Cost of Opening a Physiotherapy Practice - Real 2026 Figures

1 April 2026Michał Nowak

You want to open your own physiotherapy practice, but you don't know how much money to prepare?

You want to open your own physiotherapy practice, but you don't know how much money to prepare? Every physiotherapy graduate or experienced physiotherapist planning their own business asks themselves this question. The answer isn't simple, because it all depends on whether you're opening a solo practice or a group practice, and what level of comfort you want to provide.

In this article we'll go through real figures -- from mandatory registration fees, through equipment and premises costs, to the hidden expenses many entrepreneurs forget to account for.

One-off costs (CAPEX) -- what you need to spend to start

Registration and legal formalities

First thing: you need to register with the relevant authorities. It's not expensive, but it is mandatory.

RPWDL registration (the Register of Healthcare Entities -- Rejestr Podmiotów Wykonujących Działalność Leczniczą) -- this is an obligation arising from the Medical Activity Act. The entry fee for a practice is 2% of the average monthly salary -- approx. 175 PLN in 2026 (approx. 166 PLN in 2025).

If you're opening an individual professional practice, registration with CEIDG (the Central Registration and Information on Business) is mandatory -- you run the practice as a business activity. CEIDG registration is free.

CTA: Want to know which legal form to choose? Check our article on legal forms for physiotherapy practices -- it's a key decision before registration. See FizjoReady packages →

Fitting out the premises -- the biggest expense

This is where your money will go the fastest. The cost of fitting out premises depends on their initial condition and what you want to achieve.

A solo practice needs:

A treatment room: min. 10-12 m² per physiotherapist
A waiting area: 5-10 m²
An accessible toilet
No kitchen, no office space needed (can be minimal)

A group practice needs:

2-3 treatment rooms: 10-12 m² each
A larger waiting area: 15-20 m²
An administrative office
An accessible toilet
Parking spaces (if required locally)

Premises fit-out budget:

No changes, just repainting and tidying: 3,000-5,000 PLN
Cosmetic work: new ceilings, floors, new heating equipment: 15,000-30,000 PLN
Full renovation (partition walls, ventilation systems, medical lighting): 50,000-80,000 PLN

Add to this a lease deposit (usually 1-3 months' rent) and building insurance.

Physiotherapy equipment

This is the heart of your practice. How much you spend depends on the treatment profile you want to offer.

Minimal stack (classic physiotherapy, manual treatments):

Treatment table (new): 2,000-5,000 PLN
Exercise table (used): 500-1,500 PLN
Massage table (new): 1,500-3,000 PLN
Therapy balls, rollers, resistance bands: 500-1,000 PLN
Hot/cold compress: 300-800 PLN
Medical scale, height measure: 300-500 PLN

Total: 5,000-11,000 PLN

Medium stack (physical therapy + equipment):

Everything from the minimal stack
Electrotherapy device (TENS, EMS): 2,000-5,000 PLN
Ultrasound device: 3,000-8,000 PLN
Laser device (if you want one): 5,000-15,000 PLN
Exercise and mobility equipment: 2,000-4,000 PLN

Total: 17,000-43,000 PLN

Premium stack (modern technologies):

Everything from the medium stack
Robotic therapy (NeuroPBT, Lokomat): 50,000-150,000 PLN (expensive, but optional)
Kinesiological video motion-analysis systems: 5,000-15,000 PLN
Vibration platform: 3,000-8,000 PLN

Total: 25,000-66,000 PLN without robotics; with robotics 75,000-200,000 PLN+

[SP] Example -- Solo practice: You're opening a small rehabilitation practice in Warsaw. You buy 2 treatment tables (used), 1 massage table, TENS units and ultrasound. Total: 8,000 PLN. That's enough for a competitive start.

[GR] Example -- Group practice: A group of 3 physiotherapists wants to open a practice. Each treatment room gets a table, a bench, basic equipment. Total for all 3: 25,000 PLN. They split the cost three ways, so each pays ~8,000 PLN.

Furniture and fittings

Useful, but not always mandatory:

Documentation cabinets (secure, with a lock): 1,000-3,000 PLN
Administrator's desk: 500-2,000 PLN
Waiting-room chairs (4-6 units): 1,000-2,000 PLN
Waiting-room side table: 300-800 PLN
Lamps, mirror, thermometer: 500-1,000 PLN

Total: 3,300-8,800 PLN

You can save money by buying used -- classified ad sites and online auctions are your allies.

Compliance documentation and procedures

This is where you can save real money.

If you contact a law firm to prepare all the compliance documents (organisational regulations, patient consent, procedures, privacy policy, etc.), you'll pay 3,000-8,000 PLN.

With our FizjoReady STARTER package -- ready-made templates adapted to KIF, GDPR, Ministry of Health and NFZ requirements -- you'll pay 299 PLN. You save around 2,700-7,700 PLN and have everything ready in a single day.

Monthly costs (OPEX) -- what you'll spend on upkeep

Rent

This is your biggest operating cost.

