
• People who want to get a loved one treated.
• Institutions that want their employees to get therapy.

2.4 Business Target

The business target is:

• To expand to two more states in 2 years.
• To start making $29.8k in profits per month by the end of three years.

Company Summary

3.1 company owner.

William Petronas, the owner of the company is one of the most renowned psychiatrists in the state of Washington. He was one of the very first practitioners to make occupational therapy available for the masses. However, business and management are out of his scope and to make this occupational therapy business plan example successful he’ll hire a CEO.

3.2 Why the Occupational Therapy Business is being started

William is starting this business because he’s passionate about it. He has worked in this field all his life. He is like a star of this field. However, just like a Herbalife business plan there is a financial aspect too.

3.3 How the Occupational Therapy Business will be started

Step1: Plan Everything

The first step in making this sample occupational therapy business plan is planning. Williams will start this business after extensive planning. This consulting business plan template occupational therapy will cover all the aspects of planning needed.

Step2: Making a Brand

People these days are brand conscious. In order to make this business successful, a brand needs to be developed. The focus of making the brand will be around how occupational therapy can change your life for good.

Step3: Establishing a Clinic

Once the brand has been established, the next step will be to establish a clinic where the clients will visit. This clinic will need to be at par with the services provided in it.

Step4: Establish Online Presence

Going online is the most important thing. If you want your business to be noticed, you’ll have to create an online presence. This will be done using a website and social media pages on all the notable platforms.

Step5: Marketing

A solid marketing plan will be developed to make sure that the people of Seattle know Alpha Occupational Therapy exists.

No occupational therapy business plan template can be complete without a list of the services the business is going to provide. To deliver the best value to the customers and make profit while you are at it, you need to know how to start your own occupational therapy business.

Here are the services Alpha Occupational Therapy will be providing:

• Personal Development Services

These will cover the bulk of the services provided by the business. These services will be intended for people who are not suffering from any irregularity or medical condition and just want to be the better versions of themselves.

These services will include:

• Time management therapy.
• Focus increasing therapy.
• IQ improvement therapy.
• Increasing decision making ability.
• Specialized Therapy

Just like any other non-medical home care business plan , this business will also provide services to people with mental problems. These will include:

• Anger management therapy.
• Depression mitigation therapy.
• Mental improvement therapy.
• Behavioral therapy.
• Corporate Personal Development Services

These services will be provided for large corporations who want their employees to be better persons. These services will include behavioral, personal development, stress, and workload management therapies.

• Occupational Therapy for Hospitals

Hospitals with in-patient psychiatric wards that do not have occupational therapy services available will be provided with these services which will include all types of therapy needed by people with severe and progressive psychiatric conditions.

Marketing Analysis of Occupational Therapy Business

It is a must to have proper business models occupational therapy in order for successfully starting a business as a occupational therapy. Marketing analysis is an immensely important part of this.

Business plan for investors

Occupational therapy is not an entirely new concept. The idea came into being in 1917. As of now it is a $26.1 billion market in the US. The business has grown from “a therapy for the rich” to an essential healthcare profession. Large corporations, schools, and even hospitals hire occupational therapists to provide the services. You need to have some really radical and innovative occupational therapy business ideas to start this business and make it profitable.

5.1 Market Trends

Just like a cannabis cultivation business plan , the occupational therapy business has just recently boomed. The market started flourishing after the financial crisis of 2008. As a lot of people lost their jobs and property, it was a time of widespread mental illnesses. This was the time when occupational therapy proved itself and came forth as a solution to the problem the US was facing at that time. This market is not yet saturated and you can make a name and start a profitable business in this field very easily.

5.2 Marketing Segmentation

The market for occupational therapy is a very diverse one. It can be divided into four major segments and each of them is a large one in terms of revenue.

5.2.1 Individual Patients

These are the people who do not have a severe mental condition. These people just want to improve themselves and be better. These patients are the easiest to handle and pay substantially. However, there are not much of such patients as occupational therapy is still largely thought of as a treatment and not as a method of self-improvement.

5.2.2 Schools

This is an emerging market segment for occupational therapy service providers. Schools hire occupational therapists to help the children who need special care. Children with anger issues and those suffering with PTSD also need the services which makes this segment a profitable one.

5.2.3 Corporate Clients

This is also a market segment for occupational therapy that has bulk of clients. Large corporations have realized the importance of occupational therapy and hire therapists to improve their employees. We will focus on such clients as they work with the therapists on a long-term basis and offer the best prices.

5.2.4 Hospitals

Some hospitals do not have occupational therapy experts, but they do need the services. They can be a good source of cases in bulk and for long time. We will be dedicating a whole part of the company to serve these clients.

5.3 Business Target

In this business plan on how to open an occupational therapy business, we’re providing the business targets set by Alpha Occupational Therapy.

• To be the leading provider of occupational therapy services in the US.
• To expand to 2 more states by the end of 3 years.
• To bring innovation in the field of occupational therapy.

5.4 Product Pricing

Our services will be priced at the market average at the start. This will, however, change to a higher-than-average price once we get clients. The average price is being used because we don’t want people to think of us as an inferior brand due to low prices.

Marketing Strategy

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!

The next thing needed to complete this occupational therapy marketing plan is the marketing strategy. This occupational therapy business proposal covers that expect in detail. In order to successfully launch and run this business, the importance of a solid marketing policy is paramount.

We will run a detailed competitor analysis to see what competitive edge we have and the marketing strategy will be based on that. Let’s have a look at the competitor analysis for this occupational therapy business.

6.1 Competitive Analysis

• No occupational therapy business has an experienced and renowned professional like Dr. William Petronas on their payroll. This will give us an edge.
• To make sure that the services provided by our company are impeccable, we will hire the best of the best therapists.
• We will market our business as a cheap yet effective way towards a better life and mental health.

6.2 Sales Strategy

• We will utilize all the major media channels to advertise our services.
• We’ll keep the prices low at the start and will offer substantial discounts to earn repeat customers.
• We will partner up with hospitals and corporate clients who have lot of patients to make sure that we have plenty of work.

6.3 Sales Monthly

6.4 Sales Yearly

6.5 Sales Forecast

Personnel plan

In order to complete this occupational therapy business plan example, we need to talk about the staff that will be needed to run the business. This is important because just like a physical therapy clinic business plan , this business needs a lot of experienced, educated, and trained staff to operate.

7.1 Company Staff

• 1 CEO to head the company.
• William Petronas himself will be the Chief Operations Officer.
• 6 Occupational Therapists.
• 1 Web Developer to make the website and app for the business.
• 1 Social Media Manager
• 2 Sales Executives
• 1 Accountant
• 1 Receptionist

7.2 Average Salary of Employees

Financial plan.

If you are wondering how much money is the occupational therapy business worth, it depends on the value of the brand. This is not a dentistry business plan where the equipment and real estate are all what dictate the value of the business. The value of such a business is determined by the level of trust people have in it.

To start this business, we’ll have to arrange enough money for the following:

• Renting a place to set up the business.
• Salaries for the staff for the first 6 months.
• Money needed to lease 3 field vehicles.
• Money needed to get the business registered and licensed.
• Money needed to set up a website and social media pages.
• Money needed to market and promote the business in the starting phase.

8.1 Important Assumptions

8.2 break-even analysis.

8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

8.3.1 profit monthly.

8.3.2 Profit Yearly

8.3.3 Gross Margin Monthly

8.3.4 Gross Margin Yearly

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

8.6 business ratios.

Download Occupational Therapy Business Plan Sample in pdf

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How To Write a Business Plan for Occupational Therapy in 9 Steps: Checklist

By henry sheykin, resources on occupational therapy.

• Financial Model
• Business Plan
• Value Proposition
• One-Page Business Plan
• SWOT Analysis
• Business Model
• Marketing Plan
• Bundle Business Plan & Fin Model

Welcome to our blog post on how to write a business plan for occupational therapy in 9 steps! If you're passionate about helping clients rebuild their daily activities and skills lost due to illness, injury, or disability, then starting an occupational therapy clinic could be the perfect business idea for you. As the demand for these services continues to grow, it's essential to have a solid plan in place to ensure your clinic's success.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the occupational therapy industry is projected to grow by 18% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is driven by an aging population, increased awareness of mental health conditions, and the need for rehabilitation services. It's an exciting time to enter the industry and make a positive impact on the lives of those in need.

To create a comprehensive business plan for your occupational therapy clinic, follow these 9 essential steps:

• Identify your target market and potential clients.
• Conduct market research and analysis.
• Determine the services and therapies you will offer.
• Define your business goals and objectives.
• Assess the competition and identify your unique selling proposition.
• Develop a financial plan and budget.
• Identify the legal requirements and regulations for operating an occupational therapy business.
• Create a marketing and branding strategy.
• Determine the location and infrastructure requirements for your business.

By following these steps, you'll be well-equipped to build a successful occupational therapy clinic that provides valuable services to your clients and makes a positive impact on their lives. Stay tuned for our upcoming blog posts, where we'll dive deeper into each step and provide you with expert guidance and tips to help you along the way.

