In this episode of The Dietitian Business Podcast, Maggy Doherty welcomes Janna, a fellow Texas-based dietitian entrepreneur who grew her private practice from a solo venture to a thriving team of five.

Janna shares candidly about the early days of launching right before the pandemic, the reality of wearing too many hats, and the hard lessons that shaped her leadership journey. From financial pressures and difficult hires to building systems and learning to say no, Jana opens up about what it takes to grow a sustainable business as a registered dietitian.

Maggy and Janna also dive into the myth that “growth makes things easier.” Instead, they reveal how problems evolve as your practice expands—and why personal growth is just as important as professional development. They discuss the role of company culture, how to maintain brand identity during growth, and why client retention is the backbone of long-term success.

Whether you’re just starting your private practice or managing a growing team, this conversation is filled with real-world lessons, encouragement, and strategies you can apply today.

🎧 Listen in to learn:

• How to balance client care with leadership responsibilities
• The biggest lessons that come from challenges, not easy wins
• Practical strategies for teaching retention to your team
• Why boundaries are essential for sustainable growth
• How culture and values shape the client experience

This is an honest, behind-the-scenes look at practice ownership, designed to help dietitian entrepreneurs grow with clarity and confidence.

Leaving behind the 9–5 is a dream many dietitians share, but making the leap into private practice comes with big questions: How do you know when it’s time? How do you balance stability with growth? And how do you build a business that actually aligns with your values?

In this episode of The Dietitian Business Podcast, host Maggy Doherty, MS, RD, sits down with Canadian dietitian and lactation consultant Brittany Brown to explore what it really looks like to transition from traditional employment into private practice.

Brittany shares her journey of splitting time between her clinical role in a family doctor’s office and building her own practice, where she works primarily with pediatric clients and young families. She talks openly about the challenges of balancing security with autonomy, creating community events, and deciding when free offerings cross into burnout territory.

You’ll hear a candid conversation about the business mindset shifts dietitians need when moving from employee to entrepreneur, including:

• Setting boundaries with clients while still offering compassionate care - Using vision boards and core values as a compass for business decisions
• The importance of practice management strategies for long-term sustainability
• How to evaluate when it’s the right time to leave your 9–5 job
• Exploring collaborative practice models and community hubs for moms and babies
• Why saying “yes” to the right opportunities — and “no” to the wrong ones — can accelerate growth

Maggy and Brittany also dive into the reality of Canadian vs. U.S. healthcare systems, how those differences affect dietitian entrepreneurs, and why both environments require dietitians to get creative when building businesses.

Whether you’re just dreaming about private practice or actively balancing part-time work with your own client load, this episode will help you rethink what’s possible. You’ll walk away with practical strategies for scaling a private practice, plus inspiration to stay true to your values while creating the freedom and flexibility you deserve.

Key themes covered in this episode:

• Private practice success stories
• Dietitian business coaching insights
• Time management strategies for balancing multiple roles
• Building a client base through marketing and networking
• Why values-based decision-making keeps dietitians aligned and fulfilled

If you’ve ever thought, “I want to leave my 9–5 job and run my own practice, but I don’t know how,” this conversation is for you.

A real coaching session on creating high-ticket offers, setting boundaries, and marketing with confidence.

In this business coaching session, Kate Dwyer discusses her journey as a dietitian, the challenges of running a private practice, and the importance of building confidence in her offerings. She explores the limitations of insurance billing, the need for passive income, and the struggle to set boundaries with clients. The discussion also touches on the significance of aligning business practices with personal values and the necessity of financial awareness for growth.

Takeaways:

• Kate acknowledges the glass ceiling in private practice, where income is limited by client hours.
• Building passive income is essential to avoid burnout from one-on-one sessions.
• Confidence is crucial when considering high ticket offers in her practice.
• Marketing courses requires balancing personalized care with educational content.
• Setting boundaries with clients is necessary to protect her time and energy.
• Surveying clients can provide valuable feedback for new offerings.
• Aligning business practices with personal values is vital for fulfillment.
• Financial awareness is key to understanding the viability of her practice.
• Mistakes in billing have been valuable learning experiences for her. 

