What profit margins can you expect as a GP practice owner? | Insights | Prosperity Advisers (2024)

Health Care

31st May, 2021

(First published in Australian DoctorMagazine - May 2021)
After a year turned upside down by the impact of COVID-19, the latest GP practicebenchmark paperby Prosperity Health has revealed some interesting insights.

Now in its sixth year, the study is based on interviews with 46 practices in regional and metro areas, covering issues such as practice growth and performance, staffing, and operating costs.

The headline findings are as follows:

  • The number of non-owners reporting no interest in becoming a practice owner increased from 53% in 2017 to 61% in 2020.
  • Most GPs thought up to 25% of their postpandemic consults could be via telehealth.
  • Seven in 10 GPs reported that their income or revenue in April/May 2020 — the key point for the social lockdowns in Australia — was lower than it had been in the same period the year before. For one in four GPs, their income was much lower.

The details are also interesting. Our numbers for 2020 show that the average billings per full-time GP were around $389,000, with the top 20% billing $588,000 per year. This was down from an average of $411,650 the previous year.

A likely factor behind this fall was the transition to a greater number of telehealth consults, which initially at least, had to be bulk-billed. But obviously practices were also dealing with reduced patient demand.

Anecdotally, we found an improvement in performance in terms of patient billings for those practices that were able to adapt quickly and functioned as COVID-19 respiratory clinics, offering testing and consults.

Although the vaccine rollout has been complex and in some senses a struggle given issues with vaccine supply and vaccine hesitancy, we do expect that there will be a similar increase in billing performance for many of the practices now offering vaccination simply as a result of increased appointments.

It’s worth noting that the government is also considering revamping the item descriptors for vaccine consults to deal with the complexity of vaccine-hesitant patients.

We still await details of what that means, but the rumours suggest that it could be additional items based on level B rather than just level A consults.

Harnessing your greatest expense

As expected, our study shows that the wages paid to staff remain the largest expense of the practice.

In a perfect world, the fact that nurses are more involved in patient care should free up doctors’ time to focus on work that has a higher dollar value.

However, this is not a perfect world and practices need to monitor the service fees charged to fund nurse care to make sure the numbers are financially viable.

We have seen year-on-year increases in the percentage of billings paid to nursing and administration staff, with the average now up to 21%.

But when you look at the top 20% of practices in terms of billings, they are (on average) only paying 14% of billings to nurses and administration staff as wages and salaries.

Again, we think this is result of their doctors’ time being freed up to focus on higher-billing work with the costs of nurse time being adequately covered by appropriate service fees.

When the balance is right, the greater revenue allows these practices to invest more heavily in technology to increase billings without increasing the number of staff needed to deliver the same level of service. It can function as a virtuous circle.

Why corporates can be tempting

So what about the pointy numbers of the GP business last year?

Gross profit margin for the surveyed practices averaged 35.9%, according to the Prosperity Health survey.

In absolute dollar terms, gross profit per GP (taking into account owners, contractors and contributing GPs) averaged around $166,000, with higher-performing practices averaging more than $250,000 per GP.

This measure shows how much extra gross profit should be expected to be added to the practice (after the GP takes their fee cut) for every additional GP working in the practice. And it probably explains why the corporates remain hungry for GPs.

The average net profit rate across the industry was 11.30% of patient billings.

In our survey, this figure represents the profit available to owner GPs after all operating costs and after allowing for an arm’s-length split of their direct patient fees — calculated at 60-65% of gross fees, depending on the region.

Among the top 20% of practices, net profits averaged 25%.

Given the risk involved in running a practice and the extra time typically invested by owner doctors, is this return on investments enough? Or is it easier to simply hand a percentage of your billings to someone else?

The answers are not easy, but for many doctors, this remains a fundamental question for the future of the specialty and the extent to which GPs themselves have control over the business of delivering high-quality care.

If you have any questions regarding the above, contact Director of Business Services and Taxation,Brendan Campbell atbcampbell@prosperity.com.au. Alternatively contact your Principal Adviser.

What profit margins can you expect as a GP practice owner? | Insights | Prosperity Advisers (2024)

FAQs

What profit margins can you expect as a GP practice owner? | Insights | Prosperity Advisers? ›

Gross profit margin for the surveyed practices averaged 35.9%, according to the Prosperity Health survey. In absolute dollar terms, gross profit per GP (taking into account owners, contractors and contributing GPs) averaged around $166,000, with higher-performing practices averaging more than $250,000 per GP.