Identify Your Target Market And Potential Clients

Identifying your target market and potential clients is an essential step in developing a successful business plan for your occupational therapy clinic. Understanding who your services will cater to enables you to tailor your strategies and offerings to meet their specific needs. Here are some key steps to help you identify your target market and potential clients:

• Research the demographics: Start by researching the demographics of your local area, such as age groups, income levels, and population density. This information will provide insights into the potential demand for occupational therapy services and help you identify the primary target market.
• Examine healthcare statistics: Look into healthcare statistics and trends related to occupational therapy, including the prevalence of illnesses, injuries, and disabilities that require such services. This data will give you a better understanding of the potential client base and their needs.
• Focus on specific conditions or illnesses: Determine if there are specific conditions or illnesses that your clinic will specialize in treating. For example, you may choose to focus on neurological disorders, orthopedic injuries, or pediatric occupational therapy. Understanding the prevalence of these conditions in your target market will help you refine your niche and tailor your services accordingly.
• Consider referral sources: Identify the potential referral sources in your local healthcare community, such as doctors, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and schools. Building relationships with these sources can help you establish a steady stream of clients and increase your clinic's visibility.

Here are a few additional tips to consider:

• Attend local healthcare events and conferences to network and gather further insights into your target market.
• Engage with professional associations and organizations related to occupational therapy to stay updated on industry trends and connect with potential clients.
• Consider conducting surveys or interviews with potential clients to gather information about their needs, preferences, and expectations.
• Utilize online tools and resources, such as social media platforms and online forums, to explore discussions and conversations related to occupational therapy.

By identifying your target market and potential clients, you can develop a comprehensive business plan that caters to their specific needs and ensures the success and sustainability of your occupational therapy clinic.

Conduct Market Research And Analysis

When starting a business, it is crucial to conduct thorough market research and analysis to gain a deep understanding of the industry and the potential demand for your services. This step will assist you in making informed decisions and developing a successful business plan for your occupational therapy clinic.

Here are the key aspects to consider when conducting market research and analysis:

• Identify your target market and potential clients: Define the demographics, psychographics, and specific needs of your target market. This will help you tailor your services and marketing efforts to effectively reach and engage your potential clients.
• Analyze the market size and trends: Evaluate the size of the occupational therapy market and identify any potential growth trends or opportunities. This analysis will help you determine the potential demand for your services and the viability of your business.
• Research your competition: Identify and analyze the existing occupational therapy clinics in your area. Evaluate their services, prices, reputation, and target market. This will help you identify gaps in the market and develop a unique selling proposition.
• Understand regulatory requirements: Research and understand the legal and regulatory requirements for operating an occupational therapy clinic. This includes licensing, certifications, insurance, and any other industry-specific regulations that may apply.
• Gather customer feedback and insights: Engage with potential clients, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders to gather valuable feedback and insights. Conduct surveys, interviews, or focus groups to understand their needs, preferences, and expectations regarding occupational therapy services.
• Utilize online resources such as industry reports, market research databases, and government statistics to gather relevant data and insights.
• Consider partnering with local healthcare providers or organizations to gain access to their networks and gather valuable market insights.
• Stay updated on the latest trends, advancements, and emerging therapies in the field of occupational therapy to ensure your services remain competitive and relevant.

By conducting thorough market research and analysis, you will gain invaluable insights that will guide your business decisions, help you identify your target market, and position your occupational therapy clinic for success.

Determine The Services And Therapies You Will Offer

When establishing your occupational therapy clinic, it is crucial to determine the range of services and therapies you will offer to your clients. This step will help you define your clinic's focus and ensure you are meeting the needs of your target market effectively.

1. Assess the needs of your target market: Begin by identifying the specific needs of your potential clients. Conduct thorough research to understand the prevalent health conditions or disabilities in your area and the services that are currently lacking. This will help you tailor your services to address the most pressing needs.

2. Consult with experts: Reach out to experienced occupational therapists or other healthcare professionals to gain insights into the various therapies that are beneficial for your target clientele. Consulting with experts in the field will empower you with valuable knowledge and allow you to offer a comprehensive range of services.

3. Create a list of services: Based on your research and consultation, create a detailed list of the services and therapies you will offer. This can include physical rehabilitation, cognitive retraining, sensory integration therapy, pediatric therapy, and vocational rehabilitation, among others.

4. Determine the specialization: Consider specializing in a specific area of occupational therapy based on the needs of your target market. This can help you differentiate your clinic from competitors and establish yourself as an expert in a particular niche, such as geriatric rehabilitation or developmental disorders.

• Stay updated with the latest research and advancements in occupational therapy to offer cutting-edge therapies and techniques.
• Consider partnering with other healthcare professionals or organizations to offer a holistic approach to client care.
• Regularly review and update your list of services to ensure it aligns with the evolving needs of your clients.

By carefully determining the services and therapies you will offer, you can position your occupational therapy clinic as a comprehensive and specialized resource for clients seeking to rebuild their daily activities and skills. This step is essential for creating a strong foundation for your business and ensuring your services align with the unique needs of your target market.

Define Your Business Goals And Objectives

When starting an occupational therapy clinic, it is crucial to define your business goals and objectives. This will guide your decision-making process, shape your strategies, and provide a clear direction to work towards. Here are some key steps to help you in this process:

• 1. Assess your personal and professional aspirations: Reflect on why you are passionate about occupational therapy and what you hope to achieve with your clinic. Consider the impact you want to make in the lives of your clients and the overall community.
• 2. Outline specific objectives: Determine what you want to accomplish within a defined timeframe. These objectives can include financial targets, growth projections, client satisfaction goals, or community outreach initiatives.
• 3. Prioritize your goals: Identify the most important goals that align with your business vision. Consider the immediate and long-term objectives that will have the greatest impact on your clinic's success.
• 4. Make your goals SMART: Ensure that your goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. This will provide clarity and focus, allowing you to track your progress and make necessary adjustments along the way.
• 5. Break down your goals into actionable steps: Create a roadmap that outlines the tasks and milestones required to achieve each goal. This will help you stay organized and accountable throughout the process.
• Involve your team: Consult with your team members or mentors to gain different perspectives and insights when defining your goals and objectives.
• Review and revise: Regularly review and revise your goals to ensure they remain relevant and aligned with the evolving needs of your clinic.
• Stay motivated: Keep your business goals and objectives visible and regularly remind yourself of the purpose behind your occupational therapy clinic.

By clearly defining your business goals and objectives, you will have a roadmap to success. This foundation will guide your decision-making, help you measure your progress, and ultimately lead you towards building a thriving and impactful occupational therapy clinic.

Assess The Competition And Identify Your Unique Selling Proposition

Before launching your occupational therapy clinic, it is crucial to assess the competition in your target market. Understanding your competitors' strengths and weaknesses will help you identify gaps in the market and develop a unique selling proposition (USP) that sets your clinic apart.

Start by researching other occupational therapy clinics in your area. Look at their services, pricing, reputation, and any specialized offerings they provide. This will give you a comprehensive understanding of the competitive landscape and allow you to position your clinic strategically.

Identifying your unique selling proposition:

• Firstly, carefully consider what makes your clinic unique. Is it your specialized expertise, innovative techniques, or personalized approach to therapy?
• Highlight the key features that differentiate your clinic from the competition and make it more appealing to your target market.
• Emphasize how your clinic can address specific needs or offer solutions that other clinics do not provide.
• Showcase any specialized certifications or training that your therapists possess, demonstrating your clinic's expertise in specific areas.
• Conduct surveys or interviews with potential clients and professionals in the healthcare industry to gather insights and feedback on what they perceive as unique and valuable in an occupational therapy clinic.
• Regularly monitor and stay updated on industry trends and advancements to ensure your clinic remains innovative and ahead of the competition.
• Consider integrating technology and evidence-based practices into your therapy services, as this can be a powerful differentiator.

Gaining a competitive advantage requires a thorough understanding of the competition and a clear identification of your unique selling proposition. By focusing on what sets your occupational therapy clinic apart, you can attract and retain clients while establishing a strong position in the market.

Develop A Financial Plan And Budget

Developing a sound financial plan and budget is crucial for the success of any occupational therapy clinic. It provides you with a roadmap to manage your finances, make informed decisions, and ensure the sustainability of your business. Here are some important steps to consider:

• 1. Estimate your startup costs: Begin by identifying all the necessary expenses to get your occupational therapy clinic up and running. This may include equipment, supplies, licensing fees, insurance, marketing, and staffing costs. carefully consider each aspect and make realistic estimates.
• 2. Determine your revenue streams: Next, identify your potential sources of income. This can include fees for therapy sessions, assessments, workshops, or any additional services you offer. Analyzing your target market and competition will help you determine appropriate pricing for your services.
• 3. Create a financial forecast: A financial forecast is an essential tool that projects your clinic's financial performance over a specific period. It typically includes projected revenues, expenses, and cash flow. This forecast will guide your decision-making process and help you stay on track.
• 4. Establish a budget: Developing a budget allows you to allocate funds to different areas of your clinic and ensures you stay within your financial means. Allocate funds for marketing, staffing, operational expenses, and contingencies. Keep track of your spending and adjust the budget as needed.
• 5. Seek funding if necessary: If you require additional capital to start or expand your occupational therapy clinic, consider exploring funding options. This may include loans, grants, or seeking investment from partners or private investors. Prepare a strong business plan and financial documents to present to potential funders.
• 6. Monitor and review your finances regularly: Once your occupational therapy clinic is operational, regularly monitor and review your finances. Compare your actual financial performance against your forecasted figures and make necessary adjustments. Analyze financial reports, cash flow statements, and profit margins to ensure financial health.
• Ensure you consider both one-time startup costs and ongoing operational expenses in your financial plan.
• Be conservative in your revenue projections to avoid overestimating income and underestimating expenses.
• Research and explore different financing options to determine what best suits your business needs.
• Invest in accounting software or consult with a professional to streamline your financial management processes.
• Regularly update and revise your financial plan and budget as your occupational therapy clinic evolves.

