How to Start a Therapy Centre: The Complete 2026 Guide

Step 1: Choose Your Therapy Specialisation

• Speech therapy: Language delays, articulation, fluency, voice. Highest demand, especially ages 2-8.
• Occupational therapy: Sensory processing, fine motor, self-care. Often paired with speech therapy.
• ABA therapy: Applied Behaviour Analysis for autism. Intensive (20-40 hours/week per child), higher revenue per patient.
• Physiotherapy: Developmental delays, cerebral palsy, post-surgical rehab.
• Multi-disciplinary: 2-3 therapy types. Higher retention, since families prefer one centre for all therapies.

Step 2: Legal & Registration Requirements

• Register the business (LLP or Pvt. Ltd. is common)
• Obtain GST registration
• Get a municipal trade licence
• Check RCI (Rehabilitation Council of India) registration for therapists
• Get professional liability insurance
• Handle patient data in line with the DPDPA

Step 3: Find the Right Location

Rent near schools, pediatric hospitals or residential areas with young families. You need ground-floor access, low noise, parking for parents, and 2-4 therapy rooms of 80-120 sq ft each. Budget ₹30,000-80,000/month depending on city and area.

Step 4: Hire Qualified Therapists

• Speech therapists: BASLP or MASLP degree, RCI registration
• Occupational therapists: BOT/MOT degree, AIOTA membership
• ABA therapists: BCBA, BCaBA, or RBT certification (or equivalent training)
• Salary range: ₹20,000-50,000/month for junior therapists, ₹50,000-1,00,000 for senior/lead therapists
• Start with 2-3 therapists and grow with demand

Step 5: Set Your Pricing Strategy

• Individual sessions: ₹800-2,500 per session (varies by city and therapy type)
• Packages: 12, 24 or 48 sessions at a 10-20% discount
• Assessment fees: ₹2,000-5,000 for initial evaluation
• ABA programmes: ₹15,000-40,000/month for 20+ hours/week

Step 6: Set Up Practice Management Software

Set up scheduling, attendance, session notes and parent communication in one system before you open; spreadsheets cost 3-4 hours of admin a day from day one. Theraflow is built for therapy centres and gets you live in 2 hours on a free trial.

Step 7: Market Your Centre

• Google Business Profile: Optimise for "speech therapy near me" searches
• Pediatrician referrals: Local pediatricians refer for therapy
• School partnerships: Free screening camps at nearby schools
• Parent word-of-mouth: Your best channel. Show progress through a parent app.
• Social media: Therapy tips, milestones and parent testimonials on Instagram

Step 8: Plan Your First 90 Days

• Month 1: Set up the space, hire 2-3 therapists, set up software, visit 10 pediatricians
• Month 2: 15-20 active patients, therapy protocols, parent app live
• Month 3: 30+ active patients, review therapist utilisation, plan months 4-6