You've spent years becoming an expert dietitian, but starting your own private practice can still make you question EVERYTHING!

In this live dietitian business coaching episode, I sit down with Anna Strano, founder of Strano Nutrition, a virtual private practice specializing in perimenopause, menopause, and women's health. After more than 15 years of outpatient counseling experience, Anna has everything she needs clinically... but she's struggling with something many dietitians experience before launching their business: confidence.

Together, we unpack the real reasons so many dietitians stay stuck as an employee before ever seeing their first client as an entrepreneur.

We discuss how to know when your website is "good enough," how long nutrition counseling appointments should be, how to structure initial and follow-up sessions, what to charge for private-pay nutrition counseling, and why waiting until everything is perfect often delays the growth you're looking for.

We also talk about the transition from employee to entrepreneur. When you've spent years working within hospitals and clinics, you're used to someone else making the rules. Private practice is different. Suddenly, you get to decide your schedule, pricing, session flow, and business model... which can feel exciting and overwhelming at the same time.

If you've been wondering:

• Am I ready to start my private practice?
• How should I structure my nutrition counseling sessions?
• How much should I charge?
• Do I need a signature program before I launch?
• What if my website isn't perfect?
• How do I stop doubting myself?

...this episode answers all of those questions.

Whether you're still planning your business or preparing to open your doors, you'll walk away with practical strategies for building confidence, serving clients, and taking action before everything feels perfect.

Remember: confidence doesn't come before action, it comes because of action.

My takeaway tip: Start before you're ready. :)

Most dietitians don't intentionally set out to build a group practice…

They simply want more freedom.

That's exactly why Erica Branz started her private practice. She wanted flexibility, autonomy, and the ability to build a career on her own terms. But over time, something unexpected happened…. And, as life changed, so did her business.

In this episode of The Dietitian Business Podcast, Erica shares the behind-the-scenes story of how she naturally grew from a solo clinician into the CEO of a thriving group practice with two office locations and six dietitians.

One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that growth didn't happen because Erica had the perfect plan. It happened because she continued making the next best decision.

Whether it was stepping away for maternity leave, launching another business venture and wanting fewer client hours, or increasing access to care by accepting insurance, each season required her to evolve as both a clinician and a business owner.

If you've ever wondered whether you're ready to grow your practice, hire your first dietitian, or become more of a CEO than a clinician, this episode is for you.

One of my favorite quotes from Erica perfectly sums up entrepreneurship: "Want to grow? Don't wait for the perfect time. Growth is not linear- it's full of twists and turns."

Freedom, not building a large company, was the original goal.

Erica shares why she left traditional employment and how that decision eventually opened doors she never expected.

Instead of aggressively chasing growth, Erica's business expanded alongside her life. We discuss how maternity leave, shifting priorities, and launching another business created opportunities to hire, delegate, and build a team.

Erica originally built a private-pay practice but later chose to credential with insurance to increase access to nutrition care. She shares what influenced that decision, what changed, and lessons for dietitians considering insurance.

Hiring isn't the hardest part. Leadership is. Erica candidly shares why learning to transition from clinician to leader became the most challenging…. and most rewarding part of growing her practice.

Many practice owners struggle with deciding when to make this change.

As your team grows, culture becomes intentional. Erica shares how she's worked to build connection, support her clinicians, and maintain a positive workplace- even while managing multiple office locations.

One of the most powerful lessons from this episode is that successful businesses rarely grow in a straight line. Growth comes through seasons of uncertainty, pivots, setbacks, and opportunities. The goal isn't perfection. The goal is continuing to move forward.

Erica Branz, RD, is the founder and owner of Branz Nutrition Counseling, an insurance-based group private practice with two office locations and a team of six dietitians. In this episode, Erica shares the honest story behind her growth- from starting a private practice for more freedom to building a thriving team while navigating leadership, insurance, hiring, and company culture.

Running a successful group private practice sounds like the dream…until you're wearing every hat in the business.

In this episode of The Dietitian Business Podcast, Maggy Doherty sits down with eating disorder dietitian and group practice owner Tianna Noelle for a real, behind-the-scenes business coaching session about what happens after you've built a successful practice- but before you've built the leadership team to support it.

