Dear Dr. Margolies, I am writing this note on behalf of my son, who does not have internet access at this time. He graduated last Sept. and expects to be receiving his license within a few weeks. He wants to practice in California. I have funded him up to this point but am quickly running out of available money! There does not seem to be any practices within his region willing to pay an associate. They are willing to basically take someone on as an "associate" but not pay them. In other words, he would be marketing himself within someone else's business. We have tried to find banks and organizations that are willing to loan money to professionals for start up capital. As yet, we are unsuccessful as he has no collateral, not even a recent tax return of any consequence. Do you have any suggestions? Why is it so difficult to find an associateship? Are DC's in states other than CA willing to hire and train? I am very familiar with the medical profession and know they will hire young doctors with the intent of their taking over someday (i.e. buying the practice). Can you help me understand why Chiropractic seems to be so different? Thank you very much for any help or advise......I noticed you are not doing any private consulting but do you take any personal telephone calls instead...(he does have a cell phone!). Regards, A: Thanks for your e-mail. I am happy to answer your question but also disappointed that your concern is the same for many others. Before I go further .. my answer is just my opinion and hopefully will add some light to your question. First .. Chiropractic is a business like any other. Since our present supply of doctors seem to meet the demand (although we have just scratched the surface of public understanding) .. there may be little financial incentive to share the profits with associate doctors in an average office as he has found out .. but there also are many DC¼s willing to assist new graduates and pay fairly if the need is there. We feel there would be a greater demand for our services if the general public understood if only an inkling of what we truly do .. what brought your son to chiropractic school .. and what many of us in active practice know to be true. Therefore .. he must find a niche by supplying the demand .. this is the nature of our competitive industry. For him to be a viable member of an office team and earn a salary he must become an expert in telling the chiropractic story .. reaching out to his community and attracting an interest in his service. This is a far cry from the medical world as you described. You wrote this: „They are willing to basically take someone on as an "associate" but not pay them. In other words, he would be marketing himself within someone else's business.¾ Well .. there are a many variations on the associate theme. My experiences with other chiropractors writing me is it can go either way .. pleasant or unpleasant .. usually based upon unrealistic hopes or poor communications between the office and the associate .. especially if there is no written agreement. If a doctor brings in an associate it usually means they need assistance to take over the overflow or create a vacuum allowing growth of the practice .. in either case the associate should be willing to marketing themselves within someone else's business. As I explained to my students when I taught and to those that listen to my lectures today .. an associate or independent contractor must be willing to assist a practice or location to grow and grow strong so they can take their acquired knowledge and skills to wherever they intend to settle. This is the reason doctors are willing to take on an associate .. but they should be willing to pay them .. possibly on a graduated scale depending on production. For example .. I recently was asked my opinion on an pending associates demands for salary. A doctor asked my opinion concerning a new graduates request for a $60,000 a year starting salary with additional benefits and bonuses. The doctor was wondering if this was fair. My response was yes .. but only if he can justify the salary .. why would any business pay out from profits with little hope of recovery without additional business being brought in or at least maintain the status quo. I told this doctor to have the new graduate write up a strategic plan on earning their salary .. what they expect to do to generate this additional drain on the bottom line and what increased services will be provided to generate more income and justify this salary and position. This is the dilemma .. is there demand for the service and if not how can we generate it. So .. this may have been a long answer for a short but soulful question. My answer is this. Ask your son if he is ready to start on his own or as an independent contractor (renting space and equipment) in some other chiropractor¼s office. If the answer is yes .. does he have a plan .. action steps to generate a patient base and grow from there .. does he have the tools and skills to manage a free flowing office with staff and patient communications .. is he ready to get out of his comfort zone and meet the public and is he willing to expand his energy level to warp speed and give all his time to his business. If the answer is yes .. then fund him further .. possibly a $15-20,000 home equity loan to get him started. Equipment can be purchased used and even leased to make the financial shock less. As his „partner¾ you need to be on his case to be assured your investments have paid off .. he should be accountable to someone .. it might as well be you. If the answer is yes .. he does needs a coach or mentor of sorts. On the west coast there are many consultants and seminars he can be choose and attend. He can benefit having someone guide him through the beginning period and tweak or kick him in the pants to keep it going. First he must decide if he does want to go on his own .. and if not .. then to be an associate. Finding a successful and equitable associate position .. as he has found out .. may be difficult. But .. he also has to be realistic. If he wants to be an employee an associate position is great. If he wishes to gain experience and learn the ropes for a specific time than an associate position is also great .. but he should place a timeline on this experience and decide to give it his best shot with the intention to learn and move on. In this light „They are willing to basically take someone on as an "associate" but not pay them. In other words, he would be marketing himself within someone else's business¾ is fair except they should be paid .. or in the case of an independent contractor make payments and offer a percentage of collections as well. In conclusion .. and sorry for the long response .. your son has to decide what he wants to do. It has been a year since graduation .. what has he done and was his motivation within chiropractic at all? Does he want to work for someone or for himself? In either case .. is he willing to work hard to generate an income? Can he knock on doors and tell the story that so many people have heard little about? If he can he will succeed whatever the scenario. I can place a posting on my weekly e-mail for his interest in an associates position but I need to know his level of interest .. my weekly e-mail goes to many chiropractors who may respond to him. There are always associate positions posted on my weekly e-mails and I recommend you or he visit my webpage: http://www.mindspring.com/~chirosmart and look under Previous Postings to scroll through the last few months listings .. he may find something there within California and elsewhere. At present .. I do not do private consulting as I have an active practice in Atlanta. I do consult on a daily basis via e-mail and receive a number of e- mail questions which I answer as I am yours. Many of these Q & A¼s are found on my webpage under Cyberconsulting .. he may wish to visit this area as well. I am always available to answer his questions via e-mail. If you have any other questions .. please feel free to e-mail me again. Your concern for your son is admirable and I wish him the best of luck. Have a Great Day Dr. M