SBA 7(a) Physical Therapy Clinic Feasibility Study in Missouri

A franchise presence in a small market

Physical therapy clinics in Missouri drew 27 approvals across FY2017 to FY2026 totaling $7.3 million. The median loan of $127,000 reaches 0.91x of the class elsewhere, and half lie between $55,000 and $265,500. Franchise brands account for 29.6%, a notable minority. Missouri is 32 on national count, with clinics at 20 of 39 at home, and the lender and county detail below shows how narrow the market is.

A single lender and a St. Louis lean

A single lender is named: The Huntington National Bank, which holds 6 loans worth $1.2 million; a reader should not conclude that other lenders were absent from the state, only that none reaches the table. By county, Saint Louis has 13 loans, far ahead of Jackson with 6 and Greene with 5, with Clay and Lawrence closing the list. Volume is irregular: none in FY2021, 5 loans in FY2022, and 6 loans in FY2026 with $896,600. FY2024 produced the biggest dollar total at $2.0 million on 4 loans.

Missing outcomes

The early cohorts are too small for either cancellation or charge-off, so neither is shown, and neither is a zero. A lender reading Missouri clinic files must therefore rely on the practice's own referral base, visit history and payer contracts, not on any class record.

What a Missouri therapy study should address

The study must show who sends patients. Orthopedic practices, primary care offices, employers and sports programs are typical sources, and the plan should list those committed. Payer mix is central, with commercial insurance paying more than public programs, so the study should state the expected split and the reimbursement per visit. If the project is a franchise unit, the franchisor's data should be tested against the local market, and the royalty and marketing fees should be in the budget. Therapist staffing sets capacity, and the plan should include licensure, hiring dates and the ramp of visits per day. With a median of $127,000, loans are modest, and the study should itemize leasehold work, equipment and working capital reserves so that the opening months are funded. Payments should be covered if the clinic reaches only a part of its target visits.