The Podiatry Business Podcast

Struggling to recruit clinical staff? It’s probably not “the market”—it’s your offer, your message, and your process. In this episode, we unpack the real reasons clinics can’t attract great clinicians: vague job ads, visible chaos, unclear pay, no career path, and slow hiring timelines. You’ll get a simple framework to make your clinic more attractive, move faster with candidates, and build a role clinicians actually want to say yes to.

Hiring another podiatrist can feel like the answer—until it becomes a new source of stress and sleepless nights. In this episode, we break down when it’s actually smart to take on more staff (and when it’s not). You’ll learn the 5 clear “green lights” that signal you’re ready to hire, how to avoid hiring into chaos, and which roles typically create the fastest leverage in a clinic. If you want growth without headaches, start here.

Squeezing in “just one more patient.” It feels responsible. It feels like good service. But it quietly keeps you trapped trading time for money — and it steals the hours you need to fix the real problems in the business. I’ll share a story from this week that proves it, then I’ll break down the mindset behind it and give you a simple way to protect CEO time so your podiatry clinic can actually grow.

I sold a majority share of my podiatry clinic—and it didn’t happen at the “perfect” time. In this episode, I break down why I partnered up, how we’re scaling with new investors, and what it means to earn dividends now while securing a guaranteed exit when I’m ready to retire. More importantly, you’ll learn how to make your clinic attractive to buyers, build real leverage, and create options long before you ever want to sell.

I just built a FREE virtual version of myself to give Podiatry Clinic Owners answers on how to help their podiatry businessPodiatry Clinic Owners can now have a real conversation with Virtual Lorcan — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ask questions about their podiatry practice and get a bespoke, step-by-step plan showing exactly how to improve profits & business. In this episode I explain why charging for information is dead with the dawn of Chat-gpt etc and why your clinic needs to understand this what patients will pay for and why they will pay a premium if you do it right. 

Most podiatry clinic websites are still built like it’s 2021.Home. About. Services. Contact.Looks nice… but it doesn’t convert.In the AI age, the most effective website is a 24/7 receptionist + triage + booking system — with AI-SEO built in.In ep 195 of The Pidiatry Business Podcast I break down:The old “brochure website” model (and why it fails now)What an AI-age website should do differentlyHow AI agents can answer, triage, and convert patients 24/7

Fear is a normal part of growth—especially when you’re running a podiatry clinic.When you’re working long days, carrying the pressure of patients and payroll, and still not seeing the income or freedom you expected, change can feel risky. But staying the same has a cost too: more hours, more stress, and the same results. In this episode, we’ll unpack why fear shows up, why it doesn’t mean “stop,” and the plan that helps you move forward anyway.

If you’ve ever thought, “I just need to hire someone and everything will calm down,” this episode is for you. Because hiring doesn’t fix chaos — it amplifies it. If your clinic relies on you to answer every question, solve every problem, and keep every plate spinning, adding a new person won’t create freedom. Today I’ll show you how to hire with a system: clear roles, decision rights, and onboarding that stops you being the bottleneck.

Are your staff earning more per hour than you?It happens when you hire because demand is strong, but your pricing and systems don’t change to match the new wage bill. So the clinic gets busier, payroll gets bigger, and you’re left doing the most responsibility for the least reward. The tempting move is to throw fuel on the fire with Google Ads because surely the answer is just more new patient's. But if the numbers, capacity, and follow-up aren’t tight, you’re just pouring water into a leaky bucket. Let’s fix the leaks first—then scale with marketing.

Most podiatry clinic owners don’t feel “stuck” because the clinic isn’t busy — they feel stuck because the clinic depends on them for everything. If you’re the one making the decisions, solving the problems, and generating most of the profits, you’re not alone. In this episode, I’ll walk you through a calm, practical way to escape the Owners Trap without lowering standards or working longer hours — by installing simple decision rules and building a model that doesn’t rely on you being in every room

If you’re wondering, “When should I hire another podiatrist?” you’re not alone. Hire too early and you squeeze cashflow, add pressure, and risk paying for empty chair time. Hire too late and you cap growth, burn out, and leave new patients waiting—who often won’t wait at all. In this episode, I’ll walk you through the clearest signs it’s time to expand your clinical team, the simple numbers to check before you commit, and a practical 30–60–90 day ramp plan so a new clinician is productive without chaos. If you want to grow without becoming the bottleneck, this is for you.

