Pricing in Practice
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Pricing in Practice: Why Many Podiatrists Charge Too Little
Many practice owners work all day, have a full calendar, yet at the end of the month, they have less left over than they should. Often, the problem isn't a lack of work, but rather a pricing strategy that was never properly calculated.
Why Pricing in Practice is So Difficult
Talking about money is difficult for many people, especially in the healthcare sector. Many podiatrists and foot care specialists want to help, not deter anyone, and not lose any patients.
This is absolutely understandable from a human perspective. But a practice is not just a place of help; it is also a business. And a business must function economically to survive in the long term.
If prices are set too low, it has consequences:
- The practice constantly operates at its limit.
- There are no reserves.
- Further training becomes more difficult to finance.
- Investments in equipment, instruments, or hygiene become a burden.
- One's own working hours are not sufficiently valued.
- Pressure arises to accept more and more appointments.
In the end, not only the practice pays the price, but also the person who works in it every day.
The Most Common Mistake: Setting Prices by Feeling
Many practice owners first look at what other practices charge when setting prices. Or they consider: "What are my patients willing to pay?"
The problem with this is: Other practices have different costs, different premises, different working hours, different utilization, and perhaps a completely different range of services.
A price that works for another practice may not be suitable for your practice.
Your pricing should not be based on comparison, fear, or gut feeling. It should be based on your actual figures.
What Belongs in a Good Price Calculation
An economic price does not just consist of the visible treatment time. Many costs and tasks run in the background and must be taken into account in the calculation.
Pricing in practice includes, among other things:
- your working hours
- preparation and follow-up
- material costs
- instrument reprocessing
- room costs
- insurance
- further training
- equipment and its depreciation
- downtime
- idle times
- administrative effort
- your entrepreneurial salary
- reserves and profit
This is precisely where the common misconception arises: many only calculate the treatment time, but not the entire daily practice operations.
A treatment doesn't just last 30 or 45 minutes. Behind it are many invisible costs and tasks that need to be paid for.
Why Low Prices Are Not Automatically Fair
Many think: "I want to remain fair, so I shouldn't be too expensive."
But fair doesn't mean cheap. Fair means that your patients receive good service and that you, as a practice owner, can make a living from it.
If you work professionally, take responsibility, pursue further training, work hygienically correctly, and run your practice professionally, this should also be reflected in your price.
A price that is too low might seem customer-friendly at first glance. In the long run, however, it can lead to you overworking yourself, your quality suffering, or your practice coming under economic pressure.
Pricing is Also Self-Protection
A clear price calculation provides security. You then not only know what you want to charge, but also why this price is necessary.
This makes conversations with patients much easier. Because if you understand your price yourself, you can also defend it more calmly.
You don't have to justify yourself. You know: This price is calculated, necessary, and ensures that my practice can survive.
Correctly Account for Cancellations and Downtime
One point that is often forgotten is cancellations. Not every working hour is automatically a paid treatment hour.
There are appointment gaps, cancellations, administrative time, illness, vacation, further training, and organizational tasks. If you calculate your prices solely based on your theoretical working hours, the result can quickly be too low.
Important questions for your calculation:
- How many hours do you actually work with patients?
- How many hours are not directly billable?
- What is your actual utilization?
- How much must one treatment hour generate?
These questions are crucial if your practice is to be not only busy but also economically healthy.
Not Every Service Needs to Be Calculated the Same Way
In practice, there are many services that must be valued differently. Not every service has the same effort, the same costs, or the same responsibility.
These include, for example:
- podiatric treatments
- foot care services
- orthonychia treatments
- add-ons
- additional services
- material services
- statutory health insurance services
- private services
Therefore, it makes sense to consider prices in a differentiated way and not to set everything blanketly by feel.
Why Many Practices Fear Price Increases
The fear of price changes is often great. Many ask themselves: "What if patients leave?" or "What if someone says I'm too expensive?"
