This comparison draws in part from “Establishing an ABA Business Entity” by Dan Dube, Founder and CEO (BehaviorLive), and extends it with peer-reviewed research from our library of 27,900+ ABA research articles. The decision framework, BACB ethics code references, and cross-links below are synthesized by Behaviorist Book Club.
View the original presentation →One of the most consequential decisions a behavior analyst makes is not just what intervention to use, but how to approach the clinical question in the first place. For establishing an aba business entity, the difference between an evidence-based, individualized approach and a traditional, protocol-driven one can significantly impact outcomes.
This guide lays out the key factors side by side to support your clinical decision-making.
| Factor | Evidence-Based Approach | Traditional Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Startup Capital Required | Solo Practice: Lower initial capital; fewer staffing costs and smaller facility needs; primarily insurance credentialing, EMR, and liability insurance | Group Practice: Higher capital requirements; must cover staff salaries during caseload ramp-up and billing lag before achieving break-even |
| Revenue Ceiling | Solo Practice: Revenue is bounded by the founder's billable hours; growth requires hiring, which transforms the model | Group Practice: Revenue scales with caseload and staff; the founding BCBA's direct clinical hours become a smaller fraction of total revenue over time |
| Operational Complexity | Solo Practice: Lower administrative burden; billing, HR, and scheduling are manageable by one person or a part-time admin | Group Practice: Requires HR systems, supervisory infrastructure, staff scheduling, billing management, and potentially a dedicated operations team |
| Clinical Risk Exposure | Solo Practice: All clinical and business liability concentrated in one person; malpractice and credentialing gaps directly affect all revenue | Group Practice: Risk distributed across multiple clinicians; business continuity less dependent on any single practitioner's availability |
| Path to Exit or Sale | Solo Practice: Difficult to sell; value is largely in the relationships and credentials of the founding BCBA rather than in systems or staff | Group Practice: More saleable; value can be captured in systems, client relationships, contracts, and staff team independent of the founder |
| Work-Life Integration | Solo Practice: Fewer management demands; the founder controls clinical hours directly and can manage schedule flexibility more easily | Group Practice: Management, supervision, and administrative responsibilities expand as the organization grows, often consuming time previously dedicated to direct clinical work |
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ on-demand CEUs including ethics, supervision, and clinical topics like this one. Plus a new live CEU every Wednesday.
Use this framework when approaching establishing an aba business entity in your practice:
Does the data support a need for intervention? Is there a meaningful impact on the individual's quality of life, safety, or access to reinforcement?
YES → Proceed to assessment NO → Document reasoning, monitor
A functional assessment should guide intervention selection. Avoid defaulting to standard protocols without individual analysis. Consider environmental variables, setting events, and private events.
YES → Select evidence-based approach matched to function NO → Complete assessment first
Goals should be co-developed. Assent and informed consent are ethical requirements. The individual's preferences and values matter in selecting both goals and methods.
YES → Proceed with collaborative plan NO → Engage in shared decision-making
This course covers the clinical and ethical dimensions in detail with structured learning objectives and CEU credit.
Establishing an ABA Business Entity — Dan Dube · 0 BACB General CEUs · $0
Take This Course →We extended this decision guide with research from our library — dig into the peer-reviewed studies behind each approach, in plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
279 research articles with practitioner takeaways
236 research articles with practitioner takeaways
200 research articles with practitioner takeaways
BACB General CEUs · $0 · BehaviorLive
Research-backed educational guide
Research-backed answers for behavior analysts
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All behavior-analytic intervention is individualized. The information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice. Treatment decisions should be informed by the best available published research, individualized assessment, and obtained with the informed consent of the client or their legal guardian. Behavior analysts are responsible for practicing within the boundaries of their competence and adhering to the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.