Listen to Jillian’s story on Episode 190 of The Dietitian Success Podcast.
Jillian Foley, RD is a long-time DSC member and has utilized both the Nutrition and Business libraries for propelling her private practice forward. DSC helps dietitians like Jillian by providing nutrition client handouts, evidence summaries, and video courses, and also a business library for those who want to start and grow their dietitian private practice. Business resources such as Marketing Mastery, Referral Relationships, Social Media, Website Creation, Insurance Billing, and so much more allow aspiring business owners to shift from Employee to Entrepreneur, just like Jillian.
From Part-Time Bariatric Dietitian to Thriving Private Practice
Jillian Foley, a registered dietitian from the Philadelphia area, has built a successful private practice focused on weight loss. But her path to entrepreneurship wasn’t always clear. In her early years as a dietitian, Jillian found herself working in part-time roles that she didn’t necessarily envision for herself.
“I didn’t think that was what I wanted to do, but it was a job,” she said, reflecting on her time at a bariatric doctor’s office. Working at both a doctor’s office and a local gym, Jillian unexpectedly found her passion in helping others achieve their health goals. It was during these early experiences that she started to develop her unique approach to nutrition and client care.
The Role of Relationships in Business Growth
Building her client base in a gym setting was far from easy. “I put up a signup sheet, my picture, and talked to the trainers. It was crickets.” Jillian explained how it took much more than just putting her name out there. She had to build strong relationships with the trainers. “I would tell a patient about a trainer I thought could help them and then directly connect them. Over time, trainers started doing the same for me.” This approach not only helped her build her clientele but also fostered a supportive network of professionals who trusted her expertise. She modeled the behavior that she wanted for herself.
The Shift From Employee to Entrepreneur
After several years of working in gyms and other part-time roles, Jillian faced a turning point: Could she go out on her own?
The idea of starting her own business wasn’t without challenges. Jillian shared, “I started the process of figuring out what I would have to do to go on my own. It was a blur, and it takes forever, but I knew I had to do it.” From getting her own NPI number to handling health insurance, Jillian was determined to make her dream of running her own private practice a reality.
What really pushed her forward was a series of serendipitous events. A conversation with a manager of a local restaurant led her to a new opportunity—a woman renting out a space in a nearby town. Before she knew it, Jillian had signed the lease, diving headfirst into her own practice.
Navigating the Pandemic: A Turning Point
Just before COVID-19, Jillian’s private practice was up and running. Then the pandemic hit, and everything seemed uncertain. “I thought, okay, I’m done. I don’t know where I’m going to live. But then we were allowed to go virtual, and almost everyone stayed with me.” Transitioning to virtual private practice not only allowed Jillian to continue helping her clients but also proved to be a blessing in disguise.
Jillian even made the decision to give up her physical office space when her landlord increased the rent. She realized that only a small percentage of her clients were actually from the area and wanted to be seen in-person. Today, Jillian rents space at the gym where she once worked and continues to serve her clients both in person and virtually.
Marketing: Consistency and Word of Mouth
One of the key elements of Jillian’s success has been her ability to build strong, long-term relationships with her clients. “A big part of my patients have been seeing me forever. If someone stops seeing me, they’re not gone forever.” Her clients often come back, sometimes years later, or refer friends and family to her practice.
For marketing, Jillian focuses on word of mouth, social media, and seminars. She stays consistent on Instagram and Facebook, making sure to provide valuable content—even if it’s just reaching a small audience. “I ask myself, who am I talking to? The 10,000 likes I wish I got, or the 13 people that really valued it?” she says.
Jillian has also begun writing blogs to bring more traffic to her website to support her future goal of creating nutrition courses, inspired by her own experience of finding valuable resources online. “I found you through a blog,” she toldKrista, acknowledging the impact that blogging can have on growing a business. She even partners with a local gym to publish her blogs in their newspaper, hoping to reach more potential clients.
Evolving as a Business Owner
When asked about how her business has changed over the last five years, Jillian shared that the biggest transformation has been in her approach to running the business. “I’m becoming more organized with the way I approach the numbers and stats,” she said, noting that focusing on metrics has helped her grow in confidence as a business owner.
What’s Next for Jillian Foley Nutritionista?
Looking forward, Jillian is excited about the potential of creating courses to expand her practice. She has dabbled in running self-esteem courses, which were well-received by her clients, and plans to continue exploring this avenue. She’s also interested in hiring another dietitian to help manage her growing client base.
For now, she remains focused on refining her practice, learning more about the business side, and providing the best possible care to her clients. Her advice to other dietitians who are just starting out? “You’ll get there. The struggles in the beginning are a part of it, and 5% progress is better than zero.”
Conclusion
Jillian Foley’s journey from part-time dietitian to successful private practice owner is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the power of relationships. Her story reminds us that building a business is about staying consistent, adapting when challenges arise, and always believing in your ability to grow. Whether it’s making connections at a local gym or navigating a global pandemic, Jillian’s dedication to her clients and her craft shines through in everything she does.
Find Jillian online: Instagram: @nutritionista_1
Facebook: Nutritionista
Website: www.nutritionista267.com
With DSC’s Nutrition + Business membership, we offer step-by-step instructions for how to set up your dietitian private practice using our Ultimate Business Checklist. Plus, we have dozens of other courses, a dietitian business community, and 1:1 business Q&A to help you start and grow your practice!