Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
How do you make the right decisions early in building your practice so that it’s profitable now and still appealing to future buyers? What systems, structures, and conversations matter most in these first few foundational weeks? What’s a good, initial way to pay clinicians while the practice is still new?
In this podcast episode, Joe Sanok starts building Great Lakes Online Counseling | Week 2.
Podcast Sponsor: A Finer Framework
If you’re growing a group practice, you know how much time and energy it takes to keep your clinicians licensed in multiple states — and keep up with renewals and CE requirements. That’s where A Finer Framework comes in, your trusted partner for mental health licensure.
A Finer Framework partners with mental health group practice owners to handle multi-state licensing, license renewals, and tracking continuing education — so you and your team can stay focused on serving clients, not buried in paperwork.
Whether you’re onboarding new hires, expanding your telehealth reach, or planning to grow into new states, they make the entire licensing process smooth and stress-free.
Join the hundreds of clinicians that already trust A Finer Framework to save time and headaches. Visit afinerframework.org/joesanok today to learn more.
In This Podcast
- Reaching out to the network
-
The next steps
- The potential payment structure for clinicians
Reaching out to the network
I emailed a whole bunch of my friends from Practice of the Practice to see if they would waive their fees in exchange for me talking about them publicly, walking through what to do … This is information-gathering. (Joe Sanok)
One of the next steps Joe is taking in building Great Lakes Counseling is to reach out to his existing network for perspective.
Since Joe knows he may want to sell his practice one day, he’s already considering how to build it well at this early stage to make it more attractive to buyers down the line.
The next steps
Joe wants to:
- Interview Dan King about building a practice from the start that’s attractive to buyers
- Talk with Brandon Shurn, who’s a POP consultant and expert in starting and growing small practices
- Set up the practice to take one of the highest-paying insurances in New York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, and then take private pay in other states with an out-of-network biller
- Talk with his accountant
Really, in the next couple of weeks, it’s going to be talking to people, interviewing them, and making sure I have the idea of the structure, the plan … And then from there, thinking through what’s next. (Joe Sanok)
The potential payment structure for clinicians
Joe outlines a simple, sustainable payment model that fairly compensates clinicians for both clinical and non-clinical work.
The base assumption: ~$150 reimbursement per session.
The pay structure: ~40% split for clinical sessions plus paid non-clinical hours.
Part-time example:
- 15 sessions + 5 non-clinical hours/week
- ≈ $1,025/week → $49–52k/year (50 paid weeks)
Full-time example:
- 25 sessions + 10 non-clinical hours/week
- ≈ $1,750/week → $68–73k/year (48 paid weeks)
What Joe still needs to finalize is how to pay clinicians during credentialing delays, which non-clinical tasks qualify for paid hours, and how to ensure reimbursement accuracy across states.
Things that will move the practice forward, so things like blogging … and we may have to get some referrals coming in first, so we’re going to build that website … We’ll have to look at talking to the attorney about [whether] we need to pay people while they get credentialed. (Joe Sanok)
The next step is organizing the phone lines, who’s answering them, and filing the LLC. Stay tuned next week on the podcast for more updates!
Sponsors Mentioned in this Episode:
You can try it free—and get 50% off your first two months with code JOE at JotPsych.com/Joe.
Join the hundreds of clinicians that already trust A Finer Framework to save time and headaches. Visit afinerframework.org/joesanok today to learn more.
Useful links mentioned in this episode:
- Check out our Practice Academy!
- Sign Up to the Group Practice Boss Conference!
Check out these additional resources:
Sign up to join the free webinars and events here
Practice of the Practice Podcast Network
Free resources to help you start, grow, and scale
Apply to work with us — a decision-making matrix for your next steps
Meet Joe Sanok
Joe Sanok helps counselors to create thriving practices that are the envy of other counselors. He has helped counselors to grow their businesses by 50-500% and is proud of all the private practice owners who are growing their income, influence, and impact on the world. Click here to explore consulting with Joe.
Thanks For Listening!
Feel free to leave a comment below or share the social media below!