Tianna has grown her insurance-based group practice to more than $1 million in annual revenue, yet she finds herself working 60+ hour weeks, managing hiring, marketing, supervision, insurance issues, finances, and every fire that pops up throughout the day.

Together, Maggy and Tianna unpack one of the most challenging phases of business ownership: the stage where your practice is too large to operate like a small business, but not yet large enough to easily afford leadership positions.

If you're a dietitian who dreams of growing beyond solo practice or you're already managing a team, this episode offers an honest look at the systems, mindset shifts, and leadership decisions required to continue scaling.

Maggy explains why practices between roughly $1–3 million in annual revenue often hit a plateau where owners become the biggest bottleneck inside their business.

Learn practical strategies for identifying which responsibilities should stay on your plate- and which should be delegated, automated, or eliminated.

Instead of relying on intuition, Maggy shares capacity metrics that help determine when your team is truly ready for another clinician.

From venture-backed telehealth companies to changing workforce expectations, Maggy and Tianna discuss today's hiring landscape and creative ways to recruit local dietitians.

Discover simple ideas for expanding referral sources, involving your clinicians in outreach, and creating sustainable marketing systems that don't depend entirely on the owner.

Maggy shares why waiting until you can "afford" leadership often keeps practices stuck- and how investing in systems and people creates long-term growth.

• Track clinician capacity before posting new positions.
• Build redundancy so your business doesn't depend on one person.
• Cross-train administrative staff whenever possible.
• Recruit locally through alumni networks, Facebook communities, and professional relationships.
• Give clinicians protected time for provider outreach and networking.
• Delegate responsibilities gradually to build trust and reduce owner overwhelm.
• Create leadership opportunities before burnout forces change.

Growing your practice isn't just about hiring more dietitians.

Eventually, the biggest obstacle isn't finding more clients- it's building systems that allow your business to grow without depending on you for every decision.

The practices that scale successfully aren't the ones with the hardest-working owners… they're the ones with the strongest systems.

When your private practice feels slow, unpredictable, or stuck at the same client load month after month, it’s easy to spiral into self-doubt. “Am I doing a terrible job? Is this as good as it’s going to get? What am I missing?”

That’s exactly what Adina — a highly experienced dietitian with 20 years in the field — brought to this business coaching session. And in this raw, honest conversation, we dig into the real reasons her referrals, retention, and caseload haven’t matched the quality of her work.

This episode pulls back the curtain on what actually drives a profitable, steady private practice — and spoiler: it’s usually not “more marketing.”

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Retention Before Marketing

Adina was seeing only 3–6 clients per week — and had never examined her retention data. We explored why client return rates matter more than any new referral source, how to calculate retention inside Simple Practice, and what counseling shifts can extend a client’s lifespan in care.

2. Why Referrals Aren’t Coming In

Despite years of postcards, snail mail, coffees, handouts, and networking, every effort produced the same outcome: small trickles of referrals but nothing consistent. We dug into the foundational questions:

• Is the messaging landing?
• Are services clear?
• Are conversations addressing true pain points?
• Does the value come across to doctors and clients?
  When every tactic fails to move the needle, it’s not your effort — it’s the underlying message.

3. The Client Experience Drives Everything

If current clients aren’t referring and aren’t completing many sessions, something inside the session needs refining. We discuss what makes a session feel valuable enough that:

• Clients naturally return,
• Clients tell their friends,
• And doctors confidently refer.

4. The Power of Being Shadowed

Most solo dietitians have never been observed during a session. We break down why shadowing is one of the most transformative tools for growth — offering perspective, counseling refinements, and clarity on blind spots that affect both retention and referrals.

5. Anonymous Surveys That Tell the Truth

Adina had sent occasional feedback forms in the past, but nothing systematic. We outline exactly how to send a true anonymous client experience survey, incentivize responses, gather honest insights, and turn feedback into action.

6. Moving From “I Think…” to “I KNOW.”

This is where the transformation begins. Adina often said: “I think clients like sessions,” “I think messaging is fine,” “I think I’m doing okay.” But CEOs don’t rely on guesses — they rely on KPIs. We explore how tracking retention, referrals, session averages, and patterns shifts you into confidently knowing what’s working and what’s not.

7. Why Business Coaching & Supervision Have ROI

Supervision isn’t an expense — it’s an investment. $200 in shadowing can turn a one-time client into a $1,000+ long-term client. We break down exactly how that ROI works when done intentionally.