What profit margins can you expect as a GP practice owner? ›

What is the average profit margin of a medical clinic? According to Bain & Company, the EBITDA margins of retail medical clinics before accounting for corporate overheads can be around 25% with the potential of that increasing to 45%..! This is also something you found in our own analysis (more on that below).

What is an acceptable profit margin? ›

Net profit margins vary by industry but according to the Corporate Finance Institute, 20% is considered good, 10% average or standard, and 5% is considered low or poor. Good profit margins allow companies to cover their costs and generate a return on their investment.

How much does a GP business profit? ›

The GP ratio formula

The gross profit is calculated by taking your net sales total and subtracting any expenses that the company incurred related to the sales. For example, this might include the cost of materials and labour that went into the manufacturing of products sold by the company.

Is owning a medical practice profitable? ›

There are many steps that go into starting a practice, as well as many costs. It's not a journey without obstacles, and about 50% of practices will close their doors within five years. But the good news is that yes, owning a medical practice can be very profitable and very rewarding!

Is a 35% profit margin good? ›

You may be asking yourself, “what is a good profit margin?” A good margin will vary considerably by industry, but as a general rule of thumb, a 10% net profit margin is considered average, a 20% margin is considered high (or “good”), and a 5% margin is low.

What is a good profit margin for healthcare? ›

According to the report, hospital operating margins range from -36% to over 100%. For this analysis, we compared median values since the averages vary widely.

Is 60% profit margin too high? ›

What is a good gross profit margin ratio? On the face of it, a gross profit margin ratio of 50 to 70% would be considered healthy, and it would be for many types of businesses, like retailers, restaurants, manufacturers and other producers of goods.

What does 75% profit margin mean? ›

The gross profit margin is a measure to show how much of each sales dollar a company keeps after factoring in cost of goods sold. For example, if a company has a gross profit margin of 75 percent, then for every $1 in sales, the company will keep 75 cents.

Is 80% profit margin good? ›

“However, in the consulting world, margins can be 80% or more – oftentimes exceeding 100% to 300%.” On the other hand, restaurant profit margins tend to be razor thin, ranging from 3% to 5% for a healthy business. Consequently, your industry is another indicator of your profit margin.

How much does a GP practice get paid per patient? ›

GP practices were paid an average of £163.65 per registered patient in 2021/22, according to new data released by NHS Digital. The report NHS Payments to General Practice in England presents information on NHS payments made to general practices, walk-in centres and combined walk-in centres and out-of-hours practices.

Do GP partners make profit? ›

Because they're a partner in the business, a GP partner will get a share of the profits if a GP practice is doing well. In practice, this means that they generally earn more than salaried GPs.

What is the highest salary of GP? ›

Average starting Salary for GP in India is around ₹0.2 Lakh per year (₹1.7k per month). No prior experience is required to be a GP. What is the highest salary for a GP in India? Highest salary that a GP can earn is ₹38.8 Lakhs per year (₹3.2L per month).

What is the average overhead for a medical practice? ›

Research shows that today's average medical practice overhead is actually between 60% and 70%. Overhead is calculated as costs as a percentage of revenue. Basically, this means any and all revenues that don't go into your pocket. Almost every medical practice can lower expenses somewhere to reduce overhead.

What is the most profitable medical specialty? ›

Neurosurgeons are the highest paid physician specialists, earning an average of $788,313 annually, according to Doximity's "2023 Physician Compensation Report." The results were drawn from survey responses from 190,000 physicians over the last six years, including 31,000 in 2022.

How long does it take for a medical practice to be profitable? ›

How long does it take to start generating a profit? From the experience of others and myself, the business should begin generating a small profit by the fifth to sixth month. How much of a profit? Well this depends on your practices niche and its expenses, but it should be in the $1000-$3000 range by month 5.

Is 40% a good gross profit margin? ›

Ideally, direct expenses should not exceed 40%, leaving you with a minimum gross profit margin of 60%. Remaining overheads should not exceed 35%, which leaves a genuine net profit margin of 25%.

What profit margin is too high? ›

As a rule of thumb, 5% is a low margin, 10% is a healthy margin, and 20% is a high margin.

What profit margin is too small? ›

As a small business owner, if your profit margin is lower than typical in your industry, it typically means your sales are too low or your costs are too high, and looking at the reasons why will help you find opportunities to improve your business.

What is the average operating margin in healthcare? ›

Current and historical operating margin for Healthcare Services (HCSG) over the last 10 years. The current operating profit margin for Healthcare Services as of March 31, 2023 is 2.14%.

How much profit should a business make in the first year? ›

Most businesses don't make any profit in their first year of business, according to Forbes. In fact, most new businesses need 18 to 24 months to reach profitability. And then there's the reality that 25 percent of new businesses fail in their first year, according to the Small Business Administration.