You've been offered an amount to sell your clinic but your dont know if its fair or how it was even calculated. . In this episode, we’ll unpack how podiatry clinics are valued, why EBITDA and the multiple matter more than revenue, and the specific factors that can increase your valuation or slash it fast. And at the end, we’ll talk about the real decision most owners ignore: what outcome is right for you.

When someone calls your clinic and asks "I just want to know how much you charge for a podiatry appointment" it’s easy to panic, discount, or rush the conversation. But that question is rarely about price—it’s about certainty. In this episode, I’ll give you a simple front desk script that turns price shoppers into booked appointments, without sounding pushy or salesy. Plus, I’ll show you how to train your team on it so it actually gets used on real calls.

In Episode 187 of the Poidiatry Business Podcast; How To Manage Costs Without Killing Your Podiatry Clinics Growth, I explore how clinic owners can take control of costs without slowing growth. You’ll learn why reviewing a monthly profit and loss statement (P&L) or loose management accounts is the first step to making confident financial decisions. I'll then share a practical framework to judge every expense by its true benefit—whether it buys you more patients, more time, or more profit. From CPD courses to Google Ads, discover what to keep, optimise, or cut and why.

In 186 episode; "Why Podiatry Clinics Reception Matters More Than You Think" , I’ll show you exactly how a weak front desk costs podiatry clinics money (missed calls, slow follow-up, poor conversion), and the simple systems that fix it—plus how AI voice reception can work alongside your team.  If you’re spending money on Google Ads, Facebook, SEO—anything to make the phone ring—then here’s a hard truth: your receptionist is either turning those calls into booked appointments… or quietly leaking revenue every day.

What’s the “right” profit margin for your podiatry clinic? A simple questions but needs a subtle answer as more is not necessarily whats right for youA recent UK report shows solo clinics often post higher margin percentages than £1M+ practices — yet bigger clinics usually produce far more profit in cash terms. But chasing benchmarks can miss the point. In episode 185, of the The Podiatry Business Podcast we’ll unpack what the data gets right, what it ignores, and how to design your life first — then build the business model and systems that deliver freedom, stability, and sustainability.

If you’re in the early stages of your podiatry clinic and you’re thinking, “I need marketing,” I want you to pause.More leads won’t fix a business that isn’t ready to convert—and paid ads won’t create certainty. Today I’m talking about getting your duck in a row: deciding what you want your business and life to look like, choosing the type of patient you actually want, pricing properly, maximising retention, and using your numbers to make smart decisions to improve your podiatry business. 

An integral part of running every podiatry clinic is the difficulties that arise. Whether small of big these actually present an opportunity to you to make change in your clinic for the better. In Episode 183 of The Podiatry Business Podcast Lorcan talks about how this subtle mindset shift can help transform your business.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by patients hesitating or not following through on treatment, this episode is for you. Get ready for actionable strategies to build trust, communicate clearly, and see better results for your clinic and your patients.The Podiatry Business PodcastEpisode 182; Boosting Case Acceptance & Compliance for Podiatrists

The first three years of building a podiatry clinic from scratch can be the toughest. In this episode of the Podiatry Business Podcast, we’ll break down the five essential steps to make your journey smoother—from planning and knowing your numbers to early marketing, team building, and systemising. Learn how to set your clinic up for long-term success!

“Are My Podiatry Clinics Prices Too Low?” Pricing can make or break your podiatry clinic’s growth. If you’re working hard but not seeing the profits you deserve, this episode is for you. Let’s break down the signs, mindset shifts, and strategies to ensure you’re charging what you’re truly worth.

Google ads in the age of AI- Today, we’re diving into how Google Ads is evolving in the age of AI search—and what that means for podiatry clinics like yours. I’ll share practical, up-to-date tips that will help you attract more patients, boost your ROI, leverage AI and stay ahead of the competition. If you want your clinic to thrive as search trends shift, this episode is a must-listen!

One of my clients just had one of their best months ever in terms of cash collected …but when we pulled the numbers, their profit was down 40% compared to just four months earlier.In Episode 178 of The Podiatry Business Podcast I want to walk you through what happened, why it’s more common than you think, and what you must do to avoid a busy clinic with not enough profitsBy the end, you’ll know exactly why focusing on turnover alone is dangerous, what really drives profit in a podiatry clinic, and how a simple monthly P&L review can save you from nasty surprises.

