In-person therapy office practice

Local adults, couples and families paying out of pocket or through insurance, plus referrals from doctors, schools and other therapists.

A fee per session. Once you're established, you might sublet rooms to other clinicians or hire associate therapists, but check your state's rules first.

• Clinical training and a graduate degree in a mental health field
• Listening and building trust
• Local networking and referral building
• Managing billing, scheduling and records

• A state license is required to practice, so check your state licensing board for independent practice rules
• Professional liability (malpractice) insurance, plus general liability for the office
• Lease terms, local zoning and any business license your city or county asks for
• HIPAA privacy rules for paper and digital records, including soundproofing and a private waiting area
• Insurance credentialing can take months, so you may need savings to cover slow early weeks
• Hiring associates brings supervision duties and workers' compensation or contractor rules, so check with your state

Startup costs are typically around $2,000 to $8,000, depending on your office rent or sublet, furnishings and insurance. These are estimates only, and your own costs will vary with your location and lease terms.

Monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your caseload, session fees and whether clients pay out of pocket or through insurance. The estimate assumes at least about 15 hours a week.

Check your state licensing board for independent practice rules, as a state license is required. Also check lease terms, local zoning, any city or county business license, malpractice and general liability insurance, and HIPAA rules for records.