Practical Actions You Can Take:

• Audit your retention numbers
• Shadow or be shadowed by a trusted dietitian or supervisor
• Send a 2-minute anonymous survey to all current clients
• Track weekly KPIs: referrals, retention, cancellations, new vs. returning clients
• Rework your messaging so providers and clients instantly understand your value
• Align your counseling flow with what supports long-term engagement

In this week’s private coaching session, Maggy sits down with Jonathan Yuhas of Yuhas Nutrition, a dietitian in Syracuse, NY, who is navigating a challenge many early-stage private practice owners face: balancing a part-time job, growing a caseload, managing administrative work, and trying to honor the values that matter most, especially family and flexibility.

Jonathan specializes in CKD and diabetes care, receives strong referrals from nephrology groups, and is building a lean, insurance-based practice. But with growth comes new questions: How do you work on your business instead of constantly working in it? How do you organize your time without burning out? How do you maintain a meaningful personal life while still growing?

This coaching session explores how to build a practice that supports your life instead of taking it over.

What We Cover:

Working On vs. In Your Business
We discuss how easy it is for solo dietitians to get stuck in task mode—charting, billing, scheduling, and emailing—and how to carve out intentional weekly time to think strategically and move the business forward.

Deep Work That Drives Growth
Using Cal Newport’s deep work principles, Maggy helps Jonathan identify how even one protected hour each week can improve systems, efficiency, marketing, organization, and long-term planning.

Values-Based Decision Making
Jonathan shares that family and flexibility are core values. Maggy walks through how identifying your values (using Brene Brown’s values framework) can guide your schedule, working hours, telehealth days, and overall structure of your private practice.

A More Effective To-Do List
Jonathan’s to-do list feels scattered and overwhelming. Together, we restructure it using a high, medium, and low priority system:
• High priority: needs to be done within 24–48 hours
• Medium priority: should be completed within a week
• Low priority: no deadline, low consequence
Maggy also explains how integrating Google Tasks with your calendar can reduce mental load and prevent constant task-switching.

Time Blocking and Weekly Reflection
We emphasize the importance of setting aside a weekly reflection block to review goals, evaluate workflow, examine systems, and determine what needs improvement. Jonathan realizes he has been so busy working that he has not had time to think about the bigger picture.

Considering Hiring and Delegation
Jonathan wonders whether bringing on administrative help makes sense. Maggy explains when hiring is beneficial, how to evaluate return on investment, which tasks are appropriate to delegate, and why staying lean or scaling up are both valid paths depending on your goals.

Long-Term Vision for a CKD Specialty
Jonathan shares his interest in building group programs, cooking demos, structured telehealth days, and more efficient systems. This episode breaks down how to move toward that future without sacrificing boundaries or personal wellbeing.

Key Takeaways
• Your values should shape your schedule and workflow.
• Deep work is essential for meaningful business growth.
• Time blocking reduces overwhelm and increases efficiency.
• A structured to-do list helps conserve energy and focus.
• Delegation can increase profitability and decrease frustration.
• Private practice should support your real life, not compete with it.

Connect With Jonathan
YuhasNutrition.com

Listen to the Full Episode
Stream this episode on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

In this episode of The Dietitian Business Podcast, host Maggy Doherty, registered dietitian and business coach, sits down with Dr. Joyce Faraj-Ardura, PhD, RDN, founder of Nutrition Counseling Academy, to explore how dietitians can bridge the gap between nutrition education and behavior change. If you’ve ever wondered why some clients “know what to do but don’t do it,” this conversation will change the way you think about counseling forever.

Joyce shares her journey from tenure-track professor and clinical nutrition manager to successful entrepreneur and educator. After years in academia, she realized that dietitians needed something missing from their formal education — the art of communication, connection, and motivational interviewing. That realization led her to create Nutrition Counseling Academy, a space for dietitians and health professionals to master behavior-change psychology and grow their impact in private practice.

Maggy and Joyce discuss the mindset shifts that come with leaving the safety of academia to build a business that aligns with purpose and family. Joyce opens up about the burnout that pushed her to ask, “If I had five years left to live, would I still be doing this?” That single question sparked a reinvention: from professor to business owner, from educator to coach.

