Dental Transition Resources

The Hidden Costs of Financing a $1,000,000 Dental Practice

Buying a dental practice is one of the most exciting—and expensive—moves you’ll make in your career. Many first-time buyers are laser-focused on one number: the purchase price. But if you’re financing the acquisition, the real cost of ownership goes far beyond that. Below are two critical things you must understand to avoid common pitfalls when financing a $1,000,000 dental practice. 1. Understand the Long-Term Cost of Your Loan When you finance a $1,000,000 dental practice,

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Dental Practice Valuations: Top Three Valuation Drivers

The Angle: Think Like a Buyer, Prepare Like a CEO Selling a dental practice isn’t a handoff—it’s a strategy. The most successful transitions don’t start with a “For Sale” sign. They begin months (sometimes years) in advance, with clean financials, operational upgrades, and a mindset shift: viewing your practice not as a job, but as a business. One that a buyer can step into and grow. Let’s break down the top three valuation drivers that

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Why Likability Transfers Goodwill Better Than Numbers

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

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How to Read a Dental Practice P&L

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 Dental Practice (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 operate,

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3 Common Pitfalls to Avoid: How to Sell Your Dental Practice Without Costly Mistakes

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

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David vs. Goliath

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

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The Impact of Covid-19 on Buying & Selling Dental Practices

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.

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How Many Years Do You Plan To Practice Dentistry?

Most young dentists will reply to my question quickly with “at least 25 years or more.”  When I ask the follow up question, “and how many years do you think it will take before you become disabled, injured, or unable to practice from your profession?” The answer is always “I don’t know…I feel good now….I guess it could happen….but…” I retire dentists earlier and earlier every year it seems. Back injury, neck injury, wrist surgery,

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Photocopy Phil

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

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