What if launching your own ABA practice didn’t have to feel like a leap into the unknown?

That’s the question Michael Gao, co-founder of Alpaca Health, asked himself after seeing too many brilliant BCBAs stuck in broken systems — underpaid, overwhelmed, and convinced that business ownership was out of reach.

Today, thanks to Alpaca’s streamlined “practice-in-a-box” model, dozens of clinicians have opened their doors, secured insurance contracts, hired staff, and built caseloads — without giving up their evenings, their sanity, or their autonomy. Here's how they’re doing it.

The Challenge: “I’ve Got My BCBA, But I Have No Idea Where to Start”

For most clinicians, the idea of opening a practice sparks more anxiety than excitement.

“I haven’t even set up an LLC. I don’t have a client. I’m not credentialed. I don’t want to mess this up.”

Sound familiar?

Michael has heard it all — from clinicians who love their work but feel paralyzed by paperwork, cash flow fears, or just not knowing the first step.

“What’s always true,” he said, “is that two to four weeks into the process, after they land that first client, they realize it’s actually not that hard. The hardest part was just starting.”

But that “just start” advice? It’s only helpful when someone hands you a map.

The Breakthrough: You’ve Already Done the Hard Part

Michael’s insight was simple but powerful:
If you’ve made it through grad school, clinical hours, and the BCBA exam, you’ve already done something far more difficult than starting a business.

What you need now isn’t more credentials. It’s structure, support, and a little momentum.

So Alpaca designed a blueprint that meets clinicians exactly where they are — even if where they are is square one.

“We built this for someone who hasn’t filed an LLC, doesn’t have an EIN, and isn’t in-network anywhere yet,” Michael said. “This is for the clinician who wants to start walking.”

The Solution: A Practice-In-A-Box That Puts You In Charge

Alpaca Health is not a franchise. You keep your brand, your name, your decisions, and your clinical judgment. What you get is:

• An all-in-one platform for scheduling, data collection, compliance, and billing

• Admin support for intake, verification, authorizations, payroll, and claims

• Group insurance contracts that solve the cash flow gap from day one

• Step-by-step support for LLC setup, EIN, liability insurance, credentialing, and hiring

• Biweekly payouts so you can run payroll without waiting 6–8 weeks for insurers

In other words: everything you’d normally need five different vendors and a full-time admin team to pull off — all in one place.

“We send you the money before we get paid. You pay your staff first. Then insurance reimburses us later,” Michael explained. “You get cash flow predictability from the start.”

The Results: Caseloads Built, Staff Retained, Stress Reduced

Clinicians who partner with Alpaca are getting real results, fast:

• 80% average retention rate for BTs in small, clinician-owned practices

• Caseloads filled in weeks, sometimes with zero marketing spend

• Time-to-launch cut in half compared to going it alone

• Payer approvals accelerated, thanks to dedicated credentialing teams

• Full platform + admin support for less than the cost of hiring your first admin assistant

“We had one practice in Fort Hood, TX post in a local Facebook group and get their first client within 48 hours. It’s not always about ads — it’s about knowing how to tap your network.”

The Innovation: Freedom Without Reinventing the Wheel

This isn’t a franchise. You’re not giving up your name, brand, or autonomy.
But you also don’t have to reinvent every back-office process from scratch.

Alpaca’s “group NPI” infrastructure gives you access to national payer networks without the delays — and their revenue-share model means they only get paid when you do.

“Think of it like a co-op,” Michael said. “The more practices we support, the more leverage we have to negotiate higher rates, better support, and more favorable terms for everyone.”

The Tools & Technology: Everything in One Place

Alpaca’s platform includes:

• AI-powered compliance agent that auto-generates session notes and flags issues

• Live scheduling intelligence that prevents overbilling or lost hours

• Patient responsibility estimates that help families understand their out-of-pocket costs

• Billing tools, claim scrubbing, and follow-ups built into the platform

• Built-in payroll management — no third-party systems or spreadsheets needed

And when it comes to credentialing, you’re not left chasing faxes or waiting months for answers. Alpaca does the follow-up. They call every week. Sometimes, every day.

Looking Ahead: Small Practices, Big Impact

For Michael and his team, this isn’t just about helping BCBAs make more money.

It’s about creating a new kind of ABA ecosystem — one where care is individualized, clinician-led, and rooted in community.

“We believe small, independent practices are a net good for the world,” Michael said. “Because when clinicians have control over their time, their finances, and their clinical judgment — everyone wins.”

The future of ABA isn’t another giant agency. It’s thousands of small ones. And it starts with one clinician deciding to bet on herself.

Advice to Others: Start Walking

If you’re reading this and thinking, “That sounds great, but I’m not ready” — you’re not alone. But readiness isn’t the prerequisite.

Clarity comes from movement. And your first step could be as simple as:

• Texting a former colleague about a BT role

• Posting in a local autism support group

• Filing your LLC with a service like Bizzy

• Reaching out to Alpaca for a no-pressure walkthrough

“This isn’t rocket science,” Michael reminded the group. “You already did the hard part. Starting a practice? That’s just walking.”

Want to see what your first 30 days could look like with Alpaca?

Book a demo to get started.

You’re closer than you think.