As a practice owner, you’ll know firsthand that growing a private practice takes more than great clinical care. It also takes the right systems, people, & processes to keep the business side of your practice running smoothly.

Whether you’re just starting out, planning to grow your practice, opening a new location, or simply making day-to-day admin less stressful, how you manage billing & operational support can make or break your momentum.

More & more private practices are turning to outsourced solutions—& not just for billing. From IT & payroll to digital marketing & medical admin, outsourcing has become a smart & strategic way to build capacity without increasing overheads.

However, many practice owners get stuck when it comes to choosing between doing things in-house or outsourcing to a trusted partner. Is it better to have someone in the room, or is it smarter to access an experienced team & best-in-class tools for a fraction of the cost?

Let’s break it down.

The real cost of doing it yourself

Are you a new private practice just starting out? Or maybe you have an established private GP or surgeon’s practice looking to scale. Perhaps the patient list is growing, another doctor is coming on board, or the admin team is already stretched thin. It feels like the logical next step is to hire someone—or two people—to manage the billing & admin load.

It’s a fair instinct. But before you do, consider the true cost of building this capacity in-house:

• Hiring one or more admin staff: Market-related salaries range from R12,000–R18,000/month depending on experience & location.
  
• Managing HR overheads: Consider the total cost to your practice when recruiting for an in-house role, such as leave, sick days, performance management, & recruitment if a staff member resigns.
  
• Software & IT costs: Relying on self-managed tools or legacy systems often adds R1,000–R5,000/month, oftentimes split between different systems that don’t exchange information securely between them.
  
• Operational inefficiencies: Rejected claims, late submissions, & bad debt can easily account for 5–10% of revenue leakage.
  
• Time: Your own time managing billing issues, reviewing reports, or training new staff could equate to hours each week – time you can’t bill for or use in other productive ways.
  
  

When you add all of that up, you’re looking at R20,000–R30,000/month or more in visible & hidden costs. And still, you may not be getting the performance, clarity, or consistency your practice needs.

Another GP or surgeon faced with growth & in a similar position as yours may be better served by outsourcing billing & admin to a specialist bureau service. Why? Because it expands your team’s capacity, gives you access to real-time reporting & expert support, & frees up your internal resources to focus on patient care & business strategy. All without carrying the financial responsibility of keeping it in-house. 

Why more practices are turning to bureau services

Outsourcing your billing & admin isn’t about giving up control. It’s about gaining capacity, accuracy, & peace of mind. You don’t have to worry about training, managing, or monitoring performance. Instead, you gain a team of professionals who specialise in what they do, backed by tools & processes that work.

With Healthbridge’s reputable, tailored Bureau Services, you can:

• Submit claims quickly & accurately
  
• Minimise rejections & delays through expert validation
  
• Get proactive follow-ups on unpaid accounts
  
• Access reporting dashboards & performance insights
  
• Reduce your admin team’s workload & improve job satisfaction
  
  

Importantly, you can expand your team’s capabilities without increasing your payroll. By working closely with Healthbridge experts, your staff learns new skills, your business becomes more agile, and you get the benefit of a proven platform trusted by over 7,000 practitioners.

Value over spend: Doing the numbers

It is understandable to feel cautious about adding a monthly service cost to your practice. But the key is to think in terms of value, not just spend.

Here’s a simplified cost comparison to help put it into perspective:

In-House Setup

• 1 Admin salary (R15,000/month)
  
• HR overhead (R2,000/month)
  
• Software & IT support (R2,000/month)
  
• Lost revenue from inefficiencies (estimated 5% of R200,000 turnover = R10,000)
  
• Doctor’s time lost (5 hours/month @ R900/hour = R4,500)
  = R33,500+ per month
  
  

Bureau service model

• A monthly fee (either fixed or a percentage of claims submitted)
  
• Includes technology platform, claims management, reporting, & support
  
• Scalable, predictable, & backed by a team of professionals
  
  

While exact costs vary, the value you gain—more time, fewer delays, less stress, & better insight—is worth much more than a single line item on your invoice.

Who stands to benefit most?

We’ve helped practices across South Africa unlock the benefits of outsourcing. Here’s when a bureau service typically makes the most sense:

• New practices without a billing team or process in place
  
• Busy practices with overwhelmed admin staff
  
• Growing teams looking to scale operations without adding headcount
  
• Practices experiencing frequent claim rejections or gaps in cash flow
  
  

Is your practice facing any of these challenges? Consider whether outsourcing your billing to a Bureau Service could help you not only solve your immediate challenges, but expand your capacity & expertise without the admin hassle. 

How much are you really spending on admin?

Are you paying more than you need to for results that don’t measure up? We’ve created a simple checklist to help you do the comparison for yourself. 

What’s Your Admin Really Costing You?

Calculate the following:

1. Admin salaries & HR costs
   
2. Time spent on claim submissions & chasing payments
   
3. Delays from software or rejections
   
4. Your own time spent overseeing the process

The results might surprise you – & show just how cost-effective an outsourced solution can be.

A smarter way to scale

Healthbridge Bureau Services are designed to support your practice’s growth. You get more than just admin support—you get a leading technology-backed partner that understands healthcare, simplifies complexity, & helps you build a sustainable business.

Whether you’re starting out, scaling up, or simply ready for a better way to manage your admin—we’re here to help you take the next step with confidence. Contact us at Bureau.sales@healthbridge.co.za to speak to an experienced Business Consultant about what a smarter back office could look like for your practice.