Charting smart growth: 7 factors every practice must weigh before expanding

Health-care costs are rising faster than they have in more than a decade; large employers expect their medical-plan spend to jump almost 8% in 2025 alone. At the same time, patient demand for convenient access and broader service lines continues to intensify. For many independent groups, that pressure makes adding exam rooms, or even a second site, look like the next logical step. But a poorly timed or poorly scoped expansion can drain cash flow, fracture culture and expose physicians to regulatory landmines. Use the seven checkpoints below as a due-diligence roadmap before you sign a lease or file for building permits.

Growth can propel a practice from stable to sustainable—but only when strategy, finance, compliance, operations and culture align. Work through these seven checkpoints methodically, and you’ll walk into that larger footprint prepared to serve more patients without sacrificing margin or morale.