Do you want to start a marriage counseling business? If yes, you have landed at the right place. Here in this article, you will find a complete plan guide to start and run a successful marriage counseling agency with costs, licenses, profit margin, and much more.
Changing times have made modern couples go through rough patches and tough times. That is why there has been a rising demand for marriage counseling. Before discussing further, let us focus on the meaning of marriage counseling.
What is Marriage Counseling?
Marriage counseling is the process of psychotherapy practiced on couples to solve their differences or any other issues between them. This therapy session can be for the couple together or any one of them. Furthermore, marriage counseling can take place before marriage. The therapist discusses various things with the couple, listens to their opinion, and tries to find a solution to the problem in their relationship.
Setting up a marriage counseling center is a profitable business idea since it has a great demand. An additional qualification in a Postgraduate degree in Psychology or a Social Worker will definitely be a plus point to be successful in this business.
Marriage counseling is a prospective area of business. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average growth rate for marriage and family therapists in the United States for the period of 2020 to 2030 is 16%. This figure shows the prospects of this profession.
These statistics are encouraging for you to start a marriage counseling business. However, you need to follow certain important steps to start and run your business successfully.
16 Steps to Start Marriage Counseling Business
1. Get Informed
The first step for you is to gather information about marriage counseling, its prospective clients, how you can get them, and what are the different types of marriage counseling, and more. This market research will enable you to make further decisions about your marriage counseling business and start your business on a solid foundation.
2. Decide on the Niche
As a matter of fact, marriage counseling has various areas. Based on your expertise, there is a wide range of counseling niches you can explore. The common areas are coaching on Disability Learning, Spiritual Counseling, Gay/Lesbian marriage counseling, Private Issues Counseling, etc.
3. Choose the Location
Select the area of your marriage counseling business based on demographic and psychographic research output. You must have an idea of the average age group of people in the area, their marital or relationship status, marriage problems, etc to select an area.
Also, get an idea of the presence of competitors in that area. A lesser number of competitors will make your prospect brighter.
4. Write a Business Plan
Writing the business plan for your marriage counseling business is very important. You have to write all the necessary details of your business along with the executive summary. Remember to mention all the points required to start your business in the business plan. This includes points like
- Importance and Prospect of Marriage Counseling
- Are you starting the Business on Personal Capacity or Hiring Therapists?
- Your Credentials
- Funds Required
- Source of Funds
- Heads of Expense
- Per-Hour Rate of Counseling
- Marketing Strategies
- Profit Projection
Be specific and clear about all the aspects of your business and your plans along with how to visualize the growth in 3-5 years.
5. Find an Office
It is essential to find a suitable office for your marriage counseling business. The office must have enough space for a reception, payment counter, waiting area, therapists’ room, and counseling room. Additionally, the location of the office should be convenient and at a prominent place, making it easily noticeable and easy for clients to visit the center for counseling.
6. Creates a Business Name and Register Domain
Now, choose a good name for your marriage counseling business. Don’t go for clichéd names; instead, give an unconventional name. However, the name should be communicative and easy to remember. Book a domain in the name of your business just after you finalize the name. In case you do not get the domain, you have to change the name. Taking the help of an online name generator is a smart option in this regard.
7. Create a Legal Entity
It is important to register your company to run a legally compliant and hassle-free business. Register your marriage counseling business in the form that is most suitable for you.
In the United States, business structures like a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or Corporation are available to choose from. It is strongly advised to consult an expert in this regard.
8. Apply for Taxes
Tax registration is an important step for your marriage counseling business. Get the Federal tax identification number and Employer Identification Number (EIN) since you have to employ other staff for your business.
9. Licenses and Permits
The marriage counseling business needs several licenses like Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Licensed Clinical Psychologist (LCP), etc. Also, get the permits at both the Federal as well as state levels to operate your business seamlessly.
