How Much Does It Cost to Start a Private Medical Practice in 2026?
Starting your own medical practice is one of the most exciting —
and expensive — decisions of your career. If you’re a doctor or
nurse practitioner thinking about going independent, you’ve
probably asked yourself the same question hundreds of others
have asked us:
**”How much is this really going to cost?”**
I’m Dr. Michael Klein, and I’ve been on both sides of this
question. I started my own practice years ago, and I now help
hundreds of Doctors,NPs and others across the country open theirs
through Premier Used Medical.
Here’s the honest answer — broken down step by step.
## The Short Answer
Starting a small private medical practice typically costs
between **$70,000 and $250,000**, depending on:
- The type of practice (primary care, specialty, med spa)
- Whether you lease or build out the space
- How much you spend on equipment
- Staffing decisions
- Your location
Most solo doctors and NPs come in around **$100,000–$150,000**
in total startup costs.
Now let’s break that down.
## The 7 Major Cost Categories
### 1. Office Space and Buildout — $20,000 to $80,000
This is usually your biggest variable. A simple office lease
in a medical building can run $2,000–$5,000 per month, but
your buildout is where the costs add up:
- Renovations and tenant improvements
- Plumbing for exam rooms (if needed)
- ADA compliance work
- Signage
- Furniture for the waiting room
**Tip:** Look for spaces previously used by medical practices.
The buildout is mostly already done.
### 2. Medical Equipment — $20,000 to $80,000
[IMAGE: Equipment photo — exam table or stack of equipment]
[ALT TEXT: “Refurbished medical equipment for new private
practice”]
This is where I see new doctors overspend the most. When I
opened my first practice, I spent **over $100,000** on
equipment alone. It was an expensive lesson.
Here’s what most small practices actually need:
- 2-3 [exam tables]
($1,500-$5,000 each new, half that refurbished)
($1,500-$3,500 each)
- Autoclave/sterilizer ($2,000-$8,000)
- EKG machine ($1,500-$5,000)
- Otoscope/ophthalmoscope wall sets ($800-$2,500)
- Exam stools, scales, lights
- Office furniture and computers
**The huge tip nobody tells you:** Buying refurbished medical
equipment instead of new can cut this category in half. We
regularly help new practices outfit a full office for around
$15,000-$25,000 by going refurbished.
### 3. Software and Technology — $5,000 to $15,000
- Electronic Health Records (EHR) system: $300-$700/month
- Practice management software: $200-$500/month
- Computers and tablets
- Phone system
- WiFi and cabling
- Patient portal (often included with EHR)
### 4. Staffing and Payroll — $15,000 to $40,000 (first 90 days)
You’ll need to pay people BEFORE patient revenue starts coming
in regularly. Plan for at least 3 months of salary reserves.
Common starter staff:
- Front desk / receptionist
- Medical assistant
- Biller (or outsource billing)
### 5. Licensing, Credentialing, and Insurance — $5,000 to $15,000
- Business licenses
- Malpractice insurance ($3,000-$15,000/year)
- DEA registration
- Insurance credentialing fees (the worst part of startup)
- Business insurance
- LLC/PLLC formation
### 6. Marketing and Branding — $3,000 to $10,000
- Logo and branding
- Website
- Google Business Profile setup
- Initial advertising budget
- Practice signage
### 7. Working Capital Reserves — $20,000 to $50,000
This is the cushion most new practice owners forget about.
Insurance reimbursements often take **60-90 days** after you
see a patient. You need cash to pay rent, payroll, and bills
during that gap.
## How to Cut $30,000-$50,000 Off Your Startup Costs
[IMAGE: Photo of Dr. Mike or Tyler with equipment]
[ALT TEXT: “Dr. Mike Klein helps new doctors save on medical
practice startup costs”]
After helping hundreds of practices open across the country,
here are the smartest savings I’ve seen new doctors make:
### 💡 Buy refurbished equipment, not new
This is the single biggest savings opportunity. A brand-new
Midmark exam table can run from $2.500+. A professionally refurbished
one — same brand, same warranty, often indistinguishable —
runs about half. Apply that across 10-15 pieces of equipment
and you’ve saved $25,000-$40,000.
### 💡 Use the ADA tax credit (Section 44)
Most new doctors don’t know about this. The IRS Section 44
tax credit lets eligible small medical practices claim up to
**$5,000 per year** for ADA-compliant equipment purchases —
including many medical exam tables. You can also use Section
179 to deduct equipment in the year you buy it.
Talk to your CPA before you buy anything.
### 💡 Lease an existing medical office space
Buildouts can blow your budget. A space that already has
plumbing, exam rooms, and ADA compliance saves you tens of
thousands.
### 💡 Use a startup checklist
We put together a free [Medical Startup Equipment Checklist]
that walks you through every piece of equipment most practices
need. We’ve handed it out to hundreds of doctors.
## A Real Example — Dr. Amanda’s OB-GYN Practice in Florida
Dr. Amanda is one of our recent clients in Florida. She opened
a solo OB-GYN practice and used Premier Used Medical for her
equipment package.
Her result?
> “This equipment and pricing has helped me immensely in
> starting my solo practice. Only two weeks open and already
> 60 patients on the schedule.”
She saved approximately **$22,000** on her equipment package
versus buying new — money she put toward marketing and working
capital instead.
Read more from doctors like her on our
## Bottom Line
Starting a private medical practice in 2026 is doable for
under $150,000 if you’re smart about three things:
- **Equipment** — go refurbished
- **Space** — find pre-built medical office
- **Reserves** — keep 3 months of operating cash
The doctors who succeed financially in their first year aren’t
the ones who buy the fanciest equipment. They’re the ones who
keep startup costs lean and put the savings toward marketing
and patient experience.
## Need Help With the Equipment Side?
If you want a free quote on outfitting your practice, give my
son Tyler a call. He’ll walk you through what equipment you
actually need (and what you don’t), send photos and videos
of your specific items before they ship, and arrange free
nationwide shipping.
📞 **Tyler — (678) 471-0255**
📧 **PremierUsedMedical@Gmail.com**
You can also browse our current inventory at
[premierusedmedical.com](/) or read more about