Your First 90 Days: A Thrive Survival Guide for New Clinic Owners

The First 90 Days: Why They Matter

Opening your own clinic is a bold move. You’re not just treating patients — you’re now managing finances, hiring staff, choosing software, handling licenses, and shaping the culture of a brand-new healthcare business.

The early phase of ownership is full of critical decisions that shape your success for years to come.

That’s why we’ve broken down your first 90 days into practical, focused phases.

Phase 1: Weeks 1–3 — Laying the Foundation

Legal & Regulatory Compliance

• Register your clinic with the appropriate local/state authorities

• Ensure your medical licenses are updated and clinic licenses obtained

• Get professional indemnity insurance

• Draft basic consent forms and patient agreements
  

Tip: Consult a medico-legal advisor to avoid costly oversights.

Financial Setup

• Open a business bank account

• Set up bookkeeping and billing systems

• Finalize your fee structure

• Understand your break-even point and cash flow projections
  

Tip: Hire a medical CA familiar with clinic accounting.

Choose a Location (or Prepare Yours)

If you haven’t finalized a space:

• Look for easy accessibility

• Check for nearby competition

• Ensure compliance with medical infrastructure norms
  

Already have your clinic?

Begin furnishing and designing for both functionality and patient comfort.

Phase 2: Weeks 4–6 — People, Processes & Presence

Hiring Your Core Team

• Receptionist/front desk

• Support staff/nurse/physiotherapist

• Janitor/cleaning staff
  

Tip: Prioritize attitude and empathy over years of experience. You can train skills.

Building Patient Experience Workflows

Define:

• How patients are greeted

• Wait-time expectations

• Appointment booking and follow-up protocols

• How feedback is collected and acted upon
  

Tip: Walk through a mock patient visit yourself. Fix any friction points.

Go Online: Your Digital Presence

• Set up your Google Business Profile

• Launch a simple, clear website with contact info, map, and services

• Create a system to collect Google reviews

• Start a basic social media page (even if you don’t post much)
  

Tip: A “Patient Info” section or digital brochure builds trust early.

Phase 3: Weeks 7–10 — Launch, Learn, and Adjust

Soft Launch or Trial Phase

Start slow — invite:

• Friends, family, or a few trusted patients

• Former patients from a previous hospital/practice

• Referrals from colleagues
  

Tip: Use this phase to stress-test your systems before scaling.

Track Key Metrics

Start monitoring:

• Number of appointments/week

• Conversion from calls to visits

• Common questions or complaints

• Google reviews and ratings
  

Tip: Use this data to refine how you communicate and operate.

Community Outreach

Consider:

• Free talks or webinars

• Tie-ups with nearby gyms, schools, or societies

• Creating helpful printed guides (like Thrive’s Patient Books!)
  

This builds visibility and trust before your ad budget runs out.

Phase 4: Weeks 11–13 — Stabilize and Strategize

Delegate & Automate

Now that you’ve gotten your hands dirty, look at:

• What you can delegate to staff

• What you can automate via software or templates

• What tasks don’t need to be done at all
  

Tip: Efficiency now prevents burnout later.

Start Thinking Growth

Ask yourself:

• What service can I introduce next?

• Can I handle more patients per day without sacrificing quality?

• Should I begin digital marketing?

• Am I collecting enough feedback?
  

This is when your clinic moves from surviving to growing.

Bonus: Quick Checklist for New Clinic Owners

✔ Register all licenses ✔ Open a business bank account ✔ Hire at least 2–3 reliable team members ✔ Create a patient journey workflow ✔ Set up Google Business Profile ✔ Launch a basic website ✔ Track feedback and improve weekly ✔ Build local awareness ✔ Plan weekly reviews with your team ✔ Don’t ignore your own physical and mental health

Final Word

The first 90 days don’t need to be perfect.

But they must be intentional.

Build a practice that reflects your values, supports your vision, and earns trust every step of the way.

You only launch once. Make it count.