Should You Bring on a Business Partner for Your Group Practice?
Starting and growing a group practice is exciting, but it also comes with tough decisions. One of the biggest questions new group practice owners often face is:
Should I bring on a business partner, or should I grow my private practice on my own?
On a recent episode of the Empowered to Lead podcast, I spoke with Merrisa Little, founder and owner of OCD North, about her journey navigating this very question. Her experience offers valuable lessons for therapists considering the pros and cons of partnership in group practice ownership.
Building OCD North: From Solo to Scaling
Merrisa always knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur. Coming from a family of business owners, she felt inspired to create something of her own — a specialized clinic focused on evidence-based treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder.
As her group practice began to grow, she wondered if bringing on a partner might help her share the workload and responsibilities of leadership. Like many practice owners, she hoped complementary skills could make the journey easier.
But as time went on, she discovered that partnership wasn’t the right fit for her vision.
Lessons on Business Partnership in Private Practice
Looking back, Merrisa shares three powerful insights for therapy business owners:
Patience is key. You don’t need to act on every new idea right away. Give potential decisions time to develop before making commitments.
Protect your vision. Sharing ideas too early can create unrealistic expectations. Stress-testing your goals first helps you show up as a grounded leader.
Partnership isn’t the only support. Merrisa realized she already had what she needed — a strong clinic manager, a committed team, family support, and trusted advisors.
For her, leadership confidence grew not through partnership, but through building systems and surrounding herself with the right people.
Growth, Systems, and Sustainability
One of Merrisa’s most significant business shifts came when she prepared for maternity leave. She used that season as motivation to put essential structures in place:
Doubling her team
Expanding to a second location
Diversifying services by hiring nurse practitioners
Delegating supervision
Implementing long-delayed systems
The result? A stronger, more sustainable practice that allowed her to step back without fear.
3 Questions to Ask Before Bringing on a Partner
If you’re a therapist considering partnership in your group practice, Merrisa recommends asking yourself these key questions:
Why don’t I want to do this alone? Is it about confidence, or do I truly need complementary skills?
What is my vision? Without a clear, long-term goal, bringing someone else into the mix can create chaos.
Who is my ideal partner? Define their skills, time commitment, and alignment with your vision.
And I’ll add a bonus question: Can you create a support system instead of a partnership? Sometimes what you need isn’t a co-owner, but rather a clinic manager, admin help, professional advisors, and a strong community of practice owners who understand your journey.
Final Thoughts on Leadership in Group Practice
As Merrisa wisely put it, “It’s hard to do this alone, and it’s hard to do it with someone. It’s just hard — choose your hard.”
Partnership can be the right fit for some, but it isn’t the only path to sustainable group practice growth. With the right systems, clarity of vision, and strong support, you can lead your practice with confidence — even without a business partner.
To connect with Merrisa and learn more about her work, visit OCD North.
