May 23, 2023

How to Gain More Office Space with Alison Pidgeon | WP30

33 minutes

Welcome to the Wise Practice Podcast! In this episode, Whitney Owens interviews Alison Pidgeon, an expert in group practice and business ownership. They discuss the topic of expanding office space and the considerations that come with it. Alison shares valuable insights and tips based on her experience as a group practice owner with multiple locations.

Maximizing Existing Office Space

Many therapists overlook the potential of maximizing their current office space before considering expansion. Alison suggests sharing offices between two to three therapists to ensure optimal usage. She explains, "We have like two to three people share an office so that way it's in use like, you know, 10 to 12 hours a day... So if you're not doing that and you're thinking, oh, we need more space, like, that's definitely one way to get more client sessions in without taking on more rent." Additionally, with the increasing popularity of telehealth, therapists can work from home part of the time, reducing the need for additional office space.

Sharing office space might raise concerns among therapists, but Alison assures that setting clear expectations from the beginning can mitigate any issues. By pairing therapists with opposite schedules, they can use the same office consistently. This approach eliminates the need for complex scheduling and provides therapists with a sense of stability.

Expansion Considerations

Before considering expansion, it's essential to assess your practice's goals and culture. Alison emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive culture while growing. She states, "I don't wanna grow just for the sake of growing... If it's gonna impact our culture in a negative way, then I don't wanna do it." Growth should be a means to enhance the well-being of both staff and clients.

However, expansion requires careful planning and preparation. Building robust systems and processes, as well as assembling a competent team, is crucial. Alison shares her own experience of outgrowing certain systems and realizing the need for a more efficient phone system. She also highlights the significance of hiring administrative staff before therapists to prevent burnout and ensure smooth operations.

As the practice expands to a considerable size, it becomes necessary to establish a leadership team. Alison advises, "Once you start to get up to like 18 or 20 therapists, you start, you need to build out like a leadership team... You just can't sustain wearing all the hats anymore." By delegating responsibilities and empowering team members, the practice can thrive and provide growth opportunities for its employees.

Logistics of Expansion

Alison shares her own expansion journey, starting with a single location in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She later expanded to the Hershey area and subsequently to Pittsburgh. While she initially rented office spaces, Alison's long-term goal was to own the buildings housing her practice. She advises considering individual goals and preferences when deciding between renting and buying.

Renting can be a suitable choice when entering a new market to ensure the practice gains traction before committing to a purchase. Once the business is established, owning the building offers financial benefits and stability. Alison's real estate background influenced her decision to own the buildings, believing it to be a wise investment strategy.

Conclusion

Expanding office space requires a careful balance between meeting the needs of therapists and clients while preserving the practice's culture. By maximizing existing office space and implementing efficient systems, therapists can serve more clients without immediately requiring additional locations. When expansion becomes viable, it's crucial to consider leadership development and hire administrative staff before therapists to maintain a healthy work environment. By carefully planning and making strategic decisions, therapists can successfully grow their practice.

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