The market for selling a Speech & Occupational Therapy integration practice in Columbus, OH is strong. For practice owners considering their next chapter, this presents a significant opportunity. But timing the market and preparing your practice correctly are critical to securing the best possible outcome. This guide offers insights into the current landscape, what buyers are looking for, and how you can prepare to maximize your practice’s value.
Market Overview
The decision to sell your practice is personal. It also needs to be a sound business decision based on current market conditions. Right now, the environment in Central Ohio is favorable for owners of integrated therapy practices.
The Columbus Advantage
Columbus is a growing and dynamic healthcare hub. This creates a competitive environment where established, well-run Speech & Occupational Therapy practices are in high demand. Buyers see the regions strong economy and population growth as a solid foundation for future success.
Buyer Appetite
We are seeing a high level of M&A activity across healthcare, with Q1 2025 showing dozens of transactions nationally. In Columbus, this trend holds true. Sophisticated buyers, from private equity groups to large regional health systems, are actively looking to acquire or partner with practices that have a proven track record.
Key Considerations for a Premium Valuation
In today’s market, buyers look beyond simple revenue figures. They are buying a well-run business with clear growth potential. For a Speech and Occupational Therapy practice in Columbus, several factors can drive your valuation to a premium level.
- Seamless Service Integration. Buyers pay a premium, sometimes 15-20% higher, for practices where speech and occupational therapy services are truly integrated, not just co-located. This demonstrates operational maturity and better patient outcomes.
- Strong Staff Retention. A stable team is a major asset. A documented staff retention rate above 85% signals a healthy culture and reduces the buyer’s operational risk.
- Diversified Payer Mix. A healthy balance of government and commercial payers, along with some private pay, shows financial stability and reduces reliance on any single revenue source.
- Documented Clinical Outcomes. The ability to prove your practice’s effectiveness with data is a powerful differentiator. This moves your practice from a commodity to a high-value clinical asset.
- Robust ABA Component. If your practice includes a strong, integrated Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) service line, it can attract significantly higher valuation multiples due to high demand in the investment community.
Market Activity and Valuations
Understanding market activity helps you set realistic expectations for a sale. While every practice is unique, clear trends are shaping deals in the therapy space.
Current Valuation Multiples
For well-run, medium-sized Speech & OT practices, we are currently seeing valuation multiples in the range of 6x to 9x Adjusted EBITDA. Practices with the premium characteristics mentioned earlier, especially those with strong ABA components or at a larger scale, can command even higher multiples.
The Confidentiality Factor
You will not find a public database of recent Speech & OT practice sales in Columbus. This information is private and confidential. This is why many owners are surprised by their practice’s true market value. Working with an advisor gives you access to this proprietary data, ensuring you are negotiating from a position of strength and not leaving money on the table.
Navigating the Sale Process
A successful practice sale is a marathon, not a sprint. The owners who achieve the best outcomes are those who prepare well in advance. In fact, we advise starting the preparation process 12 to 24 months before your target sale date. A structured process protects your confidentiality and creates a competitive environment to maximize value.
Here is a simplified look at the key stages:
| Sale Phase | Key Actions |
|---|---|
| Preparation | Organize financials, normalize EBITDA, create a business plan, and get a professional valuation. |
| Marketing | Confidentially identify and approach a curated list of qualified buyers. |
| Negotiation | Field offers, negotiate the Letter of Intent (LOI), and select the best partner. |
| Due Diligence | The buyer verifies all financial and operational information. This is where deals often face challenges. |
| Closing | Finalize legal documents and transition the practice to the new ownership. |
Understanding Your Practice’s True Value
Valuing your practice is the foundation of a successful sale. Sophisticated buyers do not look at your tax returns. They look at your practice’s true cash flow.
The Most Important Metric
The key metric is Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization). We start with your net income and add back non-cash expenses and one-time or owner-specific costs (like a car lease or above-market salary). This reveals the true profitability of the business available to a new owner.
More Than a Formula
Getting this number right is critical. But valuation is more than math. It is also about telling your practice’s story. We frame the narrative around your growth potential, your strong team, and your clinical excellence to justify the highest possible multiple. A practice is not just a spreadsheet. It is a living business with a reputation and a future. Buyers pay for that future.
Planning for Life After the Sale
The structure of your deal has major implications for your future. A successful exit plan considers what happens long after the closing paperwork is signed. We help you think through these critical post-sale elements from the very beginning.
- Protecting Your Legacy and Staff. A key goal for most owners is ensuring their team is cared for and their life’s work continues to thrive. The right partner will share this vision. We help find buyers whose culture aligns with yours.
- Structuring for Tax Efficiency. How your sale is structured can dramatically affect your after-tax proceeds. Planning this in advance is one of the most important steps in maximizing what you ultimately take home.
- Defining Your Future Role. Not every sale means walking away. Many owners choose to roll over a portion of their equity and partner with the buyer for future growth. This is often called a “second bite at the apple” and can provide significant future upside. It also allows you to maintain clinical leadership without the burdens of day-to-day administration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current market like for selling a Speech & Occupational Therapy practice in Columbus, OH?
The market for selling a Speech & Occupational Therapy integration practice in Columbus, OH is strong with a favorable environment for owners. Buyers are actively looking to acquire or partner with well-run practices as Columbus is a growing healthcare hub with a strong economy and population growth.
What factors can increase the valuation of a Speech & Occupational Therapy practice in Columbus?
Several factors can drive your practice’s valuation to a premium level including seamless integration of speech and occupational therapy services, strong staff retention (above 85%), diversified payer mix, documented clinical outcomes, and a robust integrated Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) service line.
What valuation multiples are currently seen for medium-sized Speech & Occupational Therapy practices in Columbus?
Current valuation multiples for well-run medium-sized Speech & Occupational Therapy practices in Columbus typically range from 6x to 9x Adjusted EBITDA. Practices with premium characteristics, such as strong ABA components or larger scale, may command even higher multiples.
What is the recommended timeline to prepare for selling a Speech & Occupational Therapy practice?
Owners are advised to start preparing 12 to 24 months before the target sale date. The preparation phase includes organizing financials, normalizing EBITDA, creating a business plan, and obtaining a professional valuation to maximize sale value and protect confidentiality.
What considerations should be made for life after selling a Speech & Occupational Therapy practice?
Key considerations include protecting your legacy and staff by finding buyers with aligned culture, structuring the deal for tax efficiency, and defining your future role which may include retaining some equity and partnering with the buyer for future growth and maintaining clinical leadership.
