Essential Resources for Starting and Growing Your OT Private Practice

Are you considering starting—or growing—your own occupational therapy private practice? 

There are many opportunities and resources available for occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) who want to explore entrepreneurship in OT, including private practice. 

AOTA’s Entrepreneurship in OT webpage serves as a launching point for people considering various forms of entrepreneurship, such as private practice, community partnerships, and product design.

Tools for Establishing Your OT Private Practice

Learn From Experienced OT Entrepreneurs

We can learn from the stories of OTs and OTAs who have successfully made the journey from practitioner to entrepreneur. For example, the business and life lessons gained by Kristi Langslet, as she began designing and manufacturing sensory products, and OTD students who found entrepreneurial opportunities in community partnerships. In this AOTA article, Esther Bae revisits the way she combined her two passions. She is a makeup artist and the founder of Modified Independent, a consultancy that develops inclusive and accessible self-care products and experiences. 

“Occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) can be successful entrepreneurs because our lens helps us to look at a problem or situation and think of creative solutions that are outside the box. Another person might not consider the solutions that we come up with, because we are looking at the whole person within the context of a scenario a little differently.”

In 2025, Esther presented alongside other OTPs at SXSW, about their experiences as accessible design consultants.

Business Setup Essentials

For those who know they want to set up a private practice, AOTA’s Private Practice Resource Guide explores essential resources such as reimbursement, billing, and other helpful information for setting up your business.

AOTA members can read the Introduction to Billing for Private Occupational Therapy Practice, which describes the steps it takes to set up a successful legal entity that protects you and your partners from risk. 

Starting a private practice requires thoughtful planning and preparation. Key steps include:

• Obtaining a Tax ID

• Getting your National Provider Identification (NPI) number

• Understanding federal and state tax considerations

• Deciding which business structure (LLC, sole proprietorship, etc.) will work for liability and tax purposes. 

This table compares the various types of legal structures available, considering risk levels, potential for growth, and other factors.

Billing Resources for Occupational Therapy Business Owners

Effective coding and billing strategies are crucial for financial success. Luckily, there are many resources available to help make private practice financially viable, including resources to bill for services like: 

• caregiver training,

• cognitive interventions,

• mental health services,

• orthotics, and

• remote therapeutic monitoring.

Practice owners and managers will need to understand the proper use of timed codes and modifiers. You might also need support navigating the differences between billing Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance plans.

Reimbursement Essentials

This AOTA on-demand webinar breaks down the reimbursement and regulatory steps necessary to start a private practice. It covers what it means to be a participating provider in commercial insurance plans and Medicare, as well as the steps it takes to get credentials and contracts. You’ll come away with a comprehensive understanding of the state and federal requirements for private practice.

AOTA members also have access to AOTA’s Medicare Fee Schedule Calculator, designed to help navigate the complexities of Medicare Part B reimbursement, allowing you to determine payment for your services in one convenient location.

AOTA provides a number of tools to help occupational therapy professionals work with many different payers. The Private Practice Resource Guide includes tools for working with Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial insurance carriers, including setting up contracts and navigating roadblocks like denials. Keep in mind that you’ll have to follow specific rules when it comes to offering prompt payment or financial hardship discounts, which need to be documented.

AOTA members can log in to access a printable version of these resources here.

Documentation for Your OT Practice

With any professional practice, understanding the key elements of proper documentation is essential to a smooth and successful practice. Documentation is the record-keeping that tracks clients’ status, the services offered and provided, and the outcomes achieved. It provides justification that the services are medically necessary, which is needed for successful reimbursement.

AOTA offers several resources to help occupational therapy practitioners improve their documentation practices:

1. “Guidelines for Documentation of Occupational Therapy” is an AOTA Official Document that outlines the purpose of documentation and the standard process and requirements.
   
   

2. Maximizing Your Clinical Documentation provides tips on creating evaluations and plans of care, documenting the need for specific interventions, and completing progress notes and discharge summaries.

For additional resources on documentation, visit AOTA’s documentation page.

Expert Perspectives on OT Entrepreneurship

Throughout your journey as an OT entrepreneur, there are numerous ways you can enhance your practice, get the latest advice from experts, and connect with others in the field.

• Join the CommunOT entrepreneurship forum to engage with fellow OT entrepreneurs and share insights.
  
  

• AOTA blogs cover trending topics and provide expert guidance for occupational therapy business owners at every stage of setting up and maintaining a private practice.
  
  

• AOTA Events and Conferences provide a rich environment for networking with other OTPs, discovering the latest research and practice, and exploring specialty topics, such as the AOTA Entrepreneurship Specialty Conference.
  
  

• AOTA’s Entrepreneurship Insights series helps OTPs discover new business skills.
  
  

Build a Thriving OT Private Practice

Building and growing a successful OT practice takes planning, dedication, and the right resources. From setting up your business and mastering billing to streamlining documentation and staying compliant with regulations, each tool in your entrepreneurial tool kit plays a crucial role in supporting your journey.

By leveraging AOTA’s specialized resources for entrepreneurs, you’re not only meeting legal and regulatory requirements; you’re creating a business that thrives and adapts to clients’ evolving needs. 

Whether you’re looking to expand your client base, create a specialized practice to address a community need, optimize your workflow, or navigate regulatory changes, AOTA is here to support you every step of the way.