3 private practice tips in 2026
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Libby: [00:00:00] I'm so happy to have Beryl here today. As she's been on the podcast several times, and she's a wealth of information and so much fun to hang out with. So Beryl, thanks for spending your time with us today and sharing all of your knowledge with the Dietitian Boss community. Oh, my pleasure. It's great to be back, and I always enjoy coming on here.
so in today's topic, we wanted to discuss some hot tips, and really take the time to discuss what is important in private practice, but then end with what the top three tips are. So in today's conversation, we will be discussing what's important, but I want you to make sure you stay till the end because I wanna share if Beryl and I align with what we think are the top three and in what order, because remember, prioritizing in business matters.
So before we kick off today's conversation, anything that you wanna add about this topic about top tips for private practice this year? Let's see. I think my top tip for this [00:01:00] year, you know, going right into it, is don't be afraid of artificial intelligence. Learn more about it, and then from there, you can identify areas within your practice or your job where you can really leverage artificial intelligence to make your life a little bit easier.
So it would be interesting to get an understanding of acceptance because I know it's still so overwhelming for so many of us. How do we use it? Do we use AI during sessions even with permission? And what are the ways we can leverage AI? Should we be afraid of it? So that definitely comes up a lot with dietitians.
Yeah. And do you see that, concept is different for those that have an established practice like yours versus those who are newer in? Like, how do you see the mindset of those two different dieticians are around AI? Or just, yeah, technology. Let's... I think it does go back to, and it's not even really so much of number of years being in private practice [00:02:00] or just your age.
I think it's more of having an open mind versus a closed mind. And I think people just in general that have like that growth mindset, that open mind, are adapting and learning more about artificial intelligence, versus the alternative closed mind, "I don't wanna learn about it.
It's gonna take my job," all the things. I think that people that have started to leverage it for business and private practice are seeing a lot of value within it, and I think there's also so much to learn. There's gonna be tremendous advancement. I think what you touched on with patient or client, approval or notification that you're gonna be using artificial intelligence for the session and maybe also for their ongoing care is really important.
That might need to be updated within a patient contract or k- like, it might need to be an addendum or something like [00:03:00] that. And I think just something that's really cool that's evolving, you know, we all have these wearable devices.
now what we can start to do is with the wearable device and then additional, gl- glucose monitoring, we can track what our patients are experiencing internally. so like for h- however many years we've been doing like food recalls, right? But we know they're not entirely accurate, and it's also not telling us what's happening to the metabolism of our patient or our client.
so now with those glucose monitoring and with the use of the wearable, we can get real time information into our patient's health, and then we can also use artificial intelligence for updating a meal plan. So We're not manually having to do a lot.
we're using AI to make our jobs easier and actually make the patient outcomes a lot better. Yeah, and I just want to emphasize that improving patient outcomes is [00:04:00] important, and if we have an opportunity to do that and make our patients happier, that's something that we want to prioritize in our practice.
I think that, that's something that I- some dieticians are not really grasping, is that- ... AI can help our patients improve their quality of life. And we want to be in the forefront of that. We don't want to be sleeping on that. Yes. Yeah, we don't want to be, lagging behind what we could do.
our really, my number one goal is always to make the client, happy. Yeah. As much as possible. Yeah. And I- I know we've talked about both the, the client, the clinician, right? Saving us time for charting, standardizing that process. But then also the, the patient.
So we can have these opportunities to make improvements with meal plans, get that data in real time. Never before have we been able to do that. And so it's really exciting. It is. It's, I think, an area... I think some dieticians are focusing, but I think it's like an opportunity, is of course we're talking about food and nutrition and movement and [00:05:00] things like that.
Sleep is so important for total wellbeing, and that is something, too, that can be tracked via wearables. Yeah. And that can be tied into the plan. and that also goes back to just total quality of life for patients. And retention, and that's gonna segue to my next topic. if we're able to get our clients to come back and keep them and help them with their health outcomes, it's better for both parties.
And that's really one of the top tips for private practice, I believe, i- is how are we able to create a sustainable business, and that has to do with profitability. And where AI is something new, I wanna take it back to creating a profitable business, the foundation of how do we survive as entrepreneurs.
And I think that's absolutely important, is to discuss what does it mean to create a profitable business, why is it important, and how can dieticians do that better, more seamlessly, in 2026 [00:06:00] going into 2027? To create a profitable business, you really have to understand your finance.