Identify The Legal Requirements And Regulations For Operating An Occupational Therapy Business

When starting an occupational therapy business, it is crucial to familiarize yourself with the legal requirements and regulations that govern the industry. Adhering to these laws will not only ensure compliance, but also help establish trust and credibility with your clients. Here are some important legal considerations to keep in mind:

• Licensing: Check the licensing requirements for operating an occupational therapy clinic in your jurisdiction. It is essential to obtain the necessary licenses and permits to legally provide therapy services. Contact your local licensing board or regulatory agency to understand the specific requirements and procedures you need to follow.
• Qualifications: Determine the qualifications and certifications required for occupational therapists and other staff members working in your clinic. Ensure that you hire licensed professionals who meet the necessary educational and experience criteria to provide therapy services.
• Privacy and Confidentiality: Familiarize yourself with the laws and regulations related to patient privacy and confidentiality, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States. Develop policies and procedures to safeguard patient information and ensure compliance with these regulations.
• Insurance Coverage: Understand the requirements for obtaining liability insurance coverage for your occupational therapy clinic. This coverage will protect you and your business in the event of accidents, injuries, or negligence claims.
• Documentation and Record-Keeping: Establish a system for proper documentation and record-keeping to comply with legal requirements. This includes maintaining client records, progress notes, consent forms, and any other documentation necessary for billing and reimbursement purposes.
• Stay updated with the latest legal regulations and changes in the occupational therapy industry to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Consult with a healthcare attorney or legal professional familiar with occupational therapy regulations to ensure you have covered all necessary legal aspects.
• Join professional organizations and networks specific to occupational therapy to gain access to resources and guidance on legal matters.

By identifying and complying with the legal requirements and regulations, you set a solid foundation for your occupational therapy business. This not only protects your business and clients, but also reflects your commitment to delivering high-quality services within a regulated framework.

Create A Marketing And Branding Strategy

As you develop your occupational therapy clinic, it is crucial to create a strong marketing and branding strategy to attract clients and establish your presence in the industry. A well-executed marketing and branding plan can help you differentiate your clinic from competitors, build brand recognition, and ultimately increase your client base.

Here are some important steps to consider when creating your marketing and branding strategy:

• Identify your target audience: Determine who your ideal clients are and understand their needs, preferences, and demographics. This will guide your marketing efforts and help you tailor your messages accordingly.
• Develop a strong brand identity: Create a compelling and unique brand that represents your clinic's values and offerings. This includes designing a compelling logo, choosing a color scheme, and developing consistent messaging throughout your marketing materials.
• Create a professional website: In today's digital age, having a user-friendly and visually appealing website is essential for any business. Your website should showcase the services you offer, provide information about your team, and make it easy for potential clients to contact you.
• Utilize online marketing strategies: Leverage various online platforms such as social media, search engine optimization (SEO), and online advertising to reach and engage with your target audience. Utilize these channels to share educational content, success stories, and promote your services.
• Network with healthcare professionals: Establish relationships with other healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and physical therapists, who may refer clients to your clinic. Attend industry conferences, join local professional organizations, and participate in community events to expand your network.
• Offer educational workshops and seminars: Host events to educate healthcare professionals, families, and caregivers on topics related to occupational therapy. This will not only position your clinic as a thought leader but also help raise awareness about the benefits of occupational therapy.
• Solicit feedback and testimonials: Request feedback from your clients and use their testimonials to showcase the success stories and outcomes achieved through your services. Positive reviews and testimonials can significantly enhance your credibility and attract new clients.
• Consider partnering with local organizations, such as schools, rehabilitation centers, and senior living facilities, to expand your reach and gain referrals.
• Regularly monitor and analyze your marketing efforts to identify what strategies are working well and which ones need adjustment or improvement.
• Continuously educate yourself on the latest trends and advancements in occupational therapy to stay relevant and provide the best possible services to your clients.

Determine The Location And Infrastructure Requirements For Your Business

Choosing the right location for your occupational therapy clinic is vital to the success of your business. You need to consider factors such as accessibility, visibility, and proximity to your target market. Look for a location that is easily accessible and has ample parking space for your clients. Consider the proximity to hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and other healthcare facilities as this can potentially increase your client base.

When determining the infrastructure requirements for your business, consider the size and layout of the space you will need . Assess the number of therapy rooms, waiting areas, administrative office space, and any additional facilities such as a gym or sensory room that may be required for specific therapies. Ensure the facility meets all safety and accessibility standards so that it can accommodate clients of all abilities.

Important tips:

• Check local zoning regulations and ensure that your chosen location is suitable for a healthcare facility.
• Consider the potential for future expansion or the need to lease additional space if your business grows.
• Collaborate with an architect or interior designer experienced in healthcare facility design to optimize the functionality and aesthetics of your clinic.
• Invest in quality equipment and therapy aids that are essential for your services, ensuring they are easily accessible to both therapists and clients.
• Consider the need for private consultation rooms to maintain client privacy and confidentiality during assessments or therapy sessions.

In addition to the physical location of your clinic, consider the necessary technology and IT infrastructure required to support your business operations. Invest in software systems for scheduling appointments, electronic medical records, and billing to streamline administrative tasks.

Remember, creating a safe, welcoming, and professional environment for your clients is crucial. Pay attention to the aesthetics of your clinic, ensuring it reflects the values and brand of your business. Utilize calming colors and decor that promote relaxation and healing. Consider factors such as lighting, acoustics, and accessibility for clients with mobility challenges.

Determining the location and infrastructure requirements for your occupational therapy clinic involves thorough planning and research. By considering the specific needs of your business and target market, you can create a space that supports the delivery of high-quality care and enhances the overall client experience.

In conclusion, writing a business plan for an occupational therapy clinic involves several important steps. First, identifying your target market and conducting market research will help you understand the needs and potential clients in your area. Then, defining your services, goals, and objectives will give your business direction and purpose.

Assessing the competition and identifying your unique selling proposition will help you differentiate your clinic from others in the market. Developing a financial plan and budget will ensure that you have the necessary resources to start and run your business successfully.

Understanding the legal requirements and regulations for operating an occupational therapy business is crucial to ensure compliance and avoid any legal issues. Creating a marketing and branding strategy will help you promote your clinic and attract clients.

Finally, determining the location and infrastructure requirements for your business will provide a suitable environment for delivering your services. By following these 9 steps and using the checklist provided, you can create a comprehensive business plan for your occupational therapy clinic and set yourself up for success in the industry.

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Occupational Therapy Business Plan Template

Explore Options to Get a Business Plan.

Are you interested in starting your own occupational therapy Business?

Why write a business plan?

• Business Plans can help to articulate and flesh out the business’s goals and objectives. This can be beneficial not only for the business owner, but also for potential investors or partners
• Business Plans can serve as a roadmap for the business, helping to keep it on track and on target. This is especially important for businesses that are growing and evolving, as it can be easy to get sidetracked without a clear plan in place.
• Business plans can be a valuable tool for communicating the business’s vision to employees, customers, and other key stakeholders.
• Business plans are one of the most affordable and straightforward ways of ensuring your business is successful.
• Business plans allow you to understand your competition better to critically analyze your unique business proposition and differentiate yourself from the market.
• Business Plans allow you to better understand your customer. Conducting a customer analysis is essential to create better products and services and market more effectively.
• Business Plans allow you to determine the financial needs of the business leading to a better understanding of how much capital is needed to start the business and how much fundraising is needed.
• Business Plans allow you to put your business model in words and analyze it further to improve revenues or fill the holes in your strategy.
• Business plans allow you to attract investors and partners into the business as they can read an explanation about the business.
• Business plans allow you to position your brand by understanding your company’s role in the marketplace.
• Business Plans allow you to uncover new opportunities by undergoing the process of brainstorming while drafting your business plan which allows you to see your business in a new light. This allows you to come up with new ideas for products/services, business and marketing strategies.
• Business Plans allow you to access the growth and success of your business by comparing actual operational results versus the forecasts and assumptions in your business plan. This allows you to update your business plan to a business growth plan and ensure the long-term success and survival of your business.

Business Plan Content

• Executive Summary
• Company Overview
• Industry Analysis
• Consumer Analysis
• Competitor Analysis & Advantages
• Marketing Strategies & Plan
• Plan of Action
• Management Team

The financial forecast template is an extensive Microsoft Excel sheet with Sheets on Required Start-up Capital, Salary & Wage Plans, 5-year Income Statement, 5-year Cash-Flow Statement, 5-Year Balance Sheet, 5-Year Financial Highlights and other accounting statements that would cost in excess of £1000 if obtained by an accountant.

The financial forecast has been excluded from the business plan template. If you’d like to receive the financial forecast template for your start-up, please contact us at [email protected] . Our consultants will be happy to discuss your business plan and provide you with the financial forecast template to accompany your business plan.

Instructions for the Business Plan Template

To complete your perfect occupational therapy business plan, fill out the form below and download our occupational therapy business plan template. The template is a word document that can be edited to include information about your occupational therapy business. The document contains instructions to complete the business plan and will go over all sections of the plan. Instructions are given in the document in red font and some tips are also included in blue font. The free template includes all sections excluding the financial forecast. If you need any additional help with drafting your business plan from our business plan template, please set up a complimentary 30-minute consultation with one of our consultants.

Ongoing Business Planning

Want a bespoke business plan for your occupational therapy business, our expertise.

