The P.t. Entrepreneur Podcast

Danny Matta here, rollin' in the truck with Jerred and Yves, and we got into a killer discussion about PRICING. It all started with a bottle of whiskey called "Chicken Cock" that was priced way higher than anything else. Made me think, why aren't more of us PTs pricing ourselves like that? Your price says a TON about your practice and what people expect. We're heading to our live event where we see so many cash PTs stuck in that 120 − 150 range. Time to break that mold and understand the psychology behind what you charge.

Today, I'm talking about something old-school but crucial: your local relationships. It's easy to get sucked into the digital world, but those face-to-face connections are what make your cash practice truly bulletproof. If Facebook disappeared tomorrow, would your business survive? Let's dig into why these "friends" in your community are your best asset. We see it all the time: practitioners get busy, hit 50-70 visits a month, and then drop the ball on nurturing the very local relationships that got them there. That's a mistake.

I've got my buddy Jeff Vajay on the show. Jeff's the real deal, running Smart Athlete Physio, a killer cash practice, working with pro tennis players on the ATP tour, AND he's the brain behind PT Everywhere, a software built for folks like us. We dive into how he juggles it all, the power of niching down, and the journey of building a software company from a clinician's perspective. Super insightful stuff for any entrepreneur out there. Jeff shares his journey from being a frustrated clinician wanting a better way to connect with patients to developing PT Everywhere. We talk about the importance of systems, especially when you're a parent and entrepreneur, and how niching down into his passion (tennis) has made his practice thrive and his work more enjoyable. He also drops some truth bombs about taking the leap into your own cash practice sooner rather than later.

I'm headed to the clinic, and I want to drop two quick efficiency bombs on you that I've been seeing a lot of new biz owners struggle with. If you're under that $10k/month mark, these are game changers. We're talking energy management and stop trying to wear all the damn hats at once.

I wanted to rap about the state of insurance in our world. Seeing more and more insurance-based practices looking to add cash services, and it's no surprise. Reimbursements are down, deductibles are up. If you're building a cash practice, you're already ahead of the curve. Over the last 10 years, insurance has been paying us LESS. So, practices are either cramming more patients in, burning out staff, or realizing they need a better way. Even big insurance-based practices are looking for ways to add cash services to stabilize their revenue and increase average patient value.

Today, I'm talking about the speed of learning in business and why going it alone is usually the SLOW, painful route. I've got the scars to prove it from my early days with health, relationships, almost tanking the business. You don't have to make the same mistakes. When I started, I ignored advice to get a coach. Thought I could DIY it. Big mistake. It led to burnout, strained relationships, and nearly ruined my business. The turning point? Realizing I needed help and investing in myself.

Ever find yourself scrolling social media, looking at what other PTs are doing and feeling like crap about your own progress? Yeah, we've all been there. Today, I'm diving into a topic that's a personal one for me and a massive roadblock for so many: comparison. It's the ultimate joy-killer and a huge waste of your most precious resource, time. I've been a competitive guy my whole life, always looking at who's "winning." But in business, and in life, that's a recipe for misery. Teddy Roosevelt said, "Comparison is the thief of joy," and he was damn right.

Got a quick hitter for you today, something actionable you can use right now. I'm talking about SPEED. Speed of implementation, speed of testing, speed of getting shit done instead of just dreaming about it. I see so many people get stuck in "perfection paralysis." Don't be that person. After a bunch of calls today with folks looking to level up their biz, one thing is crystal clear: the ones who move fast, test ideas, and aren't afraid to put something out there that's not "perfect" are the ones who win.

I've got a story for you. Met a guy today becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon with 20 YEARS of education and training, working 100+ hour weeks for like $14 an hour. It blew my mind and got me thinking hard about PATIENCE. It's a superpower, and the lack of it can absolutely wreck your career and your business. This ties into something my buddy Brett Bartholomew said about the lack of patience in our field. We want success FAST, but true skill and lasting success take time and commitment to the process. I've struggled with this big time.

Today, I'm diving into a touchy but crucial topic: MONEY. And more specifically, how your own hangups with it might be sabotaging your practice's success. Had a chat with a staff member recently that really highlighted this. This staffer couldn't understand why a patient wouldn't pay $200 to fix their shoulder, saying they couldn't afford it. But this same staffer will drop $300 − $400 on a functional med doc visit. The difference? Perceived value and understanding. We devalue what we know how to fix. Your clients DON'T know how to fix their shoulder, and they value that solution.

