Timeline of Team Super People
Hedy Chen
Jesse Gilliam
Kristen Phipps
Diana Stark
18 Months
1. Review pre-graduation requirements.
2. Apply to take boards as this is an initial $550.
3. Start preparing for boards.
5. Start doing research on where you might like to have a clinic, (no less than 3) consider:
a) demographics –is this a collage town or is it a retirement community?
b) other acupuncture clinics—saturated or not?
6. Laws of state I want to practice in.
7. Buy a calendar and a small notebook to jot down any ideas throughout the day.
15 Months
1. Take 2 boards.
2. Consider what equipment is needed, what you have to buy, and what you already have.
3. Check out what types of loans are available— how much? How long, 5, 10, 20 yrs to
pay back?
a) business/ SBA
b) SBA micro-loans
12 Months
1. Get with Leslie and do a degree audit ***some classes skip quarters.
2. NCCAOM application.
3. Review NCCAOM procedures (meeting times and awarding licenses).
4. Start networking in the community that I want to set up my practice.
5. Check out acupuncturists offices, rates, the overall “feel”. Do they offer package
deals? Insurance?
6. Pick name, make sure this name doesn’t already exist –ask people their thoughts, see
what pops up if you google it (in other words, does something crazy pop up or did you
pick a good name that will easily be directed to your website). *** Acupuncture is a good
word to include in title vs. the wild monkey.
7. Apply for business name online, if available then name business and license it.
8. Take another board.
9 Months
1. Review repayment of financial aid
2. Tax accountant (Mom)
a. teach me the software
b. what can I deduct
c. what to save (ie: receipts)
3. Research costs for insurance.
4. Start a cost analysis for start up with all the accounts that need to be created (ie:
hazardous waste, malpractice insurance, etc.).
5. Create a budget for moving expenses and start up costs and start gathering financial
resources.
6. Apply for a bank loan.
7. Research price for advertising (mags, newspapers, Craig’s list) + who to speak with.
8. Inventory for clinic-what I have and what I need to purchase.
9. Start writing a brochure.
10. Website: What is included, how much, can I learn how to do it, how long will it take,
begin creating.
11. Write a business plan (example on p. 156-158).
6 Months
1. Get with Leslie and make sure you are really on schedule.
2. Decide Specialization—geriatrics, chronic pain, menopause, fertility.
3. Get with insurance-billing guru (Kim) and have her teach me insurance deductions,
codes, the ins-and-outs.
4. Figure out which companies I want to use and carry in my clinic (ie: Evergreen).
5. Contact local reseller (Tim) for good quality furniture—what do you have, how much,
what will you be getting?
6. Where to take medical waste and how much.
7. Research answering services.
8. Decide color and feeling I want in my clinic.
9. Complete board exams.
10. Investigate insurance.
11. Draft a letter to local practitioners of various modalities introducing myself.
12. Make up temp business cards.
3 Months
1. Create a start-up program.
2. Print out business cards—give your cell phone number.
3. Work on resume for part-time work with a Chiropractor/Naturopathic
doctor/Acupuncturists in case business has a slow start.
4. Contact Whole Foods, retirement communities, Central Market, Health Clubs (Curves,
24 hr), Day spas (massage envy, Cypress Medical Clinic) and get to know PR person,
how can you give informational seminars, etc.
5. Print out forms from PFP.
6. Building lease—for how long?  sometimes banks want you to have a certain time at
a certain place
7. Check out prices for herbal pharmacy.
8. Open a clinic bank account: lowers tax liability.
9. Send out letters to practioners.
10. Choose location and search for rental property.
11. Review possible marketing outlet.
12. Create a six month budget.
13. Get legal help—yes, expensive, but it may really save you big time! You can always
barter.
14. Buy software for front desk.
15. Recruit massage therapists, front desk lady—ads & interviewing.
Last month b/f graduation
1. Exit exam and interview.
2. Contact utility companies.
3. Buy janitorial stuff.
4. Buy sign for car (cheesy, but hey, I read them).
5. Buy sign for building.
6. Buy products for herbal pharmacy.
7. Prepare building-paint, rooms, organizing everything.
8. Set up answering service.
9. Buy insurance-malpractice, liability.
10. Buy linens, pillows, tables, desks, chairs, waiting chairs, cotton balls, alcohol, gloves,
biohazard containers, jam boxes, lamps which dim, plants, small water fountain,
stationary, etc…
11. Make gift cards.
12. Send post cards to inform the public of my grand opening.
13. Plan post graduate party.
This is very well thought out in terms of your business plan. My primary concern is that
obtaining your actual license is not an important part of the planning. After your boards
are taken, it is essential to followup with the state licensing board. You must make sure
that they have received all documents needed to obtain an acupuncture license.
NCCAOM can be slow in sending exam results. Also, the registrar must send
documentation with degree information and graduation date to the state board as well. It
is all about the followup. By doing so, you can receive your license closer to your date of
graduation and put your business plan into action.
You need to plan a time to take the exit exam and your final practical exam.
Good job, comprehensive business planning. Glad you have a post-graduate party in the
mix.