These thoughts are normal. But the more important question is: What happens if you don't adjust your prices?
If a practice consistently charges too little, a silent economic pressure arises. You often only notice it late, when reserves are lacking, investments are postponed, or you have to work more and more to earn the same amount.
Good pricing doesn't mean arbitrarily getting more expensive. It means calculating consciously and comprehensibly.
The "Pricing in Practice" Course
That's exactly why I created the online course "Pricing in Practice".
The course is aimed at podiatrists, foot care specialists, and practice owners who no longer want to set their prices based on gut feeling.
The goal of the course is for you to be able to calculate your own price for your practice – suitable for your costs, your working hours, your utilization, and your daily practice routine.
The course covers, among other things:
- realistically calculating working hours
- considering downtime
- fully recording costs
- calculating the minimum price per treatment
- planning for profit and entrepreneurial salary
- sensibly valuing add-ons and additional services
- calculating orthonychia and special services
- better classifying statutory health insurance services and private services
- more confidently representing prices
You will not receive general theory, but a practical basis for your own practice.
Who is the course suitable for?
The course is particularly suitable for you if you:
- run a podiatric practice
- are self-employed as a foot care specialist
- have previously set your prices more by feeling
- are unsure whether your prices are economically sustainable
- want to know what a treatment truly needs to cost
- want to represent your prices more clearly and confidently
- want to work more calmly and economically stable in the long term
Especially if your calendar is full, but your bank account doesn't feel like it should, a closer look at your pricing is worthwhile.
Stop calculating your prices by gut feeling
In the online course "Pricing in Practice," you will learn how to calculate your prices transparently, economically, and appropriately for your practice.
To the "Pricing in Practice" courseConclusion: Your Work Needs a Price That Sustains It
Pricing is not an unpleasant side topic. It is an important part of your practice management.
Your prices co-determine whether your practice remains stable in the long term, whether you can invest, whether you can build reserves, and whether you can continue your work with joy.
You are not too expensive if you calculate economically. You are professional.
If you finally want to calculate your prices clearly, the online course "Pricing in Practice" is made for exactly that.
Frequently Asked Questions About the "Pricing in Practice" Course
Who is the "Pricing in Practice" course suitable for?
The course is suitable for podiatrists, foot care specialists, and practice owners who want to calculate their prices more clearly, securely, and economically. It is particularly helpful if you have previously set your prices more by gut feeling or by comparing with other practices.
Do I need business administration knowledge?
No. The course is structured so that you can understand which costs are important and how to calculate your prices step by step, even without prior business administration knowledge.
Will the course help me even if I already have a well-established practice?
Yes. Especially for busy practices, a close look at pricing is worthwhile. A full calendar does not automatically mean that the practice is economically healthy.
Does the course only cover podiatric treatments?
No. The course helps you better classify various services in your practice. These include, for example, treatment times, additional services, material costs, special services, and the difference between statutory and private health insurance services.
Can I calculate my own prices with the course?
Yes. The goal of the course is for you to better understand your own practice figures and derive prices that suit your practice, your costs, and your working hours.
What if I'm afraid to raise my prices?
This fear is very normal. The course is designed to help you view your prices not out of insecurity, but from a clear calculation. If you know why a price is necessary, you can also represent it more confidently.
Is the course also suitable for founders?
Yes. If you are just starting out or realigning your practice, the course can help you start with realistic prices from the beginning and avoid typical calculation errors.
Why should I even calculate my prices?
Because your prices determine whether your practice can operate economically in the long term. A good calculation considers not only treatment time, but also costs, cancellations, administrative overhead, further training, reserves, and your entrepreneurial salary.
Start Your Clear Pricing Now
Learn to calculate your practice prices comprehensibly and represent them more confidently.
View course nowNote: The course does not replace individual tax or legal advice but helps you with the practical and economic orientation of your practice prices. You have lifetime access after purchase.
