BCBA Earnings Calculator: Discover What You Could Make Owning Your Own ABA Practice
Want to start your own ABA practice but don’t know where to start — or what it could actually cost?
You’re not alone. For most BCBAs, the dream of independence gets buried under questions:
How many clients would I need to make this sustainable?
What happens if cancellations eat into my hours?
What should I pay my RBTs, and how does that affect my bottom line?
Can I really make more than I do now working for someone else?
Until now, the answers have been guesswork.
Introducing the Headstart BCBA Earnings Calculator
We built the first tool of its kind — designed by BCBAs who’ve launched their own practices — to give you a clear, realistic picture of your ABA practice income projection.
With a few quick inputs, you’ll see exactly how your practice could perform based on real-world factors like:
Clients served
Direct therapy hours per week
Supervision percentages
Caregiver training hours
Cancellation rates (most companies plan for 10%)
RBT hourly pay and costs
Software and admin expenses
No more “what ifs” — just a transparent ABA practice cost calculator built by clinicians who know the numbers behind starting a practice.
How the Calculator Works: Step by Step
This isn’t just a number generator. It’s a practical tool that walks you through the financial side of practice ownership. Here’s how it breaks down:
Step 1: Enter Your Client Load
Start by adding the number of clients you expect to serve. The calculator uses this to estimate therapy hours, supervision needs, and caregiver training.
Step 2: Add Your Weekly Hours
How many direct therapy hours will you provide each week? This input helps the calculator determine your billable hours and compare them to your role as an employee.
Step 3: Factor in Supervision & Caregiver Training
Enter the supervision percentage you’ll provide for your RBTs, along with caregiver training hours. Both are required services that impact your billable time and income potential.
Step 4: Plan for Cancellations
We recommend assuming around a 10% cancellation rate. This helps keep your projections realistic and prepares you for the natural ebb and flow of client attendance.
Step 5: Enter RBT Pay
Set an hourly rate for your RBTs. The calculator automatically adjusts your costs to show how compensation affects your margins.
Step 6: Add Expenses
From software subscriptions to admin support, enter your monthly practice expenses. These costs are factored into your bottom line so you can see a true net income projection.
Step 7: See Your Earnings Potential
Once your inputs are complete, the calculator instantly generates an income projection. This isn’t a vague estimate—it’s a breakdown of revenue vs. expenses that shows you what you could make as an independent practice owner.
Why We Built It
At Headstart, we’re BCBAs ourselves. We’ve been in your shoes, wondering how much can I earn as an independent BCBA and whether practice ownership was worth the leap.
That’s why we created this tool: to take the mystery out of the math and show you what’s possible when you’re in control.
Ready to See What’s Possible?
Owning your own ABA practice isn’t just about freedom — it’s about building a career that reflects your values, your time, and your worth.
Try the Headstart BCBA Earnings Calculator today and see what your future could look like.
