The SLP Entrepreneur: The Speech-Language Pathologist’s Guide to Private Practice and Other Business Ventures

On the Plural blog:  Three Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting an SLP Business by Sonia Sethi Kohli and Adrienne Wallace

This resource-packed, functional, and inspirational professional guidebook provides SLPs and related professionals, such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, and psychologists, with a go-to manual for their ambitions of entrepreneurship. The SLP Entrepreneur: The Speech-Language Pathologist’s Guide to Private Practice and Other Business Ventures provides a practical blueprint for professionals who are interested in starting their own business or expanding their current business model. Utilizing the co-authors’ extensive clinical, corporate, and mentoring expertise, this text sets readers up for personal and professional success by offering user-friendly and meaningful tools. 

Unlike traditional “how-to” manuals, The SLP Entrepreneur takes readers on a journey from their vision of starting a business to making it a reality. This book is filled with functional resources, checklists, and self-guided exercises that will equip new and seasoned SLPs with the tools to be successful entrepreneurs. This must-have handbook inspires the reader to think outside the box and create dynamic new business opportunities that challenge the status quo. As an added bonus, the authors have included interviews and profiles from over 35 SLP entrepreneurs and other related business professionals. This book will guide you through mindset shifts, provide you with tangible steps related to operating or expanding any business, and ease you into the transformation from a clinical professional to an entrepreneur.

Key Features

• Unlike other books on this topic, this book provides a wide variety of business ideas for aspiring SLP entrepreneurs
• Startup advice from SLP entrepreneurs, as well as professionals in marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship
• 25+ printable templates on the PluralPlus online companion website 
• Easy to read with actionable steps to start your dream business
• A full chapter devoted to marketing, including how to identify your target audience, design a website, and leverage social media

Reviews

"This resource is a gem for the SLP who is looking to build or grow a private practice. The authors take their reader on a journey from the dream of starting a business to the reality of operating that business. They leave no stone unturned when it comes to the various steps involved in getting a private practice up and running. They present their information in a clear, easy-to-read manner with countless checklists, charts, and graphs that SLPs can actually implement in their practice. Perhaps the greatest strength of this book is the chapter dedicated to providing first hand stories of fellow SLPs who have established successful private practices. This section is incredibly inspiring for the SLP who is starting out on his/her/their private practice journey, and this chapter really helps to set this book apart from other small business texts.  Overall, I felt this book was well balanced in terms of practical, tactical tips, current trends in terms of marketing, branding, and networking, and inspirational tidbits that left me feeling energized, empowered, and most importantly, prepared. Entrepeneurship can be a lonely world. This book helped me feel less like “an island unto himself” and more like part of a network of strong professionals who are business-minded and capable of achieving greatness while serving others."
—Theresa Harp, MA, CCC-SLP,  LSLS Cert. AVT

"This book is well organized and an important resource for any SLP looking to start their own private practice. Each section provides a wealth of information and is very encouraging to the entrepreneur starting out. Both of the authors are highly-respected and share their strong expertise providing clear and detailed instructions to support other SLPs as they transition into the business world. The success stories at the end of the book are a source of inspiration and are a lovely addition to this book."
—Dalit Burgess, MS, CCC-SLP

"So many books like this contain language that is equal to a research article. This is approachable, browsable and quickly applicable to what you want to do now. ...I could read this when tired or after a long work day and be able to understand it without needing caffeine and a dictionary."
—Tara Roehl, MS, CCC-SLP

"This book will prove to be an excellent resource for future SLP entrepreneurs. It is well-thought out and covers a whole gamut of topics that will be helpful for an SLP starting a small business.   It is for seasoned SLPs as well as freshly graduated SLPs.  ...I loved how the authors list a sequence of topics to be discussed, and then they bullet the list with more detailed information.  The reader knows what’s coming and where to find more detailed information about the topics, if using as a resource."
—Alexis Malis, MA, CCC-SLP

"Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. I found it helpful with useful information even though I already have a private practice. Especially the sections on marketing and social media because those are not within our typical SLP scope of practice.. I also really found the alternative business section interesting and enlightening as I am always looking to branch out and expand my practice into other modalities such as coaching webinars/classes, online programs for purchase, etc."
—Chelsea Bell, MA, CCC-SLP

"The chapter overviews are very organized and the text is well constructed with appropriate references at the conclusion of each chapter.  The authors have done an excellent job of integrating the information throughout this manual. They introduce their business model in chapter 2 and touch upon each aspect of it throughout the book. They frequently refer back to this model, specifically the principle of  Mission/Vision/Value Proposition. The authors highlight this idea, explaining in text and infographics, that MVVP guides all other elements of the business plan. In subsequent chapters, they remind the reader of how different elements of their plan tie into this MVVP. Other themes throughout include, but are not limited to, growth mindset, connecting with and cultivating a network, service delivery and marketing. ...It is organized and thorough, providing the reader with a wealth of information, using everyday, easy to follow language. The authors offer extensive unbiased knowledge supported by current research to guide the reader along on this journey. They not only break up the text with a variety of infographics, but they give the reader the opportunity to gain perspective from numerous experts in the field, in their own words."
—Jill Hendricks, MS, CCC-SLP

"The book provides a valuable overview of all aspects of starting a private practice. ...I really like the personal stories at the end."
—Jennifer H. Wilson, MCD, CCC-SLP

