W-2 vs. 1099 for Group Practices: How to Classify Your Therapists
Whether a therapist is a W-2 employee or a 1099 contractor is a legal classification, not a preference — and it comes down to control. In general, if you control how, when, and where the work is done (set schedules, require your systems, supervise the work), the person is likely an employee, not a contractor. Most group practices that want an integrated team end up with W-2 employees. Here's how to think about it.
How Much Should You Pay an Associate Therapist? (Fee Splits Explained)
Most group practices pay associate therapists through a fee split, and a competitive share is often 55–65% to the clinician when the practice covers admin, billing, marketing, and space. But the percentage alone doesn't tell you whether a deal is fair or sustainable — that depends on what your share actually pays for and whether the math works for both sides. Here's how to think about it clearly, so you land on a number you can stand behind.
How to Hire Your First Therapist for Your Group Practice
Hiring your first therapist is the moment a private practice becomes a group practice — and the moment your job quietly shifts from clinician to leader. Before you post a job, do three things: systemize how your practice runs, get clear on what you can actually afford to pay, and define exactly who you're looking for. Rushing any of those is the most expensive mistake I see new group-practice owners make. Here's the full path, from readiness to a clinician seeing clients.