10. Buy Insurance
Consult an insurance expert and get the necessary insurance for your marriage counseling business. To start with, you will need insurance like General Insurance, Workers Compensation, Overhead expense disability insurance, Business owner’s policy group insurance, etc.
11. Open a Business Bank Account
Open a bank account in the name of your business so that financial matters are well organized right from the beginning. Also, apply for a business credit card for ease of financial matters.
12. Hiring People
You have to hire different categories of workers to run a marriage counseling agency. Firstly, you will need general office staff like a receptionist cum appointment co-ordinator, a payment executive, an accountant, and marketing personnel.
Apart from that, you will also need other counselors or therapists for a medium or large-scale counseling center. Try to hire candidates with a good academic background along with marriage counseling experience.
13. Consider Online Marriage Counseling Business Model
The changing needs of fast and high-tech life often require online services. Marriage counseling is also included in this category. Hence, keep arrangements for online counseling in your marriage counseling center. This will expand your client base, thereby increasing your revenue.
14. Arrange Funds
If you are short on budget, it is extremely important to make necessary arrangements to secure the required funds. To start a marriage counseling business you will need approximately $250,000. This includes the start-up expenses as well as assets.
The fund being a big amount, you can lend it personally, apply for bank loans or business loans or try to get business grants from Federal or state sources.
15. Expense Heads
You will have several expense heads in your marriage counseling business. These heads are
- Salaries and Wages
- Rent of Office
- License and Permit Fees
- Insurance Premium
- Electricity and Internet Expenses
- Maintenance
- Taxes
- Marketing Expense
16. Marketing and Publicity Plan
A marketing plan is very important for any business. The marriage counseling business also needs an exhaustive marketing plan that will be effective in increasing the client base and growing the business. The common strategies include
a) Build a Customer Base
Expansion of strategic contacts is very important for this business. You have to grow a network with psychiatric clinics, psychologists, marriage and divorce lawyers, social service organizations, and social workers to get clients.
b) Printed Publicity
Printed publicity in the form of flyers, pamphlets, posters, banners, brochures, newspapers, and magazine ads will circulate the name of your marriage counseling business and attract the attention of prospective clients. Furthermore, do not forget to create a catchy logo for your business.
c) Create a Website
Use your website as the mouthpiece of your marriage counseling business. Mention the services you offer, names of therapists, case histories and if possible, some recommendations from senior psychologists or therapists. Update the website regularly.
d) Explore Digital Media
Digital advertising and publicity are very effective for the marriage counseling business. Use social media handles to publicize your business by creating accounts and pages in the name of your business. Share the contact details and website link of your business on these pages. Paid ads on social media will also help you get more clients.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Cost of Starting a Marriage Counseling Business?
It is without saying, the cost and investment will depend on the size and number of customers you are planning to serve. On average, in the United States, the initial cost of starting a small marriage counseling business will be approximately in the range of $20,000 to $25,000.
How Profitable is the Marriage Counseling Business?
It is obvious that profit will largely depend on the volume of your business. Hence, conducting more sessions will bring you more revenues and hence more profits. The rate of counseling varies between $75 and $125 per hour. For example, if you can do 35-40 sessions per week for 45-50 weeks a year, you can expect to get a profit margin of approximately 20-25% annually.
According to IBISWorld, the market size of psychologists, social workers and marriage counselors in the United States is $21.5bn, and it has witnessed a growth of 5.6% between 2017 and 2022.
The marriage counseling business provides an important social service and also gives a good return. Hence, you can venture into this business idea and get a high income.
Rupak Chakrabarty is a small business coach and founder of 99BusinessIdeas.com, where he and his team share practical guides and startup resources for entrepreneurs worldwide. With over a decade of experience in business consulting, Rupak has advised startups and small businesses across industries, including retail, food services, making money online, and e-commerce. His mission is to simplify entrepreneurship by providing actionable insights that help everyday people turn ideas into profitable ventures.
Contact: rupak@99businessideas.com