Website Design & Development for Occupational Therapy Businesses

A Guide to Social Media for Occupational Therapy Businesses

Occupational Therapy Business Plan Template FAQs

What is a business plan for a/an occupational therapy business, how to customize the business plan template for a occupational therapy business, what financial information should be included in a occupational therapy business plan, are there industry-specific considerations in the occupational therapy business plan template, how to conduct market research for a occupational therapy business plan, what are the common challenges when creating a business plan for a occupational therapy business, how often should i update my occupational therapy business plan, can i use the business plan template for seeking funding for a occupational therapy business, what legal considerations are there in a occupational therapy business plan.

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How to Start an Occupational Therapy Private Practice Business

The Occupational Therapists (OT) business consists of health practitioners who treat patients with physical, mental, or developmental conditions. Occupational therapy (OT) interventions can include: helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations; helping individuals recovering from serious injury to regain functional daily skills, and providing support for individuals experiencing physical and cognitive challenges.

Statistics have it that the U.S. occupational and physical therapy services market is projected to grow from $49.28 billion in 2021 to $71.75 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 5.5%. Currently, there are over 141,405 Occupational Therapists currently employed in the United States. 83.2% of all Occupational Therapists are women, while 16.8% are men. The average age of an employed Occupational Therapist is 40 years old.

Steps on How to Start an Occupational Therapy Private Practice Business

Conduct market research.

If you intend to start an occupational therapy private practice business, then you must make sure you conduct thorough market research. It is important to conduct research because it will help you carry out a detailed study of a particular problem or concern you intend to solve.

Your aim in conducting market research for your occupational therapy private practice business is to get an in-depth analysis of information and create space for generating new questions, concepts, and understandings of the market space. With successful market research for your occupational therapy private practice business, you will be able to explore the unknown and unlock new possibilities in the industry you want to start your business.

a. Who is the Target Market for Occupational Therapy Private Practice Business?

The target market for an occupational therapy private practice business are people who are suffering from;

• Birth injuries or birth defects.
• Sensory processing disorders.
• Traumatic injuries to the brain or spinal cord.
• Learning problems.
• Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
• Mental health or behavioral problems.
• Broken bones or other orthopedic injuries.
• Developmental delays
• Post-surgical conditions
• Spina bifida
• Traumatic amputations
• Severe hand injuries
• Multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and other chronic illnesses.

b. Is Occupational Therapy Private Practice Business a Profitable Business?

Yes, occupational therapy private practice business is a profitable business. Fortune Business Insights says that the market size was USD 46.44 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 71.75 billion by 2028.

c. Are There Existing Niches in the Industry?

Yes, there are existing niche ideas when it comes to occupational therapy private practice business, and here are some of them;

• Providing habilitation services
• Providing rehabilitation services

d. Who are the Major Competitors?

• Encompass Health Corporation
• Select Medical Holdings Corp.
• Kindred Healthcare Inc.
• Little Land Play Gym
• Physical Therapy NOW
• Brain Balance Achievement Center
• Apex Network.
• Tender Touch Rehab Services
• HealthPRO Heritage
• HCA Healthcare
• BAYADA Home Health Care

e. Are There County or State Regulations or Zoning Laws for Occupational Therapy Private Practice Business in the United States?

Yes, and the regulations require that all occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants must practice within compliance with federal and state laws. Please note that State and other legislative or regulatory agencies may impose additional requirements to practice as occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants in their area of jurisdiction.

For example in California, each person licensed or issued a limited permit by the board shall report to the board every change of residence address within 30 days after the change, giving both the old and new addresses. In addition to the residence address, the person may provide the board with an alternate address of record.

If an alternate address is the person’s address of record, he or she may request, in writing, that the residence address not be disclosed to the public.

f. Is There a Franchise for Occupational Therapy Private Practice Business?

Yes, there are franchise opportunities for occupational therapy private practice business, and here are some of them;

• Little Land Play Gym – Total Investment: $100,000 – $230,000
• Physical Therapy NOW – Initial Investment: $150,000
• Brain Balance Achievement Center – Initial Investment: $260,133-$360,633
• Apex Network – Initial Investment: $148,350 – $344,400.

g. What Do You Need to Start an Occupational Therapy Private Practice Business?

• A Feasibility Report
• Business and Marketing Plans
• Business Licenses and Permits
• EIN (Employer Identification Number) / Federal Tax ID Number.
• A Corporate Bank Account
• Equipment and Supplies
• Office Address

Choose a Memorable Business Name

When looking to start a business, before you can begin to file the necessary documents with the constituted authorities or start your website, it is necessary that you come up with a name that you will be recognized with. It is essential that the name you come up with can easily be pronounced, is unique and easily memorable. Some of the catchy business name ideas suitable for a occupational therapy business are;

Creative Occupational Therapy Private Practice Business Name ideas

• Pro Health® Occupational Therapy Private Practice, LLC
• Grego® Occupational Therapy Private Practice, LLC
• Move Doctors™ Occupational Therapy Private Practice, Inc.
• Blessed Hands™ Occupational Therapy Private Practice, LLC
• Zeus Justin® Occupational Therapy Private Practice, Inc.
• Pro Care® Occupational Therapy Private Practice, LLC
• Bob Casey® Occupational Therapy Private Practice, LLC
• Peter Paul® Occupational Therapy Private Practice, Inc.
• Harris Care® Occupational Therapy Private Practice, Inc.
• Synergy Care® Occupational Therapy Private Practice, LLC
• Blue Cross® Occupational Therapy Private Practice, LLC
• Pauline George™ Occupational Therapy Private Practice, Inc.
• Bridget Decoster™ Occupational Therapy Private Practice, LLC
• Inner City® Occupational Therapy Private Practice, LLC
• Midland Care® Occupational Therapy Private Practice, Inc.
• Universal Care® Occupational Therapy Private Practice, Inc.
• Life Page© Occupational Therapy Private Practice, Inc.
• Ready Care™ Occupational Therapy Private Practice, LLC
• iCare™ Occupational Therapy Private Practice, Inc.
• Tim® Occupational Therapy Private Practice, Inc.

Register Your Business

A. what type of business structure is best for occupational therapy private practice business.

Even though there are several options when it comes to the business structure for an occupational therapy private practice business, the one that most players in this line of business consider is an LLC. Please note that an LLC will need an EIN if it has employees or if it will be required to file any of the excise tax forms listed below.

b. Steps to Form an LLC

• Choose a Name for Your LLC.
• File Articles of Organization.
• Choose a registered agent.
• Decide on member vs. manager management.
• Create an LLC operating agreement.
• Comply with other tax and regulatory requirements.
• File annual reports.

c. What Type of License is Needed to Open an Occupational Therapy Private Practice Business?

• General Business License
• NBCOT certification and/or state registration or licensure (if required by your state)
• Health and Safety Permit
• Zonal Permits
• Director’s License

d. What Type of Certification is Needed to Open an Occupational Therapy Private Practice Business?

• Certificate in Occupational Therapy Assisting
• Associate’s Degree in Occupational Therapy Assisting
• Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy
• Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Degree.

Please note that certification is voluntary, but shows you to be serious about your field. Occupational therapists must pass the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapists (NBCOT) exam to become certified.

e. What Documents are Needed to Open an Occupational Therapy Private Practice Business?

• Business and Liability Insurance
• Federal Tax Payer’s ID
• State Permit and Building Approval (for your office)
• Certificate of Incorporation
• Business License
• Business Plan
• Employment Agreement (offer letters)
• Operating Agreement for LLC
• Insurance Policy
• Online Terms of Use (if you have a website)
• Online Privacy Policy Document (basically for online payment portal)
• Company Bylaws
• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

f. Do You Need a Trademark, Copyright, or Patent?

If you are considering starting an  occupational therapy private practice business, usually you may not have any need to file for intellectual property protection or trademark. This is so because the nature of the business makes it possible for you to successfully run the business without having any cause to challenge anybody in court for illegally making use of your company’s intellectual properties.

Cost Analysis and Budgeting

A. how much does it cost to start an occupational therapy private practice business.

When it comes to starting an occupational therapy private practice business, the startup costs vary and could range from $80 to over $230,000.

b. What are the Costs Involved in Starting an Occupational Therapy Private Practice Business

• Business Registration Fees – $750.
• Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits – $7,300.
• Marketing, Branding and Promotions – $3,000.
• Business Consultant Fee – $2,500.
• Insurance – $2,400.
• Rent/Lease – $50,000.
• Other start-up expenses like commercial satellite TV subscriptions, stationery ($500), and phone and utility deposits ($2,800).
• Operational Cost (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $30,000
• Start-up inventory – $25,000
• Store Equipment (cash register, security, ventilation, signage) – $4,750
• Office Furnishing and Equipping – $10,000
• Website: $600
• Opening party: $3,000
• Miscellaneous: $5,000.

c. What Factors Determine the Cost of Opening an Occupational Therapy Private Practice Business?

• The choice of the location you intend to cover
• The required licenses and permits
• The type of office facility
• Additional service offerings
• The cost of hiring and paying a business consultant and attorney
• The cost for branding, promotion, and marketing of the occupational therapy private practice business
• The cost of furnishing and equipping the facility
• The cost of the insurance policy covers
• The cost of registering the business
• Source of your supplies and ongoing expenses
• Cost of recruiting and training your staff
• The cost for the purchase and customizing of uniforms
• The cost of the grand opening of the business

d. Do You Need to Build a Facility? If YES, How Much Will It Cost?

You don’t need to build a facility for your occupational therapy private practice because you are expected to work in the homes of your clients but you are expected to have an administrative office or a small clinic where you can operate from.

e. What are the Ongoing Expenses of an occupational Therapy Private Practice Business?

• Rent and lease for your office or small clinic
• Cost of transportation
• Utility bills (internet subscriptions, phone bills, signage, and software renewal fees et al)
• Salaries of employees

f. What is the Average Salary of your Staff?

