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After dedicating years to honing your skills and expertise as a dentist, you may have the desire to explore different pathways to elevate your career. While dentistry offers avenues like specialization, research, or academia, there’s an allure to owning your own practice.
In 2021, 73% of dentists owned a private practice, including 84.4% of dentists aged 65 and older.* As this aging population exits the workforce, younger dentists will have an increased opportunity to buy into or buy out established practices.
Whether you’re poised to buy into an established dental practice or transform an existing one into your vision, one undeniable truth remains: financing is paramount. The good news is that certain small business loans are designed with dental practice acquisition in mind, ensuring you can get sufficient funds to purchase ownership at a manageable rate and plan to pay it back over a set number of years.
An existing practice acquisition affords the opportunity to buy an established business with a customer base. Before you buy an existing practice, consider the following benefits and risks.
If you’ve assessed the pros and cons of purchasing a dental practice and decided it’s the next right move in your career, the following steps can help guide you.
Choosing the perfect market to acquire a dental practice demands planning and strategic foresight. Dive into market research to pinpoint areas with promising demographics, like bustling populations and healthcare demands. You’ll also want to perform a competitive analysis as more saturated markets can impact patient flow and financial success.
As you research, envision the growth potential within your chosen market, factoring in population shifts, economic landscapes, and healthcare setups. These market factors matter for your business but be sure to also consider your personal preferences and desire to live in a specific area.
Although you may have numerous practices in your area, you have the liberty to select a specific focus or specialize in an aspect of dentistry that piques your interest. Popular niches in the field include cosmetic dentistry, restorative procedures, or catering to specific demographics such as children or seniors. Opting for general dentistry is perfectly acceptable; however, it's important to acknowledge that this choice may entail heightened competition and necessitate a more substantial marketing budget to attract new patients.
Consider carefully how much you're willing to invest in acquiring a practice. Your current financial situation and your comfort level with taking on debt are essential factors to weigh. Remember that the total cost depends on whether you're acquiring just the practice itself, including its patients and staff, or also the real estate it occupies. If you're considering purchasing both the practice and the property, you may need separate loans, each managed independently.
As you determine your budget for the acquisition, take into account your existing debts, such as student loans, mortgages, or car loans. Additionally, consider your personal financial objectives as excessive debt and a high debt-to-income ratio could hinder your ability to achieve other financial goals, like purchasing a home.
This is also the right time to decide if you want to do it alone or buy a practice with a group of other dentists. Trends from research by the ADA Health Policy Institute show a shift away from solo practice ownership, with 65% of dentists choosing to practice alone in 1999 down to around 50% in 2019.** This move toward working in small groups can be financially beneficial and provide a more favorable work-life balance.
One effective method for finding a dental practice is to leverage your connections within the dental community. Throughout your journey to becoming a dentist, you've likely established relationships with numerous dental professionals who may offer valuable insights and opportunities. Simply reaching out to your network and expressing your interest in practice acquisition can yield promising leads. Additionally, there are consultants and brokers who specialize in assisting individuals like you who are seeking to acquire a practice and can provide dedicated support and guidance.
Conducting thorough research in online forums and industry publications can also be fruitful in finding leads on practices available for acquisition in your desired location and price range. Upon identifying a practice where the current dentist is looking to retire or transition, you may be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before initiating discussions about the potential acquisition.
Attorneys and accountants specializing in healthcare practice acquisitions can be a wealth of information as you decide which practice to acquire. It’s also imperative to bring your loan provider into conversations as early as possible, as they’ll help you understand what’s driving the lending decision and help you ask sellers the right questions.
As you delve into understanding the ins and outs of the practice and proceed with the purchase, remember that virtually everything is open to negotiation. While the seller may have a set valuation in mind, you might identify aspects of the business that could warrant a lower price. To sidestep conflicts and keep personal emotions at bay, enlisting the help of a third-party broker to handle negotiations can prove wise. While initiating negotiations with the price is crucial, it’s essential to recognize that other aspects of the deal are also negotiable, including:
BHG Financial offers highly specialized business financing up to $500K,1,2 which you could use to acquire a dental practice. With repayment terms of up to 12 years,1 you can start your foray into independent dentistry strategically and affordably. Our dedicated concierge service means you can rely on our team to serve your needs every step of the way.
Get started by quickly viewing your personalized estimate using our payment estimator.
Buying into a dental practice typically involves acquiring a share of ownership in an existing dental clinic. This can occur through various arrangements, such as partnership agreements or equity purchases.
While there are several rules of thumb used to value businesses, it's best to get an independent valuation before a dental practice acquisition. A valuation considers factors including location, patient base, revenue streams, equipment, office condition, growth potential, and more.
* “Practice Ownership Among Dentists Continues to Decline.” American Dental Association, https://www.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/ada-org/files/resources/research/hpi/hpigraphic_practice_ownership_among_dentists_decline.pdf. Accessed May 13, 2024
** "How Many Dentists Are in Solo Practice?" American Dental Association, https://www.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/ada-org/files/resources/research/hpi/hpigraphic_0121_1.pdf. Accessed May 14, 2024
Not all solutions, loan amounts, rates or terms are available in all states.
1 Terms subject to credit approval upon completion of an application. Loan sizes, interest rates, and loan terms vary based on the applicant's credit profile.
2 BHG Financial business loans typically range from $20,000 to $250,000; however, well-qualified borrowers may be eligible for business loans up to $500,000.
Business Loan Repayment Example: A $94,695 commercial loan with a 9-year term and an APR of 14.8% would require monthly payments of $1,591.
For California Residents: BHG Financial loans made or arranged pursuant to a California Financing Law license - Number 603G493.
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