How to Scale Your ABA Business: Financial & Marketing Strategies for Growth Scaling an ABA business isn't just about taking on more clients—it requires a careful balance of financial planning, marketing strategies, and operational structure. Without the right systems in place, expansion can lead to burnout, financial losses, and even a decline in service quality. In this blog, we’ll cover key takeaways from our latest episode of 3 Pie Squared - ABA Business Leaders, where Matt Harrington, BCBA (abadigitalmarketing.com) and Johanna Eddy, CPA (Margin Keepers) shared their insights on how ABA business owners can scale successfully. 1. The Financial Foundations of Scaling According to Johanna Eddy, CPA, one of the biggest mistakes ABA business owners make is scaling too soon without a sound financial model. Before expanding, you should: Have at least 3-6 months of business expenses saved Ensure your rates cover payroll, overhead, and future raises Track accounts receivable, including both insurance and patient responsibility Understand your profit margins (aiming for 15-25% net profit over a 12-month period) 2. Marketing Strategies That Work for ABA Businesses Matt Harrington, BCBA, emphasized that effective marketing is key to sustainable growth. Too often, ABA owners either ignore marketing because they have a waitlist or spend money on ineffective strategies. 💡 Cost-Effective Ways to Market Your ABA Business Local Outreach: Build relationships with pediatricians, SLPs, OTs, and psychologists. SEO & Content Marketing: Optimize your website with ABA-specific keywords. Paid Ads: Invest in targeted online advertising when ready to expand. 3. How to Know If You’re Ready to Scale Not sure if now is the right time to expand? Here are clear signs that your ABA business is ready to scale: Your business has maintained consistent profitability (15-25% margin) over 12 months You have established processes for hiring, training, and billing Your waitlist includes verified, ready-to-launch clients You can afford a marketing budget to sustain growth You have a clear plan for delegation 4. Scaling Your ABA Business Without Losing Quality Growth should never come at the expense of quality. Many ABA owners accidentally replicate the very business models they wanted to leave, leading to lower service quality and employee burnout. ✅ Tips for Sustainable Growth Set clear KPIs to monitor quality as you grow Invest in staff training to maintain ethical, high-quality care Use structured pay scales to ensure long-term financial stability Regularly audit your business operations to identify weaknesses before scaling Join the ABA Business Leaders Community Scaling your ABA practice is a complex but achievable goal—especially with the right support system in place. 🔹 Looking for expert guidance and exclusive resources? Join the ABA Business Leaders Membership for access to expert-led trainings, networking opportunities, and tools to help you grow your business. 🔹 Starting a practice or need help expanding? Download our free ABA Business Start-Up Checklist. Final Thoughts Scaling your ABA business requires a careful balance of financial planning, operational readiness, and effective marketing. By ensuring your business is financially stable, establishing strong marketing strategies, and maintaining high-quality services, you can expand successfully while staying true to your mission. Ready to take the next step? Join the ABA Business Leaders Membership and connect with a community of experts to support your journey!

Closing an ABA business is a monumental decision. Whether it's for personal reasons, burnout, or shifting career goals, transitioning out of practice ownership brings both challenges and opportunities. In this episode of 3 Pie Squared - ABA Business Leaders Podcast, we talk with Mallory Stinger, BCBA, about her experience closing her ABA company, the emotions that came with it, and what comes next. The Emotional Side of Closing an ABA Practice For many ABA business owners, their company is more than just a business—it’s part of their identity. Letting go can come with feelings of loss, self-doubt, and even guilt. Mallory shares how she navigated these emotions and the importance of having support and a plan in place before making such a big transition. Knowing When It’s Time to Transition While every business owner’s journey is different, there are common signs that it might be time to step away or restructure your role. We discuss: Burnout and stress levels—how to recognize when it's affecting your well-being. Work-life balance—why sacrificing everything for your business isn’t sustainable. Business growth and scalability—understanding if continuing is the right decision. Creating an Exit Plan for Your ABA Business One of the key takeaways from this discussion is that every ABA business owner should have an exit strategy from the start. Whether you plan to sell, transition leadership, or close, having a clear roadmap ensures you’re prepared when the time comes. ➡️ Need guidance on ABA practice management, growth, and exit strategies? Join the ABA Business Leaders Membership for expert insights and 34 CEUs to help you navigate every stage of ABA business ownership. Learn more here. What’s Next After Closing? For Mallory, stepping away from ownership didn’t mean leaving the field of ABA. She is now focusing on new opportunities, including CEU development and professional collaboration. Many ABA professionals find that closing their practice opens doors to consulting, mentoring, and other impactful roles in the field. Resources for ABA Business Owners 📌 Thinking about starting an ABA practice? Make sure you have everything you need. Download our free ABA Business Start-Up List here. 📌 Looking for expert guidance on running and growing your ABA business? Join the ABA Business Leaders Membership for exclusive resources. Explore membership options here. 📌 Need help with compliance, rate negotiations, or employee handbooks? Check out our full list of ABA business resources here. Final Thoughts Closing an ABA business is a big decision, but it doesn’t mean the end of your impact in the field. Whether you’re stepping away, restructuring, or just considering your long-term plans, having a strategy and support system is essential. 🎧 Listen to the full conversation with Mallory Stinger here: [Insert podcast/blog link] 💬 Have you thought about your ABA business exit strategy? Share your thoughts in the comments below! © 2025 3 Pie Squared. All Rights Reserved.

The ABA industry is at a turning point. Innovative and parent-oriented services are better provided in smaller practices, where providers can adapt to individual client needs and prioritize ethical, high-quality care. But if ABA is going to evolve and keep up with the changing landscape, small providers must have the tools to compete—especially as larger companies undercut them at every corner. At ABA Business Leaders (ABL), we are building the technology small ABA providers need to stay competitive while staying true to their values. Our vision is simple: support ethical ABA businesses with cutting-edge technology so they can grow, scale, and compete—without sacrificing quality. Small Practices Face Major Headwinds Smaller ABA providers are facing increasing challenges: - Lower reimbursement rates make it harder to stay financially stable. - Higher staff wages put pressure on already tight margins. - Required accreditation seems to be coming in the near future, adding another layer of complexity to operations. Now more than ever, we need to support each other, learn from the community, and use our combined resources to improve the environment we find ourselves in. A Community-Built Solution Right now, our ABA practice handbooks—used by over 1,200 practices—represent the largest ABA business collaboration project in ABA business history. Now, ABA Business Leaders will become the largest practice management system ever built by experts in this space who actually use it. We are designing this system with your needs in mind, taking feedback from you every step of the way! But to make this vision a reality, we need your help. What We’re Building for Small ABA Businesses - Advanced Training & AI-Powered Learning – Ensuring that staff are highly trained while reducing time spent on manual training. - Streamlined Onboarding & Compliance – Automating processes to make hiring and compliance easier. - Shoutouts & Recognition Systems – Helping ABA owners foster a strong company culture and retain staff. - Billing & Revenue Cycle Management – Simplifying the complex billing process so small providers can maximize revenue without administrative headaches. - Data Collection & Business Intelligence – Empowering ABA businesses with real-time insights and analytics to make data-driven decisions. - Collaboration & Networking for Ethical ABA Businesses – Creating a community of providers who share knowledge and resources to stay competitive against corporate takeovers. How You Can Be Part of This Movement We are working on securing funding to expand these tools for small ABA providers. This is not just about building software—it’s about empowering independent ABA businesses to thrive despite growing corporate pressures. Reach out to learn more about how you can be part of this movement. Let’s build the future of small ABA businesses together.