Let’s have a real talk — just between us.
If you’re a physician, dentist, or any healthcare professional who’s still working as an associate, you’ve probably asked yourself, “Is this it? Am I just going to bounce from clinic to clinic, grinding forever for someone else’s dream?”
You’re not alone. And you’re not crazy for wanting more.
There’s a quiet group of us out here — people who realized early that ownership isn’t just about ego or prestige. It’s about freedom, wealth, and long-term life design.
Let’s break this down. Because I believe — and I’ll show you — that staying an associate might be the most expensive “safe” decision you’ll ever make.
1. You’re Building Someone Else’s Equity — Not Yours
As an associate, you’re working hard to grow their practice.
Every new patient you see, every follow-up visit, every glowing review — that’s increasing the value of someone else’sasset. The owner can sell that practice one day for a multiple of its profit, while you walk away with nothing but a W2.
Even if they give you a raise or a bonus, you’re capped.
Let’s say your clinic makes an extra $500,000 this year because of your volume. You might get $10,000 of that — if you’re lucky.
Now imagine if that $500,000 was yours. That’s not just income — that’s leverage.
2. The Math Doesn’t Lie — Ownership Pays
Here’s a simple thought experiment:
- Associate: Makes $250K/year. Maybe gets up to $300K over time.
- Owner: May start off making $150K. But within 3–5 years, they can make $500K+ in salary, profit, and equity growth.
And here’s the kicker — you don’t have to be a business genius to get there. You just have to play the long game.
Over a 10-year period, the associate might earn $3M.
The owner? $5M to $8M — and that’s before selling the business.
Don’t just look at today’s paycheck. Look at the trajectory.
3. Ownership Buys You Freedom (Eventually)
Yes, the first year is hard. You’re wearing all the hats. You’re learning to juggle operations, staff, insurance headaches, marketing — all the stuff nobody taught us in school.
But guess what?
You get to build the systems. You get to pick your hours. You get to hire your team. And eventually, you get to step back.
An associate’s schedule is always owned by someone else. Clinic opens at 7? You’re there at 6:45. Want time off? Better ask permission.
Owners work harder at first — but with the right setup, they work smarter for life.
4. The Risk Is Lower Than You Think
I know what you’re thinking: “What if I fail?”
But here’s the truth — most solo practices don’t fail. They stall. They limp along because they were never set up right. That’s why we started this blog and podcast — to show you how to start strong and scale smart.
You can start lean. You can rent one room. You can outsource billing. You can use AI tools and smart staff to stay efficient.
And if you’re a specialist in an underserved area? The risk is even lower.
5. The Real Risk? Waking Up in 10 Years and Regretting You Never Tried
If you feel even a flicker of interest in practice ownership, don’t smother it.
I talk to doctors and dentists all the time who say, “I wish I started five years earlier.” Nobody says the opposite.
And honestly? If you can survive the intensity of med school, residency, boards, and 80-hour work weeks, you already have the grit to build something of your own.
6. My Experience: From Break-Even to Breaking Free
When I launched my practice, it wasn’t some overnight success story. Year one? I barely broke even. After paying staff, rent, equipment, and everything else, I made about as much as a resident.
But here’s the thing — I controlled my time. I chose my patients. I laid the foundation for something that was mine.
By year two, everything changed.
I made more than I ever did as an associate — including what I was offered from a private equity-backed contract. And the best part? I wasn’t just collecting a paycheck. I was building equity. Every improvement I made to the practice, every new patient, every hire — it directly benefited me, my team, and my family.
This wasn’t about chasing a higher income. It was about creating leverage. About building a life I didn’t need to escape from.
Start Now — Even If You Don’t Quit Tomorrow
Here’s what I recommend:
- Start reading posts like this one.
- Subscribe to the podcast.
- Run the numbers.
- Talk to other owners.
- Learn what it really takes.
You don’t need to quit your job tomorrow. But you do need to stop pretending that staying an associate is safer. Because for your future wealth, your family life, and your freedom — it’s not.
We’re not here to push you into ownership.
We’re here to help you do it the right way.
Let’s build it together.
Next up: THE TOP 3 MISTAKES THAT SINK NEW PRACTICES — AND HOW TO DODGE THEM. I go over the mistakes a few of my friends and I have made and how we learned from them.
