After selecting your business name and legal entity type, the next step is to establish your business as a legal entity by filing necessary documents with your state’s secretary of state office. Depending on your state, the required documents and process may vary. However, forming a formal business entity can help shield owners from personal liability, which is essential for most medical practitioners. Note that you can set up your business entity even without having a name yet, as you can always update it later when you start branding and marketing your services. It is important to keep the costs of setting up your business entity low, as they can add up quickly. While some attorneys and accountants may offer their services to set up the entity for you, you can complete the process yourself in about 30 minutes to an hour, saving the additional cost. The fees for forming a business entity also vary by state, and it typically ranges from $90 to $300.<\/p>\n
Obtaining Business Employer Identification Number (EIN)<\/h3>\n
Obtain a business Employer Identification Number (\u201cbusiness EIN\u201d) number.\u00a0 You will need this number to open a business bank account, apply for business licenses, and file your tax returns\u2026 Keeping your business expenses separate from your personal expenses is crucial for record keeping. Head to the IRS website below to Apply for an EIN Online,<\/p>\n
Link: https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/businesses\/small-businesses-self-employed\/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online<\/p>\n
Setting up a Business Bank Account<\/h3>\n
When it comes to setting up a business bank account, it’s important to choose a bank that meets your specific needs. Keeping your personal and professional expenses separate is crucial for record-keeping and tax purposes, as mentioned in Step 1. There are many different banks to choose from, so it’s essential to do your research and find one that fits your needs.<\/p>\n
Consider finding a smaller, local bank that requires a low minimum balance to avoid frustrating fees for dipping below that minimum balance. Alternatively, you can choose one of the larger banks that may have more available services, availability, and resources to invest in modern technology. While larger banks may have monthly fees to maintain the account, you can often negotiate with the bank manager or business manager to waive those fees.<\/p>\n
Keep in mind that opening a business bank account is typically free, but you’ll often need to make an “owner’s investment” of whatever the minimum balance is for the account you open. For example, some banks may require a minimum balance of $1,500.<\/p>\n
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Make a Website<\/h2>\n
A website can be an essential tool for a private practice as it allows potential clients to easily find and learn more about the practice and its services. A website can provide valuable information such as the therapist’s background and qualifications, the types of therapy offered, hours of operation, location, and contact information. A well-designed and informative website can also help build trust with potential clients and establish the practice’s credibility. Additionally, a website can serve as a platform for sharing educational resources, testimonials from past clients, and important updates about the practice. Overall, having a website can help a private practice reach and engage with a broader audience, ultimately leading to increased visibility, referrals, and revenue.<\/p>\n
Select a domain name<\/h3>\n
Selecting and purchasing a domain name can be an important step in establishing an online presence for your business. One preferred choice is Google Domains<\/a>, which offers a user-friendly interface to search for and purchase available domain names. To get started, simply visit Google Domains and enter your desired domain name to see if it’s available. If it is, you can purchase it directly through the platform. Keep in mind that the cost of domain names can vary depending on factors such as the popularity of the name and the domain extension chosen (e.g. .com, .net, .org). Most domains will cost about $13\/year if they have not been registered by someone else who purchased the domain and are now reselling.<\/p>\n When selecting a website host for a WordPress site, consider factors such as server performance, uptime guarantees, customer support, security features, backup options, and pricing. Some recommended hosts for WordPress include Bluehost, SiteGround, WP Engine, and HostGator. Be sure to research and compare different hosting options before making a final decision.<\/p>\n Elaborating on the key features to pay attention to<\/p>\n After testing multiple website hosting platforms, we found that Bluehost and CloudWays are both capable options. However, we ultimately chose CloudWays due to its dedicated server infrastructure that ensures greater security and uptime for our website. While Bluehost is a low-cost option, its shared server infrastructure can make it vulnerable to security risks from other websites hosted on the same server. Although CloudWays comes at a higher price point, it provides the necessary level of security and uptime for a professional website.<\/p>\n CloudWays offers extensive self-help documentation and live chat customer support, immensely helpful, along with a relatively simple method for deploying a WordPress site.\u00a0 CloudWays does have a bit higher hill to climb on technology to set up your server.\u00a0 Additionally, get a discount when you use “EmbarkEMR” as a promo code!<\/strong><\/p>\n Aspects of setting up your server are,<\/p>\n Getting a logo is not critical to running your business, but it truly can be a recognizable symbol for people to associate your brand with.\u00a0 Creating a logo is not too difficult either.\u00a0 To get a logo for free, you can throw some shapes together with your business name in PowerPoint (or utilize PowerPoint\u2019s \u201cDesign Ideas\u201d section \u2013 I love this!) and BAM!\u00a0 You have a logo.\u00a0 If you\u2019re not a creative type or would prefer to have a professional looking logo, I recommend the folks over at\u00a0Fiverr<\/a>.\u00a0 Fiverr is a platform where you can outsource almost any task to a global workforce of skilled specialists to complete it for you.\u00a0 Often times, you can have highly professional and qualified people design a logo for you for <$55.\u00a0 To get started with Fiverr, just head to\u00a0Fiverr.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n As an added bonus, you can\u00a0get 10% off<\/strong> your first order by using Embark EMR’s link http:\/\/www.fiverr.com\/s2\/5090546013<\/a><\/p>\n When it comes to building a website, we’ve tested several platforms and narrowed down our options to CloudWays and Bluehost. Both come with WordPress setup out-of-the-box, which is an easy-to-use page builder. However, we prefer to use Elementor for its ease of editing and speed. Simply install the “Elementor” plugin and use the “Hello Elementor” theme. If you choose to stick with the WordPress basic page builder, we recommend the “Sinatra” theme for its features and ease of use. There are many YouTube videos available to help you get started.<\/p>\n For design inspiration, browse other websites and steal bits and pieces that you like. Donald Miller’s book “Building a Story Brand”<\/a> is a great resource for designing a website that engages customers.<\/p>\n When designing your website, keep these key things in mind (adapted from “Building a Story Brand”<\/a>):<\/p>\n If you plan to be communicating with your clients via email, you will need an encrypted email.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t plan to transfer any protected personal health information, getting a Google Workspace account is an excellent choice!\u00a0 You get access to Google\u2019s breadth of services like Sheets, Slides, Google Meet, Jamboard, Gmail, and more.\u00a0 You can purchase the \u201cBusiness Starter\u201d plan for just $6\/month.\u00a0 To make your account HIPAA compliant, follow the below instructions on how to get a BAA with Google (Note: a free Gmail account is not HIPAA compliant.<\/p>\nChoose your hosting provider<\/h3>\n
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Our recommendation<\/h4>\n
CloudWays<\/h5>\n
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![\"The](\"\/\/www.cloudways.com\/affiliate\/accounts\/default1\/banners\/61dde566.jpg\" "\\"The")
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\nGet a Logo<\/h2>\n
\nBuild your site<\/h2>\n
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\nSetting Up Your Email & Business\u2019s Digital Ecosystem<\/h2>\n
Steps to reviewing and accepting Google\u2019s Business Associate Amendment,<\/h3>\n
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Getting Your Google Workspace Account (And Applying a Discount!)<\/h3>\n