The 5 Stages Of Business: SET UP, START, GROW, LEAD, & COAST
There is never “one size fits all” in life or business. That’s why we separate out the stages of business here at Pursuing Private Practice.
Every stage of business is a journey! As a business owner, you’ll go through many ups and downs while moving through the stages of business. Every stage includes new information to be learned, and the chance to reflect on all the emotional highs and lows.
We understand that business is not “just” data and working through tasks in the stages of business. Throughout these stages, we include space to process the emotional side, too.
In today’s blog, we’ll walk you through the 5 stages of business and help you take up space in business.
Looking for step-by-step instructions to start your private practice? Read our blog, How to Start a Private Practice: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide.
SET UP
In the SET UP stage of business, you’re laying the foundation to officially open your practice within 30 days.
This phase is all about taking action and shifting into the mindset of a business owner. It’s a time to make important decisions, like defining your ideal client and creating your first offer, while navigating the legal aspects of your practice.
While this stage is filled with excitement and hope, it’s also normal to experience anxiety and fear.
In the SET UP stage of business, you’ll complete the following curriculum to help you achieve the goal of being open for business within 30 days:
- Shift Your Mindset For Success
- Recognize automatic negative thoughts and challenge them with mindset shifts.
- Reflect on why you want to be a business owner and challenge imposter syndrome.
- Execute Important Legal Decisions
- Learn how to legally set up your business entity and have a plan for paying taxes.
- Decide on a business structure, figure out your hourly rate, start a profit/loss statement & learn to pay yourself.
- Define Your Ideal-ish Client
- Name your ideal-ish client and at least 3 pain point problems that your business solves.
- Map out their transformation working with your business.
- Create An Irresistible Offer
- Set up your first offer and have a process for how a client will onboard when they purchase.
- You’ll decide what services you want to offer, how to package them, and what pricing model is best for you.
In Business School, you’ll receive in-depth bonuses during the SET UP stage such as swipe files to use for your private practice, videos about licensure, templates for tracking insurance claims, and more!
Business School is our business coaching program that includes education, connection, support, and accountability to help you take up space and become the business owner you were meant to be.
Once you ‘graduate’, you’ll be able to accept your first client and move on to the START stage of business.
Pursuing Private Practice Podcast
SET UP: Open Your Business in 30 Days
I dive into what it really takes to get started – from finding the courage to begin, shifting your mindset for success, and the practical steps to open up a business. This episode will help you take those first bold steps toward building a business that works for your life.
START
In the START stage of business, it’s time to actively present your practice and announce that you’re open for business.
This phase is all about experimenting with different marketing strategies, refining your systems, setting boundaries, and discovering your unique counseling style. As you build your skills, you’ll gain confidence in your ability to counsel clients and keep them coming back.
Although this stage is exciting, it can also be frustrating at times, especially when you feel overwhelmed with balancing so many different tasks.
In the START stage of business, you’ll complete the following curriculum to help you achieve the goal of taking on your first 5 private practice clients:
- Present Your Practice
- It’s time to present your practice in at least 5 different ways.
- Brainstorm how you will announce you are open for business! In Business School, we provide over 25 different examples to get you started!
- Network to Build Relationships
- Networking doesn’t need to feel icky. Learn how to authentically introduce your business to form genuine connections. Learn the difference between warm and cold leads.
- Practice your elevator speech to feel confident when sharing about your business.
- Begin the Counseling Relationship: Authentic Selling
- Selling doesn’t need to feel sleazy! Learn how to confidently explain what you do and how you can solve a potential client’s problem.
- Create your selling process, which may include an inquiry call, and know how to authentically work through objections from potential clients.
- Understanding Your Client’s Counseling Journey
- Understand and review your client’s journey to create a system for client retention.
- In Business School, we help you discover the #1 client retention strategy to keep your clients coming back!
Once you graduate, you can move on to growing your business!
Pursuing Private Practice Podcast
START: How to Counsel Your First 5 Clients and Keep Them Coming Back
I’m joined by team member Courtney Vickery, CEO of Declet Designs, to explore the emotions, challenges, and action steps involved in this stage, focusing on the importance of developing strong counseling skills and effective customer service strategies. This episode offers valuable insights and resources to help you keep clients coming back.
GROW
In the GROW stage of business, you’ll focus on expanding your reach, refining your marketing, and improving your systems—all while continuing to serve your clients effectively.
During this stage, you’ll grow your audience to set you up to make the money you want to make with an offer that serves your clients while honoring your boundaries.
