When Should You Leave Your Job and Go Full-time with Your Ketamine Clinic?
Synopsis: Deciding when to go full-time with your ketamine clinic isn’t easy—but it can be done with clarity and confidence. This blog introduces the 3F Framework (Finances, Feelings, Forces), dispels common myths, and shares practical steps to help you make an intentional transition.
Key takeaway: There’s no perfect time to go full-time with your ketamine clinic - but by assessing your finances, feelings, and external forces, you can make a decision that supports both your mission and your well-being.
This blog is proudly sponsored by Clifton Insurance Agency, Inc., a trusted leader in the liability and high risk niche market insurance industry.
Mention “Ketamine StartUp” and receive FREE quotes & exclusive policy discounts. Learn more about how they support ketamine clinics here.
Your calling is bigger than your comfort zone. Discover when it’s time to trade stability for purpose and step fully into the work you were meant to do.
When Should You Leave Your Job for Your Ketamine Clinic?
When is the right time to go full-time with your ketamine clinic? It’s a question we often get asked and the reality is that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. That’s why in this blog, we’ll walk you through some of the most common myths that hold people back, and introduce a practical framework to help you decide when the time is right for you.
But first, a quick disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and reflects our personal experience. We are not financial advisors, attorneys, or accountants. Nothing in this article should be taken as legal, financial, or business advice. Please consult with licensed professionals who understand your unique situation before making any big decisions.
Alright, with that out of the way, let’s dive in!
4 Myths About Going Full-Time with Your Ketamine Clinic
Let’s talk about the situation you might be in. Maybe you’re adding ketamine therapy to your existing practice and wondering if it should become your primary focus. Or perhaps you’re launching a brand-new clinic and hoping ketamine therapy alone will create a sustainable business. Either way, you probably haven’t taken the full leap yet and that’s exactly why this conversation matters.
We’re often asked: “When can I quit my job?” But the better question is, “When can I quit my job safely without sabotaging long-term success?”
So before we go over how to determine if its time to go, let’s break down four common myths about going full-time with your clinic:
Myth #1: If my ketamine clinic covers its costs, then I can quit my full-time job.
Reality: You need more than just covering your clinic’s costs. You need consistent profitability and financial stability. We’ll go into this more later in the blog.
Myth #2: Adding ketamine therapy to my practice will make it take off automatically.
Reality: Simply offering ketamine therapy doesn’t guarantee demand. Reputation, education, and marketing still matter, especially when media narratives can shift public perception about this treatment.
Myth #3: Quitting my job will give me more time, so my clinic will grow faster.
Reality: More time doesn’t always mean more growth. In fact, we’ve seen slower growth among those who quit too early, compared to those who built their clinic while juggling another job. There’s something powerful about creating momentum when built under constraints.
Myth #4: If I don’t go all in soon, I’ll miss my shot.
Reality: Timing is key. While being the first ketamine clinic in town can help, rushing can hurt. We live in uncertain times, but when aren’t we? You can be 100% committed to your clinic without putting in 100% of your time right away.
Use the 3F Framework (Finances, Feelings, and Forces) to make a confident, well-rounded decision. This tool helps you assess both your inner readiness and real-world logistics before making the leap.
The 3F Framework: A Guide to Going Full-Time
To help you decide whether it’s time to take your ketamine clinic full-time, we like to use what we call the 3F Framework—Finances, Feelings, and Forces.
Finances: Can your clinic support both your business and personal expenses?
Feelings: Are you mentally and emotionally ready to let go of your current job?
Forces: Are external circumstances pushing you toward this change?
Let’s start with the first—and most practical—of the three.
#1: Finances – Can Your Clinic Sustain You?
The first question to ask yourself is:
“If I quit my job today, could my clinic cover both business and personal expenses without putting me into financial stress?”
To answer that, you’ll need to do a personal financial analysis. We’re big fans of Jim Dahle at The White Coat Investor, and his advice still rings true:
Pay off high-interest debt
Build an emergency savings fund
Avoid lifestyle creep—aka, keep living like a resident
When it comes to your clinic, the same principle applies:
Keep your overhead lean and avoid relying on unrealistic patient volumes to stay afloat.
