ABA Business Leaders

By Stephen & April SmithBusiness Entrepreneurship Science Social Sciences

ABA Business Leaders episodes

June 04 How Do We Define Quality ABA Services
How do we define quality ABA services with Bryant Silbaugh
What is quality assurance in ABA, and how can behavior analysts measure service quality more effectively?
In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, Stephen and April Smith speak with Dr. Bryant Silbaugh, behavior analyst, researcher, author, and Founder of the National ABA Service Quality Network (NASQN), about the systems, processes, and measurements that drive high-quality ABA services. Bryant explains how ABA organizations can define quality, evaluate clinical performance, establish meaningful outcome measures, and build systems that support continuous improvement. He shares practical insights from his work in autism treatment, behavioral intervention quality management, and ABA service delivery research.
The conversation covers quality assurance frameworks, goal setting, key performance indicators (KPIs), clinician self-evaluation, treatment outcomes, and the role of organizational systems in delivering effective ABA services.
Key Topics Covered
What quality assurance means in applied behavior analysis
How to measure ABA service quality
Common service delivery blind spots in ABA organizations
Defining quality indicators for behavioral interventions
The relationship between clinical quality and business performance
His research has focused on operant variability, pediatric feeding disorders, autism intervention, and ABA service delivery quality. He is the author of Quality Control for Behavior Analysts: How to Manage Behavioral Intervention Quality in Autism Service Settings, a practical framework for measuring and managing intervention quality in autism service settings.
Bryant is the Founder and CEO of the National ABA Service Quality Network (NASQN), Founder and Chair of the IGNITE Quality Conference, and Director of Clinical Excellence, Quality, and Research at Gateway Pediatric Therapy.
Have a Question for Stephen and April?
Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432
Resources & Links
Registration pages for supervision huddles: https://www.nasqn.org/
Business Essentials List
https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24
ABA Business Leaders Support Group
https://forms.office.com/r/LLpAHCXUN8
Schedule a Consultation with Stephen
https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page
Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment
https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment
ABA Billing Tips Guide
https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips
ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs
https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs
1 hr 23 min
May 28 How Can ABA Providers Build Stronger Relationships with Parents?
In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, April Smith speaks with Melanie Thurston and Amanda Williamson, BCBA, about one of the most important factors in successful ABA therapy: strong parent-provider relationships.
The conversation explores how ABA providers can communicate more effectively with families, build trust with parents navigating an autism diagnosis, and better understand what families truly want from therapy. Melanie and Amanda share practical insights for BCBAs, clinic owners, and ABA professionals looking to create more compassionate, collaborative care experiences.
How can ABA providers build trust with parents?
ABA providers can build trust with parents through transparent communication, empathy, and understanding. Families want to feel heard, respected, and included in the treatment process. Each family is different, and considering these differences is crucial for maintaining a strong working relationship with families.
Why is parent communication important in ABA therapy?
Strong communication helps ensure consistency between therapy sessions and home life, improves caregiver confidence, and creates stronger long-term outcomes for children receiving ABA services.
What questions should BCBAs ask families?
BCBAs should ask families about their priorities, concerns, routines, stressors, and long-term goals. At the same time, not starting immediately with goals can avoid initial overwhelm, when a family is coming to terms with a diagnosis.
About the ABA Business Leaders Podcast
