Starting My Own Business As An Ergonomist

Business Growth & MarketingBusiness Growth & MarketingBusiness Growth & Marketing June 17, 2011

Question: I am also a P.T. and planing to get a business license to be an independent contractor to treat patients. My question to you is whether you know if I would need two separate business licenses to cover myself separately as a PT and Ergonomist? Also, in terms of obtaining liability insurance, would these two need to be separate?

Answer:I do not think so…unless your accountant would want you to do it for tax purposes.

I carry the HPSO insurance from APTA about $225 per year for $3,000,000 coverage. You can add coverage as a consultant for $25 (twenty five dollars) extra. You will also need to carry business liability if they choose to sue your business. We carry $5,000,000 for about $700 per year.

Question: I’m doing some investigation on the difference between professional liability and business liability insurance. You think I need business insurance even though I won’t have a physical building? What else would the business insurance cover that is not already covered by the professional liability insurance?

Answer: It depends on how you are paid. If you are paid to you directly, they will ask for your Social Security number & issue a 1099 at the end of the year. If you have it paid to your business, they will ask for your Federal ID #. If you have it paid to a business, you will need BOTH personal & business liability.


2 thoughts


  • Jbraiford1

    After reading the above questions, am I to understand that if I work in a free-standing clinic that is not affiliated with any hospital in my area, I can’t simply treat my regular OT patients in our clinic as usual and then perform worksite assessments/make recommendations at area industry sites/businesses as I was instructed in my CEAS training unless I have liability AND business insurance? I know the clinic I will begin working at has liability coverage, but just checking on this so I can inform them of this. They presently do not offer FCE or ergonomic assessment services and want to begin providing this at their facility.

  • Andre Arthur

    I am was requesting to do an ergonomics training for a company and was wondering what questions I should ask that would give me a better understanding of what material should be delivered in the training.

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