Daily guarantee

A daily guarantee is a minimum amount a practice commits to pay an associate for a clinical day, regardless of what their percentage-based production actually earns that day: a safety net most commonly offered during an associate's first months, when their schedule and patient base haven't yet built up to the point where the percentage formula alone reliably covers a livable income.

The guarantee is meant to be temporary, and both sides should be explicit about that from the start: as the associate's production grows, their percentage-based earnings should eventually exceed the guarantee amount, at which point they're simply paid the higher, percentage-based number instead. An associate whose production never catches up to the guarantee after a reasonable period is a signal worth addressing directly, whether through more coaching, a different schedule, or a harder conversation about fit.

For a new graduate weighing job offers, a higher guarantee is a less important factor than the growth opportunity and the volume of reps the position actually offers: a guarantee that looks generous on paper can mask a slower-growing patient base and less valuable clinical experience than a lower-guarantee position at a busier office.