Q:

Hello Doc

I have been thinking of getting some associates in my practice.

1. Do you recommend hiring associates?
2. How do you know when you are ready?
3.What kind of contract is best to use?

A:

Thanks for your e-mail. Hiring assoiates is an individual thing. Thje basic and foremost 
question is this .. can you afford to be without an associate .. can you expand with an 
associate and can you work with an associate. If anyone of these answers is yes .. then an 
associate is in order. Generally .. when the practice reaches 150 or so visits a week and 
there is room to grow an additional adjuster will help. If you need to expand .. possibly 
hire an PR person and have them market your office and expand this way .. often the 
associate is hired to help pay the rent. If this is the case .. have an IC as they are paying 
you a portion of their services.

There are a number of contracts used for an associate. The numbers etc. depend on your 
location and what the associate can bring in. It is never cost effective to have an associate 
unless that person will expand your office. Again .. if you need someone there to assist 
with the bills .. hire an independent contractor and have them use your office. If you check 
my webpage under Practice TIps and Cyberconsulting and take your time scrooling down 
you'll find previous articles concerning associates and IC's