I'm not saying that you have to become a CPA. You should have a CPA. but what you should understand is your finance, both on a day-to-day perspective, on a monthly perspective, and then quarterly and annually. You don't, again, you don't have to go back to school to get an accounting degree. But what you can do is use resources that are online, maybe even via ChatGPT, and download a profit and loss statement, a balance sheet, a cash flow statement, and then make sure that you know where your money is, where it's coming in, where it's going out, what are your expenses.
And then you also wanna have that, kind of predictive mindset. What are going to be my future expenses? Very important. So that's like you have to have that when you're in [00:07:00] private practice or working for yourself. And then for ongoing success, I like to diversify. So I think a strategy is to have multiple streams of income.
That can be through everything that you like doing as a dietician. So p- one of your streams of income is private practice, seeing one-on-one clients. Then consider, when you get busier, bringing in another dietician as a consultant, an independent contractor, that can pick up some additional clients. So think about it this way.
You're doing your one-on-one session, and then your partner dietician is doing a one-on-one session at the same time. So that's additional revenue that's coming into your business. Maybe you like doing menu analysis, and you like doing the nutrition facts or the allergens for coffee shops in your neighborhood.
So that can [00:08:00] be a totally different stream of revenue. Maybe you have a really strong social media following and you already have some brand attention, and you start to do, brand ambassador on social media and you're getting paid for it.
So I think it's really valuable to identify maybe a couple things that you're passionate about that you want to invest your time in, and then work to add some additional streams of income. What I've seen, excellent tips and you're right, seamless is more about after us dieticians have a system in place.
So I wanna make sure that's clear, that this is a process and it's not always easy, and there are things that this is a topic that most of us didn't learn in school, so there's going to be some extra layered learning here in terms of the finances and the taxes, the business set up.
I think the most important thing to do is make sure you have a date with yourself to check your finances every week, every other week. Some people do [00:09:00] it more. Of course, it depends on the, the sc- the scale of your business. If you're running a group practice, you're probably gonna need to be on top of it more than if it's a solo practice.
And either way, no matter how you're running your business, you're gonna wanna look at your numbers and make sure you have an understanding. You could do that through software online. Some of it is low cost, and you can also, I've got clients that use spreadsheets, and that can work too. but just having a decent understanding of your expenses, what's coming in, and like you mentioned, Beryl, predictive, that can be really important.
and then there's taxes too. And when you're first starting out and you're becoming, you're making money, income, it can be tricky to realize just how much of that needs to be saved and, reserved for taxes. So those are all important aspects, that I think dieticians can sometimes not prioritize because it's...
You might be overwhelmed. You're taking insurance and you have- ... issues with claims, or maybe you've hired a contractor or an employee and you're really trying to get that sorted out, and you drop the ball or forget how important it [00:10:00] is to be on top of looking at your finances. Because that's the number one reason businesses close, is 'cause you just run out of money.
So you don't wanna be in that position. Yeah, it's, it is a lot. And in the past when I ran my dietetic internship, I really stressed the importance of knowing your numbers, understanding your numbers, not being afraid of it, empowering yourself. And I'm really excited to share, something I've been working on.
I'm actually going to be publishing a book on starting your private practice and growing your private practice. but this isn't just like a book that you're gonna read. It's like a living thing. so it's very, let's just say, interactive. There are tons of ways to engage with this, education.
And if you like, asking questions in real time, that's an option too within this. So I'm super excited, and it's [00:11:00] called, The Complete Business Method. I'm excited for you, and I will put a stamp of approval on whatever you're behind, Beryl, because I love the, the content, that you produce.
So I'm really excited for that to be a great resource, Aw, thanks, Libby ... for nutrition and healthcare providers. It's important and also, it's modern, right? So you wanna stay on top of what's going on now, which is different than some, resources published years- so give us one or two quick tips about that book before we go into another tip on private practice, and then I wanna make sure we prioritize what- you think is the most important in terms of what you need for, for private practice to succeed. Yeah. Let's see. so using what we learn from the, 70 graduates of the internship and identifying what were some areas within when they wrote their business plan and they started their private practice, what worked, what doesn't work.
It's really tactical. And then what makes it unique, it's because it's [00:12:00] my story. I share with you when I started Be Complete, and when I started the internship, and what are some... My first legal issue, and, all these different real stories so that you can feel like what I felt, and that will hopefully inspire people when you're starting out.
because, starting a business, it's like a wave. There are gonna be some really high highs, like the highest, the best you've ever felt. And then there are gonna be some low awful parts also. But that's part of being an entrepreneur, and you have to just remember all the good, and then when you're in the bad, you just remember the good, and you keep moving, and that's also included within, the textbook.
