What should I check before buying a pediatric therapy practice?

A pediatric speech, occupational therapy or counselling practice runs differently from one that treats adults. The client is a child, the decision-maker is a parent, and a school or agency may be involved. General checks still apply, and you will want to read them alongside what to check before buying a business. These are the additions that matter most when the clients are children.

Who pays, and whether contracts transfer

Ask what share of sessions is paid by parents directly, by insurers, or through agency or school contracts. Contracts with agencies and schools often depend on the particular clinicians or the organization named, and they may not pass to a buyer automatically. Ask to read them and ask the other party whether it will continue. Your lawyer can tell you whether and how each agreement can be assigned.

Waitlists and the school year

A long waitlist can show real demand, or it can be a list of families who found care elsewhere. Ask how it is kept and when it was last checked. Pediatric work also follows the school calendar: summer, holidays and exam periods can change bookings. Ask for session counts month by month so you can see the pattern and plan your cash flow around it.

Clinicians, records and equipment

Families often follow a particular therapist, so find out who they are and whether they intend to stay. Ask your lawyer how children’s records and consent are handled in a transfer. Finally, ask what assessment tools, toys and equipment are included, whether they are in good condition and whether any are owned by a clinician rather than the practice.