• Chief Occupational Therapist (President) – $85,000 Per Annum
• Occupational Therapist Assistant (OTA) – $60,878 Per Annum
• Office Administrator – $40,000 Per Annum
• Account Officer – $35,000 Per Annum
• Front Desk Officer – $32,000 Per Annum

g. How Do You Get Funding to Start an Occupational Therapy Private Practice Business

• Raising money from personal savings and sale of personal stocks and properties
• Raising money from investors and business partners
• Sell shares to interested investors
• Applying for a loan from your bank/banks
• Source for soft loans from your family members and friends.

Write a Business Plan

A. executive summary.

Ready Care™ Occupational therapy private practice, Inc. is a standard occupational therapy private practice business that will be based in Silver Spring, Maryland. The business that will be responsible for providing in-occupational therapy private practice for all our clients both in the comfort of their homes or in our clinic facility.

• Occupational therapists treat disabled, ill, or injured patients with special equipment and the therapeutic use of daily activities.
• Help patients improve, regain, and develop the skills needed for day-to-day life and work.
• Provide long-term patient care and acute patient care.

c. Mission Statement

Our mission is to build a highly successful, occupational therapy private practice business that will evaluate, plan, organize, and conduct rehabilitative programs that seek to develop or restore important living skills and professionally improve general independence.

Vision Statement

Our vision is to create an international model of the occupational therapy private practice industry in Silver Spring, Maryland.

d. Goals and Objectives

The goals and objectives of an occupational therapy private practice center are to help patients heal, improve, regain, and develop the skills needed for day-to-day life and work.

e. Organizational Structure

• Chief Occupational Therapist (President)
• Occupational Therapist Assistant (OTA)
• Administrator
• Account Officer
• Front Desk Officer

Marketing Plan

A. swot analysis.

The strength of the occupational therapy private practice facility lies in the fact that they have a team of well-qualified professionals manning various job positions in the organization. They are some of the best hands in the state. So also, the location, the business model they will be operating on, and their excellent customer service culture will count as a strong strength for the business.

Our occupational therapy private practice business is a new business that is owned by an individual (family), and we may not have the financial muscle to sustain the kind of publicity that will give the business robust visibility and also attract some of the highly experienced hands in the occupational therapy private practice industry.

Opportunities:

An increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases and a raising geriatric population will increase the demand for the services of occupational therapists.

The challenges facing occupational therapists include proving our value in an economic trend of downsizing, competing within the medical profession, developing and affiliating with new payer sources, and reengineering our careers to meet the needs of the new, nontraditional health care marketplace, and government regulations.

b. How Do Occupational Therapy Private Practice Businesses Make Money?

Occupational therapy private practices make money by charging their clients for services rendered and also from Medicare. This is because Medicare also covers occupational therapy private practice services, like occupational therapist visits, training or therapy sessions, and patient monitoring.

c. Payment Options

• Payment via bank transfer
• Payment with cash
• Payment via credit cards
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via check
• Payment via mobile money transfer

d. Sales & Advertising Strategies

• Place adverts on both print (newspapers and health-related magazines) and electronic media platforms
• Sponsor relevant community-based events/programs for the elderly or people suffering from chronic diseases
• Leverage the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote your occupational therapy private practice business
• Install your Bill Boards in strategic locations all around your city or state
• Distribute your fliers and handbills to target areas
• Contact households, businesses, and every adult in the neighborhood where your occupational therapy private practice will be located informing them about your business and the services you rendered
• List your occupational therapy private practice in local directories/yellow pages
• Advertise your occupational therapy private practice business on your official website and employ strategies that will help you pull traffic to the site.
• Position your Flexi Banners at strategic positions in the location where your occupational therapy private practice business is located.
• Ensure that all your staff members wear your branded shirts and that all your vehicles are well branded with your company logo et al.

Financial Projection

A. how much should you charge for your service.

The average hourly rate for Occupational therapists ranges from $41 to $49 with an average hourly pay of $45.

b. How Much Profit Do Occupational Therapy Private Practice Business Owners Make a Year in the United States?

It depends, but available reports show that in the U.S., the median amount is around $80,000/$39 per hour. The top 10% earn at least $110,000/$53 per hour, and the bottom 10% earn around $53,000/$26 per hour.

c. What Factors Determine the Amount of Profit to Be Made?

• The capacity of the occupational therapy private practice (number of clients they are servicing per time)
• The location of the occupational therapy private practice is covering
• The management style of the occupational therapy private practice
• The business approach and model of the occupational therapy private practice
• The advertising and marketing strategies adopted by the occupational therapy private practice.
• The number of years the occupational therapy private practice is in business

d. What is the Profit Margin of an occupational Therapy Private Practice?

The profit margin of an occupational therapy private practice is not fixed, but after subtracting your overhead, you can make close to 45 percent as profit.

e. What is the Sales Forecast?

Below is the sales forecast of an occupational therapy private practice business. It is based on the location of the business and other factors as it relates to such startups in the United States;

• First Fiscal Year: $480,000
• Second Fiscal Year: $750,000
• Third Fiscal Year: $1.0 million

Set Up your Office

A. how do you choose a perfect location for occupational therapy private practice business.

• The demography of the location especially as it relates to the aging population and people suffering from chronic diseases
• The demand for occupational therapy private practice services in the location
• The purchasing power of businesses and residents of the location
• Accessibility of the location
• The number of occupational therapy private practices and other medical facilities in the location
• The local laws and regulations in the community/state
• Traffic, parking and security et al

b. What State and City are Best to Open an Occupational Therapy Private Practice Business?

• New York City, New York
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Los Angeles, California
• Chicago, Illinois
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Silver Spring, Maryland
• Rowland Heights, California
• Portland, Oregon
• Atlanta, Georgia
• Dallas, Texas.

c. What Equipment is Needed to Operate an Occupational Therapy Private Practice Business?

When starting an occupational therapy private practice business, you will need first aid kits, an emergency preparedness kit, an emergency plan, among other things. In setting up a small office, you will need a computer, printer, software apps, telephones, pager, photocopier, scanner, and fax machine.

Hire Employees

When it comes to starting a standard occupational therapy private practice facility business on a large scale, you would need the services of the following professionals; chief occupational therapist (OT) (you can occupy this position), occupations therapist assistant (OTA), administrator, front desk officer, and accountant (cashier).

Launch the Business Proper

In recent times, no occupational therapy private practice opens its door for business without first organizing an opening party to officially launch the business. You can choose to do a soft opening if you are operating on a low budget or you can go for a grand opening party.

The bottom line is that with a proper launching of the business, you will officially inform people in your city that your occupational therapy private practice is open for business.

a. What Makes an Occupational Therapy Private Practice Business Successful?

• Ability to attract clients regularly
• Disciplined and dedicated workforce
• The heart to serve and work with sick people
• A good relationship with stakeholders
• Good occupational therapy techniques and programs.

b. What Happens During a Typical Day at an Occupational Therapy Private Practice Business?

• The occupational therapy private practice is open for the day
• The required drugs and supplies are arranged to be used for the day
• Occupational therapists and assistants are briefed in the office (in some cases though)
• Occupational therapists and assistants are sent to homes where they provide their services
• Marketing/website upkeep
• Administrative duties are carried out
• The business is closed for the day.

c. What Skills and Experience Do You Need to Build an Occupational Therapy Private Practice Business?

Here are some of the skills and experience you need to build an occupational therapy private practice business;

• Good managerial and human development skills
• Good healthcare ethics
• An interest in helping other people, regardless of their condition.
• The ability to communicate clearly and sensitively when talking to people and their families.
• Good listening skills.
• Great problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt and act accordingly to situations.
• Organizational skills.
• Experience working as an occupational therapist
• Experience in the occupational therapy private practice industry

More on Healthcare

Occupational Therapy Treatment Plan

Unlock the potential of effective therapy with our guide on Occupational Therapy Treatment Plans, complete with examples. Free PDF download available.

By Audrey Liz Perez on Jun 03, 2024.

Fact Checked by Ericka Pingol.

What is occupational therapy?

Have you ever wondered how individuals recover, maintain, or develop the necessary skills to lead meaningful and satisfying lives, especially after injury, illness, or due to developmental or cognitive challenges? What role does an occupational therapist play in enhancing someone's ability to perform everyday tasks, ensuring they can navigate their day-to-day lives with confidence and independence?

Occupational therapy is a client-centered health profession that promotes health and wellbeing through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in everyday life activities.

Occupational therapists achieve this by working with individuals to enhance their ability to engage in the occupations they want to, need to, or are expected to do or by modifying the occupation or the environment to support their occupational engagement better.

They employ a holistic approach, considering the individual's physical, psychological, emotional, and social aspects. This might involve teaching new ways to approach tasks, recommending adaptive equipment, enhancing cognitive skills and safety awareness, or modifying environments to support occupational performance better.

Printable Occupational Therapy Treatment Plan PDF

Download this Occupational Therapy Treatment Plan to map out the therapeutic interventions, strategies, and goals for a patient's treatment.

What do occupational therapists do?

Occupational therapists specialize in assessing and developing an effective treatment plan to improve their client's ability to perform everyday tasks and engage in everyday activities. Through a detailed assessment of cognitive skills, physical abilities, and environmental factors, they devise personalized, effective treatment plans to enhance occupational performance and safety awareness in daily living.

By recommending adaptive equipment, suggesting modifications to the home or workplace, planning everyday activities, and providing targeted interventions, occupational therapists support their clients in achieving greater independence and quality of life.

