Buying an Acupuncture Practice & Making it Their Own
Jessica French, DCM and Matt French, DCM own Crocus Hill Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. Buying an acupuncture practice and building an inviting neighborhood clinic is a great option after graduation. We checked in with them about how they did it, and how it’s going.
Acupuncture as a Career Change
When they met over 16 years ago, neither Matt or Jessica had any interest in acupuncture. She was a graphic designer, and he was working in education. Jessica actually got acupuncture for the first time at Crocus Hill.
After they lost Jessica’s mom and a close friend, both became interested in a career change. Dr. Jessica started acupuncture school, and Dr. Matt got a degree in public health before ultimately joining her at NWHSU. While in school, Dr. Jessica worked at the front desk at Crocus Hill, learning more about the business and gaining valuable experience.
“It was a very rewarding experience to be able to see behind the scenes of running an acupuncture clinic,” shared Dr. Jessica. “But the best part was being able to form relationships with the patients who came through those doors. I wanted to keep that energy going. It was evident that Crocus Hill had an existing reputation of expertise and charm, which I was excited to be a part of.”
Buying an Acupuncture Practice
As they were finishing school, the French’s bought Crocus Hill and started a family. By that point, Jessica knew many of the patients, helping with the transition. They stayed in the location on Grand Avenue for about three years. “Patients loved it. It had a lot of character, but we were looking to expand a bit,” explained Dr. Matt. “And then the rent was just going up, so it was getting unsustainable to stay.”
In 2023, they moved the clinic from Grand Avenue in St. Paul to Falcon Heights. This gave Dr. Jessica the opportunity to use her design background, transforming a dental office into their own space. “It was a fun challenge to set up an environment that was conducive to healing while still being seen as a professional medical space,” she shared.
Building a Welcoming Neighborhood Practice
Now, they both practice at Crocus Hill and employ five other acupuncturists and three massage therapists. Building community—among the practitioners and with patients—is a priority for them, and it’s palpable when you walk into the space.
“Patients, I think, get more out of the experience when they feel that sense of community,” shared Dr. Matt. “There are always people greeting each other in the lobby. I think people feel very welcome here, which just makes it less transactional.” Dr. Jessica added, with a laugh, “Our daughter calls our waiting room ‘the living room.’”
From the time people walk in, they feel like they’re visiting friends or relatives. I think it makes people look forward to coming back. We want people to come regularly because the more they come in the better results they’re going to get.” -Dr. Matt
The new location—which happens to be down the street from Dr. Matt’s mom’s house—is receptive to the community-based approach. “Something I really like about it is that we’re a business in a neighborhood, whereas before we were a business in a line of businesses,” said Dr. Matt. “We get a lot more people popping in and saying ‘hi.’ They’re curious about what’s going on, because a lot of them have been here for twenty plus years.”
Dr. Matt is a musician, and they host music in the space the first Friday of the month. Getting the word out has been an organic, very local project.
As much as a lot of stuff is online now, people still really will go to the local place if they can.” -Dr. Matt
Interested in Opening or Buying an Acupuncture Practice?
Whether you’re buying an acupuncture practice or starting from scratch, you’ll face challenges. “You want to understand that it’s going to be difficult,” shared Dr. Matt. “No matter what route you go, there are going to be challenges. And a lot of those challenges you’re not going to be able to plan for, so it’s just the idea of being flexible.”
His advice? Focus on your mission. “As long as you’re focusing on what you can offer, focusing on the patients, I think it’s going to work out. It’s easy to get distracted, but having a mission, or purpose, or focus first is going to make some of the other pieces easier.” And of course, loving what you do doesn’t hurt. “Just caring about the people you serve and the people you work with, it goes a long way.”
Interested in a career in acupuncture and Chinese medicine? Whether you want to start a practice, buy a practice, or work in an interdisciplinary clinic or health system, NWHSU can prepare you for success.