The ABA Business Leaders Podcast is hosted by April Smith and Stephen Smith of 3 Pie Squared, experienced ABA entrepreneurs who built, scaled, and exited a seven-figure ABA practice. The podcast helps ABA business owners and clinicians grow sustainable organizations, improve operations, and deliver high-quality care.
Resources & Links
Business Essentials List
https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24
ABA Business Leaders Support Group
https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC
Schedule a Consultation with Stephen
https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page
Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment
https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment
ABA Billing Tips Guide
https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips
ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs
https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs
Have a question for Stephen and April?
Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432
This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio.
Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand? Reach out here: https://www.mkmaudio.com/contact
1 hr 2 min
May 21 Supporting Parents in ABA Therapy
What does a parent-led approach to ABA therapy look like? In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, hosts Stephen Smith and April Smith speak with Zandra Santella about how ABA providers can create more collaborative, sustainable, and family-centered care.
Zandra Santella is a BCBA and founder of Beauty in Behavior, a platform focused on ethical, collaborative, and parent-led ABA practices. With more than 12 years of experience in autism services, she provides consultation, remote supervision for trainees, and parent coaching support for families and clinicians.
The Big Questions
What is parent-led ABA therapy?
A collaborative approach where parents actively participate in goal setting, strategies, and decision-making.
Why is parent trust important?
It improves communication, increases consistency, and helps families feel supported.
What should parents expect from a BCBA?
Clear communication, shared goal setting, ethical recommendations, and support that fits real-life routines.
Why are compliance-based goals controversial?
The field is shifting toward autonomy, communication, emotional regulation, and quality of life.
How can BCBAs involve parents more?
By using coaching, offering practical home strategies, validating experiences, and aligning goals with family priorities.
Have a question for Stephen and April?
Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432
This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio
Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand? Reach out here: https://www.mkmaudio.com/
Resources & Links
Business Essentials List
https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24
ABA Business Leaders Support Group
https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC
Schedule a consultation with Stephen
https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page
Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment
https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment
ABA Billing Tips Guide
https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips
ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs
https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs
Stephen’s Book:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/ABA-Business-Leaders-Guide-Practice-ebook/dp/B0G1MLVTW6?ref_=ast_author_dp&th=1&psc=1
1 hr
May 14 Burnout and Systematic Change in ABA
In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, hosts Stephen Smith and April Smith are joined by Dr. Becca Tagg, to dive into one of the most important conversations for ABA business owners: burnout, self-care, and building sustainable systems that support leadership instead of draining it.
They explore why burnout is often less about personal failure and more about broken systems, and how many ABA business owners continue operating with outdated structures that no longer serve their teams or themselves. Stephen, April and Dr. Becca break down the importance of stepping outside your own operations to identify where stress, inefficiency, and overwhelm are really coming from.
Have a question for Stephen and April?
Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432
This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio
Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand? Find out more at www.mkmaudio.com