How do you calculate profit margin in healthcare? ›

The calculation is "Net Patient Revenue" plus "Total Other Income", which equals "Total Revenue". The "Net Income" divided by "Total Revenue" is the "Net Profit Margin" percent.

Is a 56% profit margin good? ›

For example, if the gross margin on your primary product is only two percent, you may need to find a way to raise prices or reduce the expense of sourcing or production, but if you're seeing margins around 60 percent, you're in a good position to drive substantial earnings.

Is 100% markup the same as 50% margin? ›

30% margin - 42.9% markup. 40% margin = 66.7% markup. 50% margin = 100% markup.

What is the profit margin for independent financial advisors? ›

Riding the wave of a record-breaking stock market, profits at registered investment adviser firms shot up to record levels in 2021, with the typical advisory firm producing an average operating profit margin of 30.6% — much higher than in any of the past five years, according to data from InvestmentNews Research.

Can you have a 100 percent profit margin? ›

Josh Kaufman Explains 'Profit Margin'

The higher the price and the lower the cost, the higher the Profit Margin. In any case, your Profit Margin can never exceed 100 percent, which only happens if you're able to sell something that cost you nothing.

What is 30% margin on $100? ›

For instance, a 30% profit margin means there is $30 of net income for every $100 of revenue.

What is the 80 20 rule margin? ›

In inventory, the rule suggests that 20% of your inventory accounts for 80% of your profit. By applying this principle, you can increase your working capital and align your inventory with customer demand better. It helps you optimize the 20% highest-margin products for volume and profitability.

What does 90% profit margin mean? ›

If an investor makes $10 revenue and it cost them $1 to earn it, when they take their cost away they are left with 90% margin. They made 900% profit on their $1 investment.

How do you calculate GP percentage? ›

The gross profit margin formula, Gross Profit Margin = (Revenue – Cost of Goods Sold) / Revenue x 100, shows the percentage ratio of revenue you keep for each sale after all costs are deducted.

How many patients does a GP see per day? ›

It also reiterated the BMA and the European Union of General Practitioners' recommendation that in order to deliver safe care, GPs should see no more than 25 patient contacts per day.

Who are the highest paid doctors in private practice? ›

Top 19 high-paying doctor jobs
  • Surgeon. ...
  • Dermatologist. ...
  • Orthopedist. ...
  • Urologist. ...
  • Neurologist. National average salary: $237,309 per year. ...
  • Orthodontist. National average salary: $259,163 per year. ...
  • Anesthesiologist. National average salary: $328,526 per year. ...
  • Cardiology physician. National average salary: $345,754 per year.
Mar 16, 2023

Where do GP practices get their money? ›

GPs are independent contractors working for the NHS, and do not receive a salary. Each practice has individual funding, calculated through a complex process of national guidelines and local negotiations. The surgery receives funding for the day-to-day running of the practice, and pays the doctors and staff from this.

What are the disadvantages of GP partnership? ›

Partnership disputes and dissolutions can be very stressful and very costly. Partners have personal liability for the business. If a practice cannot recruit doctors and the workload becomes unmanageable, in some cases they may have to give up the contract.

What makes a good GP partnership? ›

Becoming a GP partner

Consider if you like all the partners and whether there is mutual respect in the partnership, how organised the practice is and their typical workload, as well as the financial situation of the practice, ie, how much would it cost to buy-in, and what their usual monthly/yearly drawings are.

How many hours do GP partners work? ›

The model contract states that a full-time salaried GP works 37.5 hours per week. It is possible to work less than full time or to work additional hours, with the exact hours being a matter of negotiation between the salaried GP and the employer.

What is the lowest paid doctor? ›

Surgical specialities tend to yield the highest pay, while pediatricians typically take home the least, according to a recent report from Doximity. The networking service for medical professionals has released its 2023 Physician Compensation Report, tracking trends in physician pay nationwide.

Who are the top 3 paid doctors? ›

What are the highest paid doctor jobs?
  1. Cardiologist. National average salary: ₹3,64,840 per year. ...
  2. Nephrologist. National average salary: ₹3,79,732 per year. ...
  3. Orthopaedic surgeon. National average salary: ₹4,78,829 per year. ...
  4. Urologist. National average salary: ₹5,21,342 per year. ...
  5. Neurologist. ...
  6. Oncologist. ...
  7. Surgeon. ...
  8. Pulmonologist.
Jun 26, 2023

Who is the richest doctor in the world? ›

10 Wealthiest Doctors in the World in 2023
RankName of the doctorNet Worth
1Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong$7.8 Billion
2Dr. Thomas Frist Jr.$4 Billion
3Dr. Wu Yiling$2.5 Billion
4Dr. Phillip Frost$2.4 Billion
6 more rows
Mar 30, 2023

How much should overhead and profit be? ›

Overhead + Profit: Calculating Your Margin

A national survey from NAHB showed an average net profit of 9% and 10% overhead. That's fairly close to the “10 and 10” of 10% overhead and 10% profit which is often considered industry standard.

