I have been receiving numerous messages from folks interested in the weight loss course and about opening a weight loss clinic in general. For that reason, I decided to put together a Frequently Asked Questions to help assist you in determining if providing weight loss services in your practice or opening a weight loss clinic is right for you.

Do I have to have any special certification or specific experience to open a weight loss clinic or provide weight loss services?

Not really. Any nurse practitioner who has an interest in helping patients lose weight can learn how to build a sustainable weight loss program for their practice and their patients. The initial learning curve is high, but once it clicks (which should only take 6-12 hours of diligent study), it is very simple to integrate into your practice. Additionally, there are no certifications, or anything required to provide weight loss services.

How expensive is it to open a weight loss clinic?

Very cheap! Even cheaper if you do it via telemedicine. The only real equipment you need here is an ECG machine (only if you are prescribing phentermine and stimulants), a vitals sign machine, scales, a body fat analyzer (not a requirement), and a prescription pad basically! Of course, you will need basic office supplies and furniture if you are opening a brick and mortar practice, but this can be skipped if you go telemedicine.

You can get a weight loss clinic up and running with an initial investment of $5,000-$7,500. It is very reasonable and makes for a GREAT return on investment.

How much money can I expect to make providing weight loss services?

It depends on your geographical location and how you price your services. On average though, you can expect to earn between $80-$150 off each patient monthly. Therefore, if you have 100 patients (which should take 6-12 months max), you will be earning $10,000-$15,000 a month. Not bad! You will make your initial investment back in a matter of a few months.

If you live in a higher income and more populous area, you will likely make A LOT more. Another factor you need to consider is your competition as well. So, its important you do your market research before opening!

Do I need to have a physician collaborator?

This depends on your state regulations. If you live in a state that restricts nurse practitioner practice, then yes, you will need to have a physician collaborator/supervisor to do this. On the other hand, if you live in a full practice authority state that allows nurse practitioners to function independently, then you do not need a physician to start this.

Could I start a stand-alone weight loss clinic?

Absolutely. Freestanding weight loss clinics make for a GREAT part-time niche side hustle. I knew an emergency room doctor who owned 2 weight loss clinics in a city I used to live in. He would work an afternoon at each one every week and he was making upwards of $30,000+ extra a month. It was insane…

I already own a practice; can I just add this as a service to it?

Absolutely. If you own or work in a Med Spa, Wellness Clinic, Primary Care Practice, or any other type of practice that offers general medical services, then you could implement a weight loss service line to it to increase your revenue. This is what I did with my men’s health practice. I created an entire weight loss service line within it to treat my male patients and it has increased my monthly revenue. I am considering marketing it as a totally separate service line to bring in another type of clientele.

Remember, getting the patient in the door is the hardest part, but once they are there, you can increase your sales by having a few service lines on the “menu”, so to speak.

Is having a DEA number necessary?

Yes and no, it totally depends on what medications you are prescribing. If you are prescribing phentermine, Vyvanse, and Evekeo, then yes, you need a DEA. Luckily though, there are a multitude of other medications that are effective that you could use that are not controlled substances.

Are weight loss medications FDA approved?

Many of them are, but many of them are prescribed as “off label.” Some of the FDA approved options can be expensive though. Therefore, it is important to understand the variety of medications you can prescribe. I often am asked “Will I get in trouble for prescribing ‘off label’ medications?” As long as you are prescribing them safely, then no… tens of thousands of providers prescribe “off label” treatments daily. As always, check with your state’s regulatory boards if you have any further questions.

Does medical insurance pay for this?

Yes and no. You can always bill the insurance standard Evaluation and Management codes to be reimbursed for the visits. Insurance often times won’t cover the medications for weight loss though, as they can get expensive. For this reason, you can increase your bottom line by selling the patients these medications from a compounding pharmacy!

Cash only weight loss practices work very well also! You DON’T need to accept insurance if you want to provide weight loss therapies. I always recommend opening a cash only medical practice as it makes life MUCH easier than an insurance practice, but ultimately, this is up to you.

Will the Definitive Medical Weight Loss Course teach me how to start a practice from scratch?

Yes, the course covers everything from the practice startup, what supplies you need, where to order the medications, how to design diet and exercise programs, how to utilize a multitude of various medications, how to market the practice, and everything you need to know on how to start a business!

Will this course teach me what medications I can use with my patients for weight loss?

Yes, we cover more than just phentermine. Most weight loss clinics just prescribe phentermine, which is a sad truth because there are SO many other options that are just as effective, and honestly, safer. We cover 21 various medications including phentermine, metformin, sermorelin, ipamorelin, acarbose, HCG, bupropion/naltrexone, and many more!

Will this course teach me the other aspects of medical weight loss such as diet and exercise?

You better believe it. Medications only aid with weight loss, but the magic truly occurs with a sustainable diet and exercise program. Additionally, you need to be able to coach the patients and understand the myths behind various diets and weight loss in general. We cover all of this!

Will this course go over how to market a Weight Loss Practice?

Absolutely! Remember, MARKETING IS THE NUMBER ONE FUNCTION OF YOUR BUSINESS. You have to get the word out about your practice, if you do not, no one will know you exist! We cover, in detail, a tried and effective marketing campaign that you can use for a medical weight loss practice.

Will I have unlimited access to this course?

Yes, all The Elite Nurse Practitioner Courses are accessible at any time indefinitely!

Will this offer CME?

Unfortunately, it will not provide official “CME credit.” I do not think it is fair that our credentialing agencies charge upwards of $10,000 to certify medical education. If I was to do this, I would have to pass along the costs to my readers. My goal is to provide affordable products, not overpriced courses that are $1,000 or more in price.

You will receive a certificate at the end of the course though to submit for reimbursement! This is a totally 100% tax deductible expense!

Remember, The Definitive Medical Weight Loss Clinic Course will be on sale for just $499 until November 2^nd. After that, the price will go up to $599 indefinitely. This is the most comprehensive course The Elite Nurse Practitioner has launched to date. There is even a 34-page Treatment Protocol Manual that comes with it!

This course includes EVERYTHING you need to get started!

If your goal is to open a part-time, high profit practice, then you should seriously consider opening a Weight Loss Clinic! The demand will only increase as our population unfortunately becomes more and more overweight. Obesity is a true pandemic that is not only sweeping our country, but the world!