Building Ethical, Sustainable ABA Businesses with April & Stephen Smith

In the Field: The ABA Podcast

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Podcast Episode: Building Ethical, Sustainable ABA Businesses with April and Stephen Smith

In this episode of In the Field: The ABA Podcast, I chat with April and Stephen Smith of 3 Pie Squared, two seasoned ABA entrepreneurs who built, scaled, and exited a seven-figure practice—and now dedicate their time to helping others do the same. Whether you're a BCBA navigating job offers or a founder shaping your company culture, this episode is packed with insights about building workplaces that are ethical, supportive, and sustainable.

We dig into what job-seeking BCBAs should look for (and avoid) when interviewing, how caseload and pay structures impact clinical quality, and why training, transparency, and values alignment are the foundation of a thriving team. On the flip side, April and Stephen offer candid advice for ABA business owners trying to scale without burning out.

Key Topics:

🔍 Red Flags for Job-Seeking BCBAs: From unclear onboarding to inflated caseloads, learn what to ask and how to evaluate whether an organization aligns with your values and needs.

💬 Why Communication Matters: How your questions are received during the interview process says a lot about what it’ll be like to work there. Transparency, responsiveness, and psychological safety are everything.

📊 The Reality Behind the Numbers: High salaries and billable hour quotas may look great on paper—but how do they actually play out day-to-day? April and Stephen break it down.

🧠 Employee vs. Contractor: A no-fluff conversation about the legal and ethical implications of hiring (or being hired) as a contractor in ABA.

🧰 Training and Self-Advocacy: For both BCBAs and techs, training isn’t a one-and-done. We talk about the importance of self-assessment, mentorship, and ongoing growth systems.

📈 Sustainable Business Systems: What every ABA business owner should have in place—from basic policies to onboarding pathways—and why perfection isn't required, but planning is.

🧾 Delegation and Growth: Why burnout often stems from bottlenecks in delegation, and how hiring even a few hours of admin support (or automating key processes) can shift your trajectory.

Key Takeaways:

A solid interview process sets the tone for the entire professional relationship—don’t ignore the signs.
Clinical decisions should never be based solely on what the funder allows. You need systems that support both ethical practice and financial viability.
BCBAs need training and mentorship just as much as technicians—and business owners must build that into their systems if they want quality care.
Delegation isn’t optional as you grow. Start with small steps and document as you go.
Values and vision aren’t just for your mission statement—check in with them regularly and use them to guide decisions when things get tough.

Keywords: ABA Business, BCBA Supervision, ABA Hiring Practices, Onboarding in ABA, Contractor vs Employee in ABA, Caseload Management, ABA Ethics, ABA Startups, Self-Advocacy, ABA Systems, ABA Training Programs, April Smith, Stephen Smith, 3 Pie Squared

Connect with April and Stephen Smith
🌐 Website: 3piesquared.com
🎧 Podcast: ABA Business Leaders Podcast
📱 Facebook: ABA Business Leaders
💼 LinkedIn: 3 Pie Squared
📱 TikTok: @3piesquared

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