What does it take to grow a cash-based physical therapy practice from a part-time side hustle into a thriving business with eight team members?

In this episode of the PT Entrepreneur Podcast, host Courtney Morse sits down with Laurel Boyd, owner of Athlete's Edge Physical Therapy in Austin, Texas, to discuss her journey from treating patients in their homes to leading a growing multidisciplinary team.

Laurel started Athlete's Edge in January 2022 while working full-time in traditional outpatient physical therapy. After experiencing burnout early in her career, she discovered the cash-based PT model, joined the PT Biz Clinical Rainmaker program, and began building her practice through mobile visits and grassroots marketing.

Today, Athlete's Edge operates from a 3,500-square-foot facility, has eight team members, and has nearly doubled its revenue over the past year.

Laurel shares how she developed valuable referral partnerships with local gyms, recruited talented clinicians, navigated the challenges of hiring and expanding, and learned to build systems that support a growing practice.

She also discusses preparing for maternity leave, delegating discovery calls and administrative responsibilities, transitioning away from patient care, and developing the leadership skills needed to create a business that doesn't depend entirely on its owner.

• How Laurel went from mobile PT to an eight-person team
• Building referrals through local gyms and community relationships
• Hiring great clinicians and creating a strong team culture
• Navigating the challenges of scaling a cash-based clinic
• Delegating responsibilities and building better systems
• Transitioning from treating patients to leading as a CEO

Building a scalable cash-based physical therapy practice requires different skills at every stage. Laurel started Athlete's Edge with mobile visits, a small treatment space, and a commitment to building relationships. As the practice grew, her focus shifted toward hiring, systems, delegation, and leadership. The biggest lesson is that sustainable growth doesn't come from the owner doing everything. It comes from developing a team and creating systems that allow the business to thrive without depending on you for every decision.

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Thinking about starting your own cash-based physical therapy practice?

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Get more practical training on starting, growing, and scaling a cash-based physical therapy practice, including patient acquisition, hiring, leadership, and building systems that create time and financial freedom.

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