If it's been over a year or longer since your last price increase, it's time to nudge your fees higher.

Probably no other business decision is more troubling. Countless chiropractors remain undercompensated because they imagine a modest price increase will somehow prompt a mass exodus from their practice.

Relax.

Naturally, some patients may use it as a reason to discontinue their care. But they were already looking for the door and your modest price increase simply offered a convenient excuse.

The objective isn't to merely keep up with the Consumer Price Index or reinstate your eroding income due to inflation. As you contemplate raising your fees, consider how much of a better chiropractor you are today than at your last price increase.

Use this occasion to give yourself an appropriate raise and compensate yourself for being a better chiropractor. After all, you're smarter, wiser and more experienced.

You deserve it.

Bill Esteb has been a chiropractic patient and advocate since 1981. He is the creative director of Patient Media and the co-founder of Perfect Patients. He’s been a regular speaker at chiropractic gatherings since 1985. His 12 books explore the doctor/patient relationship from a patient's point of view. His chiropractic blog, in-office consultations, patient focus groups and consulting calls have helped hundreds of chiropractors around the world. Since 1999 Monday Morning Motivation has been emailed to over 10,000 subscribers each week.