Beyond the Big Agencies

Summary In this episode, Grace Kratosky shares her journey from traditional employment to building her own contracting business in the therapy field, highlighting the benefits of flexibility, military spouse considerations, and the importance of community and collaboration. Key Topics Transition from traditional employment to contracting Benefits of contracting for military spouses Building and ma...

In this engaging interview, Jessica shares her journey of building Little Sparks, her intentional approach to contracting in the school space, and the importance of valuing providers. Discover insights on business strategy, mindset shifts, and how to create a flexible, provider-centered contracting business. Key Topics Business strategy for therapy contracting Mindset shifts from employee to busin...

In this episode, Elise Mitchell welcomes Ellie Richter, a virtual speech therapist and contractor, to discuss the realities of virtual contracting with schools, building relationships, and navigating industry challenges. They explore strategies for success, the importance of niche specialization, and future trends in teletherapy. Key Topics: Virtual contracting with schools Building and nurturing...

On this episode of Beyond the Big Agencies, Elise Mitchell and Daj Mitchell discuss the journey of coaching, public speaking for SLPs, leveraging AI, and building a successful online business. They share insights on niching, overcoming challenges, and creating revenue streams through speaking engagements and professional development. Resources: Daj Speaker Accelerator https://co-treatcorner.myflod...

In this episode, I’m joined by Melissa Denning, founder of Renew Allied, a therapist-owned contracting company that has grown from a private practice into a multi-state business working with schools. Melissa shares what it actually looked like to transition out of traditional clinical work and into building a business that supports both therapists and schools—without compromising on pay, ethics, o...

Summary: Elise Mitchell discusses how therapy business owners can build a stable, resilient business by diversifying revenue streams. She introduces the three pillars of stability—consistent cash flow, fast cash, and premium offers—and explains how to implement them effectively in school contracting and private practice. References: 5 Revenue Stream Mini-Course: https://www.thetherapistsupportnetw...

Episode Summary Many school-based providers reach a crossroads at some point in their career: 👉 Do I work through a staffing agency? 👉 Or do I contract directly with schools? In this episode, Elise breaks down the real differences between agency contracting and direct contracting , including pay, autonomy, responsibility, and long-term growth potential. You’ll walk away with clarity on which mod...

Summary In this podcast episode, Elise Mitchell discusses the concept of growth in business, particularly in the context of school contracting. She emphasizes the importance of sustainable and intentional growth over rapid expansion, which can lead to chaos and hidden problems. Elise outlines the dangers of pursuing growth solely based on revenue and FTEs, advocating instead for a strategic approa...

In this episode of Beyond the Big Agencies, Elise Mitchell discusses the significance of conducting mid-year satisfaction surveys for school contractors. She emphasizes the importance of gathering customer feedback early in the year to address issues, gauge renewal likelihood, and identify growth opportunities. The episode outlines the benefits of satisfaction surveys, including catching potential...

In this final episode of the season, Elise Mitchell reflects on the key trends and insights from 2025 in school contracting. She discusses the importance of pricing strategies, the shift towards early renewals as a sign of trust, the challenges of new contracts, and the growing significance of email outreach. Additionally, she highlights the preference for provider-run companies, the widening trus...

In this episode, we break down one of the most overlooked opportunities in school contracting: the January Contract — the mid-year surge in staffing and service needs across public and private schools. Elise shares why this window exists, what school leaders are experiencing behind the scenes, and how contractors can position themselves to step in with confidence. From staffing shortages and budge...

In this episode, Elise Mitchell interviews Ellie Richter, a bilingual speech therapist who has transitioned into the virtual space of speech therapy. They discuss the evolution of teletherapy, the challenges and rewards of direct contracting, and the mindset shifts necessary for business ownership. Ellie shares her experiences with client relationships, pricing strategies, and the importance of fl...

