Going full time in private practice is the goal of thousands of healthcare providers — and the roadmap to get there is clearer than you think. There is a conversation happening in the heads of thousands of healthcare providers right now. It goes something like this: “I know I want to go full time in my own practice. I just don’t know when. I don’t know if I have enough patients. I don’t know if I can afford to lose my salary. What if it doesn’t work?”
If that sounds familiar, this guide is for you.
Dr. Kelly Alhooie built a million-dollar brick-and-mortar practice and a million-dollar online business — and has since helped over 400 healthcare providers make the leap from employed clinician to full-time practice owner. The women she has worked with now average $30,000 per month.
This is the exact roadmap.
Why Most Healthcare Providers Never Make the Leap
It is rarely a skills problem. Healthcare providers are excellent at what they do — that is almost never the issue. The problem is the absence of a clear business framework that tells you exactly when you are ready and exactly what to do when you get there.
Without that framework, the decision to leave your job feels like a leap into the unknown. So you wait. And wait. And you stay stuck in a job that pays a salary but costs you everything else.
Step 1: Know Your “Leave Number”
Before you quit anything, you need to know your number — the amount of monthly revenue your practice needs to generate before you can safely leave your job.
Here is how to calculate it:
- Add up your personal monthly expenses (rent, food, insurance, debt payments, everything)
- Add your business expenses (software, space rental, supplies)
- Add a 20% buffer for taxes and unexpected costs
- That total is your Leave Number
For most healthcare providers, this falls between $6,000 and $12,000 per month. Once your practice hits that number consistently — meaning three months in a row — you are ready to have the conversation about leaving.
Step 2: Build Revenue Before You Quit
The biggest mistake providers make is quitting first, then trying to build revenue. This puts you in a position of desperation — and patients can feel desperation. It repels the very people you are trying to attract.
Instead, build your practice while you are still employed. Yes, this is harder. Yes, it requires early mornings, weekends, and evenings. But it means that when you do leave your job, you leave from a position of strength, not fear.
This means:
- Getting your first 5-10 consistent paying clients before you quit
- Having systems in place to market consistently without depending on referrals
- Knowing exactly what you will say to get new patients — and what to say when they push back on price
Step 3: Get the Scripts and Stop Winging It
One of the most common reasons healthcare providers struggle to grow their practice is that nobody taught them how to talk about their services. They were trained to treat patients, not to sell to them — and those are two very different skill sets.
You need a script for:
- Your first conversation with a potential patient
- When someone says “let me think about it”
- When someone says “that’s too expensive”
- When someone says “I’m not sure if this is right for me”
These conversations are predictable. They happen the same way every time. Which means you can prepare for them — and when you are prepared, you close far more of them.
Step 4: Make the Leap — And Do It Strategically
When you have hit your Leave Number for three consecutive months and you have your systems in place, it is time. Here is how to do it professionally:
- Give appropriate notice (typically 4-6 weeks in healthcare)
- Do not recruit your employer’s patients — this is both unethical and potentially illegal
- Build your own patient base independently before, during, and after your transition
- Have 3 months of personal expenses saved as a runway
- Tell your network — colleagues, friends, family — that you have launched your practice
The leap feels terrifying. It always does. But on the other side is a practice that you own, on your terms, with income that reflects the value of what you actually do.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much money do I need saved before leaving my healthcare job?
A: Aim for 3 months of personal expenses as a minimum runway. This gives you buffer while your practice ramps up without panic.
Q: Can I build a private practice while still employed?
A: Yes — and this is actually the recommended approach. Build your revenue and systems first, then leave from a position of strength.
Q: How long does it take to replace a full-time salary with private practice income?
A: With the right systems and support, most providers in the PelviBiz community replace their salary within 90-180 days of focused execution.
Q: What if my specialty is competitive?
A: Competition signals demand. The goal is to be the most visible and consistent option in your market — not the only one.
Q: Do I need a business background to succeed as a private practice owner?
A: No. You need the right systems, scripts, and a proven roadmap. Business skills can be learned — clinical excellence is what you already have.
You’re good at what you do. It’s time your business reflected that.
Kelly has helped 400+ healthcare providers go from inconsistent income to full-time practices averaging $30K/month. Book a free 20-minute strategy call.
BOOK MY FREE CALL ->
https://preview.pelvibiz.com/widget/bookings/pelvibiz/getyourproblemsolved
OR: Join the 90-Day Marketing Bootcamp -> https://www.pelvibiz.live/purchasing-page–marketing-bootcamp