“If a speech-language pathologist desires to move into the world of starting a business using their unique skills and certifications, then this book is one to add to the arsenal of necessary information. It delves into various aspects a practitioner would need to know in order to be successful as he or she starts on the entrepreneurship journey. 
This book is a worthwhile contribution to any library of information that a future SLP turned entrepreneur needs in order to strategically move down the path of opening a business. The book provides information that can be used in a sequential way, allowing a clinician to stay organized while taking on such an endeavor. The book serves its purpose of providing resources, inspiration, and guidance for starting or expanding a business. Being speech-language pathology specific, this book is a vital addition to the many other books written on business startup or expansion. 
This book is mainly targeted to speech-language pathologists; however, its content straightforwardly would benefit several related field practitioners such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, and psychologists. It lends itself in a streamlined way to healthcare and education specialists in that it identifies how related credentials and licensed professionals' skills carry over into business ownership.   …[The book] remains organized moving through taking first steps, creating a business mission and plan, framing a mindset, marketing, and sustenance of business. A large section is also devoted to stories told directly from SLPs who have started various businesses and have used their clinical knowledge in order to ascertain what may be useful to create. Thus, many of the SLPs convey stories of inventions they have used to start businesses. Many of the clinicians who contributed their profiles to the text or the products they created may be familiar to readers in the SLP field; therefore, this is both a fascinating and resourceful section of the book. The chapter covering the topic of thinking like an SLP entrepreneur covers information well and is inclusive of useful charts that can be recreated for many clinics. Some of the charts are learning focused in order to aid readers in shifting thinking from practicing SLP with clients or patients to SLP entrepreneur. Included are sections on time management and setting boundaries, which do not appear to lend itself to SLP entrepreneurship specifically, but that of any business. This is undoubtedly important information to keep in mind when starting any business. Templates are available for necessary services such as private practice expenses and the ASHA Superbill Template for SLPs.... Additionally, there are various succinct charts that help readers quickly make connections and gain a better understanding. For example, included is a chart contrasting an independent contractor with an employer as well as one reflecting the insurance credentialing process.  ... The checklists at the end of the book provide a way in which readers can move through the book while ensuring moving forward with entrepreneurship over time…[T]his book provides a roadmap of sorts for an SLP to start a business. The author does well in creating a mental transition for an SLP desiring to start down the path as a speech-language pathologist business owner. This book will undoubtedly prove useful as being one tool for a future entrepreneur.”
–Melissa Raymond, M.S., Biola University, from Doody’s Reviews (December 2022)

“…The authors of The SLP Entrepreneur have written this textbook to help bridge the gap between practice and business knowledge. Their book comprises eight chapters and has been written as a guide for SLPs venturing into private practice. It provides a practical blueprint for SLPs interested in starting their own practices or expanding their current business models. This textbook is resource packed with templates, checklists, and worksheets to complete as you work your way through its content.
The first four chapters focus on the planning required before you embark on your new practice. Chapter 1 focuses on setting goals for yourself and your business. Chapter 2 helps you think about your business model, your vision, who your clients may be, the products and services you will deliver, the service delivery model you might use, costs vs. revenue, and building your network. Chapter 3 focuses on factors to do with time management, self-care, and your growth mindset as a business owner, an important chapter for those with private practices given the 24/7 working nature of the job. Chapter 4 focuses on the elements of a conventional practice: a bricks-and-mortar shop vs. in home vs. online, revenue sources, credentialing, growing and scaling, and business policies and procedures.
Chapter 5 was the most interesting chapter for me. It extended beyond conventional SLP practice and focused on alternative business ventures. While the topics included in this chapter were limited to corporate SLP, working in continuing professional development, and content creation (through blogging etc.), it inspires any reader to “think outside the box” when considering their SLP expertise. The final three chapters cover marketing, sustaining your practice and cultivating growth, looking ahead and learning from other speech-language pathologist entrepreneurs…”
–Anna Copley, in the Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology (March 2023)
 

Introduction
Acknowledgments
Reviewers

Chapter 1. Embarking on the Journey of Entrepreneurship: Getting Ready to Take the First Step

Chapter 2. Establishing a Framework for Your Business: Creating your Mission, Vision, and Business Plan

Chapter 3. Thinking Like an SLP Entrepreneur: Mindset Matters Related to Executive Presence and Self-Care

Chapter 4. Building a Traditional Private Practice: Elements of a Conventional Practice

Chapter 5. Venturing Into Alternative Business Endeavors: Opportunities for Expansion and Creative Ways to Capitalize Your SLP Expertise

Chapter 6. Marketing Your Business: An Introduction to Marketing, Networking, and Branding

Chapter 7. Sustaining Your Business Practices and Cultivating Long-Term Growth

Chapter 8. Looking Ahead and Learning from Established SLP Entrepreneurs: Inspirational Stories and Profiles of Successful SLP Entrepreneurs

Glossary
Resources

Purchase of The SLP Entrepreneur: The Speech-Language Pathologist’s Guide to Private Practice and Other Business Ventures comes with access to supplementary resources on a PluralPlus companion website.

The companion website is located at: https://www.pluralpublishing.com/publication/tse
 

*Note for students: If you have purchased this textbook used or have rented it, your access code will not work if it was already redeemed by the original buyer of the book. Plural Publishing does not offer replacement access codes for used or rented textbooks.