The SLP Entrepreneur: The Speech-Language Pathologist’s Guide to Private Practice and Other Business Ventures

Sonia Sethi Kohli and Adrienne Wallace

Details: 309 pages, B&W, Softcover, 7" x 10"

ISBN13: 978-1-63550-385-2

Publication Date: 9/08/2022

This resource-packed, functional, and inspirational professional guidebook provides SLPs and related professionals, such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, and psychologists, with a go-to manual for their ambitions of entrepreneurship. The SLP Entrepreneur: The Speech-Language Pathologist’s Guide to Private Practice and Other Business Ventures provides a practical blueprint for professionals who are interested in starting their own business or expanding their current business model. Utilizing the co-authors’ extensive clinical, corporate, and mentoring expertise, this text sets readers up for personal and professional success by offering user-friendly and meaningful tools.

Unlike traditional “how-to” manuals, The SLP Entrepreneur takes readers on a journey from their vision of starting a business to making it a reality. This book is filled with functional resources, checklists, and self-guided exercises that will equip new and seasoned SLPs with the tools to be successful entrepreneurs. This must-have handbook inspires the reader to think outside the box and create dynamic new business opportunities that challenge the status quo. As an added bonus, the authors have included interviews and profiles from over 35 SLP entrepreneurs and other related business professionals. This book will guide you through mindset shifts, provide you with tangible steps related to operating or expanding any business, and ease you into the transformation from a clinical professional to an entrepreneur.

Key Features

• Unlike other books on this topic, this book provides a wide variety of business ideas for aspiring SLP entrepreneurs
• Startup advice from SLP entrepreneurs, as well as professionals in marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship
• 25+ printable templates on the PluralPlus online companion website
• Easy to read with actionable steps to start your dream business
• A full chapter devoted to marketing, including how to identify your target audience, design a website, and leverage social media

Reviews

"This resource is a gem for the SLP who is looking to build or grow a private practice. The authors take their reader on a journey from the dream of starting a business to the reality of operating that business. They leave no stone unturned when it comes to the various steps involved in getting a private practice up and running. They present their information in a clear, easy-to-read manner with countless checklists, charts, and graphs that SLPs can actually implement in their practice. Perhaps the greatest strength of this book is the chapter dedicated to providing first hand stories of fellow SLPs who have established successful private practices. This section is incredibly inspiring for the SLP who is starting out on his/her/their private practice journey, and this chapter really helps to set this book apart from other small business texts.  Overall, I felt this book was well balanced in terms of practical, tactical tips, current trends in terms of marketing, branding, and networking, and inspirational tidbits that left me feeling energized, empowered, and most importantly, prepared. Entrepeneurship can be a lonely world. This book helped me feel less like “an island unto himself” and more like part of a network of strong professionals who are business-minded and capable of achieving greatness while serving others."
—Theresa Harp, MA, CCC-SLP,  LSLS Cert. AVT

"This book is well organized and an important resource for any SLP looking to start their own private practice. Each section provides a wealth of information and is very encouraging to the entrepreneur starting out. Both of the authors are highly-respected and share their strong expertise providing clear and detailed instructions to support other SLPs as they transition into the business world. The success stories at the end of the book are a source of inspiration and are a lovely addition to this book."
—Dalit Burgess, MS, CCC-SLP

"So many books like this contain language that is equal to a research article. This is approachable, browsable and quickly applicable to what you want to do now. ...I could read this when tired or after a long work day and be able to understand it without needing caffeine and a dictionary."
—Tara Roehl, MS, CCC-SLP

"This book will prove to be an excellent resource for future SLP entrepreneurs. It is well-thought out and covers a whole gamut of topics that will be helpful for an SLP starting a small business.   It is for seasoned SLPs as well as freshly graduated SLPs.  ...I loved how the authors list a sequence of topics to be discussed, and then they bullet the list with more detailed information.  The reader knows what’s coming and where to find more detailed information about the topics, if using as a resource."
—Alexis Malis, MA, CCC-SLP

"Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. I found it helpful with useful information even though I already have a private practice. Especially the sections on marketing and social media because those are not within our typical SLP scope of practice.. I also really found the alternative business section interesting and enlightening as I am always looking to branch out and expand my practice into other modalities such as coaching webinars/classes, online programs for purchase, etc."
—Chelsea Bell, MA, CCC-SLP

"The chapter overviews are very organized and the text is well constructed with appropriate references at the conclusion of each chapter.  The authors have done an excellent job of integrating the information throughout this manual. They introduce their business model in chapter 2 and touch upon each aspect of it throughout the book. They frequently refer back to this model, specifically the principle of  Mission/Vision/Value Proposition. The authors highlight this idea, explaining in text and infographics, that MVVP guides all other elements of the business plan. In subsequent chapters, they remind the reader of how different elements of their plan tie into this MVVP. Other themes throughout include, but are not limited to, growth mindset, connecting with and cultivating a network, service delivery and marketing. ...It is organized and thorough, providing the reader with a wealth of information, using everyday, easy to follow language. The authors offer extensive unbiased knowledge supported by current research to guide the reader along on this journey. They not only break up the text with a variety of infographics, but they give the reader the opportunity to gain perspective from numerous experts in the field, in their own words."
—Jill Hendricks, MS, CCC-SLP

"The book provides a valuable overview of all aspects of starting a private practice. ...I really like the personal stories at the end."
—Jennifer H. Wilson, MCD, CCC-SLP