Their work is a collaborative process involving the client—and often their family—in setting goals and making progress, ensuring the support provided is meaningful and tailored to the individual's unique needs and aspirations.

What is an Occupational Therapy Treatment Plan?

An Occupational Therapy Treatment Plan is a structured guide created by occupational therapists (OTs) to map out the therapeutic interventions, strategies, and goals for a patient's treatment. It's designed to address specific areas of need, such as improving cognitive skills, enhancing physical abilities, and increasing independence in daily activities, based on a comprehensive assessment of the patient's capabilities, challenges, and objectives.

Determining what goes into a patient's treatment plan is a critical task for an occupational therapist, involving a detailed assessment of the individual's unique needs and environment. Here's how they do it:

• Meticulous assessment : Occupational therapists start with an extensive evaluation of the patient's physical, cognitive, and emotional needs, along with their living and working environments.
• Evaluation of current function : They assess the patient's functionality to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
• Goal setting : Together with the patient, they set personal goals to ensure the treatment plan aligns with their aspirations and well-being goals.
• Potential for improvement : The possibility for progress is considered, with the plan tailored to maximize the patient's potential for improvement.
• Customized interventions : The treatment plan may include direct therapy sessions to build skills, education to deepen understanding and manage conditions, and compensatory approaches to adapt tasks or environments.
• Support for caregivers : It also outlines resources and strategies for caregivers to assist in the patient's journey toward achieving their goals.

This methodical and personalized approach ensures the intervention facilitates the patient's greatest possible improvement and independence.

How does our Occupational Therapy Treatment Plan template work?

Our Occupational Therapy Treatment Plan template is designed to guide healthcare professionals through the detailed and comprehensive process of creating effective treatment plans for their patients. By structuring the plan into clear, manageable steps, the template ensures a holistic and tailored approach to therapy. Here's how it works:

Step 1: Client information and medical history

The template begins by collecting essential client information and medical history. This foundational step ensures that all subsequent decisions and strategies consider the individual's needs, preferences, and background to maximize well-being.

Step 2: Assessment summary

In this step, occupational therapists describe the client's current abilities, challenges, and environment across various domains, including cognitive skills, physical abilities, and daily living activities. The assessment aims to identify areas where adaptations, interventions, or support could significantly enhance occupational performance.

Step 3: Goal setting

Based on the assessment, clear and achievable short-term and long-term goals are set. These goals are tailored to the client's priorities and capabilities, focusing on tasks and activities that are meaningful to them. The objective is to outline specific, measurable outcomes that guide the therapeutic process.

Step 4: Intervention plan

The template outlines the specific interventions, strategies, and sessions designed to help clients achieve their goals. This includes direct therapy activities, adaptive equipment recommendations, and modifications to tasks or environments. Each intervention is described in detail, including the aim, frequency, and duration, ensuring a structured approach to therapy.

Step 5: Implementation schedule

This step involves scheduling the therapy sessions and other interventions and providing a clear timeline for the therapy process. It allows for the organization of resources and ensures that each session is designed to build towards the client's goals progressively, maximizing the effectiveness of the treatment.

Step 6: Progress review and modifications

Regular feedback and review sessions are incorporated to monitor progress towards the set goals. This step is crucial for adapting the plan based on the client's evolving needs and responses to the interventions. Adjustments ensure continued progress and adaptation to new challenges or improvements.

Step 7: Discharge planning

Once goals have been achieved or a plateau in progress is observed, the template guides the therapist through planning for the client's discharge. This includes summarizing achievements, providing recommendations for ongoing support, and outlining strategies for maintaining and building upon the improvements made during therapy.

Following these steps, the Occupational Therapy Treatment Plan template provides a structured yet flexible framework that helps therapists design and implement comprehensive, individualized treatment plans. This approach supports the therapeutic process and empowers clients to engage actively in their journey towards improved function and enhanced quality of life.

Occupational Therapy Treatment Plan example (sample)

In our guide, we have provided a completed sample treatment plan using a fictional character to serve as a practical example for users.

This illustrative treatment plan outlines the tasks, techniques, and evidence-based interventions to support the character's needs. By discussing the rationale behind each chosen strategy and incorporating regular feedback and evaluation points, the example demonstrates how to monitor progress and adjust the plan to optimize outcomes.

This hands-on approach ensures that healthcare professionals can see the practical application of the template steps, reinforcing their understanding and ability to craft effective, personalized treatment plans for their clients.

Download our free Occupational Therapy Treatment Plan example here:

Flexibility of Occupational Therapy Treatment Plans

Occupational therapy treatment plans are dynamic and can evolve to meet the patient's changing needs and circumstances. Therapists reassess and modify the treatment plans accordingly as patients progress, face new challenges, or achieve their goals. This flexibility allows for introducing new techniques, adaptations of goals, or changes in intervention strategies.

It ensures that the therapy remains relevant and effective, maximizing the patient's potential for improvement and adjustment to their environment or condition. The ability to adapt the plan is a fundamental aspect of occupational therapy, reflecting the profession's commitment to providing personalized, patient-centered care.

Monitoring patient progress in occupational therapy

Occupational therapists monitor their patients through continuous assessment and evaluation of performance and well-being. These assessments can include direct observation, standardized testing, patient feedback, and discussions with caregivers. By evaluating the effectiveness of interventions and the patient's progress toward their goals, therapists can make informed decisions about the treatment plan.

This ongoing monitoring process allows therapists to adapt and refine techniques, ensuring the therapy aligns with the patient's evolving needs. Moreover, it is crucial to educate patients and caregivers about the therapy process and foster collaboration and support to maximize the patient's independence and quality of life.

Why use Carepatron as your occupational therapy software?

Carepatron is an exceptional occupational therapy software that streamlines the management of a therapy journey, from initial evaluation to daily living interventions.

Its comprehensive features support therapists in applying various techniques, monitoring performance, and efficiently conducting thorough evaluations. By centralizing patient information, treatment plans, and progress notes , Carepatron facilitates a more efficient workflow, allowing therapists to spend more time with their clients and less on administrative tasks.

This software enhances the quality of care provided and optimizes the effectiveness of treatments, ensuring that each patient's therapy journey is as productive and successful as possible. With its intuitive design and emphasis on improving outcomes in daily living activities, Carepatron is an invaluable tool for any occupational therapy practice aiming to maximize its impact on patient wellbeing.

Commonly asked questions

Occupational therapy (OT) helps individuals of all ages engage in the activities they want and need to do by therapeutically using daily activities or occupations. It aims to improve health, enhance functionality, and increase independence in daily living.

Individuals of any age facing physical, cognitive, or emotional challenges that affect their ability to perform everyday activities can benefit from occupational therapy. This includes people recovering from injuries, living with chronic conditions, or experiencing developmental or psychological difficulties.

The duration of an occupational therapy treatment plan varies depending on the individual's unique needs, goals, and progress. Plans are tailored and adjusted over time, with some lasting a few weeks to several months or even longer for ongoing support.

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• Business Type
• Business Plan for Occupational Therapist

Occupational Therapist Small Business Idea and Business Plan

Starting your own small business in the UK isn’t easy but having a properly developed business plan will help you achieve success.

To start a Occupational Therapist business in the UK, take the time and explain the idea via a business plan.

Understanding all of the aspects of the business idea will be the key to getting the Occupational Therapist business running like a well-oiled machine. The business plan you develop will help you organize the elements needed into a strategy that you can actually use to startup, by paving a clear road map as to what you need to follow for the lifespan of your business.

Starting a Occupational Therapist business isn’t easy, but when done right, it can lead to a lot of success.

To help you get started, you can use the free business plan builder tool to develop your own Occupational Therapist business plan.

The business plan template is very easy to use, is interactive and will quickly and easily help you create your business plan just by answering the needed questions about your small business idea.

Create your own Occupational Therapist business plan for free using the Business Plan Builder

The free business plan template builder is divided into a few easy to follow steps.

The free business plan builder template is provided by UKStartups.org to help you develop your own business plan. For step by step guidance, see the 5 steps below.

Once completed, the result will be a clean, professional plan that will help you start your own Occupational Therapist small business in the UK.

When you have completed your Occupational Therapist business plan, the next step will be to find available funding that will help, or to speak with a funding adviser who will assist you each step of the way to securing the needed funds to make your Occupational Therapist business startup.

If you are looking to limit your startup costs when starting up a Occupational Therapist small business in the UK, this free business plan builder tool will be it.

Starting a Occupational Therapist business is only one of the ways others have used this free business plan tool. There are hundreds of different ideas you can start, and if you need guidance, do reach out to a UKStartups expert to get the needed assistance and guidance.

Step 1. Your business information

To develop a proper Occupational Therapist business plan with the free business plan builder template, it is important to answer each of the questions about your business to the best of your abilities.

What is your business? What are the products/services you provide? Who are your customers? What are your goals…etc?

Having a clear explanation will help you create a in-depth business plan that you can actually use to start the Occupational Therapist business and to apply for needed funding to cover your startup costs.

Step 2. Projecting your revenues/income

The Occupational Therapist industry can have great results. Planning and projecting the financial figures to approximate what you will make each year is crucial to building a strong business plan.

What do you think your business will make from each of its products/services? Simply list your products/services, enter the appropriate financial figures (costs and expenses).

If you don’t have the figures, in many cases it is recommended to do a a bit more research on other Occupational Therapist businesses locally and within your own region to get an idea of potential revenue. You can do your best to estimate the figures and growth potential.

If you need assistance in projecting, you can always contact UK Startups funding experts for the help.

