How Much Does It Cost to Start a Peptide Therapy Clinic?

The real cost of starting a peptide therapy clinic in 2026 is one of the most searched questions in the industry, and also one of the most poorly answered. Most published numbers are either marketing fluff or worst-case scenarios. This post lays out the actual numbers in the order you will pay them so you can budget with confidence.

Entity formation, healthcare attorney fees, and state licensing cost between $3,000 and $8,000 total. This covers incorporating the professional entity, drafting the corporate practice of medicine structure if required in your state, and registering the business. It is the cheapest phase and also the most important to get right.

Lease deposits run $5,000 to $20,000. Build-out costs range from $50,000 to $150,000 depending on the condition of the space and the quality of finishes. Most new peptide therapy clinics sign 1,500 to 3,000 square foot leases at $25 to $50 per square foot annually, putting monthly rent between $3,000 and $12,500.

Exam tables, injection supplies, refrigeration for peptides, vital signs equipment, and basic clinical supplies cost $15,000 to $40,000 for a new clinic. This is lower than many medical specialties because peptide therapy does not require surgical or imaging equipment.

EHR, scheduling, CRM, payment processing, and patient intake software cost $2,000 to $8,000 in setup fees plus $500 to $2,000 in monthly subscriptions. Setup is a one-time hit. Monthly costs are ongoing operating expenses.

Budget for provider salary, one medical assistant, and one front desk coordinator from day one. For a new clinic, total monthly staffing costs are typically $25,000 to $50,000 depending on the market and whether the owner is practicing. Have three months of staffing reserves ($75,000 to $150,000) in the bank before opening.

This is the line item most new clinic owners dramatically underestimate. A retainer marketing agency will charge $5,000 to $10,000 a month plus ad spend, so budget $10,000 to $20,000 monthly for traditional marketing. PeptideLeads charges $50 per qualified lead with no retainer and no ad spend, which dramatically reduces the marketing line during the first year. Most new clinics on PeptideLeads spend between $2,000 and $6,000 a month on patient acquisition in year one.

Plan to hold six months of operating expenses in working capital before opening. For a typical peptide therapy clinic that means $150,000 to $300,000 in the bank on day one. Revenue ramps over the first three to six months and working capital keeps you solvent through the ramp.

Adding it all up, the realistic all-in cost to start a peptide therapy clinic in 2026 is between $250,000 and $500,000 for a single-provider location. The variance comes primarily from real estate and build-out. Clinics in low-cost cities can open closer to $250,000. Clinics in premium real estate markets will land closer to $500,000.