Episode #147

20/20 Money Episode #147 – Rewind: Adding an associate: Understanding marginal chair cost to leverage your practice

August 30, 2021

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today’s show is Dr Matt Mitchell and this is actually an episode rewind, going back to episode #43 of 20/20 Money which aired almost 2 years ago to the day!

I’ve been having a lot of conversations with both new and existing clients about how and when to break through to the next level and add an associate to help grow revenues and, ultimately, net income to the practice owner. There are a couple of different ways to determine when to take that next step, and this conversation with Matt really got into the weeds about how he thinks about capacity constraints in his office. Here’s my recommendation for this episode if the words “marginal chair cost” sound foreign: have a cleaned up/accurate profit/loss of your practice handy for the first 20 minutes or so of the episode and take good notes about how Matt calculates his marginal chair cost. If you want a sample P/L that we recommend ODs, click on the link in the show notes to download a sample chart of accounts that we’ve put together for your P/L. Once you’re through the first 20 minutes or so, then you can go for your run, or go to the gym, mow your lawn, or whatever else it is that you do when you listen to 20/20 Money on a weekly basis.

As a reminder, you can get all the information discussed in today’s conversation by visiting our website at integratedpwm.com and clicking on the Learning Center. While there, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and you can also set up a 20-30min Triage conversation to learn a little bit more about how we help ODs around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions or check out any number of additional free resources like our eBooks, blog posts, and on-demand webinars.

Start Planning Today

Don’t miss out on exclusive access to financial tips, strategies, and expert-led webinars. Subscribe to the “Planning Life, On Purpose” newsletter today and stay ahead of the planning curve!

If you’re interested in having your question and your voice featured on the 20/20 Money podcast, you can submit it here. You can either include your name or submit anonymously. Please keep your questions short and to the point. Sometimes writing it down beforehand can help.

And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my previous conversation with Dr. Matt Mitchell, OD.

Episode Transcript

Enjoy our content? Subscribe for regular updates!

Related Podcasts

  • Practice Management
PREVIEW: The Optometry Success Podcast – Reducing business risk when adding associate ODs in an established practice

Adding associate ODs in an established practice feels risky. Let’s go from risky to empowering! In this episode, we explore…

  • Buy or Sell a Practice, Practice Management
Why value creation matters more than timing your exit: a conversation with Tom Turmell

If you wait until you’re ready to sell to start planning, you’re already late. My guest on today’s show is…

  • Practice Management
How one owner left his practice for 30 days—and why more owners should consider it

If you’ve ever felt chained to your practice and the thought of stepping away for an extended period of time…

  • Practice Management
Flippin’ the script: What I’ve learned about ODs & the profession of optometry producing 300+ episodes of 20/20 Money

In this derivative of a show takeover, Dr. Brianna Rhue interviews me to explore my journey in podcasting and the…

  • Practice Management
Improving your practice by tracking the right KPIs (and ignoring the wrong ones) with Nathan Hayes

Most practice owners know they should be tracking specific measurables in their practice that will help them understand their paths…

  • Practice Management
A blueprint to successfully recruit ODs to join small town practices with Dr. Andy Yaryan, OD

Arguably the biggest ongoing challenge practice owners face can be lumped into staff—both OD and non-OD alike. This challenge can…