I love that. I love you sharing your stories. I can't wait to, to read it and help you promote it, because I know it's important. And I love that you're sharing stories from your, what'd you say, 80 interns? we had at least [00:13:00] 70. I, sometimes I'm like, was it more than 70? Yeah. Okay, so 70.
Yeah, that's an excellent perspective, to learn from, so I'm excited to see those stories and read them, and, talk about them, because that's how we grow together, is learning what are our colleagues up to, and our peers and how are they able to take those highs and lows and push forward anyway.
And that's what I see with dieticians, unfortunately, is if they get stuck- ... it can feel, so frustrating that they pause for a while. And, I can appreciate that, but the important part about entrepreneurship is still continuing forward even when... And it's okay to go slower- I think, the way to survive as an entrepreneur is to be able to pivot. Yeah, I love it. so tell me more about that and I'm gonna just bring in, are there any examples right now that are like besides AI or with AI that you would say- might mean a dietician needs give me more context? Yeah. Let's see. As things are [00:14:00] changing, it's really for your success, just for people's success in general, it's to be able to have an open mind on something...
Maybe you weren't tech-savvy, but now you're starting to learn about some tech applications. Yeah. Okay? Y- and truly- From a m- from a mindset, we can cha- we can change whatever we want in our life. It's our mindset. So it's, giving yourself the permission and the self-belief that you can evolve.
so I think that's really important, not just for private practice, just, but for jobs in general. Yeah. And, one way I've pivoted is by accepting insurance over the last several years. I never thought I would see myself doing that, but multiple streams of revenue and seeing that it can be a successful route, it's something that I've added into the mix of my offerings.
Is there [00:15:00] anything that you can share that you've done to pivot or that you've seen- Yeah ... other people do? Y- yeah. The biggest one was closing the internship. Yeah. So that was- so I had the... So the internship I had for five years and it was amazing, and proudest moment of my life when we got the initial accreditation.
Proudest moment of my life. Because of factors that were out of my control, I decided, with others, to close the internship effective at the end of 2025. But that didn't mean that the idea went away. It just meant that it pivoted and it took on a new form, and that is the Complete Business Method, the textbook, the online learning platform, all the bells and whistles.
so that is the evolution of an idea into a different form. And then I also am working on another part of my business that's going to be, a little different [00:16:00] but still in line with wellness. so I'm really excited about that, too. I think it's about l- look, looking for opportunities and also being open to opportunities.
Think sometimes, we're really good at certain things, like everyone has your gifts and everyone's really good at certain things. And leaning into that because that's when more opportunities are gonna present themselves. So let's break that down for the listeners.
What are one or two ways that the listener could do that today as an action step, that they can lean into their strengths? And, tell me if I'm interpreting this wrong, but dieticians- ... are smart, they're capable- ... they're caring, they're hardworking. So what can dietician A do to distinguish or to, to make sure that they don't give up from dietician B?
Okay, So I guess one way to think about it is think about your day and all the things that you do during your day, and what makes you happy? Yeah. So that's step one. If the answer is, "Nothing makes me happy," [00:17:00] then then you need to make some changes.
But maybe you say I really like doing the, I really like creating patient handouts," or what ... just as an example. "I really like creating patient handout- handouts. I like the creativity. I like using Canva," whatever it is. Okay. So you know you like being creative. Where else could that translate into additional revenue streams?
Oh, I could create handouts that I could sell to other dieticians. I could create maybe marketing materials for fellow healthcare providers in my area who maybe aren't as creative as I am. Like, all the different areas. So that's one, one example.
So right now, the listeners, you can jot down some notes. Think about last week, pick one or two days, and ask yourself what made you happiest or most frustrated with those days. And then reflect on what can you do to lean more into that. Like Beryl said- ... if you like handouts, how can you leverage that?
If you really like working with people, what is it that you could do to expand those [00:18:00] skills? For- ... i'm an extrovert. I love talking and speaking, so I like getting opportunities where I can speak and work with people, more so than ... I'm not a handout person. So those, that would not be my jam.
I would definitely outsource that. But I know myself, so I've done this exercise that Beryl's talking about. Another, a tip I could give, would be a personality test.
So those can help, too. Myers-Briggs is, there are free versions online you can take and just learn a little bit about what your strengths and weaknesses are, if you like that type of thing, and then you can reflect on leaning in towards your strength. And that can really help with your mindset, especially for what we spoke about, which is the highs and lows in business.