Together, they unpack the skills every dietitian entrepreneur needs — empathy, motivational interviewing, reflective listening, and the ability to create a client-centered session that leads to real, lasting change. Joyce reveals how her programs help dietitians move from educator to coach, teaching them to prioritize connection over content and empowerment over handouts.

You’ll learn:

• The difference between nutrition education and nutrition counseling — and why confusing the two stalls progress
• How to avoid overwhelming clients with too much information or too many goals
• Simple strategies to shift sessions toward collaboration and confidence-building
• How to market and grow your practice authentically through storytelling and connection
• Why feedback, reflection, and mentorship are essential to professional growth

Joyce also pulls back the curtain on the AI-based software she uses to help dietitians review their counseling sessions for tone, open-ended questioning, and motivational interviewing skill development — a powerful tool that turns self-reflection into measurable growth.

Maggy and Joyce dig into the business side of being a dietitian, from building a program that sells to understanding demand before you create. They discuss why “trial and error” is really “trial and correction,” how to find your niche, and why marketing for dietitians is less about selling and more about storytelling.

If you’re a private practice dietitian looking to scale, refine your counseling approach, or reignite your passion for helping clients, this episode will inspire you to look beyond the meal plan and into the mindset of behavior change.

Key Takeaways:

• Build a client-centered practice through behavior change coaching
• Combine science + soul for deeper impact Use storytelling and connection as your strongest marketing tools
• Evolve your counseling skills to stand out in the saturated wellness space
• Continue learning to create a sustainable, scalable business model

🎧 Listen in as Maggy Doherty and Dr. Joyce Faraj-Ardura redefine what it means to be a dietitian in private practice — not just a provider of information, but a true partner in transformation.

Welcome to The Dietitian Business Podcast, where we help private practice dietitians turn their side hustles into thriving, sustainable businesses. In this episode, host Maggy Doherty, registered dietitian and business coach, invites Tara Durden, owner of Nutrition Thyme, for a deep-dive coaching session on hiring, onboarding, and scaling a team as a dietitian entrepreneur. If you’re a dietitian in private practice ready to hire your first employee or take the leap into a group practice, this episode is packed with step-by-step strategy and mindset shifts. Maggy and Tara walk through everything from creating an onboarding checklist to defining your practice values, training new hires, and building structure into your EMR and client flow. Tara shares her journey from clinical dietitian to private practice owner, revealing how motherhood, flexibility, and purpose shaped her career path. What began as a side gig—posting recipes on Instagram and seeing clients after long shifts in the hospital—grew into a full-time business now expanding with multiple dietitians on staff. Together, Maggy and Tara explore the mindset and systems behind scaling while keeping your business aligned with your life.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How to confidently hire and onboard your first dietitian employee
• Step-by-step training and onboarding workflows using Practice Better and Gusto
• Building a company culture through mission, values, and communication systems
• Creating checklists, templates, and protocols that streamline your practice
• How to transition from seeing clients full-time to leading a team of dietitians
• Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship in a growing business
• Maggy’s framework for scaling from a team of one to 40 dietitians

Tara’s story reflects what so many dietitian entrepreneurs experience: starting small, wearing every hat, and realizing that true growth requires structure, leadership, and delegation. You’ll hear actionable coaching moments about training new team members, organizing your onboarding process, and learning when to step back so your team can thrive.

Maggy brings years of experience helping registered dietitians scale their businesses sustainably—with systems that save time, protect your energy, and strengthen your mission. Whether you’re ready to expand beyond solo practice, hire your first team member, or optimize your onboarding process, this conversation gives you the clarity and confidence to scale with purpose.

If you’ve ever wondered how to:

• Turn your solo practice into a group practice,
• Build an onboarding system that sets your team up for success,
• Manage EMR training, documentation, and HR with ease,
• Balance motherhood and business ownership without burnout —

Then this episode is your roadmap to growth.

🔗 Connect & Resources

• Learn more about Maggy’s coaching at maggythedietitian.com
• Follow Tara’s journey at Nutrition Thyme on Instagram
• Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full video on YouTube

🎙️ About The Show: The Dietitian Business Podcast blends business coaching for dietitians, marketing strategy, and real-life success stories from RDs who’ve built thriving private practices. Hosted by Maggy Doherty, this show helps you scale your business, strengthen your leadership, and create a life and career that work together.

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/