How Much Do Therapists Earn in Their First Year of Private Practice?
What new therapists need to know about fees, costs, and realistic profit
(This is my first profile picture when I started my private practice in 2015, when I was setting up in pp #cringe.com)
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‘How much money will I make?’ is one of the most common questions therapists ask when they’re getting started in private practice. It makes sense – money can feel intimidating or cause anxiety, and yet it’s the oxygen of your practice. Without it, your business can’t breathe.
Below, I’ll share why it’s important to think about finances from the outset, what you can realistically expect to earn in your first year of business, how to plan and prepare, and what I wish I’d known when I started.
Why Therapists Ask This Question (and Why It Matters)
As therapists, we aren’t taught the business side of things. Most of us leave university, the NHS or agencies without pricing, forecasting, or marketing skills. This can affect how confident you feel about getting started in private practice and managing your business finances in the future.
The stories we tell ourselves about money can be really loud. These can stem from family history, training cultures, and personal beliefs. For example, it’s not uncommon for therapists to feel guilty about wanting to make money. ‘Therapy is a caring profession. I should be motivated by a desire to help people, not by profit.’
Personally, I want to banish this sort of thinking. No more guilt! No more limiting beliefs! You are a highly skilled professional and you deserve to earn money.
The first step towards doing so is having clarity around your finances. Clarity reduces anxiety, allowing you to plan effectively. Creating a plan turns ‘will this work?’ into ‘here’s how I’m going to make it work.’
📌 Read How to Improve Your Money Mindset for more on this.
Let’s Revisit Your Original Question…
So, how much money will you make in your first year? Well, there’s a simple calculation you can do:
💷 Capacity × Fee × Weeks – Costs = Year One Income
However, I’d argue the real answer to this question is much more complex. If you set up your practice and expect enquiries immediately, you’ll likely be disappointed. Most therapists find it takes time for visibility to translate into enquiries (think weeks and months, not days). At the beginning of your private practice journey, it can also be difficult to get your pricing right and accurately predict your capacity.
To illustrate, here’s a typical timeline for therapists getting started in private practice:
Months 1–3: set-up and slowly start to receive first enquiries
Months 4–6: momentum builds if you market weekly (this should lead to steadier enquiries)
Months 7–12: you start to understand your capacity better and create boundaries around your time (this usually means your pricing and systems also start to stabilise)
Here’s what I wish I’d known when I was starting out:
💷 Planning + Preparation + Clarity + Consistency – Costs = Year One Income
My Advice? Start Thinking About the Business Stuff Before You Even Open Your Doors
The earlier you plan and prepare, the smoother your first year will be. I’d encourage you to set up your business foundations before you launch so you’re not trying to earn and build systems at the same time. In other words, do it before you need it – future-you will thank you.
What do I mean by ‘business foundations’? I’m talking about things like:
Business overheads, pricing, policies, and systems
Messaging, website/bio, SEO/Google profile, and referral relationships
Forms, emails, waitlist management, and discovery calls
Why are these things so important?
Because effective preparation buys you time and reduces stress. It gives your marketing a runway and increases your chances of receiving enquiries in your first quarter. You’ll be launching with a clear pathway to handle this interest and onboard new clients. Perhaps most importantly, it limits first-year anxiety. You’ll be starting with clarity and consistent actions, not guesswork.
Get Started with Getting Started, Now
If you’re wondering when to invest in my signature course, Getting Started in Private Practice, the honest answer is the earlier the better.
If you want your first enquiries to arrive sooner, I’d encourage you to complete the course before you open your doors. 3–12 months pre-launch is ideal, allowing you to learn and implement alongside a day job or agency work.
You’ll also feel the benefit if you’re a little further along in your journey. For example, you’ve left your NHS role and you’re currently in the process of setting up your practice. Already open? Use what you learn on the course to fix issues with things like positioning, pricing, and boundaries.
I wish I’d had access to a course like this months before I opened. It would have made my first year in business so much easier. Here’s what you’ll gain from starting early:
A clear niche for your private practice and messaging that attracts self-funding clients.
Pricing confidence so you can hit your income goals.
Effective policies you can stand by.
90-day marketing rhythm in place before launch.
Ready-to-use templates for enquiry replies, waiting list management, and onboarding clients.
Business skills that make the care you provide sustainable.