Resources & Links
Business Essentials List
https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24
ABA Business Leaders Support Group
https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC
Schedule a consultation with Stephen
https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page
Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment
https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment
ABA Billing Tips Guide
https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips
ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs
https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs
Have a question for Stephen and April?
Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432
This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio
Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand? Reach out here:
https://www.mkmaudio.com/contact
1 hr 16 min
May 07 7 Common Mistakes When Starting an ABA Business
Starting and scaling an ABA business can feel straightforward at first, but the hidden mistakes can cost you time, money, and long-term growth.
In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, hosts Stephen Smith and April Smith break down 7 of the biggest mistakes ABA business owners make when starting their practice, and how to avoid them before they become expensive problems.
Drawing from their experience building, scaling, and successfully exiting a seven-figure ABA practice through 3 Pie Squared, Stephen and April share practical guidance for business owners who want to build a stronger, more sustainable company from day one.
Have a question for Stephen and April?
Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432

Resources & Links
Business Essentials List
https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24
ABA Business Leaders Support Group
https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC
Schedule a Consultation with Stephen
https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page
Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment
https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment
ABA Billing Tips Guide
https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips
ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs
https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs
49 min
April 30 ABA CEO Moms
What does it really look like to lead an ABA business while also navigating motherhood?
In this special panel episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, April Smith is joined by Tiffany Remy, Amarilys Morales, Corinne Mercer, and Jess Marken for an honest conversation about the realities of being both a mom and the CEO of an ABA Business.
From unexpected challenges and the constant mental load, to learning how to ask for help and intentionally designing an ideal week, this episode explores the practical and emotional side of balancing leadership, family, and personal wellbeing.
The panel also shares candid stories about what surprised them most when stepping into both motherhood and entrepreneurship, how they manage the never-ending workload that comes with both roles, and why protecting time for yourself is essential.
Have a question for Stephen and April?
Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432
Resources & Links
Business Essentials List
https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24
ABA Business Leaders Support Group
https://forms.office.com/r/LLpAHCXUN8
Schedule a consultation with Stephen
https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page
Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment
https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment
ABA Billing Tips Guide
https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips
ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs
https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs
1 hr 20 min
April 30 ABA CEO Moms
What does it really look like to lead an ABA business while also navigating motherhood?
In this special panel episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, April Smith is joined by Tiffany Remy, Amarilys Morales, Corinne Mercer, and Jess Marken for an honest conversation about the realities of being both a mom and the CEO of an ABA Business.
From unexpected challenges and the constant mental load, to learning how to ask for help and intentionally designing an ideal week, this episode explores the practical and emotional side of balancing leadership, family, and personal wellbeing.
The panel also shares candid stories about what surprised them most when stepping into both motherhood and entrepreneurship, how they manage the never-ending workload that comes with both roles, and why protecting time for yourself is essential.
Have a question for Stephen and April?
Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432
Resources & Links
Business Essentials List
https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24
ABA Business Leaders Support Group
https://forms.office.com/r/LLpAHCXUN8
Schedule a consultation with Stephen
https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page
Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment
https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment
ABA Billing Tips Guide
https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips
ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs
https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs
1 hr 13 min
April 23 Red Flags in ABA
ABA Business Leaders Rewind: Red Flags in ABA Service Providers
This throwback episode, Stephen and April break down the biggest warning signs to watch for when working with service providers who support ABA businesses. From vendors operating without clinician input to those charging fees that don’t align with value, this episode sharpens your ability to vet partners effectively. They also cover why broad, unfocused service offerings, lack of referrals, and hard selling tactics should raise immediate concerns.
You’ll walk away with practical questions to ask before committing, plus insight into how 3 Pie Squared evaluates vendors to protect both clinical quality and business performance.
Have a question for Stephen and April?
Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432
Resources & Links
ABA Business Leaders Support Group:
https://forms.office.com/r/LLpAHCXUN8
Business Essentials List:
https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24
Schedule a consultation with Stephen:
https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page
Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment:
https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment
ABA Billing Tips Guide:
https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips
40 min
April 16Building an ABA Practice Without Losing Your Soul
In this episode, hosts Stephen Smith and April Smith celebrate the release of Stephen’s new book, ABA Business Leaders Guide: How To Start, Grow, and Sustain an ABA Practice Without Losing Your Soul.
Stephen shares candid reflections on the writing process, the anxiety that comes with putting your ideas into the world, and why having a clear vision is non-negotiable if you want to build something sustainable in the ABA space.
🔑 Key Takeaways
Why most ABA businesses fail to scale sustainably—and how to avoid it
The internal challenges (self-doubt, fear, imposter syndrome) that leaders don’t talk about
How to define a business vision that actually guides decision-making
The philosophy behind building a business without “losing your soul”
Lessons learned from writing a book while running a business
What’s next, including plans for a companion book and future resources