When you have those lows- ... if you can lean into your, strengths, then it can help motivate you to move forward. So I do think that's important, because business is a lot about learning about yourself. It is. And a lot you uncover about yourself, a lot of maturity that you might not have otherwise had an opportunity to do because of those lows.
... You have to find a way to make it work, which is fun and exciting and sometimes frustrating. Yeah. And- I would just touch on, [00:19:00] too, like frustration and the challenges as, especially, like as a solopreneur, burnout is common, and that is something that probably will happen. It's something to be aware of, and also strategies for yourself and how to overcome it.
so I do recommend identifying at least a couple things that you can do every single day. So examples could be as small as taking a few moments to meditate and light a candle. It could be taking a 10-minute walk. It could be incorporating regular exercise, workouts, and making sure you're prioritizing yourself.
So lots of, examples that can be both small and big. ... So that, that's helpful. Now, I wanna mention before we take a moment and talk about what we think are the, what each of us think are the, the highest priority of the top tips, I wanna narrow it down to three, although obviously there are so many.
I do think it's important that we [00:20:00] mention, getting new clients and retaining them, because getting clients can be the most expensive cost in the business. Finding a way to acquire or get clients, and then retaining would be making sure that they're happy and you're providing an excellent product or service to get them to continue.
Because if you are not able to do that, then you're gonna be spending a lot of energy and money on constantly getting new clients. so that's important. And then, is there anything else that you wanted to add about getting and retaining clients? Some of the strategies that I've seen to be the most effective are doing things in person versus virtual.
So get out there into your community and network with your local physicians, health systems, other m- mom groups. Whoever your target or targets are, get out there in person. That is s- it's So effective. And it's something that's hard for venture-backed companies. It's harder for them to compete with that.
But this, at this [00:21:00] time in our world, I think it's important to try to see what can you do in your community that's effective. So I'm glad you mentioned that. I do think that, i- introverts that I work with struggle to get out in the community. They put it off. They don't realize how many touchpoints you need to make.
we're doing a service to our community by letting them know that we're here, and we're doing a service to ourselves by promoting our business. So it is a positive thing, and it might be something that you need to work on to set some goals to do it.
And it's not just one time you meet someone. it would be something that has to be, like, a regular exercise in your... So it could be a quarterly goal, a weekly or a monthly goal. Maybe attend one networking event a month, or reach out to two people a week. So something like that in your mix, your weekly mix, is important.
Yeah. I couldn't stress that more. And it also, that's gonna give you a return too. Absolutely. So I think there are so many things that we do, you know, to create awareness, and we don't know if it's really giving us a return. But we [00:22:00] know if we connect with maybe a local physician and we start getting referrals, we know that's a, a good return.
Yeah. And then once we start getting the, the outcome we want, then we can double down on that, right? And then we don't have to focus as broadly. We can say, "Hey, r- this physician office really does give a lot of referrals. How can I leverage that relationship and double down on it?" So I want to take a moment, Beryl.
Now the fun part as we wrap up today. I want to know what you think are the top three in the order of priority. So again, the topic is tips for private practice. we talked about several different things. We didn't cover everything, but just in a casual conversation, what would you say is the number one most important?
The number one most important is leveraging artificial intelligence. Okay. Okay. What would you say is number two? I would say number two is acquiring new clients and retaining existing ones.
Number three, I would [00:23:00] say Compete on your value, not on your price Love that. I would say number three would be artificial intelligence.
Only reason I'm putting it lower, I totally get where it's higher, is because I believe that if you can't get a grasp on what's profitable, you won't even have a chance- ... to artificial intelligence. Got it. Gotcha. So maybe that answer will change in two years and I know you're thinking of the future and you're absolutely right on how important AI is.
I'm just thinking at the end of the day after working with so many dieticians, if dieticians were to focus more on profitability and- ... looking at the numbers, I think that there would be more longevity with business and less of the lows. we didn't mention mindset, although we used it as a theme, but I would say also keeping a positive mindset for those highs and lows is really important too.
We're gonna mention again your book so that everybody listening, it'll be in the show notes, but I wanna make sure everybody knows about this resource and where they can get it.
It's called The Complete Business Method and, I will let you know when it's going to be available for [00:24:00] purchase, and it will be available on Amazon and where books are sold. And once it is available for listeners, I will make sure to promote it in email and on Instagram so that if you are not remembering it top of mind, I'll make sure to help support because I think it's great and I cannot wait to read it and check it out.
Beryl, thank you so much for your time today. It's been a pleasure. Oh, it's always a pleasure. Thanks, Libby.
