The market for Telehealth and Digital Therapy solutions in Columbus, OH is strong. Favorable state laws and high patient demand have created a unique window of opportunity for practice owners. If you are thinking about your exit, capitalizing on this moment requires more than just a valuable practice. It requires a strategic plan. This guide provides an overview of the market, key considerations for selling, and how to approach the process to secure your legacy.
Market Overview
The timing for selling a telehealth practice in Ohio has never been more favorable. Nationally, the market is projected to grow at 24% annually through 2030. Locally, we saw the impact when institutions like the OSU Wexner Medical Center experienced a massive surge in telehealth visits. This isn’t a temporary trend. The state has cemented this shift with the Telemedicine Expansion Act (HB 122), which permanently expanded telehealth services. This legislative support provides regulatory stability for buyers and increases the long-term value of your practice. For owners in a major healthcare hub like Columbus, these factors combine to create a seller’s market where well-positioned practices are attracting significant interest from investors.
Key Considerations
Beyond broad market trends, the unique characteristics of your telehealth practice are what buyers value most. As you prepare for a sale, focus on how you present these strengths.
Your Unique Value Proposition
Sophisticated buyers understand the operational leverage of a digital practice. Highlight your key metrics for patient convenience, provider efficiency, and reduced overhead. Showcasing low no-show rates, wide geographic reach from a central Columbus hub, and efficient patient management systems demonstrates a scalable and profitable model.
The Behavioral Health Advantage
If your practice focuses on digital therapy or behavioral health, you are in a high-demand sub-specialty. This area is a key focus for investors and larger healthcare platforms looking to expand their service lines. Your established presence in this niche is a powerful asset that commands premium attention.
Proving Your Worth
A generic valuation will not capture the true worth of a specialized telehealth practice. Published data for this specific vertical in Columbus is scarce. A professional valuation is needed to translate your operational strengths and niche focus into a credible enterprise value that stands up to buyer scrutiny.
Market Activity
The demand for telehealth practices is not just theoretical. It is driving real M&A activity. Buyers range from private equity groups looking for a platform to build upon, to large hospital systems seeking to expand their digital footprint. These are not casual buyers. They are experienced investors who analyze a business based on its proven performance and future scalability. Many owners think they should wait until they are ready to sell to start preparing. This is a common mistake. Buyers pay for what is proven, not for potential. The work you do in the 12 to 24 months before a sale has the greatest impact on your final valuation. Starting the preparation process now ensures you can sell on your terms, not theirs.
The Sale Process
Selling a practice is a structured project, not a single event. While every sale is unique, the journey typically follows four main stages. Understanding them can help you prepare.
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Valuation and Preparation. This is the foundational stage where you get a clear, objective view of what your practice is worth. We work with owners to analyze financials, normalize expenses, and package the business’s story to appeal to the right buyers.
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Confidential Marketing. Your identity must be protected. The process involves creating a confidential information memorandum (CIM) and approaching a curated list of qualified buyers without revealing your practice’s name until a non-disclosure agreement is signed.
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Negotiation and Offer Selection. An expert-led process generates multiple offers, creating competitive tension that drives up value. We help you compare not just the price, but the terms, structure, and cultural fit of each potential partner.
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Due Diligence and Closing. This is where the buyer verifies all your claims. Being prepared is critical. We help you organize your data room and manage the process to avoid surprises that could jeopardize the deal. Poor preparation here is where many sales encounter problems.
Valuation
How do buyers determine what your practice is worth? It begins with a metric called Adjusted EBITDA. This is not the same as your net income. We start with your earnings, then add back owner-specific expenses like an above-market salary, personal vehicle leases, or other one-time costs. This gives a true picture of the practice’s profitability. That Adjusted EBITDA figure is then multiplied by a number called a multiple. For a telehealth practice, this multiple is influenced by its size, growth rate, provider model, and level of operational sophistication. Many owners underestimate their practice’s value because they look at their tax return. A proper valuation tells the real story. It reframes the numbers to show a buyer the cash flow they can expect, which is what they are truly buying.
Post-Sale Considerations
The transaction is not the end of the story. A successful exit plan considers what happens the day after the deal closes. Losing control is a common fear, but the right deal structure can actually preserve your autonomy and legacy. Thinking through these points early in the process is critical to finding a partner who aligns with your goals.
Consideration | What It Means for You |
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Your Future Role | You can structure the deal to fit your desires. This could mean continuing clinical work for a set period, taking on a leadership role, or planning for a clean exit. |
Staff & Legacy | Finding the right buyer includes ensuring your team is valued and that the patient care philosophy you built is respected and continued. |
Financial Outcomes | Your proceeds are not just a lump sum. The deal can include an equity rollover, giving you a stake in the future growth, or an earnout tied to performance. |
Your personal and financial goals should drive the entire sale strategy. It’s about more than just the highest price. It’s about finding the right partner and the right deal structure for your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Columbus, OH telehealth practice market favorable for selling now?
The market is strong due to favorable state laws like the Telemedicine Expansion Act (HB 122) and high patient demand. This legislative support creates regulatory stability while the presence of major healthcare institutions using telehealth boosts market growth, positioning Columbus as a seller’s market with significant investor interest.
What key aspects of my telehealth practice should I highlight to attract buyers?
Buyers value patient convenience, provider efficiency, and reduced overhead. Highlight metrics like low no-show rates, wide geographic reach from Columbus, and efficient patient management systems. Emphasizing these shows a scalable, profitable, and operationally leveraged digital practice.
How is the valuation of a telehealth practice in Columbus determined?
Valuation starts with Adjusted EBITDA, which adjusts earnings by adding back owner-specific expenses like above-market salaries and one-time costs. This adjusted figure is then multiplied by a number influenced by factors such as practice size, growth rate, provider model, and operational sophistication, revealing a credible enterprise value.
What are the main stages in selling a telehealth or digital therapy practice?
The sale process typically includes: 1) Valuation and preparation, 2) Confidential marketing with a curated buyer list, 3) Negotiation and offer selection focusing on price and terms, 4) Due diligence and closing where buyer verifies all claims and documentation to finalize the deal.
How can I protect my legacy and maintain some control after selling my practice?
Deal structures can be designed to fit your post-sale goals, such as continuing clinical work temporarily, taking on leadership roles, or a clean exit. Choosing buyers who value your staff and patient care philosophy, and considering financial outcomes like equity rollover or performance earnouts, helps preserve your autonomy and legacy.