3 Signs it's Time to Ask for a Higher Split

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One of the easiest ways to increase your revenue as an independent contractor is to negotiate a higher split for yourself. We encourage our clients to sign their contracts with end dates in mind (a couple years at most) so the opportunity to re-negotiate comes up organically as you grow and progress in your career. To help you out in determining when the time is right for you to re-negotiate, we've compiled a list of the top signs to look out for. 

#1  You're the busiest practitioner 

A practitioner with a full roster of patients is an indispensible asset to the clinic. A full patient load signals that you’re doing all the right things, and popular with patients. If you have an inkling this may be the case for you, ask to see the clinics metrics for the past several months, and compare your quantitative stats with your colleagues. Numbers don’t lie! If you look around the clinic and you’re the one with the most bookings (and have confirmed this quantitatively), it’s time to ask for a higher split.

#2  You fill a unique niche

We coach our clients to get a reputation amongst colleagues as an “expert” in their niche of choice. This is for two reasons: 

  1. You become irreplaceable. By getting a reputation as an “expert” in a particular niche – preferably a unique niche at that clinic – colleagues will begin to count on you.

  2. You’ll benefit from more referrals. Once you have a reputation for a specific target market, condition or modality, you’ll be top-of-mind for other healthcare providers when it comes to referring you (rather than any other similar practitioner at the clinic).

Following this method, you’ll start to notice the role you play is integral to your patients' well being and the operation of the clinic. This signals it’s time to ask for a higher split.

# 3  You’re recruiting most (or all) of your new patients yourself

The beauty of a split agreement is the investment the clinic takes in your success. When you succeed, they succeed, because they’re not getting paid unless you are. This is a great way for you to grow together and for you as the practitioner to be sure they’ll do their best to promote your services. The most successful partnerships are a two way street – with both sides contributing to the recruitment process. If you begin to notice most (or all) of your new patients are coming from your recruiting efforts alone, it’s time to ask for a higher split.