How to Become a Private Practice Dietitian
Many Registered Dietitians dream of taking their career into their own hands and launching a private practice. Although private practice isn’t perfect for every RD (and this is important to recognize) it can also be a truly ideal path for many RDs! There are so many benefits of having your own nutrition business, from the ability to work in your ideal niche to setting your own hours. Plus, when you have your own business, there’s no limit to your earning potential! (Very different from your 9-5, right???)
Though pursuing a private practice of your own is exciting, it can also be very intimidating at times. No matter your industry, there are challenges, risks, and setbacks that can make starting a business feel impossible. It can scare you out of ever venturing out of your comfort zone and realizing your true potential. I’m not only here to tell you that it IS possible to build a successful practice, but I’m going to help you make it happen.
You deserve this. The world needs your brilliance and passion. It’s time to take charge of your career and work toward building your own nutrition business! This is what you need to do:
How to Become a Private Practice Dietitian
Step 1: Dream about your practice.
Before starting a nutrition private practice, spend some time dreaming about what you want. Don’t only think about what you want for your business, but think about your overall life goals. Dream about the clients you want to help. What type of legacy do you want to leave on this earth? Spend time thinking about the type of income you want to make and I encourage you to take this question one step further. Dreaming of money is nice but it honestly won’t take you the distance. Your desire to build a private practice needs to go DEEPER than money. So when you think about the type of income you want to make, I would also journal about what does that money mean to you? Why is it important? Perhaps it will allow you to give back to the world or those your love. Maybe it means creating a life where you can be with family or friends whenever you desire. Dream big, and also ask yourself what this dream practice really means to you! Maybe you will dream about traveling the world. Dream about spending more time with those you care about. Really, just vision cast the ideal life you want to achieve!
At the end of the day you’re not just building a business. You’re building both a business and a life that you love showing up for and living. What does it all look like? Let yourself truly dream.
Step 2: Niche down and develop a basic business plan.
After you dream about your future, it is time to start making it happen! To do that, you’ll first need to niche down. Niching down is essential to any successful business, but especially for RDs. When people are looking for a private practice dietitian, they’ll have a lot to choose from. The reality is, we actually need more RDs in private practice especially with all the confusing information out there and under-qualified self proclaimed “professionals”.
However, when people start their search we want to ensure they pick the right RD for them, and if your business specializes in their unique nutrition needs, they will know immediately who to choose - YOU! Think about it. If your family member needed someone to help with their GI issues specifically IBS. Would you want to find them an RD that specializes in GI concerns? Or would you suggest a generalist who says they do everything? OF COURSE, you would look for an RD that specifically focuses in GI issues more specifically IBS. This is the gold of niching down!
So, choose first what kind of RD you want to be, whether a sports dietitian, a pediatric dietitian, GI, vegan focused, weight loss or something else, and then narrow your niche even further. I promise, this will make the biggest difference! Not only to help your dream clients find you, but also to bring joy into your business.
Once you know your niche, develop a basic business plan. This doesn’t have to be in a specific format or contain a lot of detail. It just needs to be enough to give you some direction and an idea of your starting budget. I strongly suggest you plan for an online nutrition business! Though there are challenges of having an online business, the pros definitely outweigh the cons!
Step 3: Establish the foundation.
Unfortunately, you can’t just print business cards and open your practice. There are just a few things you need to get in order! Look into the requirements of your state and confirm you have the right licenses and your business is properly registered. Then, you’ll need to confirm your business is properly protected with professional liability insurance and other relevant policies. You can always contact a legal expert like Sam Vander Wielen for guidance on this part!
From there, you can open a business bank account, figure out how you’ll do scheduling, and determine how you’ll bill clients’ and accept payment. None of these things will take a lot of time, but they’re important to do after that business plan is complete!
Step 4: Determine your services and rates.
Next, it’s time to develop your services! What kind of nutrition programs and nutrition counseling will you offer your dreamy clients? It is important recognize that this is not step 1 or 2. Why? In order to create impactful services that change lives you need to first understand who you’re serving (niche) and the problems you solve.
Flesh out the services you want to start with and then determine your rates. I know that can be difficult, but don’t forget your VALUE and the value of the services you are delivering! It’s easy after years of being undervalued and underpaid to charge too little. However, your dreamy clients will want to pay you for the incredible services you’re offering and they will see your worth!
Step 5: Be strategic with balancing your 9-5 and your private practice.
