There should be some threads on this—I know I’ve contributed to the topic at times.
I have a list of some things I had to do to go into private practice logistically (ie business EIN, publishing business name, opened a business account, etc.). I’m happy to share info privately.
Just to add to what
@beginner2011 said, as someone who doesn’t take insurance, Psychology Today has been and continues to be the main source of referrals in my practice (although word of mouth, my website, and listserv referrals help some) and includes telehealth for no additional cost other than the subscription. Also, I know people love their Simple Practice, but there are cheaper options with similar features these days.
@beginner2011 the paid Gmail business/workspace is HIPAA compliant, so technically email can be HIPAA compliant. I purchased it precisely for that reason—it has higher security than typical gmail and a BAA, if I recall. If you want to get really technical, if your client is willing to send their own PHI over email, that is consenting to the risk if you inform them of the risk prior and give them a more secure option (snail mail). I’ve seen this done in medical offices as well. That said, it’s not meant to be a longterm solution and the therapist isn’t sending PHI—only the client in that situation, and by doing so, consented to it.
At any rate, there’s a lot that goes into creating a practice, from creating your business name, to purchasing general insurance if you lease an office, building your website, writing up your consent forms, marketing, etc. I’m not sure that a thread will cover it all, but I’m happy to share some pointers—feel free to PM me.