Step 3. Your business market

As a Occupational Therapist business, having a clear explanation of the market and industry that you are in will help you plan for the figure and will ensure you can take the business to the next level.

Explain your location of business, share specifics about your customers, showcase your competition and explain the advantages you have over your competition.

Step 4. The future plan

Starting your own Occupational Therapist business and getting it off the ground is important to you.

No matter if you’re planning on applying for government funding for your Occupational Therapist business or not, it is important to plan out the future and provide an explanation of how you will grow the business. This means explaining your marketing plan, your sales strategy and clearly outlining a growth plan for the next few years.

Be sure to break this down step by step to show how you intend on making sure your Occupational Therapist business can grow each year.

Keep in mind that often business plans are focused on key people. Be sure to discuss yourself, your role and any other key figures in the business as well.

Step 5. The financials

In the end, it all comes down to the financials. If you are seeking funding, or not – the business plan you develop needs to have clearly defined financials or projections. The business plan builder tool makes it easy to develop your financial charts by simply entering your expected revenues per month and year. If you don’t have the figures as it’s a new business be sure to project the figures based on your expectations. If you need help with this, ask the UK Startups experts .

A clear breakdown of your funding needs is also recommended in case you are seeking funding and this free business plan template will help you with exactly that. When developing your Occupational Therapist business plan using this free template, the above 5 steps are recommended in order to succeed. While there are other key points that will assist you in starting your business, finding funding...etc, the free template will help put you on the right path

Be sure to request a professional to review your business plan , to answer any questions you may have and to help you with the funding search once you’ve done the initial free template. You can request this directly via UKStartups.org and through the Small Business Startup Platform as a member.

If starting a Occupational Therapist business is just one of your ideas, perhaps considering other options, here are some popular small business’s others have chosen to startup

• Data Recovery Service
• Building Restoration Service
• Asian Massage Therapist
• Dental Laboratory

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7 Must-Track KPIs for Successful Occupational Therapy Practice

Related blogs.

• Unlocking the Hidden Goldmine: The Untold Profitability of Occupational Therapy
• Occupational Therapy Practice: A Smart Investment for a Rewarding Future
• 10 Steps to Success: Starting Your Own Occupational Therapy Business

Average patient satisfaction rate

Number of new patient referrals, percentage of patients reaching their goals, revenue from hospital and rehabilitation center contracts, average number of sessions per patient.

• Employee retention rate

Percentage of patients who complete their treatment program

Are you looking to track and measure the success of your occupational therapy practice? Look no further than these top seven KPI metrics. From patient satisfaction rates to revenue from contracts, these KPIs will provide you with the insights you need to optimize your operations and drive growth.

• Average patient satisfaction rate: Keep track of how satisfied your patients are with their therapy experience. This will help you identify areas for improvement and ensure that your patients are receiving the best care possible.
• Percentage of patients reaching their goals: Set measurable goals for your patients and track the percentage that achieve them. This will help you gauge the effectiveness of your treatment plans and make data-driven adjustments.
• Employee retention rate: Retaining top talent is crucial for the success of your practice. Track your employee retention rate to ensure that you're creating a supportive and positive workplace culture.

By monitoring these core KPIs, you'll be able to measure the success of your occupational therapy practice and make data-driven decisions. Keep scrolling to learn more about these KPIs and how to track and calculate them.

Occupational therapists play a crucial role in enhancing the physical, psychological, and emotional well-being of patients. The success of occupational therapists is attributed to numerous key performance indicators (KPIs) such as the Average patient satisfaction rate. In this chapter, we will discuss the different aspects of this KPI, including its definition, use case, calculation, advantages, disadvantages, and industry benchmarks.

Average patient satisfaction rate is a KPI that measures the level of satisfaction that patients have with the services and outcomes of occupational therapy. This KPI is an important gauge of the quality of service and patient experience provided by the occupational therapist.

Occupational therapists can use the average patient satisfaction rate KPI to identify areas where they need to improve patient care, address concerns of patients, and increase their satisfaction levels. Additionally, this KPI can help to identify practices that work well, to enhance them, and use them to improve the overall quality of care.

How To Calculate KPI

The formula for calculating the Average patient satisfaction rate KPI is as follows:

Average patient satisfaction rate KPI = Sum of all satisfaction ratings / Total number of patients surveyed

Calculation Example

Suppose an occupational therapist treats 150 patients in a month and surveys them to evaluate their level of satisfaction. The therapist collects the following patient satisfaction ratings:

Patient 1: 8/10

Patient 2: 6/10

Patient 3: 7/10

Patient 4: 9/10

Patient 150: 9/10

The sum of all satisfaction ratings is (8+6+7+9+...+9) = 1133. Therefore, the average patient satisfaction rate KPI for that month is:

Average patient satisfaction rate KPI = 1133 / 150 = 7.55 / 10

KPI Advantages

• Provides a quantitative measure of patient satisfaction levels.
• Helps identify areas where patient care experience needs improvement.
• Allows for a comparison of patient satisfaction levels over time.
• Can help to establish a positive reputation for the occupational therapist practice due to high patient satisfaction levels.

KPI Disadvantages

• Average patient satisfaction rate KPI is subjective and may depend on variables, such as patient demographics, expectations, and cultural background.
• A sample size may not represent the entire patient population, leading to a potential bias in results.
• Occupational therapists may receive poor ratings due to reasons outside of their control, such as long wait times, billing issues, or errors in communication.

KPI Industry Benchmarks

According to the Occupational Therapy Association, the average patient satisfaction rate KPI in the occupational therapy industry is around 80%.

Tips & Tricks

• Ensure that surveys used to measure patient satisfaction are distributed accurately and efficiently.
• Invest in technology that streamlines the collection and analysis of patient satisfaction data.
• Use patient satisfaction KPI in conjunction with other KPIs, such as therapist productivity, to identify areas where improvement is needed.

In occupational therapy, the number of new patient referrals is a crucial metric that measures the effectiveness of a clinic in attracting new patients. It helps healthcare providers understand the effectiveness of their marketing strategies and patient satisfaction rates.

The number of new patient referrals refers to the number of patients that are referred to a particular occupational therapy clinic for the first time by a professional healthcare provider. It can include referrals from physicians, nurses, social workers or other therapists.

OT clinics use this KPI to measure the effectiveness of their outreach and marketing strategies. It also helps them understand the satisfaction levels of their existing patients and whether they are willing to refer other patients.

Divide the total number of new patients during a specific period by the total patient referrals during the same period. Multiply the result by 100 to get the percentage increase in new patients. The formula for calculating the KPI is:

New patient referrals KPI = (Number of new patients / Total patient referrals) x 100

If an occupational therapy clinic receives 60 referrals in a month, and 10 of them are new patients, the calculation would be:

New patient referrals KPI = (10 / 60) x 100 = 16.67%

• It helps healthcare providers measure the effectiveness of their marketing strategies
• It provides insights into patient satisfaction levels
• It helps clinics make improvements to attract more patients
• It does not differentiate between referrals from healthcare providers and self-referrals
• It only measures new patients without considering the retention rate of existing ones

KPI Industry Benchmarks for the KPI: ' Number of new patient referrals '

According to a survey conducted by the healthcare consulting firm BDO USA, the average number of new patients referred to OT clinics every month is around 20 to 30.

Tips & Tricks:

• Offer promotions for new patient referrals to incentivize existing patients
• Build relationships with healthcare providers to get more referrals
• Engage with patients to get feedback on patient experience and satisfaction

Occupational therapy aims to improve patients' quality of life by helping them develop or recover the skills they need for daily living and working. One way to measure the success of occupational therapy is through the percentage of patients reaching their goals. This KPI helps therapists determine the effectiveness of their interventions and the outcomes of their patients.

The Percentage of Patients Reaching Their Goals KPI measures the number of patients who achieve their occupational therapy goals compared to the total number of patients seen.

Occupational therapists can use this KPI to evaluate the effectiveness of their interventions, identify areas for improvement, and justify their interventions to insurance companies or other stakeholders. Healthcare organizations can use this KPI to compare the performance of their occupational therapy departments with industry benchmarks and identify areas for improvement.

How to Calculate KPI

To calculate the Percentage of Patients Reaching Their Goals KPI, divide the number of patients who achieved their occupational therapy goals by the total number of patients seen and multiply by 100.

Suppose an occupational therapy department treated 100 patients over a quarter. Out of those, 80 patients had treatment goals. Of those 80 patients, 60 achieved their goals.

The Percentage of Patients Reaching Their Goals KPI for this quarter is 75%.

• Easy to calculate
• Provides a measurable outcome for occupational therapy interventions
• Enables therapists to measure their own professional performance
• Can justify interventions to insurance companies and other stakeholders
• Does not measure the quality of occupational therapy practice, only outcomes
• Only identifies those who achieved their goals, regardless of the level of improvement
• Does not take into account external factors that affect patients' outcomes, such as comorbidities and other health issues

KPI Industry Benchmarks for 'Percentage of patients reaching their goals'

The industry benchmark for the Percentage of Patients Reaching Their Goals KPI varies depending on the diagnosis and the intervention. According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, an acceptable benchmark for many occupational therapy interventions is between 60% and 70%. However, it is essential to compare KPIs to other facilities and within the same organization to determine the performance level.

• Ensure that occupational therapy goals are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-based)
• Regularly assess patients, track progress, and revise goals as needed to maximize outcomes
• Implement best evidence-based practice interventions that have shown a satisfactory improvement in occupational performance in patients with similar conditions

As an occupational therapy (OT) business, revenue plays an important role in determining the success and growth of the business. One of the significant revenue sources for an OT business is revenue from contracts with hospitals and rehabilitation centers. Let us look at the KPIs that can help track and calculate this revenue.

