Concussion Clinic Startup Costs: Plan Around $80K+ in Known CAPEX
Based on the provided research, the cost to start a concussion clinic includes at least $80,000 in priced CAPEX, made up of a $45,000 neuroimaging software suite and a $35,000 balance and vestibular platform That number is not the full opening budget because the physical therapy gym outfitting line is listed without a provided amount, and the model still needs buildout, deposits, credentialing, launch payroll, and working capital For Month 1 planning, listed fixed costs are $19,650 per month, and Year 1 support payroll is about $39,167 per month before clinician compensation not shown in the wage table Treat these as researched planning assumptions, not vendor quotes, reimbursement guarantees, or medical advice
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Startup CAPEX Calculator
Estimates capitalized startup assets only for launching a concussion assessment and treatment clinic, before working capital.
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Excluded costs This calculator excludes payroll runway, rent deposits, debt service, working capital, inventory, marketing, loan fees, credentialing delays, and ongoing operating expenses.
Calculate Fuding Needs
Startup cost summary
This table breaks startup build-out costs from excluded launch cash needs for a concussion assessment and treatment clinic.
Highlighted CAPEX$305,000Base planning example
Excluded cash needs$800,000Outside CAPEX total
Funding need$1,105,000CAPEX + excluded cash needs
Cost Category
Base Estimate
Main Cost Driver
CAPEX Calculator
Facility Leasehold Improvements
$110,000
Build-out scope, exam rooms, and clinical space prep
Yes
Physical Therapy Gym Outfitting
$60,000
Rehab equipment, mats, and therapy station setup
Yes
Clinic Furnishings and Treatment Tables
$55,000
Patient rooms, tables, seating, and front-office setup
Yes
Neuroimaging Software Suite
$45,000
Software license scope, implementation, and training
Yes
Balance and Vestibular Platform
$35,000
Platform specs, calibration, and install requirements
Yes
Opening Cash Buffer
$800,000
Launch payroll, rent, insurance, and collection timing before steady receipts
Lean keeps the clinic referral-first with less space and slower equipment spend. Base matches the modeled Year 1 team, while Full adds rehab depth, more staff runway, and higher working capital.
Lean, Base, and Full launch cost comparison
Scenario
Lean LaunchLowest spend
Base LaunchModel match
Full LaunchScale build
Launch model
Start with a referral-led clinic, smaller space, and only the core systems needed to open.
Open with the modeled Year 1 provider mix and the core equipment needed to run diagnostics and treatment from day one.
Build for broader rehab use, a larger therapy gym, and more working capital so the clinic can scale toward Year 5 staffing.
Typical setup
Use fewer owned systems, a tighter staffing runway, and delay premium equipment until demand proves out.
Run a standard clinic footprint with 2 neurologists, 1 neuropsychologist, 2 physical therapists, 1 vestibular specialist, and 1 occupational therapist, plus the $80,000 known priced CAPEX.
Add broader rehab tools, deeper staffing runway, and enough cash to support leasehold improvements and ramp-up.
Cost drivers
Smaller rent
basic diagnostics
fewer staff
delayed rehab gear
Core CAPEX
Year 1 provider mix
staffing
billing fees
clinic overhead
Therapy gym
rehab tools
staffing runway
leasehold improvements
working capital
Planning rangeCAPEX only
$150,000 - $250,000Tight cash need
$300,000 - $450,000Balanced build
$800,000 - $1,100,000High cash need
Best fit
Best for founders testing local referral volume or keeping launch risk low.
Best for operators who want the core clinic model without overbuilding on day one.
Best for teams planning a fuller buildout and a longer path to scaled utilization.
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Planning note: Scenario ranges are researched planning assumptions, not exact vendor quotes or final bids.
How should I turn concussion clinic startup costs into a funding plan?
Turn the funding plan into a cash-timing map for the Concussion Assessment and Treatment Clinic: fund the upfront CAPEX, the first-month fixed burn, and the delay before payer cash comes back. Month 1 fixed costs are $19,650 and support payroll is $39,167, so the first cash gap is $58,817 before revenue. Then layer in the $45,000 software suite, $35,000 balance platform, physical therapy gym outfitting, and Year 1 prices of $350, $275, $175, $200, and $185 across the service lines.