Calculating Your Freedom Number
Looking for a detailed approach to your freedom number? Here you go:
Add up your personal financial needs such as living expenses, savings, retirement contributions, and security buffers.
Add up your clinic’s monthly overhead for example rent, payroll, marketing, software, etc.
Combine those numbers. That’s your Freedom Number, aka the revenue you need each month to fully support your clinic and your life.
If your clinic can hit that number consistently, you may be closer to going full-time than you think.
The Alternate (and Simpler) Calculation
Entrepreneur and business coach Alex Hormozi, someone who we also follow, offers a simplified rule of thumb: when your business income equals or exceeds your current income for 3–6 months, and you have 3–6 months of personal savings, it may be time to go all in.
Of course, it’s not just about the numbers. As Hormozi also says, what actually pushes people to take the leap isn’t usually financial. It’s your emotions..
Which brings us to the second “F”: Feelings.
Sometimes, the hardest part isn’t crunching the numbers—it’s listening to your heart. Growth begins when the discomfort of staying the same outweighs the fear of change.
#2: Feelings – Are You Emotionally Ready to Let Go?
Finances are crucial, but feelings often make the decision. To explore whether you’re emotionally ready to go full time with your ketamine clinic, ask yourself:
Am I staying in my current job because it feels safe or because it’s still serving me?
Have I outgrown this position professionally or emotionally?
Is fear holding me back from stepping into something new?
Am I stretched too thin trying to balance work, my ketamine clinic, and my personal life?
If you’re starting to feel burnout, frustration, or restlessness, pay attention. This is information, dare we say, “Discomfort is data.” Sometimes, pain is what propels us into action. Pain pushes us to make a bold move we wouldn’t otherwise.
You may be justifying staying in your current job because of the perks or the benefits, but at some point, the pain of staying outweighs the fear of what could go wrong.
Sam’s Story: When Pain Became the Push
"We opened the clinic in 2018. Things were growing very slowly as expected in the first few years. And then there came a point in time where that job that I was working in the emergency department became painful. And there were a multitude of reasons.
There was the COVID pandemic - this was back in the days when we didn't know a lot about it. There were vaccine shortages and a lot of fear. In addition, we had our daughter and she had just been born right at the beginning of the pandemic. I wanted to be with her more, that time with our family is so precious. So accordingly, the decision was determined by not only but also the emotional feeling component. And so for you, if you're like, ‘How do I know?’ You're going to run the numbers, but then it's going to be based upon your feelings as well.”
#3: Forces – Are Outside Factors Nudging You Forward?
The third and final “F” in the 3F Framework is Forces - external factors that may be influencing your decision to go full time with your clinic.
Ask yourself:
Is your employer making your position less desirable or less stable?
Has your group started downsizing or replacing roles with lower-cost practitioners?
Are you no longer willing to work extra hours or stay late, much to your employer’s dismay?
Sometimes, forces beyond your control begin pushing you toward change. This change is often uncomfortable and even painful. Rather than resist it, embrace it.
“The Universe Is Conspiring to Help You”
Yes, some of these external changes can feel frustrating or disheartening. But what if they aren’t here to sabotage you... what if they’re here to support you?
We first came across this concept in Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. In it, the main character Santiago, a humble shepherd, goes through setback after setback, only to later realize that each challenge was leading him to his true path. The book offers a powerful quote:
“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
The doors closing, the restructuring of your workplace, or the replacement of your role with “more cost-effective options” - these could all be part of a bigger push. A nudge toward the door you didn’t see before. Or even the one you've been reluctant to open.
Pronoia: The Opposite of Paranoia
There’s a word that beautifully captures this mindset: pronoia.
It’s the belief that everything and everyone is working in your favor, even when it doesn’t look like it. You already know its opposite - paranoia, the belief that the world is out to get you. But if both are imagined states of mind... why not choose the one that supports your growth?
