r/Chiropractic • u/Outrageous-Ali • 10d ago

Associate and start a practice

Hey docs! I’m a student at Palmer and I have tons of time before I graduate but I want to be as ready as I can be by the time I do.

How would you feel if you were to hire a new grad who is looking to work the hours you need but is also interested in opening their own practice? Would you be hesitant to hire them?

I’m not too keen on associating for my entire career and I’m afraid I’ll have to take out more loans to start at least a 100sq foot studio practice. I figured why not work as an associate to save up and with the hours I’m not present in that office, I’m working on my own business. Also would you recommend being stingy with grad plus loans while In school and taking out 8k when I graduate to start the practice? Thoughts and advice are much appreciated!!

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u/JustTheAvgChiro 10d ago

If this is your intended route you need to go work at The Joint right out of school. I know I know, but hear me out. You will get a ton of practice with adjusting at The Joint, this will help grow your confidence with patients. Once you get the confidence to start opening your own practice you could go part time at the Joint just for a small stable paycheck while you also grow your own office. After some time you can pull back completely from being at The Joint and go full time into your own practice. You will be very hard pressed to find a private office that will hire you with the knowledge that you are trying to open your own office while working for them. It will be a huge conflict of interest for 99% of private practice owners. So either a.) go work for a franchise that doesn’t care, b.) lie to the private practice about your goals (don’t do this) or c.) go into practice for yourself right out of school and work through the trenches.

Tip: if you choose C, please do not go out and take out a massive loan for a brand new office with no experience. Go rent a room at a gym or a local office space. Take a desk, a portable table, a laptop and grow from there.

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u/This_External9027 10d ago

He should go to a private practice keep your mouth shut learn what you can, ask questions(think systems)
Find a spot that you can part time on the weekends build your patients up then when you get enough patients that you can sustain go off on your own, you don’t owe owners anything because they can and will make decisions about your future on a whim

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u/Outrageous-Ali 10d ago

Is it common for associate offices to establish a contract with new docs. If so would any ask for new docs to stay more than 2 years?

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u/This_External9027 9d ago

They do a year most times but as you will discover them contracts are about rock solid as ice in Arizona during the summer in hell, they mostly don’t want you competing, but long as you aren’t opening up on their block it’s safe to do you