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Kate Dwyer's Practice

02:10 Navigating the Glass Ceiling in Private Practice

04:41 The Challenge of High Ticket Offers

06:51 Building Confidence in Business

10:28 Creating Passive Income Streams

12:26 Marketing Strategies for Meal Plans

15:29 Understanding Value and Client Expectations

18:27 Setting Boundaries with Clients

21:33 Surveying Clients for Better Offerings

27:53 Exploring High Ticket vs. Insurance-Based Services

30:03 Creating Accessible Services

32:48 Aligning Business with Personal Values

35:48 Navigating Insurance and Billing Challenges

41:47 Setting Boundaries with Clients

48:44 Understanding Financial Health in Business

Who this episode is for: dietitians who want their private practice to be sustainable, profitable, and values‑aligned. If you’re craving practical business coaching beyond generic tips, you’ll hear real talk on packaging expertise into higher‑value services, protecting your bandwidth with clear client boundaries, and sharpening your marketing so it attracts the right people. We also cover where insurance billing helps—and where it caps growth—so you can choose a model that fits your season.

You’ll learn ways to turn repeat questions into nutrition courses, workshops, or digital templates that create passive income while improving outcomes. Kate shares scripts that build confidence on sales calls, a cadence for gathering client feedback, and a framework for testing pricing without burning trust. You’ll walk away with a lean onboarding checklist, a lighter follow‑up system that reduces no‑shows, and a plan to stop over‑delivering while still delivering excellence.

If you’re a new or seasoned dietitian ready to move past the hourly ceiling, this conversation gives you tools to scale with integrity. Expect candid lessons, permission to simplify, and a realistic roadmap for growth that centers your wellbeing and your clients’ results.

Enjoying the show? Follow, rate, and share with a friend building a practice. DM a question you want answered—your client feedback shapes what we create next. Thanks.

Connect with Kate: https://www.k8dwyer.com/

Whether you are a new private practice dietitian just trying to land your first few clients or a seasoned dietitian entrepreneur looking for ways to scale your business, this podcast is here to support your journey. Inside each episode, you’ll hear strategies to simplify time management, refine your marketing for dietitians, and strengthen your business mindset so you can lead your practice with confidence. Think of this show as both your business coach in your pocket and your accountability partner when things get messy.

Maggy shares the same frameworks she used as a dietitian business coach and group practice owner to grow a successful insurance-based practice while also building multiple revenue streams. If you’ve ever wondered how to manage the constant juggle between client care, marketing, billing, and leadership, these conversations will show you that you don’t have to sacrifice your wellbeing- or your income- to build something sustainable.

Expect transparent discussions about what it really takes to scale your business as a private practice dietitian, including systems for managing insurance billing, ways to streamline your nutrition practice, and scripts to confidently set boundaries with clients. You’ll also hear how to package your expertise into nutrition courses, group programs, and digital offers that generate passive income without adding more hours to your week.

Every episode is crafted to help you step into the role of dietitian entrepreneur with clarity and courage. You’ll learn practical skills for marketing for dietitians, see behind the curtain of real dietitian coaching sessions, and gain new tools to help you sharpen your financial awareness. From overcoming fear of raising your rates to mastering the business mindset shifts that separate hobbyists from thriving practice owners, this podcast delivers actionable advice you can implement right away.

If you’ve been searching for a dietitian podcast that combines real coaching, unfiltered stories, and the strategies you actually need to run a profitable business, you’ve found your home. The Dietitian Business Podcast is more than a show- it’s a community of private practice dietitians who want to grow, scale, and succeed together.

So whether your goal is to better manage your time, attract your ideal clients, or finally feel confident as the CEO of your nutrition practice, tune in each week for honest conversations and expert coaching that will move you forward. This podcast is proof that you can be both a compassionate clinician and a savvy business owner. And with the right coaching, tools, and mindset, you can scale your business, serve more clients, and build the private practice you’ve always imagined.