Whether you’re launching your clinic or stepping away from your current role, adopting a pronoia mindset can shift everything. It’s not about toxic positivity. It’s about trusting the timing and recognizing that even hard changes may be here for you, not to you.Time to Get to Work
Now that you’ve explored the 3 F’s (Finances, Feelings, and Forces), it’s time to roll up your sleeves and take action. Understanding these three factors will do you no good, unless you put them to use.
Clarity doesn’t come from thinking—it comes from doing. Carve out time to reflect, plan, and take aligned action. Your next chapter starts on your calendar.
Time To Get To Work
Start by pulling up your Google Calendar, Todoist, or whatever you use to stay organized, and schedule time to assess each of the three F’s:
Diagnose your Finances: Crunch the numbers. Review your personal budget and business performance. Ask yourself, “What do I actually need to support myself and my clinic?”
Assess your Feelings: Take time to reflect on your emotional and mental readiness. That could look like journaling, meditating, or even taking a long walk. Get clear on where you stand psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually in this decision-making process.
Evaluate the Forces around you: What external factors are nudging you in one direction or another? Instead of asking, “Why is this happening to me?” try asking, “What if this is happening for me?”
Take a moment, and look around at what doors are closing, what windows are opening, and what signs the universe might be sending your way.
Essential Tip:
Also schedule time to meet with your financial advisor, accountant, and business attorney. These professionals can help you double-check your numbers and identify any risks or opportunities you might have missed. This is a big decision, so remember to tap into your team of professional support.
There’s No “Right Time”—But There’s Always Your Time
So, when should you leave your job and go full time with your ketamine clinic?
Here’s the honest answer: There’s no perfect time and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. But there’s also no wrong time if your decision is intentional, informed, and grounded in clarity.
As long as you’ve assessed your situation, created a deliberate plan, and consulted with trusted professionals, you’re on solid ground. Remember: your 3 F’s (Finances, Feelings, and Forces) will change over time. You’ll evolve as a practitioner and entrepreneur, and the world around you will keep changing for better or worse. So revisit your 3 F’s often, as they’re tools for lifelong decision-making.
And here’s one more truth:
If owning and operating a ketamine clinic were easy, more people would be doing it.
But this is actually a good thing. The difficulty creates a natural moat around your business. A moat that protects it from people who aren’t in it for the right reasons.
It’s hard as hell. But that’s what makes it worth it.
Those who stick with it are the ones who know their “why,” who don’t fold under pressure, and who are here for the long game.
Related Questions:
How do I know when it’s the right time to leave my job and go full-time with my ketamine clinic?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer as you can imagine. That being said, using the 3 F Framework (Finances, Feelings, and Forces) can help assist you in making this decision. You’ll go over both your business and personal finances, reflect on how you really feel about the situation, and finally explore any and all external factors that could be guiding you one way or another. Remember to revisit these 3 F’s often, as they are not static but rather dynamic.
How can I calculate whether my ketamine clinic can financially support me?
Use your “freedom number”: 1) Add up your personal expenses, savings goals, retirement needs, etc., 2) Add in your clinic’s overhead and operational costs. Voila, that total is your target income you need your clinic to generate to go full-time with it.
Alternatively, consider Alex Hormozi’s approach: if your clinic’s income equals or exceeds your current salary and has done so for 3–6 months, you may be ready. But remember, he also says often we make this decision on feelings and not formulas!
This blog is brought to you by Clifton Insurance Agency, Inc.. Learn more about their services at CliftonInsuranceAgency.com and how they support ketamine clinics.
🎉 Exclusive Perk: Mention “Ketamine StartUp” and get FREE Quotes & Policy Discounts! Click here to take advantage.
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Wondering when to leave your job and run your ketamine clinic full-time? Learn a simple 3-step framework to make a confident, informed decision.
Wondering when to leave your job and run your ketamine clinic full-time? Learn a simple 3-step framework to make a confident, informed decision.