Billing guide
Billing service vs billing software vs built-in billing
Three ways to get insurance claims paid, who does the work in each, and what they cost at real claim volumes for chiropractic, acupuncture, and massage practices.
Facts checked November 9, 2026
Quick answer
A billing service does the billing work for a percentage of collections, typically 4–9% with a monthly minimum. Billing software is cheaper but your team does the work. Built-in billing, like Soundry, sits in between: automation and a billing team inside your practice software for $100 per month plus $2 per claim and 3% of insurance payments, with unlimited providers and the clearinghouse included. Small and mid-size practices that want billing off their plate without a percentage-service minimum usually fit built-in billing best.
The three models
| Billing service | Billing software | Built-in billing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it is priced | Percentage of collections, typically 4–9%, often with a monthly minimum; some charge $3–8 per claim | Monthly software fee plus clearinghouse fees | Soundry: $100/month plus $2 per claim and 3% of insurance payments, with unlimited providers and clearinghouse fees included |
| Who does the work | The billing company | Your staff | Automation plus Soundry’s billing team |
| Eligibility checks | Varies by service | Your staff runs them | Automatic; 100 per month included |
| Rejected claims | Worked by the service | Worked by your staff | Billing team helps fix them; payer phone follow-up under Denial Protection |
| Appeals and aged A/R follow-up | Usually included in full-service plans | Your staff | Not included |
| Practice software | Usually separate; you keep paying for your EHR | Included | Included |
| Visibility | Reports from the service | Full | Every claim, payment, and fee visible in the app |
Worked cost: 60 claims and $4,000 in insurance payments a month
Monthly fees for one provider, using each vendor’s published pricing.
| Monthly fees | Who does the work | |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage service (7%, $1,500 minimum) | $1,500 + your EHR | The service |
| Software + clearinghouse (ChiroFusion Essentials) | $149 | Your staff |
| Software + clearinghouse (Jane Practice + Claim.MD) | $159 | Your staff |
| Built-in billing (Soundry) | $340 | Automation + billing team |
Worked cost: 200 claims and $14,000 in insurance payments a month
The same models at a busier single-provider practice.
| Monthly fees | Who does the work | |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage service (7%, $1,500 minimum) | $1,500 + your EHR | The service |
| Software + clearinghouse (ChiroFusion Essentials) | $149 | Your staff |
| Software + clearinghouse (Jane Practice + Claim.MD Unlimited) | $219 | Your staff |
| Built-in billing (Soundry) | $920 | Automation + billing team |
Soundry: $100 base, $2 per claim, and 3% of insurance payments, excluding flat $4 exceptions for unmet-deductible and missing-ERA claims. Percentage service: American Chiropractic Billing’s published 7% of net collections or $1,500 minimum, whichever is greater; collections here include patient payments, so treat the figure as a floor.
Software figures exclude your staff’s billing time, which is the main cost of billing yourself. ChiroFusion also charges a $299 setup fee, and Office Ally charges $44.95 per Tax ID/NPI in months you bill non-participating payers.
Which model fits your practice
- Billing service: you collect enough that the minimum stops mattering, you want appeals and aged A/R worked for you, and you are happy to keep separate practice software.
- Billing software: you already have a trained biller with time to check eligibility, submit claims, post payments, and work rejections.
- Built-in billing: you want billing done inside the software you schedule and chart in, with automation and a billing team, at a cost that scales with your claim volume.
Read how Soundry’s built-in billing works, compare Soundry with Jane and ChiroFusion, or see full pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use a billing service or billing software?+
Use a billing service if you want someone else to handle all billing work, including appeals and aged A/R, and your collections are high enough that a percentage fee and monthly minimum make sense. Use billing software if you have trained staff with time to bill. Built-in billing like Soundry suits practices that want the work automated and supported without hiring a biller or paying a percentage-service minimum.
How much does a chiropractic billing service cost?+
Most chiropractic billing services charge 4–9% of collections, and some charge $3–8 per claim. American Chiropractic Billing, for example, publishes 7% of net collections with a $1,500 monthly minimum. Soundry’s built-in billing is $100 per month plus $2 per claim and 3% of insurance payments.
What does Soundry cost for a small practice?+
For 60 claims and $4,000 in insurance payments in a month, Soundry is $340: $100 base, $120 in claim fees, and $120 (3%) of insurance payments. That includes the practice software for unlimited providers, the clearinghouse and its fees, 100 eligibility checks, and billing-team help with rejected claims.
Does Soundry’s built-in billing include appeals?+
No. Soundry’s billing team answers billing questions and helps fix rejected claims, and Denial Protection adds correction support and payer phone follow-up for eligible claims. Formal appeals are not included.
Sources (checked November 9, 2026)
- American Chiropractic Billing: How much does chiropractic billing cost?
- ChiroFusion pricing
- Jane pricing
- Claim.MD pricing
- Soundry pricing
Competitor prices and features change; confirm current terms with each vendor before you decide.
Try built-in billing for 7 days
Soundry is $100 per month plus $2 per claim and 3% of insurance payments. Pricing checked November 9, 2026.
No long-term contract — cancel anytime in the app.