For physicians who were fed up with PE-owned groups or abusive corporate systems and chose to go solo — how did you do it, and what advice would you g

[ja_jajo]

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I’m curious to hear from doctors who reached the point of frustration with private equity, hospital systems, or corporate groups that undervalued you, restricted your autonomy, or added endless administrative burdens — and decided to break out on your own.

• What was the turning point that pushed you to go solo?
• How did you practically structure the transition (legal setup, financing, equipment, finding space, credentialing, staffing, etc.)?
• What were the hardest parts and the biggest surprises?
• If you could give one or two pieces of hard-earned wisdom to someone thinking of making the jump, what would they be?

Would love to learn from those who’ve done it — both the challenges and the wins.

 

[Mman]

I’m curious to hear from doctors who reached the point of frustration with private equity, hospital systems, or corporate groups that undervalued you, restricted your autonomy, or added endless administrative burdens — and decided to break out on your own.

• What was the turning point that pushed you to go solo?
• How did you practically structure the transition (legal setup, financing, equipment, finding space, credentialing, staffing, etc.)?
• What were the hardest parts and the biggest surprises?
• If you could give one or two pieces of hard-earned wisdom to someone thinking of making the jump, what would they be?

Would love to learn from those who’ve done it — both the challenges and the wins.

what specialty someone is in is probably the most relevant piece of information you did not ask for.

 

[InvestingDoc]

• What was the turning point that pushed you to go solo?

For me it wasn’t a single moment — it was a buildup. I realized I was doing 95% of the work but owning 0% of the outcome. I was tired of productivity being capped, tired of being told “no” to simple improvements, and tired of feeling like my success only benefited someone else’s balance sheet.
The real turning point was when I looked at the numbers and realized: I could run a clinic better, treat patients better, and build something meaningful for my family if I bet on myself instead of the system. Once that clicked, staying employed actually felt riskier than leaving.

• How did you practically structure the transition (legal setup, financing, equipment, finding space, credentialing, staffing, etc.)?

I hired a lawyer, did moonlighting to pay off all my student loans and save up. Bought equipment second hand what I needed, subleased from a doc who had everything to start with. I hired out credentialing and billing to start to keep costs down.

• What were the hardest parts and the biggest surprises?

Boundaries. I was so desperate for my practice to be a success (because all these people kept telling me you cant do it, no one can do solo independent primary care anymore) that I spent like an hour with my first patients for whatever reason. Toenail fungus, yup spent an hour with them so they would think I gave great care and tell all their friends. Once I put up boundaries, I became the worlds worse doctor to them bc they were used to hour long visits. Thats on me. Next hardest part was deciding to scale up, sooo many pain points before it got better. Biggest surprise: When I had months were I was making net > 100k a month in primary care....that felt incredible and like something that I never dreamed would be possible.

• If you could give one or two pieces of hard-earned wisdom to someone thinking of making the jump, what would they be?

Pay down debt, keep expenses low...work like hell and just fricken do it once you have a decent business plan. The next most important thing is MARKETING MARKETING MARKETING.

Good luck OP

 

[ja_jajo]

Thank you for sharing your story — hearing experiences like yours gives the rest of us the confidence to make that transition.

 

[Homo sapien]

Thank you for sharing your story — hearing experiences like yours gives the rest of us the confidence to make that transition.

What type of resource/people do you hire for credentialing and billing

 

[thesauce]

I worked under a corrupt hospital system that was the definition of incompetent. They tried offering me a capped contract and I told them to shove it.

My specialty of radonc is extremely expensive to start up, but I took the chance and now have several clinics. Best thing to do is aggressively pay down debt, buy your buildings as opposed to leasing, hire right and reward your staff well.

 

[ja_jajo]

I worked under a corrupt hospital system that was the definition of incompetent. They tried offering me a capped contract and I told them to shove it.

My specialty of radonc is extremely expensive to start up, but I took the chance and now have several clinics. Best thing to do is aggressively pay down debt, buy your buildings as opposed to leasing, hire right and reward your staff well.

when did you decide to buy up your real estate?