Starting your own DPC practice doesn't have to be complicated. My advice is to start simple and learn as you go.
Please keep in mind, this is not legal advice.
Starting your own practice doesn't have to be an enormous undertaking with a business plan, a building, and staff. You can start an official business in just a few steps.
Getting started... quickly
What do you NEED to start a Direct Primary Care practice?
You don't need a website. You don't need social media accounts. You don't even need an office space.
You just need to be:
- A legal business entity
- Legally able to practice medicine
- Legally allowed to accept payment from people
That's it.
So what does that entail?
- Start a PLLC (or LLC)
- Have a valid medical license in the state(s) you plan to practice
- Be able to accept payment
And in most states, that's it.
Starting a business doesn't have to be complicated or expensive.
You're a physician, and you have valuable knowledge and skills that people value - it's worth charging for those.
If you start by simply taking care of people and asking for payment in exchange for your services is a good practice. And, you'll learn a lot.
Reality check... many of you have already 'taken the risk' and cared for someone like family and friends outside of your practice - you just haven't charged them for it. You're just adding the component of charging them!
Tips on a bare-bones start (a 'side-hustle')...
- Follow the steps here: order of business.
- Find a select few people that you know will love your services and charge them a monthly fee for access to you
- Don't charge anything above membership - that adds unnecessary complexity
- Keep this number of people to 5-10 families, 25 people at most (you're dipping your toes - not diving in yet)
- Charge a fair price - we recommend $50/person or $150/family per month at minimum. No more than $150/person or $500/family per month
- Steal these phrases and tell your first members these things...
- You're "piloting" a DPC clinic, and need a small group of initial patients
- You'll be doing this for a limited time (I recommend 6 months, no longer than a year), so expect some changes to happen
- Although they may get your personal cell number now, that won't always be how they contact you
- You're time available is limited currently (because you probably have another job), but they can expect great service
- Keep simple charts - no reason to purchase an EMR system
- Don't use Google Docs or anything that's saved in the 'cloud' (there are some that are HIPAA compliant, but don't do this unless you're positive you have a compliant system)
- Simple text message files are best (Word docs are OK), saved on your computer and backed up to a password-protected USB (you can keep thousands of files this way)
- Make sure your computer is password-protected (nobody should be able to just open your computer and click around)
- For payments - opening a separate checking or savings account is a must. Only business income and expenses go in and out of this account (unless you pay yourself or need to put money 'in the business' - keep note of all expenses).
- For patient agreements, check your state laws for what (if anything) needs to be included in your patient agreement.
It's honestly pretty easy. Now go get started!
Ready to take it to the next level? Start by reading through our pre-launch checklist.
Starting your own DPC clinic?
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