Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sydney Bridenstine, MA, CCC-SLP, Founder of Olive Branch Speech Therapy, LLC., located in Nashville, TN, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Olive Branch Speech Therapy provides in-home, in-school, and virtual pediatric speech evaluations and therapy in Nashville and surrounding areas. We work closely with children from ages 18 months and up and their parents to cultivate growth in communication through high-quality, consistent, and individualized services.

Tell us about yourself

I founded Olive Branch Speech Therapy, LLC in the fall of 2015. At the time, I had been working for five years as a speech-language pathologist in the Nashville public schools when I was approached by a family I had worked with previously as a babysitting client. They asked if I would work with their child to provide private speech therapy services. I began seeing her on the side of my full-time position, and soon my name was shared with the friends of this family, and my caseload began to grow steadily.

I had always dreamed of owning a private speech therapy practice, but I never felt confident or capable enough to take on such a monumental endeavor. After consulting a fellow classmate from my graduate program who had started her own practice, I realized I could start small with just one client. This model did not seem nearly as daunting as quitting my job, taking out a loan, renting a brick-and-mortar clinic space, and crossing my fingers that clients would come in and that I would somehow make any money.

I started my private practice with the hopes that I could earn more money than with my position in public schools and pay for the rising costs of child care, housing, private schooling, and personal travel. I hoped that I could specialize in the types of clients that I prefer to treat, including preschool and elementary-aged clients with speech sound disorders.

I wanted to be my own boss, to not have supervisors breathing down my neck or be drowning in a sea of paperwork, endless meetings, and too large caseloads like my job in the public school system. Most of all, I desired to be able to make my own schedule so that I could work as much or as little as I wanted, and I could be available for my children for extracurricular activities, school pickups and closings, and illnesses.

I became a speech-language pathologist because of my passion for helping others, the joy I find in working with young children, and my keen interest in science. After spending my childhood teaching my peers how to pronounce my name ("Sydney" was not the easiest for young kids), I truly know this was what I was created to do.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

In March 2020, we transitioned entirely over to telehealth due to the COVID-19 pandemic and were, therefore, able to stay open and continue to grow. Between 2020 to 2022, we have continued to expand my team of speech-language pathologists, and as of November 2022, we have fourteen team members.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

One of the biggest challenges comes with finding, hiring, and managing a team. Locating and retaining quality candidates who are invested in your same vision and culture is no small feat.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Do not be afraid to start a business, even if you don't think you have the confidence or knowledge or have your "ducks in a row"—there's so much value in learning as you grow and growing as you learn.
  2. Do not be afraid to start small. You never know if your little side hustle could turn into a huge success!
  3. Join or create your own network of like-minded business owners. It is so valuable to have a place to ask hard questions and to be encouraged and find encouragement in this journey.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.olivebranchspeech.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olivebranchspeech
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olivebranchspeech/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydney-bridenstine-ma-ccc-slp/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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