When you think about profit in your practice, it can feel like a bit of a mystery.
You know what you charge, you know your expenses, but figuring out what the “normal” average profit of a therapy practice is, especially compared to what you actually take home, can feel murky.
The truth is, there isn’t one single number that applies to everyone.
Profit looks very different if you’re running a solo practice compared to managing a group. But there are some useful benchmarks that can help you see where you stand, and more importantly, where you might have room to improve.
What Do Profit Margins Look Like in Therapy Practices?
On average, therapy practices see net profit margins between 20 and 40%. That means if you bring in $100,000 in revenue, you might end up keeping $20,000 to $40,000 after paying your expenses and taxes.
Solo practices tend to sit closer to the lower end, sometimes even as low as 10% if expenses creep up. Group practices can swing higher or lower depending on payroll and overhead, with some earning closer to 30% when managed well.
The key thing to remember is that profit is what’s left after everything. Rent, payroll, software, insurance, continuing education, even those sneaky little subscriptions that auto-renew each year.
Solo Practice Profit: Why Profit Feels Tight
If you’re a solo therapist, chances are you’re not just a clinician. You’re also the admin team, the marketer, and the bookkeeper. Studies show solo owners can spend nearly a third of their week on these non-clinical tasks.
So while your gross revenue might look good on paper, once you factor in the hours you’re spending on the backend, your real “take-home” feels thinner. One analysis found that after accounting for all the overhead, the effective hourly profit for solo owners was closer to $30 per hour.
That doesn’t mean solo practice isn’t profitable. It just means every hour you spend not in session matters. Automation, smart pricing, and tight expense management make a huge difference here.
Group Practice Profit: Scaling with Trade-Offs
Group practice owners usually have the benefit of more revenue coming in, since multiple therapists are seeing clients under one roof. But payroll is by far the biggest expense. Depending on how you structure pay, group practices report profit margins ranging anywhere from 7% to nearly 40%.
The lower end happens when overhead and salaries eat up most of the income. The higher end happens when practices balance caseloads, set clear pay structures, and keep expenses lean.
It’s a balancing act. Yes, you can grow bigger, but you also carry more financial risk if you’re not paying attention to margins.
What Practice Owners Typically Take Home
So what does this mean in actual dollars?
Most therapy practice owners report annual income anywhere between $60,000 and $200,000. Solo practices lean toward the lower side of that range, while group practices in higher-cost urban areas can reach the top end.
The spread is wide, but it shows why paying attention to your numbers matters.
Two practices can bring in the same revenue, but one owner might walk away with half the income simply because of different expense structures.
How to Improve Your Profit Without Adding More Hours
If you’ve read this far, you probably noticed a theme: profit isn’t just about seeing more clients. It’s about making smarter decisions with the time and money you already have.
Here are a few practical steps:
- Track your margins. Look at both your gross margin (revenue minus direct costs like therapist pay) and your net margin (what’s left after everything). If you don’t know these numbers, start there.
- Count every hour. Include the admin time when you calculate your income. If you’re making $150 in a session but spending three hours a day on email, your “real” hourly income is much lower.
- Add smarter revenue streams. Running a small therapy group, hosting a workshop, or creating a digital resource can bring in more money without adding 1-to-1 sessions to your plate.
- Review your expenses. Even small recurring costs chip away at net profit. Do a quarterly sweep of subscriptions, software, and overhead.
- Adjust your fees thoughtfully. A $10 or $20 increase per session can make a significant difference in your monthly profit, especially if your caseload is steady.
Reminder: Use Profit as a Tool, Not a Stress Point
At the end of the day, your profit is what gives you flexibility. It’s what lets you take a vacation without panic, pay yourself consistently, or invest in growth when you’re ready.
Whether you’re running a solo practice or managing a group, knowing your numbers is the first step toward making them work for you.
And if you’re not sure how to get there, that’s exactly what we do at Traktion.
We help therapy practice owners make sense of the financial side, from pricing and margins to cash flow systems, so you can run a practice that actually supports your life.
Schedule an introductory call if you’d like some clarity around your numbers.
Together, we’ll make the math fit your lifestyle, not the other way around.
Until next time!