5 Steps to Starting a Psychology Practice FAST!

If you have been thinking about starting a psychology practice, you are on the right track. By visiting this site, you can get an idea about how to begin. You will also need to contact me about legalities and paperwork, as the practice of psychology is not the same as opening and running a practice.

Table Of Content

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No.	Content
1.	What You Need to Do First Before You Review the 5 Steps for Starting a Psychology Practice
2.	Starting a Psychology Practice – The Elements that Spell S-U-C-C-E-S-S
3.	Manage Your Finances – Establish a Budget
4.	Draft and Initiate a Business Plan
5.	Create a Brand
6.	Review the Metrics for Growth
7.	What You Should Track
8.	Let’s Review the 5 Steps for Starting a Psychology Practice
9.	Select Your Business Entity
10.	Types of Entities
11.	Choose a Business Name
12.	Secure a Register Agent
13.	Hold an Organizational Meeting
14.	What the Bylaws Should Include
15.	File the Corporation’s Formation Paperwork
16.	What the Formation Documents Should Include
17.	What Happens Next?

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Let me help you put the wheels in motion. Contact me 24/7 online. Email sam@mollaeilaw.com and read the information below to learn how you can start working on your own.

 

What You Need to Do First Before You Review the 5 Steps for Starting a Psychology Practice

Before you learn more about the 5 steps for starting a psychology practice, review the main elements you need to be successful. Remembering these components will help you go far in your business and practice.

 

Starting a Psychology Practice – The Elements that Spell S-U-C-C-E-S-S

Starting a psychology practice is not just about starting. It is also about identifying those elements needed to thrive. Below are the primary components you need to arrive successfully at your destination or expand your practice.

 

Manage Your Finances – Establish a Budget

While it may seem obvious that you should have a budget in place, many practice owners will set up the accounting for their practice as follows – pay clinicians and staff, pay the practice’s bills, and take what is left. This type of thinking will only hinder any future opportunities for growth. 

To succeed and expand, you need to have a strong budget in place – one that emphasizes profit initiatives. Therefore, you not only need legal guidance, to help you remain compliant, you also need to consult with an accountant and install a profit-making software.

 

Draft and Initiate a Business Plan

A business plan serves as a blueprint for operating and expanding your business You cannot move forward without creating a business plan. 

After all, people who succeed at anything do not decide on things unless they fully think them out and know what they are doing. The last thing you want to do is decide on something out of desperation.

I can help you with the setting up your practice and remaining compliant. You can contact me and my legal staff anytime. It’s easy! Simply book a call to speak to us here: https://mollaeilaw.com today.

 

Create a Brand

To market your practice, you have to identify it with a unique brand – one that shows consistency in words and colors. The words and colors you choose should extend to your office’s décor and marketing materials. 

What are your practice’s mission and values? Once you answer this question, you should weave your mission statement and values into your brand. Doing so will build trust into what you represent.

 

Review the Metrics for Growth

As noted, developing and running a practice is not just about taking what is left over in profits after you pay your staff and operational costs. You need to direct your income, as well, toward expansion. Reviewing the metrics you introduce into your practice will help you plan wisely and allocate your funds toward a higher purpose.

Email sam@mollaeilaw.com or to book a call to speak to us here: https://mollaeilaw.com/start

 

What You Should Track

For example, you need to track the following items after you begin your practice:

• Intake calls (how many you receive, how many you schedule, and the no-shows)
• The clinician retention rate
• Average rates per session
• Where referrals are coming from

Knowing the above details will assist you in deciding on what needs to be improved or changed. 

 

Let’s Review the 5 Steps for Starting a Psychology Practice

Okay! We are finally ready to review the 5 steps for starting a psychology practice – namely your psychology practice.

 

1. Select Your Business Entity

This is where things can get complex legally. Again, you will need to speak with me and arrange a legal consultation 

Talk to me by shooting an email to sam@mollaeilaw.com. I can help you decipher what entity is best for your practice and locale.

