Big Changes and Big Mistakes: Smarter Transitions and Better Pricing

In this episode I cover two topics that are not really related but both come up a lot in conversations I have with chiropractors. The first is about making big changes in your career or in your practice. The second is about why I think it is a mistake to connect your fees to time.

Part One: Making Big Changes Without Wrecking Your Life

I have had a couple of clients recently who are making big transitions. One is moving from one style of practice to another. The other is an associate who is starting her own office on the side. Both situations are exciting. Both situations also come with a very real temptation to jump too fast.

I learned this lesson the hard way. When I closed my practice years ago, I assumed the next thing I was working on would take off quickly. I figured I could just throw all my time and energy at it and it would work out. That assumption led to the hardest financial season of my entire adult life. It was brutal and absolutely avoidable.

What I should have done is simple. I should have kept the thing that was paying my bills while I built the new thing slowly in the background. Nights. Weekends. Whenever I had time. I should have waited until the new thing had momentum instead of assuming everything would work out because I was excited.

Here is the mistake a lot of chiropractors make when they are excited about something new.

• They cut off income before the new idea is proven
• They make decisions based on hope instead of reality
• They assume enthusiasm equals readiness
• They forget that timing matters just as much as the idea itself

If you are going to transition from one technique to another, do it slowly. Let the new thing take over as patients choose it. Bring new people in under the new model. Let the old system fade out on its own.

If you are starting a practice while working for someone else, keep the job as long as you can. Let your employer cover the bills while you build your own thing after hours. When your side project becomes your main thing, the transition will feel natural instead of terrifying.

The theme here is simple. Do not make your life harder than it needs to be.

Part Two: The Problem With Charging for Time

The second topic is one I talk about with chiropractors all the time, especially docs who do a lot of soft tissue work. Many of them describe their visits like massage therapists. They will say things like thirty minute visit or sixty minute visit. I think that is a mistake.

Chiropractors who adjust only usually understand this better than anyone. We do not get paid for minutes. We get paid for outcomes. We get paid for expertise. We get paid for results.

When you attach your fees to a precise block of time, you create problems for yourself.

• Patients expect exact minutes
• You lose flexibility in your schedule
• It becomes harder to handle late patients
• You limit your ability to offer different levels of service
• You unintentionally undervalue yourself

A better option is to give people a range. Ten to fifteen minutes. Twenty to thirty minutes. Forty to sixty minutes. A range gives you breathing room and prevents awkward conversations when someone shows up late.

If you like offering long sessions, consider creating tiers. Some people only want a quick adjustment. Some need your standard visit. Some truly need the in depth longer appointment. Offering options keeps your schedule flexible and allows more people to work with you.

Here is why this matters. Not everyone needs or wants a long visit. Not everyone has the time or the money for that. Giving people choices helps them say yes to working with you in a way that fits their life and fits your workflow.

Wrapping Up

Both topics in this episode really come down to the same core idea. Do what is smart. Do what reduces risk. Do what gives you the best chance to succeed without making life harder than it needs to be.

If you want help with your website or local SEO, you can reach out to me at Rocket Chiro. If you want ongoing help and a place to ask questions, check out the Next Step program. If you want me to look at your website and give you some honest feedback, you can request a free website and SEO assessment anytime.

Thanks for listening and for sharing the podcast with other chiropractors who can benefit from it.

Resources Mentioned

Free Website/SEO Review: https://rocketchiro.com/chiropractic-practice-assessment
Best chiropractic websites: https://rocketchiro.com/best-chiropractic-websites