I always recommend that RDs work their online private practice as a side hustle before they jump into it full-time. It’s such a beautiful thing to be able to see the capacity for success with your practice and start bringing in some additional revenue on the side of your full time job. You will be able to see that in a fraction of the time you spend at your full time job the potential for impact and income in your practice! I suggest setting a goal for yourself for when you would like to break away from your full time position that makes sense in your situation, and strive for that. It’s better to STEP into your new venture than LEAP. This allows for planning and a smooth transition that will lead to even more success!
Does this mean you’ll be doing a lot of nutrition coaching in a day? YES. But, it’ll help ensure the success of your online nutrition business. Plus, all that practice won’t go to waste!
Step 6: Establish an honest, heartfelt, and ethical marketing plan.
Many RDs going out on their own fear marketing. I get it! Our expertise is NUTRITION and PEOPLE. Diving into the world of branding and marketing can feel intimidating, frustrating and uncomfortable. But, don’t think you need to adopt some trendy bro marketing strategies or start dancing on social media to have a successful private practice. Play to your strengths and develop a marketing message that’s honest, heartfelt and ethical. Remember that being yourself is truly your greatest asset and your uniqueness and quirks will be what attracts your most dreamy clients to you!
It is important as a dietitian that you honor your ethics, who you are as a human being and who you are as a clinician when you start marketing yourself. Your marketing and business can embody all of these things and will be a large part of what supports your success!
Step 7: Get a few clients and collect feedback.
Find a few of your dreamy clients and start working. After you’ve had some time with them, ask for some feedback. It’s SO important to ask for feedback from clients, because it’ll help you figure out what’s working within your practice and what’s not. I know that feedback can sound scary in the beginning but taking the time to attain and use feedback to make your business better is actually one of the keys to building a successful nutrition practice. Then, you can gather testimonials for marketing and referrals to grow your practice!
Step 8: Refine your practice and focus on growth.
Once you have some feedback, refine your business strategy and spend your time finding ways to grow your private practice! You’ll learn as you go and take your nutrition practice from a side hustle to a sustainable small business! Here are my best tips for growing your nutrition business.
Step 9: Build a community of support.
Building a business is really hard to do on your own. You NEED support of all kinds. Some RDs enjoy joining a Dietetic Practice Group (DPG) to connect with like minded RDs in their area of interest. I also suggest having experts in your corner like connecting with a CPA, a business lawyer, and a mindset coach. I strongly believe that when it is the right time for you personally, looking into a dietitian business coach can be one of the most supportive experiences, as we never learned how to build a practice in school. It’s important to find a coach that you feel aligned with from a values perspective and finding someone who truly cares about your success.
Coaches like myself are uniquely qualified to help RDs build their private practices and make their dreams into a reality! I want to encourage you to find the right coach for you, it can make a world of difference in your business journey.
When should you bring a dietitian business coach onto your team? Well, for every RD this looks different however there are specific times in business where seeking a business coach can be transformation for your growth!
If you’re the RD that’s holding themselves back from pursuing your dreams and launching your private practice because it’s just too overwhelming, this is a great time to hire a dietitian business coach! You really don’t want to stay stuck in the dreaming phase for years. I know so many of our colleagues who share with me that they WISH they would have reached out sooner. The Foundation™️ program is perfect for getting an aspiring RD entrepreneur to finally start their online nutrition business. This service covers honing your mindset, establishing your business foundation, crafting the practice of your dreams, figuring out your niche, and developing your authentic marketing approach! It’s the perfect place to take advantage of your personal strengths and uniqueness to build your business.
But, let’s say you’ve already started your practice. You already know your niche, you’re already posting on social media, and you’re already doing everything you know how to grow your nutrition business, but you can’t seem to get fully booked! The Rise™️ is the program and coaching experience that you need! Here, I can help find your dreamy clients, refine your programming structure, your offers, pricing, system refinement and finally reach the success you’ve been working so hard to achieve!
So, no matter where you are in your journey, a dietitian business coach like me with Jaime Mass Nutritionals can make all the difference. I would love to invite you to Apply to work with me and let’s bring your dreams to life, together!
Step 10: Elevate your business and realize your dreams!
Commit to your business, keep working hard, never forget your worth, and turn your dream into a reality!
There’s nothing stopping you from being a successful private practice dietitian!
Being an RDs is probably one of the things you’re most proud of and passionate about. However, working in a traditional 9-5 can be super draining and take all the joy and enthusiasm from what you do. It’s time to launch a private practice and find the life you deserve!
You can find more on the blog and feel free to contact me with any questions. I’m here for you!