Dental Transition Resources

Most dentists assume practice sales are won with numbers: collections, EBITDA, loan approvals. But here’s the truth: deals are won (or lost) on something you won’t find in a spreadsheet—likability. When a seller hands over their life’s work, they’re not just transferring patient charts and equipment. They’re entrusting their goodwill—the trust, loyalty, and reputation they’ve built over decades. Goodwill is the single most valuable asset in any dental practice, and it only transfers if the

When reviewing dental practice financials, most buyers focus on the headline numbers—collections, operatories, and active patients. But the true financial health of a practice is buried deeper, in a document many overlook or misunderstand: the Profit & Loss (P&L) statement. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or looking to expand, learning how to read a dental P&L is essential. It reveals not just how much the practice makes—but how efficiently it runs, what it costs to

When it comes to how to sell your dental practice, there’s no shortage of checklists and advice—but far fewer resources on what not to do. Yet the biggest threats to a successful sale aren’t market forces. They’re avoidable missteps made by well-meaning dentists who underestimate just how complex the process can be. Whether you’re months or years away from a sale, knowing what to avoid can mean the difference between a clean, profitable transition—or a

I really enjoy a good David vs. Goliath story, especially these days. We love to tell stories about how the underdog overcame the insurmountable odds to become successful. Rooting for the little guy always resonates with our entrepreneurial ideas and values. Yet in business, this narrative is only partly true.  Goliath can win too, and in today’s dental market he usually does. Goliath in this article represents the corporate machine in dentistry that is consuming

Unlike many other industries, much of the pandemic shutdown for dental offices was a deferral of revenue, not the loss of revenue.  COVID-19 does not reverse tooth decay or make impacted wisdom teeth go away. That restoration will still need to be done, and those wisdom teeth will still need to be extracted. There will be lost hygiene revenue, and depending upon how the eventual recovery goes, revenue for some elective procedures may be lost.

You might assume that having a ridiculously high IQ in dental school would come with a lot of privileges. For example, you wouldn’t have to study as hard for tests. You’d read about complicated concepts and instantly understand them. You’d be able to take on challenging but exciting tasks in dental school like microbiology, pathogens, or immunology.   All that may be true, but there are also significant disadvantages to being the most intelligent person

Bigger is not always better when it comes to owning a dental practice. My good friend Dan is a very successful dentist. He owns 5 offices scattered throughout the suburbs of a major city. His goal was to accumulate a dozen offices. Just one problem: finding quality associates. On top of the constant hiring and search for quality associates, he had somehow taken on the HR role for over 34 staff and employees. Putting out