The Debt Mindset Shift You Need to Scale Your Clinic

In this episode, Danny breaks down one of the most overlooked barriers to growth: fear of debt. He shares hard-earned lessons from building his own clinic and working with 1,000+ others—and explains why your mindset around borrowing can make or break your business as you grow past the lifestyle phase.

🎯 Topics Covered

• Why PTs are so debt-averse (and why it makes sense)
• How bootstrapping can hurt your growth
• The real risks of borrowing vs. self-funding
• Why strategic debt isn’t bad—it’s a business investment
• The scary truth about growing from 1 to 3+ employees
• How to push through the “profit dip” and build a real business
• The mindset shift from clinician to CEO/investor

💡 Key Quotes "You're a business owner now. Think like an investor—not just a clinician who happens to own a business." "Bootstrapping your growth sounds noble, but it’s usually just slower and more stressful." "Borrow in a position of strength, not when you’re desperate. That’s when banks will actually lend to you." "Push through the tough stage as fast as you can. Profit comes back. Freedom follows." 🧠 Pro Tips

• Start lean—but don’t try to scale lean. Growth needs capital.
• Use debt strategically to accelerate team building and capacity.
• Expect your profits to dip before they rise again—it’s normal.
• Borrow when you’re stable, not scrambling—it puts you in control.
• If you want a scalable clinic, shift your identity to business owner/investor.

🔗 Resources & Links

• PT Biz Website – Get expert coaching to start and scale your clinic
• Join the 5-Day Challenge – Build your practice with clarity and momentum
• Get the PT Biz Book – Learn how 240+ clinicians grew their dream practice (many with smart debt)
• PT Biz YouTube Channel – Weekly insights on business growth and strategy

🧭 Final Thought

If you want to build a practice that gives you freedom—financial, time, and impact—you can’t stay stuck in a debt-avoidant mindset. Learn to think like an investor. Borrow wisely. Grow faster. And build the business you were meant to run.