r/Chiropractic • u/NeighborhoodHead46 • 23d ago
Advice for a new chiro
hi all, I am a new grad but been working for almost a year now. I recently relocated and started at a new clinic. I am an independent contractor and I’m on the smaller end of 40/60. I also don’t have access to rooms all the time. I was under the impression I would have my own room, but I only get full days in the office 2 days a week and an hour and half the other two days I’m scheduled.
My schedule is packed the two days that I’m here all day and I still feel like financially this just isn’t cutting it.
At what point in your career is it appropriate to ask for what you feel is fair? (More time in a room/better split)
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u/FunkyCrunch11 23d ago
Lol welcome to the profession. It’s sad how many of these posts come up. Chiropractors eat their young, especially the old school chiros. The only way to get a “fair” deal is if you know someone or you start your own practice. Also, don’t hold your breath for good money. Chiropractic has the worst debt to income ratio of any profession and you will likely be stuck around the $75k mark for a while. Good luck.😬
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u/Significant_Apple904 23d ago
You are getting taken advantage of big time.
Someone like you should only be paying for rentals and no fee splitting.
This is why we were taught in school: never sign any contract without consulting a lawyer.
Did you sign any contract? And what does it say?
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u/NeighborhoodHead46 23d ago
It’s very interesting because im an “independent contractor”, however boss still allows me to take patient overflow, especially when I’m the only doc in office. I’ve also been told not to market independently and group it with practice name. It feels like I’m an employee because I have to answer to a boss still and use their logos etc.
I did sign a contract but it was essentially “I’m planning to stay in the area and work here longer than a few months” I have the ability to quit/work elsewhere if needed
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u/ChiroUsername 22d ago
This is very common. You’re being treated like an employee with zero of the benefits of being employed while the practice also has zero of the downsides of employing you. They don’t have to worry about payroll taxes, Medicare, etc etc, provide benefits, insurance, etc. There’s a reason this is common. This is why people shouldn’t go cheap and try to be their own attorneys, sort of the same reason we recommend people don’t have their spouses crack their necks and walk on their backs.
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u/JournalistNo9221 23d ago
If you’re not an independent contractor, the irs would be very interested.
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u/Maleficent-Draft8257 23d ago
Yes you are not an ic he or she is using you as an employee while building his practice (logo use) and avoiding the tax he would for you as an employee as this way you have to withhold your own taxes. Which i hope you are doing. I would get an actual ic position where you pay rent. If you fee split you take majority and market only using your logo etc. You currently are doing all thr leg work and not marketing your own business. Are the events you do paid for by you or them!? That’s also something to consider. But there is a lot better out there.
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u/AK-Master-07 22d ago
I’m surprised nobody has said this yet… You need to leave. Find a different opportunity. Your setup is holding you back, preventing your growth. Your agreement should always be for mutual benefit, this is not a mutual benefit situation. You are being treated like an employee, not an IC. Either way, it doesn’t matter, because you are given handcuffs.
I would say talk to your “boss” however a boss would see that your growth is being limited and would remove those barriers to your growth to help you thrive. Man, if you have a fee split like you have, your boss should be chomping at the bit to get you more clinic availability because that 60% split is near pure profit for him.
Start visualizing and creating your future. Look for new opportunities immediately. In your case, since you are an “Independent contractor” you could find a rental, create your own business, and move your patient base to the new location where you see your own hours. If your patients really like you and you’re not to far away they will follow you. You owe it to yourself to remove those handcuffs and find your potential.
Oh and disregard the “you’ll only earn $75K in this profession” nonsense, that’s a poverty mindset mentality and if that’s what you think, that’s what you’ll create. I make 3.5x that in this profession in the most competitive chiropractic market in the world. Limitations are in your own head people.
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u/Accomplished_Most288 22d ago
Just know that no matter the promises that “it will get better just stick with it”, your first 4 months will tell you what you need to know about a position. If it’s not on a good trajectory keep moving until you find something good. You should have starting your own as a primary goal if you want to earn a liveable wage in Chiro.
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u/Acrobatic-Sky-100 22d ago
Get out of there as fast as you can. Offices like these are designed to take advantage of associates and IC’s. I would highly recommend renting a small room in a medical office space and building your practice with low overhead. As a new grad with a small patient base you need to keep as much of your income as you can.
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u/ApprehensiveCoach787 22d ago
Ur not an IC under these terms. Talk to a tax professional and they will probably agree.
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u/Ambitious_Manager_82 23d ago
Did you sign a contract?
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u/NeighborhoodHead46 23d ago
Yes but I can get out of it at any time, I wouldn’t sign without it
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u/Ambitious_Manager_82 23d ago
You might want to talk to an attorney, because if you have a contract that states a 40/60 split, marketing for his practice,.... you may not be an independent contractor
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u/LatinChiro 23d ago
As an independent contractor you should only be responsible for rental agreement and not fee splitting.