"The Big Myth That A Smaller Podiatry Clinic Means Less Risk" is a conversation for podiatry clinic owners who don’t just want “more,” they want the right kind of more. In this episode, I unpack why so many of us start a clinic with no real end goal, drift into a business we never consciously designed, and then feel disappointed when we finally hit our targets. We’ll talk about starting with the end in mind – defining the income, lifestyle, and role you actually want – and why reaching a destination rarely changes how you feel inside. I’ll dive into enjoying the journey of building a business, working on your mindset as much as your metrics, and why staying small doesn’t mean staying safe. You’ll learn how to think about risk realistically, manage and mitigate it, and choose a clinic size that truly fits the life you want.

A game-changing discussion about the shift from traditional SEO to SEAI (Search Engine AI Integration) and why podiatry clinics must adapt now or risk becoming invisible to their ideal patients"If you're still optimising your podiatry website for Google like it's 2019, you're already invisible to 60% of your potential patients. Here's why: your ideal patients aren't typing 'podiatrist near me' into Google anymore—they're asking ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity for recommendations. And if you're not showing up there, you don't exist." Episode 176 of the Podiatry Business Podcast ;  Getting Found Online In The AI Age - A Podiatry Clinics Guide

Should you stock products in your podiatry clinic? It's a question every clinic owner faces when building toward that $50k+ monthly revenue goal. Today, we're breaking down the pros, cons, and strategic framework for adding retail revenue to your practice. We'll explore when products enhance patient outcomes and boost profits versus when they drain resources and distract from high-value clinical work. I'll share the decision framework I use with my coaching clients, real numbers to expect, and actionable steps to test product sales without the headaches.

Do you have associates working for you? Did you take on associates because thats what everyone else does? Could it be ruining your business? In Ep 174 of the Podiatry Business Podcast Lorcan discusses why in most cases having associates instead of employees is a fatal error and how to know if its ruining your business. 

Has your Podiatry Clinics revenue hit a plateau despite working longer and squeezing in more patients. Ep 173 of the Podiatry Business Podcast explains why and how in install systems and resources in a way that scales the business and removes the bottlenecks in the clinic

"How long will it take to see a difference"....Its a question I hear all the time. In Ep 172 of The Podiatry Business Podcast I answer that questions and go through the early steps you need to consider to make this happen. 

Are you wasting your cash on marketing that is full of leaks? You might be running Facebook ads, Google campaigns, or sending email newsletters… but if those leads are slipping through the cracks, your marketing system isn’t doing its job.I break down what digital plumbing actually means, how to know if yours is leaking, and what to do to fix it. If you're tired of pouring money into ads with little to show for it, this one’s for you. Let’s plug those holes and start turning clicks into bookings.

In this  personal episode, I share how I went from taking just 4 hours off when my first child was born to being fully present for all the moments that matter. You'll learn the 4 pillars of work-life integration that let you grow a thriving practice without sacrificing family time, plus real stories from a Podiatry client who took a full month off for his new baby while having a record revenue month. Stop choosing between business success and being the parent/partner you want to be.

Tired of being chained to your clinic 24/7? In this episode, I break down the exact system-building process that allowed my clients to go from working 60+ hours a week to a clinic runs perfectly without them. You'll discover the 3 critical system categories every podiatry clinic needs, why most SOPs fail (and how to make yours stick), and the simple documentation method that transforms chaos into clockwork. If you're ready to stop being a prisoner in your own practice, this episode shows you the way out.

If you are starting your Podiatry Clinic or looking to improve it but just dont know where to start then this episode is for you. In ep 168 of the Podiatry Business Podcast Lorcan interviews a clinic owner who walked this path and gives practical steps to take(mostly free) on how to follow that sam path to a more prosperous clinic

Throwing money at Google Ads with nothing to show for it? You're bleeding cash on clicks that never convert to patients. Today we're exposing the costly mistakes podiatry clinic owners make with their Google campaigns and sharing the proven framework that turns your ad spend into a patient-generating machine.

Stuck at the same revenue level month after month? You're not alone. Most podiatry clinic owners hit a plateau because they're working harder, not smarter. Today we'll uncover the hidden barriers keeping your practice trapped and reveal the systematic approach successful clinic owners use to break through to financial freedom. 

