Should a BCBA Always Own the Clinic? Maybe Not. When it comes to ABA practice ownership, there’s a long-standing assumption: the best clinics are owned and operated by BCBAs. But is that always true? In this episode of the 3 Pie Squared – ABA Business Leaders podcast, we’re joined by Jennifer Helten, founder of Unique Pathways, to explore a bold perspective: maybe non-clinicians can (and do) run incredibly ethical, high-quality, child-focused ABA practices. What You’ll Learn Jennifer shares her powerful origin story, one that began not in a clinic, but in a family grieving the loss of a child. That moment sparked her lifelong advocacy for kids. From becoming a behavior therapist in the 90s to founding her own center decades later, her approach has always been about putting children first—long before business or billables. The pros and cons of BCBA vs. non-BCBA clinic ownership Why profit and quality don’t have to be at odds How to build strong partnerships between clinical and business leaders The operational benefits of a clear, collaborative leadership structure How clear communication and a shared mission drive both clinical excellence and sustainability A Model That Works Jennifer explains her partnership with her clinical director—a model built on trust, clear roles, and mutual respect. She handles administration and operations; he leads clinical strategy. Both are fully aligned on one principle: the child comes first. Rather than defaulting to rigid categories of ownership, Jennifer encourages ABA business owners to consider something deeper—the “why” behind your practice. When the mission is clear, the model can be flexible. And sometimes, not being the clinician in the room can offer a broader lens on what’s needed most. Don’t Miss This Key Insight Sustainability isn’t just about profits or systems. It’s about preventing burnout. And as Jennifer, April, and Stephen all point out—you can’t wear every hat forever. Whether you’re a BCBA or not, building a team, defining lanes of responsibility, and prioritizing leadership development are the real keys to a long-lasting practice. Resources Mentioned 🎯 Starting a practice? Download our free ABA Business Start-Up List here. 📘 Grow your leadership and connect with other ABA business owners: Join the ABA Business Leaders Membership – includes 34 CEUs and expert panels. Meet Our Guest Jennifer Helten Founder, Unique Pathways Jennifer’s passion for ABA comes from a personal story of loss, advocacy, and resilience. She founded Unique Pathways to give kids a voice, empower families, and change lives—one child at a time.

Why Financial Records Are Crucial to Ethical Scaling in ABA Introduction   ABA companies are expanding rapidly—but growth without guardrails can lead to serious issues: staff burnout, service inconsistency, missed payroll, or worse, harm to client outcomes. That’s why ethical scaling is more than a buzzword. It’s a responsibility. At the core of scaling ethically? Your financial records. Clear, accurate, and timely bookkeeping doesn’t just help you “stay organized.” It gives you the insight and foresight to grow intentionally, protect your team, and ensure your services remain high quality at every level. What Is Ethical Scaling, and Why Does It Matter in ABA? Ethical scaling is the process of growing your business in a way that protects: Clients, by ensuring high-quality services continue as you grow Staff, by maintaining manageable caseloads and fair compensation Operations, by making sure your infrastructure grows with your business Too many ABA companies scale quickly without the data to know if they should—or if they even can. That’s where your financial records come in. The Role of Financial Records in Ethical Growth 1. Knowing If You Can Afford to Hire (and Support) New Staff Growing your caseload means hiring more RBTs, BCBAs, and admin support. But hiring without understanding your cash flow can lead to underpaid staff or unsustainable wages. With strong financial records, you can: Forecast staffing needs based on real data Determine sustainable salaries and benefits Avoid over-hiring and staff burnout Pro Tip: Services like Margin Keepers help you visualize staffing costs alongside real-time revenue so you never stretch your team (or your finances) too thin. 2. Maintaining Quality Without Cutting Corners Scaling often means more clients, more locations, more demands. Without a handle on your margins, you might cut supervision hours, under-resource new sites, or eliminate vital training—all of which can impact client outcomes. With accurate bookkeeping, you can: Identify which services are profitable (and which aren’t) Ensure each program or location is financially viable before expansion Allocate budget toward supervision, training, and clinical quality 3. Protecting Cash Flow for Emergencies and Growth Ethical scaling means being prepared for the dips—not just the peaks. Whether it’s