Tired of chasing new patients with complicated digital ads that don't convert? I get it. Especially when you're starting out, you need organic, real ways to get people in the door. Forget the high-tech stuff for now; let's talk about three low-tech, high-impact strategies that flat-out work. They take your time and require you to actually talk to humans, but they build a solid foundation. Early on, your focus is getting people in the door. You can have the best sales and retention systems, but without leads, they're useless. And jumping straight to paid ads before you're ready is a recipe for wasted money and frustration.

Had a killer conversation recently with Toko Nguyen from the Institute of Athlete Regeneration, and it got me thinking hard about something crucial: CHASING CLINICAL EXCELLENCE. He dropped a truth bomb: "If you're really that good, you're going to have a wait list." Man, that hit home. Early in my career, I was obsessed with being the best clinician. And you know what? That's what fueled our initial growth, not my non-existent business skills. If people aren't raving about you and sending everyone they know your way, you've got room to grow clinically.

I've got Michael Lau from The Prehab Guys in the house! He's in town teaching a BFR course, and we're chopping it up about taking the road less traveled after PT school. Forget the "wait 10 years" advice; Michael and his partners started The Prehab Guys in their second year of DPT school and haven't missed a single day of posting content since. We're talking consistency, building a platform, and the opportunities that come from blazing your own trail. Michael shares the origin story of The Prehab Guys, the initial pushback (even from their own school!), and how they navigated building an online presence while still students. It's a masterclass in consistency and leveraging your unique skills.

Want to know the number one trait I've seen in successful people, whether they're just starting out or seasoned pros? It's CONFIDENCE. Not arrogance, but that deep-seated belief that you're going to make it happen. The cool part? It's a skill you can build. I was just talking to a new mastermind member, hasn't even passed boards yet, but the confidence in what he wants and how to get there was palpable. That's rare, and it's powerful. It often threatens those who lack it.

Testing out a new mic today, so hopefully, the audio is clean. I want to talk about a "Tale of Two Clinics." I am prepping for a talk at a fellowship program and it got me comparing two fellowship trained PTs. Both started cash practices in similar gym setups, in comparable cities, around the same time. One is hitting about $12k a month after a year. The other is stuck around $1.5k to $2k. Same clinical skills, wildly different outcomes. Let us explore why. It is not just about how good you are clinically. You can be a clinical Ferrari, but if you do not know how to run the business, you are going nowhere fast.

Got a killer question from our PT Entrepreneurs Facebook group about business partnerships. It is a topic I get asked about a lot, and since I am in a couple of partnerships myself, one with my wife Ashley for Athletics Potential, and another with Yves and Jerred for Physical Therapy Biz, I have got some real world insights. Partnerships are like a marriage, sometimes harder to get out of, so let us dive into when they make sense and when they are a recipe for disaster. A listener asked if they should partner with a chiropractor who has a similar job, or if they should both go solo. This is a common scenario.

Just got back from a working retreat with my business partners, Yves and Jerred, where we knocked out our quarterly planning. Jerred led an awesome exercise I want to share. If you are not tracking and planning in your business, you are driving blind. This simple framework can give you clarity and help you make serious progress in the next 90 days, maybe even double your revenue. As a profession, we are often great clinicians but terrible at business. This planning process is a learnable skill, just like dry needling.

Fresh off a family vacation. Vacations are tough for me, I have a hard time disconnecting. But this trip, I had a serious gut check. My godmother, a super successful business owner, recently got hit hard with an autoimmune disease, likely stress induced from decades of building her company. It was a stark reminder: you HAVE to take care of yourself. Genetics loads the gun, life habits pull the trigger. We preach this to patients all the time: sleep, nutrition, stress management, activity. But are we practicing it? When you love what you do, it is easy to work constantly, but that stress still takes a toll.

Fresh off a trip to Chicago. Amazing city in the summer, and the 4th of July fireworks from a rooftop deck were unforgettable. It got me thinking about this whole "passive income" thing that gets thrown around so much, especially with younger PTs and students. Let us be real, the "laptop lifestyle" gurus are selling a dream that is mostly bullshit. I get emails weekly from students asking how to generate passive revenue. Here is the truth: there is no magic bullet. True passive income takes a ton of active work upfront.

This one is for all you new PT grads out there. I remember my graduation day vividly, feeling like I accomplished something huge but also having no freaking idea what was next. That is normal. You have put in the work, and now it is time to figure out what you want your career and life to look like. First off, congratulations. What you have done is special. Take a moment to celebrate that marathon you just finished.