What is the best practice overhead rate? ›

Ideally, nonprofits should not exceed a 35% overhead rate. A percentage higher than this might indicate spending that's disproportionate to the amount of money a group can raise.

What percentage should my overhead be? ›

Calculate your overhead rate.

As a general rule, it's best to make sure your business doesn't exceed a 35% overhead rate, but there's no cut-and-dried answer to what your overhead should be.

What is the hardest medical specialty to become? ›

Based on our comprehensive analysis, the top most competitive specialties are as follows:
  • Plastic Surgery.
  • ENT.
  • Dermatology.
  • Orthopedic Surgery.
  • Neurosurgery.
  • Thoracic Surgery.
  • Urology.
  • Vascular Surgery.
Sep 11, 2022

What specialty is rich as a doctor? ›

The highest-paid doctors in the US are in surgical specialties such as plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery, or cardiology and report earning over $500,000 per year on average.

What is the most hectic medical specialty? ›

Urology remains one of the more stressful medical specialties, however. In fact, the Occupational Information Network, a part of the Department of Labor, ranked urology as the most stressful job in the US.

How can I make my medical practice more profitable? ›

9 Tips on How to Increase Revenue in a Medical Practice
  1. Build an Online Presence. ...
  2. Improve Your Patient Collection Strategy. ...
  3. Offer After-hours Virtual Visits. ...
  4. Motivate Your Staff. ...
  5. Use Your Extenders. ...
  6. Build a Better Appointment Schedule. ...
  7. Renegotiate Your Payer Contracts. ...
  8. Reduce Missed Appointments.

What year do doctors start making money? ›

It takes years to realize your earning potential.

As a physician, you will not maximize your earnings until the completion of your graduate medical education. The average first-year resident physician makes about $60,000, and there's not much wiggle room.

What is the average profit margin in medicine? ›

The profit margin here is 30 percent (approximately), around 30% market depends on the rate here and therefore the retailers have to sell the maximum drugs to the patients to gain the maximum profit margins. 3.

What are profit margins in physical therapy? ›

The take-home profit can be anywhere between 20% to 30% of the total amount of gross revenue. The average private practice brings in between $120,000 to $780,000 in gross revenue each year, with 12% to 20% being profit.

What is the benchmark for medical practice overhead? ›

MGMA research shows that overhead expenses typically take up 60% of practice revenue. So, if a physician brings in $50,000 in revenue each month (which is roughly $76,000 in charges minus adjustments and write-offs), his or her monthly overhead should be about $30,000, according to the benchmarks.

What is a 75% profit margin? ›

The gross profit margin is a measure to show how much of each sales dollar a company keeps after factoring in cost of goods sold. For example, if a company has a gross profit margin of 75 percent, then for every $1 in sales, the company will keep 75 cents.

Is a 50 profit margin good? ›

On the face of it, a gross profit margin ratio of 50 to 70% would be considered healthy, and it would be for many types of businesses, like retailers, restaurants, manufacturers and other producers of goods.

What does 60% profit margin mean? ›

For example, a 60% profit margin would mean a company had a profit of $0.60 for every dollar of revenue generated.

What does 20% profit margin mean? ›

The profit margin is a financial ratio used to determine the percentage of sales that a business retains as earnings after expenses have been deducted. For example, a 20% profit margin indicates that a business retains $0.20 from each dollar of sales that it makes.

What is the largest expense for a medical practice? ›

Or it can tell you how a medical practice spends much of its money.
  • Payroll. This is the biggest chunk of the spending, and it does include the W-2 salary I take and all 15 employees. ...
  • Rent. ...
  • Insurance. ...
  • Advertising. ...
  • Software. ...
  • Office Supplies. ...
  • HOA Fees. ...
  • Legal Services.
Jan 23, 2022

What is the typical percentage for overhead and profit? ›

Overhead + Profit: Calculating Your Margin

A national survey from NAHB showed an average net profit of 9% and 10% overhead. That's fairly close to the “10 and 10” of 10% overhead and 10% profit which is often considered industry standard.

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