Starting an ABA practice is exciting—and overwhelming. Too many passionate, well-intentioned professionals jump in with big hearts but without a clear roadmap. The result? Burnout, financial stress, sleepless nights, and businesses that collapse under the weight of uncertainty.
This book was written to change that.
Stephen Smith, founder of 3 Pie Squared and the ABA Business Leaders platform, has spent more than a decade working with ABA business owners across the country. Along the way, he and his wife learned many of the hardest lessons firsthand—navigating sleepless 3 a.m. payroll panics, staff misalignments, underpricing, and the cost of building without vision. Later, through consulting and his podcast, Stephen saw the same patterns repeating in thousands of practices.
What sets this book apart is its honesty. Stephen doesn’t offer magic formulas or one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, he shares practical guidance, stories, and the key questions every ABA business owner must ask to build something sustainable, ethical, and meaningful. From clarifying your vision and values to avoiding common traps around hiring, clients, and finances, this book is both a guide and a challenge: a way to help you see what you may not have considered—and to act before it’s too late.
If you’re building a typical ABA center or in-home agency, this book will help you create a stronger foundation. If you’re creating something unique, it will spark curiosity and imagination, helping you stay aligned with your mission.
Above all, this book is an invitation to lead differently. To slow down, think clearly, and build a practice you’re proud of.
Because at the end of the day, success isn’t about avoiding mistakes—it’s about learning from them before they break you.
If you’re building a typical ABA center or in-home agency, this book will help you create a stronger foundation. If you’re creating something unique, it will spark curiosity and imagination, helping you stay aligned with your mission.
Arvustused
This is the kind of resource I wish I had before I started my practice. Its clear, genuine, and grounded in values and visionexactly what our field needs. The tone is firm but gracious, and the emphasis on doing things the right way comes through on every page. Definitely worth whatever price tag you put on it.
Tiffany Seepaul, BCBA®
Stephen Smiths book is a candid and heartfelt journey into starting an ABA agency. Filled with honesty, vulnerability, and real-life stories, he shares not only his successes but also his mistakescreating a one-of-a-kind resource that guides others with humility and insight. This is more than just a guide; its a companion for anyone ready to build a meaningful, ethical, and sustainable ABA practice, learning from someone whos been in the trenches and emerged wiser on the other side.
Mallory Stinger, BCBA®
1. Why Vision Comes First (Even If Nobody Talks About It),
2. Preparing
for Credentialing!,
3. Should You Do It Yourself or Hire a Credentialing
Service?,
4. Systems Are the Backbone: Why Policies Arent Optional,
5. The
Right People for the JobBuilding Your Professional Support Team,
6. Why
Revenue Cycle Management Can Make or Break Your Practice,
7. Why Marketing in
ABA Is Different,
8. Why Client Onboarding Matters More Than You Think,
9.
Ethical Hiring Starts With Respect,
10. What Does Scaling Really Mean?,
11.
Why KPIs Arent Optional Anymore,
12. Why HIPAA Matters in ABAMore Than Just
a Rule,
13. Start With the Leader,
14. Ethics vs. Morality: Why Knowing
Yourself Comes First,
15. Burnout and VisionWhy Your Why Is the Only Way
Through
Stephen Smith is a values-driven entrepreneur and founder of 3 Pie Squared, dedicated to empowering ABA practices through ethical, sustainable, and scalable solutions. Based in Prince Edward Island, Canada, he combines strategic thinking with practical approaches to help ABA professionals build integrity-centered practices. With a background in business development, Stephen has created numerous tools and systemsfrom onboarding checklists to leadership development resourcesknown for their clarity and ethical grounding. He also leads ABA Business Leaders, a platform equipping practice owners and clinical directors with essential training and systems to navigate the evolving healthcare landscape.
Beyond content creation, Stephen hosts the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, interviewing industry experts and addressing practice management challenges. His work is anchored in commitments to clarity, consistency, and empowerment, with a focus on developing software innovations that integrate seamlessly into ABA operations. As a software innovator creating tools like onboarding automation and admin dashboards, Stephen's mission extends beyond helping practices survivehe aims to help them thrive with purpose, emphasizing long-term sustainability and ethical leadership.