Pre-order your copy now:
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-aba-business-leaders-guide/id6755113017
Amazon: https://a.co/d/0hgLukNm
🚀 Resources & Links
Business Essentials List
https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24
Schedule a consultation with Stephen
https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page
Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment
https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment
ABA Billing Tips Guide
https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips
ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs
https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs
SILNA
https://www.silnahealth.com/?ref=3Pie#get-started
ABA Business Leaders Guide (Book)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0XXXXXXX
Stephen Smith on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephensmith
3 Pie Squared Official Website
https://3pisquared.com
Discord Support Group
https://discord.gg/yourgroup
📞 Have a Question?
Have a question for Stephen and April?
Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432
45 min
April 09ABA Business Stories with Rick Kubina
Coming Soon: Stephen Smith’s New Book
Stephen’s upcoming book is almost here packed with practical insights for ABA business owners looking to grow with clarity, integrity, and strong operational foundations.
Pre-order your copy now:
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-aba-business-leaders-guide/id6755113017
Amazon: https://a.co/d/0hgLukNm
Release Date: May 12, 2026
If you're serious about building a sustainable, ethical, and profitable ABA business, this is a must-read.
In this episode, Stephen and April Smith sit down with Rick Kubina to explore some of the most pressing and complex topics facing the ABA field today, including the rise of artificial intelligence.
Rick Kubina is a professor, researcher, author, and entrepreneur whose work sits at the intersection of behavior science, education, and technology. Since joining Penn State University in 2000, he has taught courses in reading, applied behavior analysis, instructional design, and more—while mentoring doctoral students who have gone on to shape the field globally.
Stephen, April, and Rick unpack:
The appropriate role of AI in clinical environments
Where AI can drive efficiency without compromising care
The ethical boundaries every ABA leader must understand
How business incentives can quietly shape clinical decisions
Why human connection remains the core asset in ABA
This episode is both a strategic lens for business owners and a grounding conversation for clinicians navigating rapid change.
Sponsor
This episode is brought to you by MarginKeepers, helping ABA business owners take control of their financials with clarity and confidence.
Resources & Links
MarginKeepers:
https://3piesquared.com/business-affiliate/MarginKeepers
Business Essentials List:
https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24
Schedule a Consultation with Stephen:
https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page
Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment:
https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment
ABA Billing Tips Guide:
https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips
ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs:
https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs
Have a Question?
Have a question for Stephen and April?
📞 Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432
59 min

About ABA Business Leaders

From the publisher's feed

You started an ABA practice because you wanted to provide good services. Now you are also responsible for hiring, payroll, billing, training, supervision, policies, and making sure there is enough…

money to keep it all going. Somewhere in there you are supposed to have a life too.

We get it. We ran an ABA practice for nearly 10 years, and we know what it feels like when the business depends on you to hold everything together.

ABA Business Leaders is hosted by April and Stephen Smith, the owners of 3 Pie Squared. We talk about the practical work of starting, running, and growing an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) practice. That includes the decisions that affect your staff, your families, your finances, and the quality of the services you provide.

Some problems look simple until you start looking at where they came from. A billing issue may have started at intake. A staff performance issue may come back to unclear expectations or training that never included a competency check. A full schedule can look great while the company is struggling to make payroll. These are the kinds of things we talk through.

Along with our guests, we share experiences, ask questions, and discuss what owners and leaders can do to build better systems. You’ll hear conversations about:

Starting an ABA practice: Planning, startup costs, credentialing, choosing funders, and building the foundation before taking on more than you can support.
Hiring and supporting staff: Recruiting, onboarding, training, supervision, feedback, accountability, and helping people understand what is expected of them.
Billing and financial health: Claims, denials, cash flow, funder rates, expenses, and understanding whether the services you provide are financially sustainable.
Quality and ethics: Looking beyond billables to consider treatment quality, staff support, family communication, and the pressures that influence everyday decisions.
Policies, compliance, and audit preparation: Turning requirements into processes people can follow and keeping documentation from becoming something you scramble to fix later.
Leadership and growth: Delegating, tracking useful measures, developing leaders, and getting information out of the owner’s head so the team can do its work.
Technology and practice management: Making scheduling, documentation, communication, training, and billing easier to manage without creating more work for everyone.

We also talk about the strain of ownership. It is difficult to support your team when you are burned out, making every decision, and fixing the same problems every week. Hiring more people or adding more clients does not automatically fix that. You need to understand what is breaking down and build systems that your team can actually use.

Whether you are preparing to open your doors, managing an established practice, or leading a team, our goal is to give you something useful to think about and bring back to your company. We want more ABA businesses that can provide quality care, support their staff, pay their bills, and keep doing that over time.

Learn more about our training, handbooks, consulting, credentialing, billing services, and practice management software at 3piesquared.com.