Thinking of breaking free from the traditional model of care? Concierge medicine might be your path to professional fulfillment and patient-centered care.
Physicians across the country are leaving high-volume, insurance-driven environments to start their own concierge medicine practices. And for good reason. Concierge medicine allows for deeper patient relationships, more autonomy, and the opportunity to build a business that aligns with your values.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to start a concierge medicine practice—from clarifying your vision to launching your new service.
Step 1: Clarify Your Vision and Values
Before any legal paperwork or business planning, take time to define what kind of practice you want to create. Ask yourself:
- What kind of care do I want to deliver?
- Who are my ideal patients?
- What does work-life balance look like for me?
- What values will shape my patient experience and internal culture?
Clarity at this stage makes every other step easier.
Step 2: Choose Your Business Model and Legal Structure
Concierge medicine isn’t one-size-fits-all. Decide on:
- Membership model: Will you charge monthly, annually, or per-visit?
- Fee structure: Flat fee? Tiered memberships?
- Insurance: Will you opt out or combine with insurance?
Then, work with a healthcare attorney or consultant to:
- Form your legal entity (e.g., PLLC or S-Corp)
- Obtain NPI and tax ID numbers
- Review compliance considerations like HIPAA and state laws
Step 3: Design the Patient Experience
How you serve your patients is your competitive edge. Design systems that support:
- Prompt communication (e.g., text access or same-day appointments)
- Extended visit times
- Wellness-focused services or preventive care planning
- A streamlined intaknd onboarding experience
Use digital tools or concierge-specific EHRs that simplify the experience for you and your patients.
Step 4: Build a Strong Team
A great concierge practice isn’t built alone. Even a small practice benefits from:
- A knowledgeable medical assistant or nurse
- An operations manager or virtual assistant
- Marketing or patient outreach support
Hire for values, not just experience. Look for team members who believe in personalized care and are willing to grow with your practice.
Step 5: Market Authentically
You don’t need to “sell” yourself to fill your panel—you need to communicate clearly.
Effective concierge medicine marketing includes:
- Crafting a compelling origin story
- Sharing patient testimonials
- Educating prospective patients on what concierge care is and isn’t
- Hosting webinars or in-person talks
- Optimizing your website for local SEO and physician-related keywords
Step 6: Set Up Financial Systems
A concierge practice must be sustainable. Work with a healthcare CPA to:
- Forecast revenue based on patient panel size
- Set membership pricing that aligns with your financial goals
- Track recurring revenue and expenses
- Plan for taxes and retirement
Step 7: Launch and Onboard with Intention
Once your systems are ready:
- Personally invite your top 50–100 current patients to join
- Host a Q&A to address concerns
- Offer a seamless onboarding process (contract, payment setup, welcome kit)
- Monitor feedback and adjust early
You Don’t Have to Build It Alone
Starting a concierge medicine practice can be liberating—but also overwhelming. That’s why we created the Concierge Medicine Accelerator, a 10-week live training program that gives you the systems, support, and mentorship you need to launch and grow successfully.