In this engaging podcast episode, Elise Mitchell interviews Hallie Sherman, a speech-language pathologist (SLP) who shares her journey and insights into working with older students in the field of speech therapy. Hallie discusses the benefits of working with this age group, including fewer initial evaluations and the ability to create meaningful connections. They explore the challenges and strateg...

In this episode of Beyond the Big Agencies, Elise Mitchell speaks with Hylan and Nikki, co-founders of the Mentorship Collective, about the critical role of mentorship in the field of speech pathology. They discuss how structured mentorship can significantly improve clinician retention, combat burnout, and enhance job satisfaction. The conversation highlights the importance of adapting mentorship...

In this inspiring episode, Elise sits down with Brittany Musholt of Little Moose Speech Therapy to talk about her leap from agency work to independent contracting—and how that decision snowballed into building multiple income streams. Brittany shares how pay transparency motivated her to explore independent contracts, the mindset shifts she had to make when becoming a business owner, and how she b...

In this episode, Elise Mitchell discusses the critical role of branding for contractors, especially those just starting out. She emphasizes that branding is not just about aesthetics but about establishing trust and legitimacy in the eyes of potential clients, particularly schools. Elise provides actionable steps for beginners to enhance their branding, including creating a professional email, des...

In this episode, Elise Mitchell sits down with Jesse Kleinman, founder of Vibrant Digital Solutions, to explore the evolving role of social media for healthcare and school contractors. They dive into practical strategies for building visibility, engaging your audience, and growing your business online. Jesse shares tips on content creation, batching, using templates, and showing your personality t...

In this episode of Beyond the Big Agencies, Elise Mitchell discusses the critical transition from planning to execution in school-based contracting, focusing on the differences between fall and spring contracts. She emphasizes the importance of adjusting rates, managing timelines, and understanding the unique sales strategies required for fall contracts. Additionally, she highlights the significan...

In this episode, Elise Mitchell discusses the chaotic nature of August for contractors in the education sector. She explains the predictable patterns of the school sales cycle and offers strategies for contractors to prepare for the influx of requests that typically occurs as schools gear up for the new academic year. By understanding the rhythm of school operations and being proactive, contractor...

In this podcast episode, Elise Mitchell interviews Kim, a speech-language pathologist and owner of Speech Dreamers, about the importance of self-care for SLPs. They discuss the challenges of maintaining work-life balance, the birth of Kim's self-care company, and the significance of rituals and routines in promoting mental health. Kim shares her personal journey, mindset shifts, and the challenges...

In this episode of Beyond the Big Agencies, I sit down with Bradi O'Rourke, SLP and owner of Braxy Speech and a successful school contract business based in Illinois. Bradi shares her journey from being a speech-language pathologist to running a thriving therapy company that contracts directly with schools. Whether you're new to school contracting or looking to grow your existing business, Bradi o...

Takeaways: The podcast emphasizes the importance of securing a school contract prior to hiring providers to ensure clarity in expectations and roles. Intentional recruitment is highlighted as a critical factor for maintaining provider retention and ensuring a good fit for the school. Understanding the hourly rate for hiring allows for better financial planning and prevents unnecessary recruitment...

The principal theme of this podcast episode elucidates the paramount significance of defining one's ideal school contract as a foundational step in establishing a successful contracting career. I, Elise Mitchell, assert that clarity in identifying the characteristics of an optimal school contract not only empowers service providers but also mitigates the risks of burnout and dissatisfaction common...

Checklists referenced:  Contractor Checklist: https://thetsn.myflodesk.com/checklist Staffing Checklist: https://thetsn.myflodesk.com/staffing The primary focus of this episode is the debunking of five prevalent myths surrounding school contracting for service providers such as Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), Occupational Therapists (OTs), and Physical Therapists (PTs). We assert that on...

This podcast episode elucidates the essential strategies that practitioners in speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and related fields can employ to effectively navigate the summer months when schools are closed or operating at diminished capacity. We emphasize the importance of financial foresight, advocating for a prudent approach to budgeting that enables service p...