Note: If you practice in California, you cannot form a private practice in the state as a Limited Liability Company or Professional Limited Liability Company. You must typically choose to incorporate (preferably as a subchapter S).

 

Types of Entities

Based on your locale, you can choose from one of the following entities:

• Limited liability company (LLC) – Chosen because of its tax advantages and liability protection.
• Professional limited liability company (PLLC)
• Corporation (traditional C corporation or Subchapter S) – Again, a subchapter S corporation is usually a better choice, as it prevents you from paying taxes twice – on the business’s profits and stock dividends.
• Sole proprietorship – While you can set up a sole proprietorship superfast, it does have its downsides. Your personal assets are not protected in case you get sued. Plus, it does not have the professional connotations associated with it like a corporation.

Now that you know something about the entities, you can get started on setting up your business. In this case, we are going to see how you can set up a professional corporation for your practice. 

These rules are slightly modified for setting up an LLC or PLLC in terms of the documents filed. Also, if you can set up an LLV or PLLC, you do not have to formally hold meetings or distribute stock shares.

 

2. Choose a Business Name

When setting up your practice, you will need to select a business name. This can be done by accessing the business name database through the Secretary of State’s office. You need to follow specific naming criteria and choose a name that is unique. 

I can help you with making sure you choose a distinct and legal name for your business. Just email sam@mollaeilaw.com.

 

 3. Secure a Register Agent

You will need to retain the services of a registered agent to receive the paperwork for your business during incorporation and after you establish your practice.

 

4. Hold an Organizational Meeting

This part of incorporation is quite comprehensive. During the meeting, you will need to have all the appropriate legal paperwork in place so you can –

• Fill out and complete the formation documents
• Approve the bylaws
• Choose the initial directors
• Determine the share structure
• Initiate an Incorporator’s Statement

The bylaws establish the rules for how your practice will be governed and managed. Therefore, the bylaws should clarify your practice’s priorities. These rules are designed to supplement the rules set forth by the federal and state government for establishing a practice.

Email sam@mollaeilaw.com or to book a call to speak to us here: https://mollaeilaw.com/start

 

What the Bylaws Should Include

The bylaws should include –

• How the practice will be managed, including the roles of officers and directors
• When meetings will be held, along with the procedures for voting and electing directors or officers
• How the professional corporation’s records will be kept and maintained
• How disputes will be managed
• How the bylaws will be amended if changes need to be made
• The date of shareholder meetings
• How contracts will be negotiated in the practice
• Fiduciary duties and responsibilities
• What will be set as a quorum*

*A quorum is the minimum number of members needed to vote or hold a meeting.

 

5. File the Corporation’s Formation Paperwork

After you hold your initial directors’ meeting, you can file the formation paperwork for your professional corporation. Some states can provide the formation documents on the Internet while others require that you draft and submit the documentation yourself.

Regardless of how the documentation is submitted, you will need an attorney’s help for completing and submitting the paperwork. 

I am just an email away. Reach me anytime by sending an email to sam@mollaeilaw.com.

 

What the Formation Documents Should Include

After the formation documents have been approved, you can start seeing clients. The documents should include the following details –

1. Your practice’s name and address
2. The name and address of the registered agent
3. The number of shares authorized to be issued

During this step, I will also help you get an EIN (Employer Identification Number) to open a business bank account. This number is important, as you will also need it to file your business’s taxes.

If you have any questions about any of the above information, my team and I are ready to answer them. Book a call to speak to us here: https://mollaeilaw.com.

 

What To Do Next

Now that you know something about what is involved in starting a psychology practice, you can feel more confident about setting up your business and getting started. We will need to review your goals and go over a plan for establishing your practice.

Once more, contact me online anytime to get things started. Email sam@mollaeilaw.com today. Let me be your go-to source for establishing a professional psychology practice. 

Email sam@mollaeilaw.com or to book a call to speak to us here: https://mollaeilaw.com/start