a delayed insurance reimbursement or seasonal slowdown, your company should be resilient enough to keep staff paid and operations stable. Bookkeeping gives you: Cash flow projections to plan for slow periods Visibility into financial reserves Peace of mind that growth won’t collapse your business under pressure 4. Building a Scalable and Auditable Organization As you grow, investors, partners, and payers will expect clean financials. Good records build trust and demonstrate you’re running a business that’s ready for scale—and scrutiny. A bookkeeping partner like Margin Keepers can: Keep your records audit-ready at all times Standardize reports across locations Help you present clear financial narratives to potential funders The Ethical Risk of “Scaling Blind” Scaling without solid financial insight can lead to: Late payroll and staff churn Over-servicing without reimbursement Poor client outcomes due to under-resourcing Ethical violations tied to profit-over-quality decision-making Bookkeeping might seem like a back-office function, but in reality, it’s what keeps your growth grounded in reality—and integrity. Conclusion: Let Your Books Guide Your Growth Scaling an ABA company ethically isn’t just about having big goals—it’s about making sure your infrastructure can support those goals without sacrificing quality, people, or sustainability. And that starts with strong financial records. Want to grow your ABA practice the right way? 👉 Talk to Margin Keepers—a bookkeeping and advisory firm that helps ABA providers scale smart, stay ethical, and protect what matters most: your clients and your team.

Quality over Quantity: Is More Supervision Always Better? In ABA practice management, few topics spark as much discussion as supervision. How much is enough? Is more always better? In this episode of 3 Pie Squared – ABA Business Leaders, April and Stephen break down the nuances of quality supervision versus high-frequency oversight. Drawing from real-world experience and community feedback, they challenge the assumption that more supervision automatically leads to better outcomes. What You'll Learn Why micromanagement isn’t true supervision—and how it may undermine staff confidence How to match supervision levels with the complexity of the case and RBT experience Understanding the costs of supervision and why sustainability matters When to step in and when to step back to build long-term staff independence The role of training, team collaboration, and thoughtful case management How scheduling, geography, and clinical urgency influence supervision decisions Different styles of BCBAs and how organizations can support strong supervision systems Why This Matters Supervision is more than a billing requirement—it's a pillar of clinical quality and staff development. Yet ABA providers often find themselves navigating the tension between providing robust oversight and managing limited resources. April and Stephen explore what happens when supervision becomes more about checking boxes than cultivating competence. The conversation highlights how high supervision rates can become unsustainable, particularly when paired with high caseloads and limited staff availability. They emphasize the importance of investing in training up front to reduce the need for constant correction later—and how fading supervision strategically allows RBTs to gain the independence they need to grow professionally. They also touch on the real business implications: without balancing efficiency and quality, practices risk burnout, financial strain, or both. Knowing when and how to shift from intensive support to periodic oversight is crucial for maintaining standards without stretching your team too thin. Build Smarter Supervision with the ABA Business Leaders Membership If you’re looking to align supervision strategy with clinical quality and operational sustainability, the ABA Business Leaders Membership offers powerful resources. With 34 CEUs, expert-led trainings, templates, and a growing library of tools, it’s your how-to hub for ethical and effective ABA business operations. This membership also includes modules that walk you through real-life supervision planning, caseload utilization, and team development techniques used by over 900 ABA practices nationwide. More Resources for ABA Business Leaders Download our free ABA Business Start-Up List Explore the ABA Business Leaders Membership Final Thoughts There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how much supervision is enough. But by looking beyond percentages and focusing on outcomes, support systems, and staff development, you can create a model that truly works. Whether you’re scaling up or refining what you already have, this episode offers insight and clarity to help guide your next steps. Let this episode be your blueprint for building supervision systems that actually work—for your staff, your clients, and your bottom line.