5 Physical Therapy Entrepreneurship Paths Beyond the Clinic

If you’ve ever wondered whether you picked the wrong career after going to school for 7+ years to earn a degree, let me just say that I’ve been there. Many physical therapists and other clinicians start to feel burned out after just a few years in the clinic setting. You spend years in school, earn your license, and then suddenly realize: I don’t know if I want to do this forever. And it’s often because the clinic life isn’t sustainable.

I’m here to share an exciting truth with you: If this message resonates with you, the good news is your degree is not wasted. In fact, it’s one of your greatest assets. You have specialized knowledge, problem-solving skills, and communication experience that make you incredibly valuable in many spaces outside the clinic. Whether you’re curious about physical therapy entrepreneurship, thinking about digital marketing, or even considering launching your own practice, you have options.

In this post, I’ll share five different ways you can use your PT degree outside of the traditional clinic setting. These are also great options if you’re an OT looking for an alternative career. And stick around for number five, because it’s my favorite.

Education and Mentorship

Teaching comes naturally to most therapists because we’re already educators every day in the clinic. We teach our patients about their bodies and how to appropriately complete exercises we program for them. The skill of teaching transfers directly into careers in education and mentorship.

One avenue you might consider is teaching in a DPT or PTA program, or even guest lecturing in other healthcare graduate programs. These positions let you share your expertise with the next generation of clinicians. To take things a step further, you could look into tutoring students for the NPTE or NBCOT exams. These are the biggest tests of these students’ academic career and many are willing to pay extra for help to feel confident on test day.

On that same front of teaching, if you’re interested in other physical therapist or OT alternative career paths, continuing education could be for you. It’s possible to create CEU courses, either on your own or by partnering with platforms like MedBridge or physicaltherapy.com. Speaking from personal experience, my husband and I developed an acute care CEU course that we sold online, and it was a great way to combine teaching with entrepreneurship.

Lastly, workshops, either in person or online, can also be a powerful option. Hosting a workshop on topics like injury prevention, mobility, or pelvic health can help to position you as an expert in that specific niche while also helping you connect with your community.

Online Health Programs and Content Creation

During my time as an entrepreneur, I’ve seen the massive growth that the online health space has had. PTs and other healthcare providers have an opportunity just as any other expert to share their knowledge and help those in need. Telehealth physical therapy has become mainstream and probably something you’ve considered, but there’s so much more you can do online outside of treating patients via your computer.

One path in the online space is building online programs. I know therapists who run cash based PT programs for runners, weightlifters, or postpartum women. Others create continuity programs for patients after they discharge from physical therapy. These wellness options keep patients progressing after they leave your in-person care, but don’t feel limited because you can also run an entire practice from the other side of your computer.

It’s important to note that this model isn’t limited to PTs. OTs are also creating cash occupational therapy programs online for fine motor skills, pediatrics, or neurological conditions. Programs like these allow OTs to expand their reach and help clients who may never set foot in the clinic.

If you’re curious about what building a telehealth model could look like for you, check out my post on starting a cash based telehealth practice.

Next up is content creation. Starting a YouTube channel, podcast, or blog lets you share your expertise, build authority, connect with your audience, and potentially generate income from the online space. Many healthcare entrepreneurs have built entire careers on content creation by taking this route and landing sponsorships, partnerships, and ad revenue.

Lastly, online workshops and webinars could also be an option. You can host one-off paid events that educate and inspire people around the world. It’s another example of how healthcare providers can step into physical therapy entrepreneurship without being locked into the clinic, while also reaching individuals that would otherwise not have access to care.

Digital Marketing

This might be second on my list of favorites and often comes as a surprise when I suggest it: digital marketing.

When a practice owner decides to go out on their own to treat patients, it’s pretty common that they aren’t interested in marketing. They just want to treat patients, not sit behind a computer screen building websites, posting on social media, writing email campaigns, or creating ads. This is where you could come in. 

