Your own east asian medicine clinic

Local residents seeking ongoing care for pain, stress, fertility, digestion or general wellbeing, often using extended health benefits.

Fees per treatment and consultation, herbal formula sales, and package or membership pricing. You can later add other practitioners who rent rooms or work on commission.

• Qualified in acupuncture or traditional East Asian medicine
• Running a small business and managing a lease
• Marketing to a local community
• Managing and supporting other practitioners if you grow

• Practitioner registration and any clinic or premises rules from your provincial regulator and municipality
• Professional liability and commercial general liability insurance, plus WCB/WSIB rules in your province once you hire
• Lease commitments, which are a big fixed cost while the client base is still small
• Infection control, sharps disposal and client record privacy rules, which differ by province
• Herbal products: use licensed suppliers and check Health Canada requirements
• Winter slow periods and appointment cancellations affecting income

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $20,000 to $60,000, depending on your premises, fit-out and herbal stock. A lease is a large fixed cost while your client base is still small, so check the terms carefully.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on your client base, treatment prices and whether other practitioners work with you. Winter slow periods and appointment cancellations can make income uneven.

Check practitioner registration and any clinic or premises rules with your provincial regulator and municipality. Also check insurance, infection control, sharps disposal, record privacy, Health Canada requirements for herbal products, and WCB/WSIB rules once you hire.