Q: Dr. Margolies, I really enjoy your newsletter, and am so grateful you take the time. I graduated from Palmer this past October, and had been hoping to set up from scratch. I was just turned down by my last hope [the bank wanted $35,000 down. I really don't want to associate, and was wondering what ideas you have. I thought of a mobile service, and was wondering if you know of anyone who has done this, and what you think of the idea. The only thing I'm leery of, is that a massage therapist, who had a mobile service, was murdered last spring in a town just up the road. I was speaking to a chiro who graduated in 1987 and he said many of his patients come from 2 tiny towns south of the area. He thought I could go there, but how do I do so without money and a place to set up? I thought this might tie into the mobile idea, but am unsure how, or if, I should proceed. I'm just not sure what to do, and would greatly appreciate any ideas you have, or if you know of a D.C. or two who has [had] some type of mobile service, who wouldn't mind speaking with me. Thank you for your time, and I hope you enjoy your holiday. A: Thanks for the e-mail. There is a saying that elephant trainers place a large chain around one foot of an elephant and attach the chain to a stake in the ground. The purpose is to set a perimeter for the elephant since it can only move as far as the chain allows. After a few weeks .. they take the chain away and the elephant continues to box itself in within the same perimeter. I don't know if it is true .. but the concept is okay for this answer. If you box yourself in with limitations you will create them. A mobile unit .. and small town possibilities may limit you unless you really feel this is what you want to do. There was a DC here in Atlanta that worked as a mobile office .. I don't think it worked out. It may in a real rural location where door to door service is the way to go or if you had contracts with municipal offices and small corporate or business parks .. warehouses or factories etc. but generally it is difficult to put together .. but it can work out if this is what you wish to do. Having the patient load in place takes a lot of work and if it is possible then an actual office will work even better. Remember .. volume and services are the key to making a living in chiropractic .. how many and how much can be found in a small mobile unit? As far as the two small towns and you being in the middle .. the mobile concept I discussed before still stands .. a trailer park office brings the trailer type folks and limits your volume and those able to pay .. I would not do it unless you decide this is where you wish to establish a practice. As far as what to do now .. there are a few possibilities. If you can find a good location and decent rental fee for a new practice and not have to spend too much in renovation etc. then you can always lease equipment and work from that end. The trick is establising a strong patient base that helps you pay for the present and grow in the future. If you can find another or two DC's to work within your office as independent contractors and their firm monthly IC payment to you helps pay the minimum overhead .. then you can grow slowly but surely. I used to tell my students at Life to ask their parents for a home equity loan .. say $20,000 .. if they can get it .. you pay their loan payment and they can write off the interest on their taxes .. it is an easy start up situation .. just be sure to pay it off. A $20,000 loan can be paid at $500 or less a month over a few years .. it gets you in the door and go from there. Also .. if you check my webpage: www.chirosmart.net and click on the banner offering leases .. they may help you as well. I forget her name but she really goes overboard attempting to help .. There is no great answer for a difficult question. Just be aware that you have the desire to go for it .. you just need to find out where and how. I recommend you purchase my Smart Start Book and follow the guidelines to promote that practice once you find the location. Take your time making the best decision. Dr. Pete Fernandez has a great Practice Starters Program .. he makes all his clients do a demographic map profile of an area before choosing the best location. He forces all these clients to walk the area doing over 3000 surveys prior to opening the door .. he makes each client go beyond their comfort zone to create professional alliances prior to and after opening .. there is little room for failure and boxing yourself in is out of the question. If you have the time and funds to travel to Atlanta and attend the next seminar .. call their office at 1-800-882-4476 and attend for free as my guest. Good Luck Dr. M