Hi, I’m Brittany Smith, co-owner of Jump Ahead Pediatrics. This isn’t how I ever imagined things turning out—at 25, the idea of co-owning a successful pediatric therapy business would’ve seemed impossible. But here I am, so proud of everything Janki and I have built—and I owe it all to a blend of hard work, determination, and a little bit of good luck.
Let me take you back to the beginning. I met Janki, my co-owner and great friend, during our freshman year of college. We were studying together, partying together, and making memories. One of my favorite (and slightly rebellious) memories was during graduation when we hid flasks in the sleeves of our gowns and snuck drinks in the bathroom before walking out on stage. College was a blur of last minute study sessions and tons of fun, but little did I know that those moments would lead to something much bigger.
After graduation, Janki and I stayed in touch and worked together, but we always found time to dream. We had these random conversations about opening our own business one day, but it felt like something we’d do “someday.” We were in our early twenties, figuring out our careers, and weren’t exactly sure what that business would look like. That was until life threw me a curveball: I found out I was pregnant with my first son.
Suddenly, everything shifted. I knew I wanted to be there for my baby, and the idea of working from home became more appealing than ever. So, Janki and I decided to take the plunge and start our business earlier than we had anticipated. We were motivated, excited, and scared all at once. But we were ready to make it happen.
When we started out, we were incredibly lucky to have some amazing guidance. Our mentor was a dual OT/PT who had started a home care therapy company, grew it, sold it, and now she mentored others, like us, who wanted to start their own therapy businesses. She was instrumental in helping us navigate the early days, offering advice, support, and insight that we could never have imagined on our own. Having her mentorship gave us the confidence to push forward; we started providing home occupational therapy services for children.
In those early days, Janki and I were seeing patients on our own. We were working long hours, but it was exciting to see the business grow. A few months in, we were able to hire our first therapist, which was a big step. One of the biggest breaks we got came from a local business owner who lived down the street from Janki. He offered us a pediatric therapy space to rent for just a few hundred dollars a month. It was a huge blessing because we didn’t have the financial resources to rent a commercial space, but we could now get started without having to worry about a huge overhead. The space came with equipment and materials and we couldn’t have been more thrilled. Then, came the milestone of signing our first “big girl lease”—we had our own official space at a nearby office building! My dad even helped build equipment for us, which meant so much. It really felt like a family affair. We were also incredibly lucky to have my mom help out in the clinic. She was amazing with the patients and families, and she quickly became an integral part of the team.
In the early days we were in-network with insurance companies, which seemed like a good move at the time. But, wow—was that a challenge. We quickly realized how corrupt and unfair the insurance industry can be. Claims were lost, denied, or paid and later rejected, with payments being deducted from other reimbursements. It was a mess, and to be honest, I was so fed up with one particular insurance company that I drove to their headquarters with my baby in tow and demanded to speak to the person responsible. Spoiler alert: I ended up speaking with him but he later left the particular insurance company and our claims continued to be denied.
After a lot of frustration, we came to the difficult decision to go out of network with insurance companies. While it was a tough move, especially with some families upset by the change, it turned out to be the best decision for our business. The reimbursement rates from the big hospitals in our area were far better than what we were getting for the same services, and we couldn’t compete. It was a tough call, but this big decision helped us stay afloat and eventually thrive.
Around this time, a school position fell into our laps, right when we were navigating the challenge of going out of network with insurance companies. This was a turning point for us. We embraced this new business model and ran with it, and it ended up being the right move for Jump Ahead Pediatrics. That was when everything really started to click.
Since then, we’ve stuck closely to our values—providing effective therapy and services for our schools while also creating a workplace that is enjoyable and supportive for our team. We wanted to build a business that we’d be proud of, and we’ve done just that. We’ve grown so much since those early days, and I’m so grateful for everything we’ve learned along the way.
Starting a business at 25 wasn’t easy, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Looking back, I’m amazed at how far we’ve come—and how much we’ve grown. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that age is just a number. If you have the passion and the drive, you can accomplish anything. To anyone out there thinking about starting their own business—here’s my honest advice: trust yourself, take the leap, and JUST F’ING DO IT.
This journey hasn’t been easy. I’ve struggled emotionally, financially, and in my relationships to make this dream a reality. And let’s be real—there are still challenges now, and more ahead. But through it all, I’ve found ways to stay afloat (with only a few mental breakdowns along the way 
).
I’ve picked up some solid strategies and wellness tools that have helped me survive and mostly thrive—and I’ll be sharing those soon. Stay tuned. 