You may feel proud of your progress but also feel the pull to transition into full-time entrepreneurship, especially if you’re currently balancing a job. Both the excitement and the challenges you face are part of the journey.
Growing your impact and getting booked will prepare you for the next stage, SCALE. Here is a preview of some Business School resources and the steps you’ll take in the GROW stage of business in order to move to the next stage:
- Make More Money Toolkit
- Learn how to organize your finances to make the money you desire.
- This Business School toolkit will help you reflect on your emotional connection to money, set important financial foundations, understand how to pay yourself as a business owner, and more.
- Streamline Your Systems
- Learn how to use systems to make your business work with you, not against you.
- Reflect on what part of your business needs the most support and execute a strategy with the help of systems.
- Your Marketing Plan Toolkit
- Learn how to grow your audience and understand the different types of marketing strategies in business.
- This Business School toolkit will help you define your ideal client, overcome barriers, refine your approach, and more.
- Transform Your Brand
- Learn how to articulate your brand story and understand your brand position in the market.
- In Business School, you’ll complete a brand assessment to help you stand out to your ideal client and be bold about your mission and beliefs.
This stage is the most variable for people because it means you’re fully booked on your terms.
This might only mean working 5 hours a week. For some people, it might mean growing to full-time. You graduate when you are fully booked on your terms.
Pursuing Private Practice Podcast
GROW: What It Really Takes to Get Fully Booked on Your Terms
Team member Courtney Vickery, CEO of Declet Designs, and I walk you through the ups and downs and practical advice for marketing, finances, and much more. This episode is packed with insights and advice to help you grow sustainably.
LEAD
The LEAD stage is all about stepping into a leadership role by hiring the right team members to help you so you don’t burn out.
It’s not just about constantly growing—it’s about making your business more efficient, finding ways to take a step back when needed, and setting up systems that keep things running smoothly.
Whether you’re preparing to coast or just want to focus on leading your team, this stage is about building a sustainable business that works for you. It’s a chance to refine your leadership skills and make sure your business is set up for long-term success.
- Your CEO Role
- Strengthen your CEO mindset by clarifying your zone of genius, protecting your time and energy, and leading from your strengths.
- Create a visual organizational chart, gain clarity on responsibilities, and set the foundation for confident growth.
- The Hiring Process
- Learn how to move from job description to interview to offer with confidence so you can grow your team intentionally.
- In Business School, you’ll learn how to decide who to hire, create a job description that goes beyond a list of tasks, market your job like a launch, interview candidates with respect and honesty, and confidently extend an offer.
- Onboard Your New Team Member
- From setting clear expectations and supporting growth to handling HR considerations and tough decisions with professionalism, this stage helps you step fully into your role as a confident leader.
- Own Your Leadership and Embrace Change
- You’ll learn how to lead with purpose, handle tough conversations with confidence, and adapt to shifts in your business, your team, and yourself in a way that supports long-term growth and success.
- In Business School, we give you examples of challenging topics that will come up as a leader and how to process through them.
- You’ll develop the systems, boundaries, and communication skills that empower your team, protect your energy, and set the stage for sustainable success.
- Celebrate Your New Team
- Celebrating your team means recognizing that you made it through the hiring process and reached an important milestone.
- You’ll learn how to honor this achievement, appreciate the support around you, and embrace the growth that comes with building a team.
During this stage, you’ll gain confidence in your ability to lead your team and grow your business without losing sight of your self-care, boundaries, or integrity.
You may feel a mix of excitement, fear, and uncertainty as you step into leadership, but those emotions are all part of the growth process.
Pursuing Private Practice Podcast
LEAD: Hire, Manage, and Build Your Private Practice Team
Team member Courtney Vickery, CEO of Declet Designs, and I share insights on how dietitians can step into leadership roles, overcome the fear of hiring, and build a sustainable business. This episode will leave you feeling empowered to build the team you need, so you can lead with confidence, protect your energy, and grow a sustainable practice.
COAST
The COAST stage is all about reconnecting with your “why” and giving yourself the permission to take a breather when you need it.
It might be the most important stage of your business journey because it’s all about recharging, refocusing, and keeping things going at a pace that works for you. Whether you’re working through burnout or just enjoying the space after a period of hard work, slowing down can actually be a big step forward for your business.
We think this is one of the most important stages. When you’re heading toward burnout, when you’ve had a life event, or when you just want to, you DESERVE to coast.
