Buy vs. build: the first decision in a 2026 telehealth launch
When founders ask me where to start with a telehealth brand, I tell them the first decision isn't the product. It's what you'll build yourself and what you'll buy. My partner Mark Lombardi put it best on our podcast: has someone already solved this problem, and is it cheaper to buy it from them than to build it?
The rule
Only build what gives you a competitive advantage. For everything else, matching what others already do is fine. Licensing from a team whose whole business is that one piece gets you a service-level agreement and a quality level you'd spend months reaching on your own.
What most new brands should buy
- Platform and intake. HIPAA-compliant, with prescribing workflows built in.
- Clinician network. Async and sync visits, licensed in the states you serve.
- Pharmacy and fulfillment. Reliable, US-based, fast shipping.
- Lab testing. If your products need it, there are now testing-as-a-service partners.
What you should own
Your audience, your brand, your offer, and your care team. Those are the things a buyer pays for at exit and the things that keep customers coming back. Payments also deserve real attention. It's my side of the business, and the wrong setup can freeze a growing brand overnight.
Why this matters in 2026
The playbook that worked in 2024 doesn't work now, and the brands still running it are struggling. Buying the infrastructure lowers the cost of finding out whether your brand works. Once it's growing, you can invest heavily in the parts that set you apart.
If you want help sorting out your buy-vs-build list, that's exactly what we do at Telehealth Launch Team.