Ever feel that that trying to recruit a podiatrist is a bit like being in the hunger games? In episode 165 of the Podiatry Business Podcast I explain the simple system my clients are implementing into their clinics to resolve their recruitment issues while building a better service for their patients. 

Ever calculated how many potential patients slip through your fingers when calls go unanswered? Here's a shocking stat: missing just two calls a day costs your podiatry clinic over 146K profits annually. In today's episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on how AI reception technology is revolutionising podiatry practices, ensuring you never miss another opportunity 

Cash flow tight & think you cant afford to market your Podiatry Clinic. In episode 163 of the Podiatry Business Podcast Lorcan shares how to get start at zero or minimal cost and scale your marketing efforts from there. Dont wait for things to be perfect to improve your business...  start today. 

In a recent conversation a podiatrist told me that discounting will devalue their Podiatry Clinic. In episode 162 of The Podiatry Business Podcast I argue why if done properly this is not the case and in fact can help you fill those white spaces in your teams diary. 

"Discover how your podiatry clinic can generate £16 for every £1 spent on SMS marketing. In this episode, I reveal my automated SMS system that works 24/7, turning cold leads into bookings and reactivating past patients. Learn insights into templates, timing strategies, and software combinations that make this possible. Perfect for clinic owners ready to scale."

Tired of the endless cycle of 20-minute nail cuts and callus treatments? Episode 160 of the Podiatry Business Podcast tackles the solutions.  Discover how top podiatry clinics are breaking free from the traditional model and building sustainable, profitable practices.

Too many Podiatry Clinic Owners are working too hard and frankly not making enough profits to make it worth the effort. there are 5 key levers you can pull to change this as much as you need it changed. In this episode Lorcan  shows how simple it is to do this. 

"Ever feel like you're trapped in your treatment room while your practice owns you? You're not alone. As a podiatrist who transformed from working 60-hour weeks to running a thriving practice on my terms, I'm talking you throught he major steps to consider to help you break free. Ready to stop being a super-clinician and start being a successful business owner?"

Struggling to turn your marketing into actual appointments? Manual follow-ups are slow, costly, and exhausting for your team. In this episode, we break down a game-changing 4-Step AI Podiatry Follow-Up System—including AI voice technology—that books more patients effortlessly. Discover how automation can increase conversions, save time, and eliminate cold calling for good!

Facebook Ads For Podiatrists - Whats Working NowDiscover the latest, proven Facebook advertising strategies specifically designed for podiatry clinics. Join Lorcan O'Donaile, a practicing podiatrist and marketing expert, as he reveals how to achieve 10X ROI through his  Podiatry Marketing Strategy. Learn actionable tactics to attract more patients while avoiding common costly mistakes.

The Lazy Podiatrist's Guide to Patient Reactivation.The Podiatry Business Podcast, Ep 155. "Discover how to turn your dormant patient database into a revenue goldmine. Learn the exact strategies one podiatry clinic used to generate £2,000 from a single Facebook post. I'll reveal how you can do this in your clinic in less than 5mins work today. "

"Discover how AI chatbots are revolutionizing podiatry clinic bookings. Learn to implement 24/7 automated systems that qualify leads, book appointments, and engage patients while you sleep. Transform your practice with AI technology that never calls in sick, takes holidays, or misses an opportunity to fill your diary."

The Podiatry Business Podcast, Episode 153; The Three Numbers Every Podiatry Clinic Owner Must Track"Master the three critical metrics that transform podiatry clinics: Patient Acquisition Cost, Patient Lifetime Value, and Conversion Rates. Learn how to implement a data-driven tracking system, get your team fully aligned, and create accountability structures that work. Turn marketing theory into profitable reality without working evenings or weekends.

Tired of knowing what to do but struggling with the 'how'? Discover the exact implementation blueprint that is transforming Podiatry clinics around the world.  Learn the three steps that actually move the needle, create systems that work while you sleep, and get your team fully bought in - all without working evenings and weekends."

Discover why traditional marketing often fails podiatry clinics and what to do instead. Learn the crucial differences between generic and specialised healthcare marketing, understand the real costs of misaligned marketing strategies, and explore how trust-based, podiatry-specific approaches can transform your clinic's marketing effectiveness.