Front-load cash
Month 1 cash need: $58,817
CAPEX timing: Month 1 to Month 6
Software suite: $45,000
Balance platform: $35,000
Build the ramp
Neurologist visit price: $350
Neuropsychology visit price: $275
Physical therapy visit price: $175
Use Year 1 capacity: 500% to 700%
What drives concussion clinic equipment costs and buildout costs?
For a Concussion Assessment and Treatment Clinic, the big equipment costs come from how many exam rooms you build, how deep the therapy gym is, and whether you add a vestibular rehab area; the clearest price points in the research are $45,000 for neuroimaging software and $35,000 for a balance and vestibular platform. Buildout cost is driven by reception, exam rooms, clinician offices, privacy, electrical, lighting, flooring, and Americans with Disabilities Act access, plus signage and landlord improvement allowances. Don’t assume you need computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging equipment if referral relationships can cover imaging.
Equipment spend drivers
Exam room count sets core fit-out.
Therapy gym depth adds space and gear.
Vestibular rehab area needs dedicated tools.
$45,000 neuroimaging software is a listed cost.
Buildout cost drivers
$35,000 balance platform is a listed cost.
Balance tools and testing platforms add up.
Reception, offices, and privacy raise spend.
Electrical, lighting, flooring, and access matter.
How much money do I need to open a concussion clinic?
You need at least $80,000 in known equipment CAPEX for a Concussion Assessment and Treatment Clinic, plus about $58,817 per month for Year 1 facility/admin costs and support payroll before revenue stabilizes. For the full startup plan, see How To Launch Concussion Assessment And Treatment Clinic Business?; the real cash need also includes licensing, credentialing, malpractice, launch marketing, and working capital. Here’s the quick math: $19,650 fixed facility/admin costs + $39,167 support payroll = $58,817/month.
Known startup costs
$45,000 neuroimaging software suite
$35,000 balance and vestibular platform
$80,000 total priced CAPEX
Licensing and malpractice still extra
Cash runway drivers
$19,650/month facility and admin costs
$39,167/month Year 1 support payroll
Working capital covers reimbursement lag
Capacity assumes 8 clinical providers
Key Takeaways
Buildout and rent deposits can anchor runway.
Equipment starts near $80,000 before therapy gym outfitting.
Software adds subscriptions, implementation, and data security.
Year 1 support payroll runs about $39,167 monthly.
Concussion Assessment and Treatment Clinic Core Five Startup Costs
Facility Buildout and Leasehold Improvements Startup Expense
Clinic Buildout
A concussion clinic buildout is usually CAPEX or a pre-opening lease cost, not ongoing rent. Budget for reception, exam rooms, clinician offices, a therapy or balance area, privacy, flooring, lighting, electrical, signage, and ADA access, then size it from square footage, room count, and local contractor quotes.
Cost Inputs
Use room counts and lease terms to price the job. A bigger vestibular therapy room or physical therapy gym pushes costs up fast, so ask for quotes by trade, not one lump sum. Treat landlord improvement allowances as a lease offset, and keep ongoing rent out of startup cost except deposits or working capital.
Count exam and therapy rooms
Quote each trade separately
Separate deposits from rent
Lease Cash
Use $12,500 monthly facility rent as the planning anchor for cash tied to the lease, then refine runway with deposit terms and timing. That number is not buildout spend. It only helps you size pre-opening cash needs until patient revenue starts.
Keep It Tight
Keep finishes clinical, durable, and easy to clean, and avoid overbuilding unused space. The fastest savings usually come from smaller square footage, fewer custom walls, and a landlord allowance that covers part of the improvement bill before opening.
Staffing Readiness, Training, and Launch Marketing Startup Expense
Readiness Payroll
This line covers recruiting, onboarding, pre-opening payroll, and workflow setup for the medical director, clinic manager, front desk, billing, and referral process. Year 1 support payroll is about $39,167 per month, or $470,000 a year, built from $240,000 medical director, $85,000 clinic manager, $55,000 patient care coordinator, $42,000 front desk, and $48,000 medical assistant.
Hire and Train
Keep the spend tight by training staff before opening and using mock patient flow for front desk and billing. Do not hire ahead of demand; the clinic already plans for 2 neurologists, 1 neuropsychologist, 2 physical therapists, 1 vestibular specialist, and 1 occupational therapist, so each role should tie to booked visits and clear referral volume.