In Poland, depending on the city:

Small towns (population 50,000): 1,500-2,500 PLN/month
Medium-sized cities (population 200,000): 2,500-4,000 PLN/month
Large cities (Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław): 4,000-7,000 PLN/month

These are real prices for 20-30 m² premises in a decent location (close to a bus stop, offices, a hospital).

Add a deposit (usually 1-3 months' rent) and insurance -- around 100-300 PLN/month.

Utilities

Water, electricity, heating, internet/phone:

Electricity: 100-200 PLN/month (especially if you use electrical equipment)
Water and sewage: 50-100 PLN/month
Heating (if separate): 100-300 PLN/month (depends on season)
Internet and phone: 50-100 PLN/month

Total: 300-700 PLN/month, in winter can rise to 1,500 PLN/month.

It's better to rent premises with utilities included in the rent -- this reduces risk and simplifies management.

Insurance

Professional liability insurance is, for a professional practice, an obligation arising from Art. 25 of the Medical Activity Act and the Minister of Finance's Regulation of 29 April 2019. Since 2024/25, KIF (the National Chamber of Physiotherapists) provides mandatory liability insurance as part of the membership fee (45 PLN/month) -- at no extra charge.

You can also additionally insure your equipment -- this costs around 50-100 PLN/month depending on value.

This is an obligation for everyone running a professional practice.

Standard ZUS (all insurance types):

Pension + disability + sickness + accident insurance: 1,600-1,700 PLN/month

Preferential ZUS (for 24 months for new businesses):

Significantly lower rates: 400-500 PLN/month

A new business can use the start-up relief (the first 6 months without social security contributions), then preferential ZUS (24 months), and -- with lower revenues -- Mały ZUS Plus. Note that the health insurance contribution applies regardless of these reliefs. If you're also employed under an employment contract earning at least the minimum wage, you only pay the health contribution on your business.

Accounting

Keeping financial records is a necessity. You can:

Do it yourself (if you have the time): 0 PLN
Hire an accounting office: 200-500 PLN/month

Most physiotherapists choose an accounting office -- it guarantees safety and peace of mind.

Marketing and advertising

Building a patient base is an ongoing investment:

Google Business (local SEO): 0 PLN (DIY) to 500 PLN/month (agency)
Social media (Instagram, Facebook): 0 PLN (DIY) to 1,000 PLN/month (paid ads)
Flyers, business cards, printing: 100-300 PLN/month
Patient referrals (the best marketing): 0 PLN

Starting budget: 500-2,000 PLN/month. After stabilising -- reduce it.

Comparison: Solo practice vs Group practice

Cost	Solo practice (start)	Group practice (3 people)
Total CAPEX	25,000 - 45,000 PLN	50,000 - 120,000 PLN
OPEX per person/month	3,500 - 6,000 PLN	2,500 - 4,500 PLN
Break-even (at 40 patients/month)	4-6 months	4-8 months

Solo practice -- lower start-up costs, higher OPEX per person, but full autonomy.

Group practice -- higher investment, but splitting costs reduces the burden on each person.

Where to save without sacrificing quality?

Location -- choose premises outside the city centre or in a less prestigious district. Patients come for you, not for a prestigious address.
Used equipment -- electrotherapy devices, tables, furniture can be used. Check classified ad sites and Facebook groups.
Delayed premium investments -- start with the basic stack, and buy the laser or robotics next year when you have revenue.
Compliance documentation -- do NOT cut corners with a law firm here. Use templates (299 PLN) instead of a bespoke project (8,000 PLN).
Shared rent -- split premises with another physiotherapist, a massage therapist, or a speech therapist. Share the cost of utilities and rent.

CTA: Documents for 299 PLN instead of 5,000 PLN with a lawyer? Check out our STARTER package -- it includes all the compliance document templates (regulations, patient consent, procedures, GDPR policy). You'll save thousands and start legally in a single day. See FizjoReady packages →

Frequently asked questions

Q: Can I open a practice with a budget under 30,000 PLN?

A: Yes, but it'll be a minimalist version. You'd rent ready-to-use premises without renovation (3,000 PLN), buy used tables and equipment (5,000 PLN), and save on marketing (100 PLN/month to start). After 3 months, once you've earned your first money, you reinvest in quality. It's possible, but requires commitment.

Q: Do I have to buy all the physical therapy devices at once?

A: No. Start with what you offer most often (e.g. manual therapy + TENS). After a year, once you have a steady income and patients, buy a laser or ultrasound device. Patients come for a good physiotherapist, not for gadgets.

Q: How long does it take to recoup the investment?

A: Assuming 40-50 patients a month (10-12 a week) and a rate of 100-150 PLN per visit, you'll earn 4,000-7,500 PLN gross. After deducting OPEX (~4,000 PLN) you have 500-3,500 PLN net. Return on investment: 6-12 months, if you work personally and don't need to hire a doctor/nurse.

Related articles:
- Legal form for a physiotherapy practice -- professional practice or entity?
- KIF inspection at a practice -- what to expect
- How to correctly keep a patient record in physiotherapy