If you’re like many therapists I work with, you didn’t set out to become a business owner. You were simply full—emotionally, energetically, and in your caseload. Referrals kept coming, and it felt too painful to turn people away. So you brought on an independent contractor. Then another. Then one more.

Before you knew it, you weren’t just running a private practice—you were running a business with a team.

But here’s the catch: most therapists in this position didn’t count the cost—literally or figuratively. They didn’t run the numbers or look at the full range of responsibilities that come with the shift from solo therapist to CEO of a group practice.

So that’s where I want to start with you today.

One of the most common (and loaded) questions I hear from group practice owners is this:

“How much should I be making?”

It’s often whispered with a mix of uncertainty, guilt, and even shame—as if asking about money is somehow a betrayal of the work we do as helping professionals. But the truth is, your paycheque is one of the clearest indicators of your business’s sustainability. It’s not just okay to ask this question—it’s essential.

Let’s unpack it.