The Big Decision Every Doctor Faces
At some point in your career, you will face this question: should I rent a room in an existing clinic, or invest in setting up my own premises? It is one of the most consequential financial decisions a doctor can make, and the answer depends on your specialty, your ambition, and — most importantly — your appetite for risk.
This article provides an honest, numbers-based comparison to help you decide.
Option A: Renting a Room at an Established Clinic
Room rental is the most common model for doctors entering private practice. You pay for access to a fully equipped, CQC-registered facility and focus entirely on patient care. Here is what the costs look like:
Monthly Costs — Room Rental Model
| Expense | Cost (Monthly) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Room rental (8hrs/week) | £800 – £1,760 | £25–£55/hr depending on location |
| Medical indemnity insurance | £170 – £2,080 | Varies hugely by specialty |
| Medical secretary (outsourced) | £500 – £600 | 20 hours/month |
| Practice management software | £90 – £135 | Cloud-based PMS |
| Healthcode | £7 + per-bill fees | Required for insurer billing |
| Marketing | £80 – £250 | Website hosting, ads |
| Total monthly overhead | £1,647 – £4,825 |
Advantages of Room Rental
The financial advantages are clear. There is no large upfront investment, no long-term lease commitment, and no need to hire staff. You can start with just a few hours per week and scale up as your patient list grows. If the location does not work out, you can move on without losing tens of thousands of pounds.
From a regulatory perspective, working in a CQC-registered clinic means you do not need your own CQC registration — the clinic's registration covers the premises. This alone saves months of paperwork and thousands in compliance costs.
Option B: Opening Your Own Clinic
Running your own clinic gives you complete control over the patient experience, branding, and operations. However, the costs are substantially higher:
Startup Costs — Own Clinic
| Expense | Estimated Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Premises deposit & legal fees | £10,000 – £30,000 | 3–6 months deposit typical |
| Fit-out and renovation | £20,000 – £100,000 | Depends on condition and spec |
| Medical equipment | £5,000 – £50,000 | Examination couch, diagnostic tools |
| CQC registration | £3,000 – £5,000 | Fees + consultant costs |
| IT infrastructure | £3,000 – £8,000 | PMS, phones, internet, security |
| Initial marketing | £2,000 – £5,000 | Website, signage, launch campaign |
| Working capital (3 months) | £15,000 – £30,000 | Staff wages, rent before revenue |
| Total startup investment | £58,000 – £228,000 |
Monthly Costs — Own Clinic
| Expense | Cost (Monthly) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Premises rent | £2,000 – £8,000 | Depends on area and size |
| Business rates | £300 – £1,500 | Based on rateable value |
| Staff (receptionist + cleaner) | £2,500 – £4,000 | Salary + NI + pension |
| Utilities | £200 – £500 | Electric, gas, water |
| Insurance (premises + liability) | £200 – £500 | Building, contents, public liability |
| Medical indemnity | £170 – £2,080 | Same as rental model |
| Cleaning & waste disposal | £200 – £400 | Clinical waste is expensive |
| IT & software | £150 – £300 | PMS, phone system, internet |
| Marketing | £200 – £500 | Ongoing SEO, ads |
| Maintenance & repairs | £100 – £300 | Budget for unexpected costs |
| Total monthly overhead | £6,020 – £18,080 |
The Break-Even Analysis
Let us assume an average private consultation fee of £200 and a follow-up fee of £150. Here is how many patients you need to see each month just to cover your overheads:
| Model | Monthly Overhead | Patients Needed (at £200 avg) |
|---|---|---|
| Room rental at SW11 Clinic | ~£2,000 | 10 patients/month |
| Own clinic (modest) | ~£8,000 | 40 patients/month |
| Own clinic (premium) | ~£15,000 | 75 patients/month |
When Does Your Own Clinic Make Sense?
Owning your own clinic becomes financially attractive when you are consistently seeing 50+ patients per week across multiple rooms, when you want to employ other doctors and take a percentage of their billings, or when your specialty requires highly specialised equipment that you need permanent access to (e.g., a dental surgery or operating theatre).
For most doctors — especially those in the first 3–5 years of private practice — room rental offers a dramatically better risk-reward ratio.
The SW11 Medical Clinic Advantage
At SW11 Medical Clinic in Clapham Junction, we have designed our room rental model specifically for doctors who want to focus on medicine, not administration. Every room comes with:
Reception staff handling your patients, CQC registration included (no need for your own), professional cleaning and utilities, Wi-Fi and IT support, a comfortable waiting room, and flexible terms from hourly to monthly.
Consulting rooms start at £25/hour. Treatment rooms from £35/hour. Monthly contracts include a free first week and a free professional website for your practice.
Compare that to the £58,000–£228,000 you would need to open your own clinic.Ready to see the difference for yourself? Call 020 7223 5114 or book a viewing online.
SW11 Medical Clinic, 45 Lavender Hill, Clapham, SW11 5QW