Bootstrap Your DPC Practice¶
This section is different. Everything else in this kit is comprehensive. This section is minimal. If you want to start seeing patients next month with what you have, start here.
The Bootstrap Philosophy¶
The industry says: Save $50,000. Build out an office. Buy equipment. Set up systems. Then open.
We say: Get a patient. Then another. Figure out the rest as you go.
What Bootstrapping Means¶
- Start with what you have
- Spend money only when you must
- Revenue before investment
- Simple before sophisticated
- Done beats perfect
Bootstrapping is not: - Being cheap - Providing inferior care - A temporary phase before "doing it right"
Bootstrapping is: - Being resourceful - Focusing on what matters (patients) - Building sustainably - Keeping your options open
The Math¶
Traditional launch: - $30,000-50,000 startup costs - 6-12 months preparation - Break-even at 150+ patients - Stress, debt, pressure
Bootstrap launch: - $1,500-5,000 startup costs - 30-60 days to first patient - Break-even at 30-50 patients - Flexibility, learning, iteration
Same destination. Different path.
What You Actually Need¶
Required (non-negotiable)¶
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Medical license | Already have | Or $300-800 if new state |
| DEA registration | $888 | 3-year, can delay if not prescribing controlled |
| NPI number | $0 | Already have or free to get |
| Malpractice insurance | $200-400/mo | DPC rates are lower |
| Business entity | $50-500 | LLC filing, state dependent |
| Bank account | $0 | Business checking |
Absolute minimum to legally practice: ~$1,500-2,500 upfront
Optional (but everyone thinks required)¶
| Item | Industry Says | Bootstrap Says |
|---|---|---|
| Office space | Dedicated lease ($1,500+/mo) | Home, shared space, house calls ($0-300/mo) |
| EMR software | $150-400/mo | Paper charts, Google Docs ($0-6/mo) |
| Scheduling system | $30-100/mo | Paper calendar, Google Calendar ($0) |
| Practice website | $2,000-5,000 | Carrd single page ($19/year) |
| Equipment | $5,000-15,000 | Stethoscope, BP cuff, otoscope ($300-500) |
| Staff | $3,000+/mo | You are the staff ($0) |
| Marketing | $500-2,000/mo | Word of mouth, free posts ($0) |
This Section Contains¶
The Minimum Viable Practice¶
What you actually need. Nothing more. A checklist you can complete this week.
Low-Tech Toolkit¶
Paper calendars, Word templates, phone calls. The $0-50/month tech stack that actually works.
Bootstrap Startup Guide¶
The complete philosophy and tactics. Lessons from startup culture applied to medicine.
Bootstrap FAQ¶
"But don't I need..." - Answers to every objection.
Bootstrapping Resources¶
Books, podcasts, and communities. Learn from founders who built with nothing.
Who This Is For¶
Bootstrap if you: - Have limited savings - Want to test DPC before going all-in - Are starting while still employed - Value flexibility over polish - Learn by doing - Want patients, not infrastructure
Maybe skip this section if you: - Have significant capital ready - Want everything "right" from day one - Are risk-averse about appearing small - Have partners or investors expecting certain standards
The Permission You Didn't Know You Needed¶
You can start a medical practice with: - A paper calendar - A cell phone - Word document templates - A kitchen table - Patients who need you
The rest is optional.
Physicians practiced excellent medicine for a century before EMRs, patient portals, and scheduling software. The software serves the practice. The practice doesn't serve the software.
Start Here¶
- Read: The Minimum Viable Practice - 5 minutes
- Do: Complete the checklist - this week
- Get: Your first patient - this month
Everything else can wait.
[!TIP] The goal isn't to stay minimal forever. It's to start. Growth, systems, and sophistication come naturally when you have patients and revenue. They're impossible when you're still "preparing."
Stop preparing. Start practicing.