Private Practice Checklist
A helpful checklist for setting up your psychotherapy practice
Apply for candidacy license or license with Montana BBH
Supervision paperwork (if applicable)–send to the board
Liability insurance
Helpful apps–turbo scan, turbofax, manage fax service, google voice, doxy.me
Select an Electronic Health Record system. Most allow 30 days to try for free–Simple Practice and Therapy Notes are most common
Schedule–what is your ideal work day? Work week? How much money do you need to make? Work backwards
Billing insurance? Get credentialed (when fully licensed) with insurance companies. Start with those most common in your area. Find out what plans large industries in your area use. Credential Medicare and Medicaid first (if accepting)--it takes longest
Billing and Credentialing–can be done by an outside billing company. Do you want to do your own billing? You can hire someone just to do credentialing. Get references!
Create a suicide and crisis protocol. How will you handle a crisis? Who will be supporting you? Even if you think you know what you would do and who you would call, write it down. Frontal lobes do not function properly when stressed.
Connect with a consultation group or clinical supervisor. It is easy to become “siloed” or isolated in private practice. Create a support network now!
New business set up:
Business name, do you want to be an LLC (recommended and cheap). Register on secretary of state website https://sosmt.gov/business/
Business cards–easy to make on Canva, affordable and can buy small batches in case you want to change something (like once you get licensed!)
Business bank account. Have a separate reserve account for taxes and set aside at least 20% of income the first year, or the amount your accountant advises. Recommended reading: Profit First
Marketing–how will you market your business? Psychology Today recommended by Higher Practice podcast as most effective based on research. Write to your ideal client
Collaborate with other organizations that provide complementary services as a referral source. Stop by with brochures about your services or business cards.
Network. Join a local networking group, network with businesses nearby as well as online. Get to know people–when they trust you, they will refer to you.
How to contact you? Use a google voice phone number, or separate work phone. Needs to be able to be wiped remotely per HIPPA. Also consider a secure messaging app such as Spruce or your EHR. Do not store 2 identifying pieces of information in one place (ex: name and phone number)