'Revenue from hospital and rehabilitation center contracts' KPI measures the total revenue generated from contracts signed with hospitals and rehabilitation centers. It helps in determining how much revenue is earned through the contracts with hospital and rehabilitation centers, giving an idea of the financial performance of the business.

This KPI is particularly useful for OT businesses who have signed contracts with one or multiple hospitals or rehabilitation centers. Tracking this KPI helps businesses in predicting cash flows, evaluating the success of contracts signed, and negotiating better terms for future contracts.

To calculate 'Revenue from hospital and rehabilitation center contracts', take the total revenue generated from contracts signed with hospitals and rehabilitation centers, which includes the billings and payments received from them.

Suppose an OT business has contracts with three hospitals, and in a month, the total revenue generated from these contracts is $50,000. The calculation for 'Revenue from hospital and rehabilitation center contracts' KPI will be:

• Helps evaluate contract success: The 'Revenue from hospital and rehabilitation center contracts' KPI helps in measuring how successful the contracts with hospitals and rehabilitation centers are financially.
• Predicts cash flow: The KPI aids in forecasting cash flows and aids in determining the financial health of the business.
• Better negotiation: This metric helps in providing vital information to negotiate with hospitals and rehabilitation centers for better terms of the contract.
• Risk of Contract Cancellation: Loss of hospital and rehabilitation center contracts might have a significant impact on revenue.

According to industry benchmarks, the average revenue generated by OT businesses from contracts with hospitals and rehabilitation centers is approximately 40% of their total revenue.

Some tips to improve 'Revenue from hospital and rehabilitation center contracts' KPI:

• Always seek to negotiate better terms with hospitals and rehabilitation centers to increase revenue and avoid contract cancellations.
• Regularly review contracts to identify the areas that need improvement and make necessary changes to enhance financial performance.
• Provide exceptional service to clients and focus on building a long-term relationship with hospitals and rehabilitation centers.

As an occupational therapy practice owner, there are several key performance indicators (KPIs) that you must track to ensure your business is on track. One of the most important measurements is the average number of therapy sessions that a patient attends.

The average number of sessions per patient is defined as the total number of therapy sessions provided to a group of patients divided by the total number of patients in that group.

This metric is used to measure the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions. It helps you to understand the number of sessions required for rehabilitating a specific condition or injury.

Number of therapy sessions provided to a group of patients / Total number of patients in that group

A group of 10 patients attends a total of 100 therapy sessions The average number of sessions per patient would be 100/10=10

• Helps to understand the effectiveness of therapy interventions
• Provides insights into the number of sessions required to rehabilitate a specific injury or condition
• Helps in comparing the performance of occupational therapy practices
• The KPI does not take into account the severity of patients' injuries or conditions
• The KPI does not differentiate between the types of patient treatment plans in place or the complexity of conditions hence may distort results
• It does not reflect the trade-offs between intensive therapy approaches and less intensive or non-intensive approaches
• The average number of therapy sessions for patients with musculoskeletal conditions is between 8 and 12
• The average number of therapy sessions for stroke patients is between 16 and 28
• The average number of therapy sessions for patients with neurodevelopmental disorders ranges between 20 and 50 sessions
• Try initiating a patient monitoring system. Using this system, you can monitor individual patient performance by setting targets for specific recovery regimes. The result is an easier way to track the effectiveness of your occupational therapy interventions and individual patient outcomes.
• Consider integrating a benchmarking system into your practice to help measure your center's performance against industry-specific standards.
• Detailed reporting and analysis of the metrics can be time-consuming. Invest in a practice management software that seamlessly integrates with your EHR to automate the task.

Employee Retention Rate

As a business owner, it is essential to track and measure various occupational therapy KPI metrics to ensure the growth and success of your business. One of the crucial metrics that every business owner should be tracking is the Employee Retention Rate KPI.

Employee retention rate refers to the percentage of employees who stay with your organization over a specific period. This metric is used to measure the effectiveness of your company's employee retention strategies and how successful you are in retaining your valuable employees.

Employee retention rate is an essential KPI for all businesses, especially for those dealing with occupational therapy. This KPI helps business owners to understand their employees' satisfaction level, job security, work culture, and engagement level, which is critical to developing strategies that reduce employee turnover and improve overall business performance.

Calculating the employee retention rate KPI is quite simple. You will need to divide the number of employees who stayed in your organization over a given period by the number of employees you hired during that same period. The formula for calculating employee retention rate KPI is:

• E = Number of employees at the end of the period
• N = Number of employees who left the company during the period
• S = Number of employees at the start of the period

Assume that your organization had 200 employees at the start of 2020, and you hired 50 additional employees during the year. By the end of the year, 5 employees had left the company. Here's how to calculate the employee retention rate KPI:

The employee retention rate for your organization in 2020 is 78%.

• Assists businesses to keep their best talents from leaving
• Helps to identify any potential areas of concern or dissatisfaction within the company
• Enables businesses to develop and implement strategies to improve employee loyalty and engagement
• May not account for the quality of employees retained
• May not consider those employees who didn't leave the organization due to a lack of options or circumstances beyond their control
• May not highlight the reasons behind the employee's departure, which can lead to inaccurate data analysis

The industry benchmark for employee retention rate KPI varies by industry, location, and size of the company. As per the survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall average retention rate for the US was 78.6% in 2020. Nonetheless, it is essential to compare your retention rate with your industry and business size for an accurate analysis.

Tips and Tricks

• Implementing employee engagement survey helps to understand employee satisfaction level
• Offering competitive salaries and benefits to employees can help increase retention levels
• Implementing a mentorship or coaching program is also an effective strategy for retaining employees

As an occupational therapist, it's essential to track the percentage of patients who complete their treatment program. Knowing this KPI metric will help you determine the effectiveness of your therapy programs and strategies.

The percentage of patients who complete their treatment program measures the number of patients who finished their therapy program divided by the number of patients who started the program, expressed as a percentage.

Tracking this KPI is crucial for occupational therapists to assess the effectiveness of their therapy programs. It can help identify problems in the treatment process or the need for additional services.

To determine the percentage of patients who complete their treatment program, use this formula:

Suppose that 45 patients started the program, but only 36 of them completed it. To calculate the percentage of patients who complete their treatment program, use the KPI formula:

• Helps to improve patient care by monitoring therapy program effectiveness
• Assists occupational therapists in developing strategies and interventions to support patients in completing their treatment programs
• Provides insights into patient satisfaction and areas to improve their experience
• May not account for factors outside of therapist control, such as patient motivation or financial constraints
• Does not account for patients who do not start their treatment program for various reasons

The percentage of patients who complete their treatment program may vary depending on the type of occupational therapy and patient population. However, the KPI benchmark ranges from 70% to 80%.

• Consider enhancing patient engagement and adherence to treatment plans through establishing a strong rapport
• Review regularly your KPI metrics to detect trends and identify areas for improvement proactively
• Be aware of the potential limitations of this KPI and try to adjust it to include additional contextual factors for the therapy program's efficacy

In conclusion, tracking and measuring key performance indicators (KPIs) is crucial for the success of any occupational therapy practice. By monitoring average patient satisfaction rate , percentage of patients reaching their goals , and employee retention rate , you can gain valuable insights into how your practice is performing and make data-driven decisions that will optimize your operations and drive growth.

Other important KPIs to consider include number of new patient referrals , revenue from hospital and rehabilitation center contracts , average number of sessions per patient , and percentage of patients who complete their treatment program . By tracking these metrics, you can gain a holistic view of your practice's performance and identify areas for improvement.

Overall, monitoring KPIs is a vital part of managing a successful occupational therapy practice. With the right tools and strategies in place, you can ensure that your patients are receiving the best possible care and that your practice is well-positioned for long-term success.

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Detailed Guide: Starting an Occupational Therapy Business in Australia | upcover

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Starting an occupational therapy business in Australia can be a rewarding endeavour, allowing you to utilise your professional skills while providing a much-needed service. This guide aims to outline the key steps in this process.

Step 1: Understand the Requirements

First, familiarise yourself with the requirements of operating an occupational therapy business. You should hold a degree in occupational therapy and be registered with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia.

Step 2: Create a Business Plan

Construct a comprehensive business plan that outlines your target market, services, pricing structure, marketing strategy, and projected financials. This will provide a roadmap for your business and can be instrumental in securing financing if needed.

Also read: How To Create A Business Plan?

Step 3: Register Your Business

Register your business with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), acquiring an Australian Business Number (ABN). You may also need to register a business name, for GST, and for PAYG withholding tax.

Step 4: Secure Necessary Licences and Insurance

Ensure you have any necessary licences and insurance. This may include public liability insurance, professional indemnity insurance, and any state-specific licences for occupational therapists.

Step 5: Find a Suitable Location

Identify a suitable location for your practice, considering accessibility for your target market, and ensuring the premises meets all necessary health and safety standards.

Step 6: Market Your Business

Develop a marketing plan to reach your target market. This could include a professional website, social media marketing, networking with medical professionals, or community outreach programmes.

Also read: How To Create A Marketing Plan For Your Small Business

Conclusion: Embarking on Your Occupational Therapy Business Journey

In conclusion, starting an occupational therapy business in Australia involves several steps, from understanding the requirements and creating a business plan, through to business registration, securing necessary licences and insurance, identifying a suitable location, and marketing your services. By diligently following these steps, you can establish a successful occupational therapy business that meets the needs of your clients and contributes positively to your community.

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