What is Coasting?
The term coasting actually came to me by accident. Someone was asking about burnout and boundaries, and I said, maybe you just need to coast. It means taking a step back so you can prioritize other important parts of your life, rest, and rejuvenate.
Sometimes in business, you need to change your business and focus on self-care. The emphasis on YOU, the business owner isn’t normal in the “typical” business world, it really is unique to our brand here at Pursuing Private Practice.
You can COAST for as long as you want (even forever in business!), but you can also end a season of COASTING and switch back to another stage.
Our Thoughts On Coasting
Burnout is real. It’s difficult to have high energy and motivation for an extended period of time. It’s hard to care for clients and hear their stories all day, especially if a lot of clients are going through hard things. It’s challenging to grow a business, gain visibility, and organize operations. As a business owner, it’s tough to be a visionary when it seems like the market changes too fast for you to keep up.
Most importantly, it’s tough to be a human. You’re not just a business owner. You are a real person with feelings, situations that need your attention, and complexities that are going on in your life. You might be a caretaker for other humans, responsible for the finances of your family, and/or going through health challenges yourself.
All of these situations (and more!) can lead to burnout.
When we experience burnout, we often feel exhausted, demotivated, and unable to perform at our best. It can be tempting to push through and keep working at the same pace, but this only leads to further exhaustion and, ultimately, a decline in productivity. That’s why it’s so important to take a step back and allow yourself to COAST if needed. We talk about this in Business School all the time.
Coasting in business creates mixed emotions. Coasting doesn’t mean slacking off or abandoning your responsibilities altogether. It simply means recognizing your limits and adjusting your workload and expectations accordingly. By allowing yourself to coast, you give yourself the time and space you need to recover from burnout and regain your motivation. This might involve delegating some tasks to others, prioritizing your workload, or even taking some time off from work.
There are so many benefits when you coast in business. By giving yourself the chance to recharge and recover, you’ll be able to return to work with renewed energy and focus. You’ll be more productive, more creative, and better able to handle the challenges that come your way. You will also learn more about yourself as a business owner.
Coasting will focus on the following:
- Enforce Your Boundaries
- Boundaries evolve as your life and business shift and change. Review common types of business boundaries and how to communicate them.
- Reflect on your current boundaries and create an action plan to enforce new boundaries.
- Prioritize Self-Care
- Decide on your definition of non-negotiable self-care in various aspects of your life and business.
- Execute a self-care plan and solutions for any barriers that get in the way.
- Understand Your Personality
- Gain more insight into how to work with your personality, and understand your innate strengths and weaknesses.
- Reflect on what you learn so you can move forward as a business owner to work in your zone of genius, but also receive help in certain areas.
- Celebrate Your Success!
- YOU DID IT! We love celebrating all wins in Business School.
This is a unique stage of business because you never really graduate. 🙂 But you can also desire to continue to grow or scale after a period of coasting.
Pursuing Private Practice Podcast
COAST: A Business Strategy When Life Comes First
I’m joined by team member Courtney Vickery, CEO of Declet Designs, to discuss the importance of coasting as a business owner, how it can be a strategic and intentional phase, and the benefits it brings to personal and professional life. Whether you think you’ll be coasting anytime soon or not, this episode will leave you feeling confident when it’s your time to COAST.
The 5 Stages Of Business: SET UP, START, GROW, LEAD, & COAST
Remember, every stage of business is a journey and you deserve to take up space no matter what stage you’re in.
The 5 stages of business are:
- SET UP
- START
- GROW
- LEAD
- COAST
These stages of business encompass the entire process of being a business owner. This blog is just a brief overview of them. Don’t feel overwhelmed when looking at them all together. Start by identifying which stage of business you’re currently in, and work from there!
Want to work with me to build your private practice?
Business School is a comprehensive 6-month program designed to guide you through every stage of building a private practice: getting set up, seeing your first clients, growing until you’re fully booked, hiring a team, expanding your offers—and even learning how to coast when needed. Inside, you’ll follow a step-by-step curriculum with the flexibility to choose the path that fits your current stage of business and life. You’ll get access to advanced toolkits, templates, and systems for business topics like marketing and finances, but also for counseling skills and client support. Beyond the curriculum, you’re supported by personalized 1:1 coaching, weekly office hours, and monthly themes that address the real challenges of private practice. The program keeps you moving forward with built-in accountability that builds resilience and confidence so you feel like a legit business owner. Learn more and apply!
