Q: Hi Doctor, There is a program that I am considering doing and I would appreciate and respect your opinion on it. It is run by a doctor in Northeast. They find you an office in a gym, negotiate your lease for you, train you on their program, and do your billing. It is basically a franchise. They told me I can have a 6 figure income the first year if I follow their program. I was very excited and eager to start in the beginning, but after much thought I am not sure about it. Here are the details: I pay them a $25,000 fee. This is to find me a gym, negotiate my lease, for training. I then pay 15% collections. I buy my own equipment for the office. There are training seminars three times a year and they observe you in practice whenever they like. There are many more details but these are the major ones. I know you are busy and I appreciate your time and your opinion. Thank you again, Dawn A: Thanks for the e-mail. Rather than being specific concerning your specific case .. let me answer in general. Creating a chiropractic practice is like any business .. you generate clients and then maintain a growing business with referrals and satisfied customers (patients). Okay .. since this is basic practice building 101 .. what did you personally have to do .. lets assume you start this practice on your own without the help of any outside help. You first have to find a location .. assuming you found one .. you then have to find the funds for equipment and supplies and a few months breathing room. Assuming you have this what's next .. you have to find the forms and create a staff and practice protocols .. then find the patients. After all this you must maintain the status quo and continue to generate new patients as you tend and attempt to keep your established patients on a wellness and maintenance program. Marketing takes efforts and hard work .. practice management as well. Okay .. an outside consulting firm wants to help by setting you up in a community health spa. They will find a location (one that may not be conducive to outside folks (non spa patrons) coming in. They ask you for only $25,000 .. which is way excessive for what is being offered plus you give them 15% of your collections (just for a location .. some forms .. billing privileges some guidance and you do all the work). Will they generate new patients (there is no guarantee that every spa member will see you for adjustments and even if they promise corporate alliances you possibly can generate interest on your own or give some PR person $25,000 for lots of leads) will the spa have enough room for you to grow a practice if you actually spent the physical time marketing to the community or will you be placed in a box in a high tempo facility which may or may not turn off some segments of your community. I have been asked this question a number of times and have had faxed to me some contracts .. for a hungry new DC wishing to go the easy route .. this may seem a great idea. Yes you can make six figures your first year .. but you can also do the same on your own opening across the street. It all depends on you with or without their help. The joke is you even have to purchase your own equipment .. what is the $25,000 for .. that is a nice chunk of change for a down payment on equipment and leasing the rest. So .. if you have the money and want to experiment then go for it .. if you have the money and wish to venture on your own .. I say it would be best to do this. Just consider this .. if this concept was so great .. how come it is not well heard of and everyone is promoting it. I recommend you think deeply about this and if the $25,000 is no problem for you .. and this is spent without even a dime spent on the office itself .. I recommend you take a small portion of this and spend it on a mentor a coach. There are many in the country. My webpage under Weblinks and then under consultants have many listed. There is also the Parkeržs and I can even have Karl Parker provide you a mentor if you promise to attend their seminars for a year. I teach classes here in Atlanta with Dr. Pete Fernandez .. he has a successful Practice Starters program which helps new DC's from graduation and through the first two years of practice. This includes location and close contact via weekly phone calls. There is a fee for his services and a % you provide each collection period but it is worth it if you need this hands on attention and many of us do. If you wish to attend their next December seminar for free as a guest of mine call them at 1-800-882-4476 .. it may be worth the airplane trip to Atlanta. Have a Great Day Dr. M