Family counseling office practice

Local families and couples paying privately or through insurance, plus clients referred by schools, pediatricians, clergy and nonprofits.

A fee per session. Renting a room by the hour or day keeps costs down at first, and a full caseload at a private-pay rate supports a full-time income.

• Family systems and communication techniques
• Building trust with several family members at once
• Scheduling, billing and record keeping
• Networking with local referral sources

• A state license is generally required, check your state's licensing board
• Some states restrict how professional practices are structured, check before forming an LLC
• Professional liability insurance and HIPAA-compliant records
• Lease commitments and city or county business license rules
• Mandatory reporting duties and other legal obligations vary by state, check with your board

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your office setup and insurance. Check lease commitments carefully before signing, and look at whether a shared therapy office suits you.

A state license is generally required, so check your state's licensing board. Also check whether your state restricts how professional practices are structured before forming an LLC, plus mandatory reporting duties, liability insurance, HIPAA-compliant records and local business license rules.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $3,000 to $14,000, depending on your caseload and whether clients pay privately or through insurance. Expect at least about 15 hours a week.