The cost of doing business: Why you may be seeing price increases across your digital platforms
If you’ve noticed a jump in prices across your favorite business platforms — whether it’s Google Workspace, Zoom, or other subscription services, you’re not alone.
Psychotherapists in group, private, and part-time practices are experiencing higher costs across digital platforms.
For Canadian mental health practitioners like myself, these fluctuations are as predictable as our Canuck weather after you’ve taken your snow tires off.
At this rate, we might have to start bartering for business software with maple syrup and poutine or, in true Canadian fashion, just quietly accepting the price hike and apologizing to Google for our complaints.
1. Currency fluctuations & exchange rates
For Canadian businesses, digital services priced in US dollars (USD) fluctuate based on exchange rates. When the Canadian dollar (CAD) weakens, businesses end up paying more in CAD even if the USD price stays the same.
This unpredictability makes budgeting for software expenses more challenging. For example, according to the World Currency Exchange Rate, during the first fiscal quarter of 2025, the Canadian dollar is averaging approximately $1.43 for every $1 US dollar.
To make matters more complicated we’re seeing a fluctuation in its value go as high as $1.45 with a low of $1.41. In short, while your $150.00 USD bill may be due the 17th of every month, you'll be paying between $218.14 CAD and $212.57 CAD. Thankfully, Upheal has localized prices that respect the power of each purchasing territory.
2. Rising infrastructure & technology costs
For mental health professionals, data security is non-negotiable, requiring software with end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for secure digital communication and storage. E2EE necessitates significant computing power, complex encryption key management, and strict compliance with global security regulations, all of which drive up business costs.
Laws such as Canada’s Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) set stringent standards for handling personal health data, requiring strict security measures, encrypted storage, and controlled access.
The substantial investment by software companies in artificial intelligence (AI), and research and development (R&D) is resulting in increased costs being passed on to users. As you evaluate software solutions for your practice, be prepared for higher prices, not only for AI-driven features but also for the essential security measures that safeguard client data. Many companies invested in essential AI R&D and may need to raise prices to recoup their costs.
3. Compliance, taxes, regulatory fees, and inflation
Rising taxes, trade disputes, and inflation are increasing the cost of digital services, directly impacting mental health practitioners who rely on secure software, cloud storage, AI-driven platforms, and content creation for advertising.
Digital Services Tax (DST) and its impact
Canada’s Digital Services Tax (DST), enacted in June 2024, imposes a tax on digital service revenue that affects major U.S.-based providers like Google, Microsoft, and Meta. Canada is not the only country impacted by new taxation on digital platforms, the European Union (EU) has also introduced DSTs, prompting threats of retaliatory tariffs from the U.S. (Reuters, 2025).
While these taxes target large tech companies, the costs are passed down to clinicians in the form of higher subscription fees for practice management software, telehealth platforms, and cloud-based services.
Trade disputes and the rising cost of tech services
Ongoing U.S.-Canada trade tensions are contributing to price volatility in the tech sector. If tariffs are imposed on U.S.-based digital services or Canadian tech infrastructure we mental health practitioners will continue to see cost increases.
Additionally, the fluctuating CAD affects not just the pricing of software, online payment processing companies and data storage services that are priced in USD.
Inflation and rising costs of practice technology
Inflation is increasing the expenses of essential tools for businesses, and while we anticipate the rising costs due to inflation, the full impact on our clients' lives, which we can predict to some degree, is still largely unknown.
We will also feel the pressure as costs rise for software subscriptions like EHR systems and teletherapy platforms, cloud storage and data security services, hardware upgrades, and credit card processing fees.
However, our primary concern is the potential ramifications these increases will have on those we serve, so we must brace for these changes and adapt accordingly.
How to manage these price increases as a private practice
While price hikes are inevitable, you can take proactive steps to manage costs. So before you think about canceling your digital subscriptions and returning to old-school filing cabinets and paper notes, here are some other things to consider:
- Audit your subscriptions - Evaluate which services you truly need and eliminate redundant ones. You may also be able to re-negotiate with your current providers to see if there is a better deal for you.
- Shop local and look for regional alternatives - Canadian platform providers offer competitive pricing and benefits tailored to our specific markets.
- Negotiate with new program providers - Some platforms offer discounts. For instance, Upheal offers a discount on the yearly subscription plan
- Budget for yearly subscriptions - When possible, try to budget longer-term rather than a month-to-month subscription with American tech.
- Check to see if your platform offers any incentive plans if you pay upfront.
- This may not be an option when you are first starting out or transitioning into private practice, but even if you can accomplish this with targeted subscriptions it may relieve some of the financial stress.
- Look for student subscription pricing (if applicable) If you’re a recent graduate take advantage of your student status for as long as you can.
- Look for incentives like referral programs - It’s quite common to see referral programs when you refer other practitioners to a platform.
- Upheal has a Referral program that is worth checking out.
- Purchase incentives like a free month.
- Look for tiered pricing plans so you only pay for what you need.
- Search for non-profit healthcare discounts - There may be possible discounts for non-profit organizations or healthcare provider discounts.
- Google, Microsoft, and Zoom often offer special rates for mental health professionals.
Why I will be continuing to use Upheal
When I transitioned to my own private practice, I went looking for an AI platform that would be able to meet my needs. Being a Canadian therapist, my regulatory body mandated client confidentiality was paramount, and it was my job to be sure that I used the safest digital tools possible. I couldn’t find a Canadian company that offered features close to Upheal.
As Canadian therapists we must find programs that are PHIPA compliant when it comes to Personal Health Information (PHI). The lack of Canadian programs remains a barrier, but luckily, I found Upheal. While not a Canadian-based company, it offers PHIPA and PIPEDA as well as Europe’s GDPR compliance, in addition to SOC 2 Type II standards in security, confidentiality, availability, processing integrity, and privacy.
Its note features include the Smart edit functionality which allows me to create notes that are personally tailored to my clients' needs. In addition, Upheal integrates with my Canadian EMHware and video platform. It has great discounts and incentives, which gives me more options as a solo practitioner, and they offer a bonus for referrals and a discount on your subscription too.
Final thoughts
Price increases can be frustrating, but they often reflect the growing costs of security, compliance, and innovation. While businesses can’t always avoid these increases, being strategic about which services you use and how you budget for them can help keep expenses under control.
Have you noticed rising costs in your private practice? How are you adapting? Connect with a few fellow clinicians on Upheal's Facebook to explore cost-saving solutions together! And finally, we hope this article brought you extra clarity and guidance.