Not only do you understand the clinical aspect of patient care, but taking the time to learn basic marketing skills to provide these service types to practice owners makes you highly valuable. Speaking from experience, I’ve built websites, run ads, written blogs, and managed social media for cash based PT and cash occupational therapy practices. Because I know the language and the patient journey, it’s easy for me to create content that resonates with the right audience. 

This is a growing field and a strong option for a physical therapist alternative career.

Digital marketing services you could offer include:

• Running social media accounts for a cash based practice

• Writing email newsletters and blog posts

• Designing websites for private practices

• Managing ad campaigns on Facebook or Google

• Developing content calendars and launch strategies

Want a deeper dive? I wrote a full breakdown of the basics in Digital Marketing 101 for Cash Based Physical Therapy.

The best part of this path? You don’t need to be an expert on day one. Many healthcare entrepreneurs teach themselves digital marketing through free YouTube tutorials or affordable online courses. As you practice and gain experience, you can build a solid service-based business that keeps you inside the therapy industry, but out of the clinic setting.

Medical Writing, Copywriting, and Tech Roles

If you enjoy writing, medical copywriting could be a great fit. Companies need accurate, clear health content, and your background as a clinician gives you a one up on copywriters without healthcare experience. Some things you could write copy for include blog posts, patient education materials, or marketing copy for clinics and wellness brands.

If you want a real-world story of how this can work, read my interview with Krista Frahm: From OT to Copywriter: Redefining Success. It’s a powerful example of how an OT built an alternative career through copywriting.

Another route is tech. Healthcare startups are growing rapidly, especially with the expansion of the online healthcare space. Many companies hire clinicians for product development, customer success, and even sales because of their background in patient care. Companies working in telehealth physical therapy or digital health platforms often look for professionals who can bridge the gap between tech and clinical practice, which is something you could easily provide.

Lastly, sales is another option. From health technology to pharmaceutical products, your background allows you to communicate effectively with providers and patients. Not to mention, these roles often come with flexible schedules and the chance to work remotely, making them attractive if you’re looking into alternative career paths.

Start a Cash Based Practice

To round things off, I’ve saved my favorite non-traditional route for last: starting a cash based PT clinic.

When I worked in the clinic setting, my burnout was through the roof. I had little control over my schedule, the way I treated patients, or even the types of clients I worked with each day. I even tried various settings without finding fulfillment. 

I can happily say that shifting into cash based physical therapy completely changed my career and my life. When you start a cash based practice, you set your own hours, pricing, and treat the way you want to treat. You decide if you want to treat in a gym, a mobile setting, or even your own garage. You’re not tied to insurance, productivity quotas, or rushed 15-minute visits. Instead, you get to create an environment where patients get the time and care they deserve.

Many people ask me how to start a cash based PT clinic or how to start a private practice completely from scratch. It’s absolutely possible. Yes, it requires learning business skills like marketing, sales, and systems, but you don’t need an MBA to figure it out. I built my own practice from the ground up, and now I coach other healthcare entrepreneurs to do the same.

The flexibility and freedom of a cash based practice is truly unmatched. You get to choose your patients, set your boundaries, and build a business that supports your life instead of draining it. 

For me, this was the path that took my burnout from overwhelming to almost nonexistent—and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. If you're looking for help with starting and growing your own practice, check out our DPT to CEO Program here.

Final Thoughts

So, if you’re feeling stuck in the clinic, know this: your degree is not a dead end. It’s a solid foundation. There are countless physical therapist and OT alternative career paths just waiting for you. From education, to online programs, to digital marketing, and medical writing, to starting a cash based practice, the path is truly yours to choose.

The most important step is giving yourself permission to explore. You don’t have to stay in a job that drains you. You can create a career that brings you joy.

If you’re ready to take the leap and learn exactly how to start a cash based PT clinic, I’d love to help. That’s what my DPT to CEO program is all about, helping clinicians just like you create careers and lives they love. What are you waiting for?

Listen to this episode on my podcast!