8 Therapy Business Success Stories [2024]

Updated: November 19th, 2023
Start A Therapy Business

Therapists are professionals licensed to help patients cope with mental and emotional challenges. A therapist listens to the client's challenges and works with the client in developing a plan to confront the challenges and achieve an improved life.

If you plan to become a therapist, you should consider what type of therapy you wish to provide. Then, earn the necessary certifications and licenses to practice.

Here are some real life success stories of starting a therapy business:

1. EMDR Consulting ($1.8M/year)

EMDR Consulting training, I included the consultation fees in the overall cost, making it a more comprehensive and valuable offering. Marketing: I utilized online platforms such as websites, social media, and email marketing to promote my training events. I also leveraged my reputation and network within the EMDR community to spread the word about my new training organization. Word-of-mouth: As attendees experienced the effectiveness and quality of my training, they shared their positive experiences with their colleagues, which generated further interest and traction for my events. Through these strategies, I was able to establish credibility, attract attendees, and build momentum for EMDR Consulting's training events.

How much they make: $1.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
Current team size: 8

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I Built A Business Around Mental Health & Grew It To $1.8M/Year

How one founder grew their business, EMDR Consulting, from a one-person operation to one of the largest EMDR training organisations in the US, annually conducting over 150 EMDR basic training courses a year teaching over 1500 mental health professionals how to integrate EMDR into their clinical practice.

About
Roy started EMDR Consulting almost 11 years ago
Revenue
Roy grew the business to $150K/month
Costs
It cost Roy $500 to start the business
Read by 3,979 founders

2. Space To Be You ($144K/year)

Space To Be You, a mental health and holistic therapy center in London, was started by Izabela and Bryan Hunter after discovering a newly renovated premises with 10 rooms that could be used for therapy sessions. Recognizing the demand for mental health and wellbeing services amid the Covid-19 pandemic, they took advantage of government-backed startup loan schemes and their own savings to launch the business. They now have 25 therapists on board and are growing at a rate of 30% month-on-month, with the potential to double their monthly revenue of $8,000 within the next 12-18 months.

How much they make: $144K/year
How much did it cost to start: $35K
Current team size: 0

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We Started A $96K/Year Therapy Room Rental Business During The Pandemic

Space To Be You is a mental health and holistic therapy center that has grown at 30% month-on-month and currently generates $8000 in monthly revenue with 25 counselors and massage therapists providing services, and discusses securing funding and the challenges of starting up a therapy business during the pandemic.

About
Bryan started Space To Be You over 3 years ago
Revenue
Bryan grew the business to $12K/month
Costs
It cost Bryan $35000 to start the business
Read by 3,490 founders

So... can you actually make money with a therapy business?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

Start Now

3. Pathways ($120K/year)

How much they make: $120K/year
Current team size:

Turning Pain into $5k/mo Revenues: Pathways’ success story

Case study highlights how founder turned insight from meeting with therapist into successful $5k/mo business with Pathways pain-therapy app.

Revenue
They grew the business to $10K/month
Read by 519 founders

4. Snuggle with Sam ($136K/year)

Sam Varnerin came up with the idea for Snuggle with Sam after stumbling upon the concept of professional cuddling in a newsletter. Despite initially thinking it wasn't a real job, Sam saw the potential and signed up with an agency. However, after encountering various issues, Sam decided to create their own systems and eventually started their own independent professional cuddling practice.

How much they make: $136K/year
Current team size: 0

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How I Make A Living As A Professional Cuddler

Professional cuddler, Sam Varnerin, developed her successful one-to-one cuddle service, Snuggle with Sam, as a result of recognising the universal human need for connection and touch, which also led to her opening Sam’s Snuggle School, a course for aspiring professional cuddlers.

About
Sam started Snuggle with Sam over 7 years ago
Revenue
Sam grew the business to $11.3K/month
Read by 15,261 founders

So... can you actually make money with a therapy business?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

Start Now

5. Live Fit ($720K/year)

Chris, the founder of Live Fit, started the company in 2011 to address the misses in the personal training industry and create a more comfortable experience for clients. He focused on building trusting relationships, offering a variety of services like strength training, yoga, and massage sessions. Over the years, Live Fit has grown steadily, expanding to two locations and generating over $760,000 in revenue in 2019.

How much they make: $720K/year
How much did it cost to start: $50K
Current team size: 1

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How I Started A $60K/Month Personal Training Company

Live Fit, a personal training company founded in 2011, grew from earning $80,000 in their first year with two trainers to earning over $760,000 in 2019 with 12 trainers and two locations, thanks to a focus on building trusting relationships and providing a variety of services to clients.

About
Chris started Live Fit about 13 years ago
Revenue
Chris grew the business to $60K/month
Costs
It cost Chris $50000 to start the business
Read by 8,000 founders