Launch Reach
Launch marketing and referral development is modeled at 80% of Year 1 revenue, so this is not a small line item. Use it for school, athletic, and physician outreach, opening campaigns, and partnership setup; the math only works if those channels fill the multi-specialty schedule fast enough.
Go-Live Setup
Plan the medical director’s readiness, clinic manager setup, staff training, and billing workflows before the first patient walks in. The cost is highest when launch dates slip, because payroll starts before referral volume does, so tie opening tasks to a hard calendar and clear go-live checks.
Diagnostic, Assessment, and Treatment Equipment Startup Expense
Essential gear
Start with the tools that support intake, exam, balance testing, vestibular rehab, and patient tracking. The only priced assets given are the $45,000 neuroimaging software suite and the $35,000 balance and vestibular platform, for $80,000 total before the unpriced physical therapy gym outfitting line.
What to budget
This line should cover concussion assessment equipment, exam equipment, treatment tables, balance and gait tools, vestibular and ocular-motor therapy tools, physical therapy equipment, computers, and basic monitoring gear. Price it with units × unit cost, vendor quotes, room count, provider count, and expected patient volume.
Separate must-have from premium gear
Use written quotes for each asset
Match purchases to visit volume
Spend control
Keep the build lean by buying for the actual service menu first, then adding extras only after demand shows up. Do not assume you need computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or hospital-grade imaging. The clinic can start with targeted diagnostic and rehab tools, not a hospital imaging stack.
Buy for core visits first
Delay premium systems
Skip hospital-style imaging
Right-size the build
The right equipment mix depends on referral strategy, provider count, and expected patient volume. A clinic with more follow-up rehab and less imaging needs a different setup than one built around heavy diagnostic testing. Tie every purchase to room use, visit flow, and how often balance and vestibular work will run.
Licensing, Credentialing, Insurance, Legal, and Compliance Startup Expense
Compliance Setup
A concussion clinic needs entity formation, state clinic setup, payer enrollment, provider licensing support, credentialing, legal review, HIPAA policies, OSHA procedures, and malpractice coverage. Budget starts with quote-based legal and admin work, then adds recurring insurance and billing fees. Professional malpractice insurance is $3,200 per month, and billing and collection fees run at 60% of revenue.
What It Covers
This line covers the rules and filings that let the clinic bill and operate cleanly. The estimate depends on state, provider type, services, and payer contracts. Use legal quotes, enrollment counts, and months of coverage. If lab testing is offered, add CLIA steps. Credentialing delays can push reimbursement out, so build extra runway before cash starts coming in.
Count providers and payers first
Price legal review by task
Budget for delayed collections
How To Control It
Start credentialing early, before opening day, so reimbursement can begin sooner. Use one compliance plan for HIPAA, OSHA, and clinic policies instead of custom work for every issue. Keep lab testing out unless it changes care enough to justify CLIA work. One clean rule: no credentialing, no cash.
Submit payer files early
Use templates where allowed
Separate setup from monthly fees
Cash Risk
This cost is not just one-time setup. The real strain is the monthly burn from $3,200 malpractice insurance plus 60% of revenue for billing and collections, while credentialing can delay first payments. Plan this as both startup cash and operating runway, not a small admin fee.
Medical Software, Testing Platforms, and Data Security Startup Expense
Software Stack
A concussion clinic’s software stack covers EHR, practice management, scheduling, claims, patient portal, telehealth, outcome tracking, neurocognitive testing, cybersecurity, hardware, and backups. The known recurring anchor is $850 per month for EHR and patient portal. Treat implementation and hardware as one-time startup costs, not monthly overhead.
Cost Build
Estimate this line in two buckets: recurring software and one-time setup. Use $45,000 for the neuroimaging software suite CAPEX line, then add $850 per month for EHR and portal. Diagnostic software licensing is 35% of revenue in Years 1 to 2, then 30% in Years 3 to 5. HIPAA planning and access controls belong in launch scope.
Cost Control
Cut waste by buying only the modules tied to your service menu and patient volume. Don’t bury HIPAA controls, backups, or implementation in later phases; gaps there get expensive fast. The best savings come from avoiding premium add-ons you won’t use and from keeping one-time hardware separate from recurring subscriptions.
Launch Budget
Set the launch budget with a clear split: one-time software setup, hardware, and security work upfront; then $850 monthly for core platform access, plus revenue-based diagnostic licensing at 35% in Years 1 to 2 and 30% in Years 3 to 5. That keeps cash planning clean.
