Category Archives: Buying

Many dentists assume the buying process starts when a listing appears. In reality, the strongest buyers are often the ones who begin preparing long before they ever tour a practice.

January is an ideal time to focus on preparation instead of pursuit, so that when the right opportunity comes along, you’re ready to act with confidence.

---

Why Preparation Matters More Than Speed

In competitive markets, practices rarely sit idle. Buyers who rush in without preparation often feel pressure to compromise or make decisions they later regret.

Prepared buyers:

• Move quickly without feeling rushed

• Ask better questions during due diligence

• Structure stronger offers—not just higher prices

Being ready doesn’t mean buying immediately; it means being in control when the right opportunity presents itself.

---

Financial Readiness Goes Beyond Loan Approval

While speaking with a lender is important, true financial readiness involves a deeper understanding of your personal and professional finances.

Key areas to review include:

• Personal cash flow and lifestyle expectations post-purchase

• Available liquidity for working capital and transition costs

• Credit profile and debt obligations

• Comfort with different transaction structures, including seller involvement

Understanding these factors early helps you evaluate opportunities realistically rather than emotionally.

---

Define Your Ideal Practice—Before You See One

January is the right time to clarify what you’re actually looking for in a practice.

Consider:

• Preferred geography and commute tolerance

• Practice size, patient mix, and growth potential

• Turnkey operations versus practices that need improvement

• Willingness to manage staffing or operational challenges

Buyers who define these parameters early are less likely to chase practices that don’t align with their long-term goals.

---

Understand What Really Drives Value

Price alone doesn’t determine whether a practice is a good acquisition. Buyers should focus on:

• Sustainable cash flow, not just top-line collections

• Quality and stability of hygiene and staff

• Transition expectations of the seller

• Realistic growth opportunities post-closing

Evaluating practices through this lens leads to better long-term outcomes, even if it means passing on an attractive listing.

---

Final Thought

Buying a dental practice is one of the most significant professional decisions you’ll make. The goal isn’t to buy quickly, it’s to buy well.

If ownership is on your horizon in the next one to three years, January is the right time to start preparing so you can move confidently when the right opportunity appears.  Contact us today for a free consultation!

A New Year. A Big Decision.

As we close out the year, you may find yourself asking:

“Is it time to stop waiting and finally buy a dental practice?”

You’re not alone. Every January, we hear from dentists who have been considering ownership for months (or years) — but just haven’t taken that first step.

If you’re even thinking about buying a practice in 2026, now is the time to get clear on your goals, assess your readiness, and make a plan.

Here are six signs that you may be more ready than you realize.

---

1. You’re Ready to Lead (Not Just Drill and Fill)

Owning a practice means more than treating patients — it means leading a team, making decisions, and driving a vision forward.

Ask yourself:

• Am I comfortable setting expectations with staff?

• Do I want to build a culture that reflects my values?

• Am I ready to be the person others turn to for answers?

If the idea of leading excites you more than it scares you, that’s a good sign.

---

2. You Want Control Over Your Schedule and Income

Practice ownership offers real advantages:

• You choose your hours

• You control how many patients you see

• You decide when to invest in equipment, expand services, or take a vacation

• Long-term, your income potential often surpasses associate earnings

Ownership isn’t passive — but it is empowering.

---

3. You’re Tired of Working for Someone Else’s Goals

Many buyers tell us they’ve outgrown their associate role. They feel:

• Stuck under production targets

• Frustrated by inefficient systems

• Disconnected from patient care decisions

• Ready to build something of their own

If that resonates with you, it might be time to stop building someone else’s business — and start building your own.

---

4. You’re Financially Stable (Or On Track)

You don’t need to have every dollar saved — most practice purchases are financed through dental-specific lenders.

But you do need:

• A solid credit score

• Manageable debt (especially student loans)

• Consistent income and spending habits

• A rough idea of your borrowing capacity

If you’re not quite there, that’s okay. Use Q1 of 2026 to tighten things up. A lender can help you assess your readiness.

---

5. You’ve Been Browsing Listings and Thinking, “I Could Do That”

If you’ve found yourself looking at practice listings, imagining how you’d improve the office, lead the staff, or connect with patients — you’re probably more ready than you think.

Ownership doesn’t require perfection.

It requires vision, drive, and a willingness to learn.

---

6. You Want to Create Long-Term Stability

Practice ownership is an investment in your future.

• You build equity

• You shape your professional reputation

• You gain tax and retirement planning advantages

• You create a sellable asset when it’s time to retire

If you’re thinking long-term and want to build wealth on your terms, buying a practice can be a game-changer.

---

Final Thought: Ownership Isn’t for Everyone — But It Might Be for You

Only you can decide whether 2026 is your year. But if even one or two of the signs above hit home, it may be time to stop waiting and start planning.

Because practices don’t just go to the most qualified dentist — they go to the most prepared.

---

Ready to Explore Ownership in 2026?

At American Practice Consultants, we help first-time buyers navigate the transition into practice ownership with confidence. Whether you’re six months or two years away, we’ll help you prepare for the moment when the right practice appears.

👉 Schedule a confidential buyer readiness call today.

Thinking About Buying a Practice in 2026? Start Now.

If practice ownership is on your radar for the coming year, you may be tempted to wait until January to get serious.

But here’s the truth:

The most successful buyers start preparing months before they submit an offer.

December is the perfect time to lay the groundwork so that when the right opportunity hits the market in early 2026, you’re ready to move quickly and confidently.

Here’s your strategic pre-ownership checklist.

---

1. Get Financially Organized

Start by getting a clear picture of your current financial standing:

• Review your credit score (680+ is a common benchmark for lending)

• Reduce high-interest debt where possible

• Save for a down payment (typically 0–10% depending on the deal)

• Gather recent tax returns, pay stubs, and personal financial statements

Then, connect with a dental-specific lender to get pre-qualified. This shows brokers and sellers that you’re serious—and speeds up your timeline when you’re ready to make an offer.

📝 Pro tip: Pre-qualification is based on your financials. Loan approval will ultimately be tied to a specific practice’s numbers.

---

2. Define Your Ideal Practice (With Flexibility)

Now’s the time to reflect on what kind of practice fits your clinical skills, lifestyle, and goals.

Ask yourself:

• Do I want a solo GP office or multi-doc setup?

• Urban, suburban, or small-town community?

• Bread-and-butter dentistry or room to add specialty services?

• Do I prefer a fixer-upper or a turnkey practice?

Be clear about your preferences—but stay open-minded. No practice will be perfect, but plenty can be profitable and fulfilling.

---

3. Build Your Professional Team

Don’t wait until you’ve found a practice to build your advisory team. Start identifying and connecting with:

• A dental CPA who can help review financials

• A transaction attorney with dental experience

• A broker or advisor who specializes in your region

• A dental lender with industry knowledge

You don’t need to hire everyone just yet, but establishing these relationships early gives you guidance when decisions get real.

---

4. Learn the Process Before You’re in It

Understanding how a dental practice sale works can help you avoid costly mistakes.

Use December to:

• Read up on due diligence steps

• Learn how practice valuations work

• Understand how deals are structured (AR, real estate, seller financing, etc.)

• Follow dental transition blogs (like this one!)

• Attend webinars or workshops on ownership

🎯 You’ll feel more confident and be less likely to miss red flags or opportunities.

---

5. Get Mentally Ready for the Shift

Buying a practice is more than a financial decision—it’s a mindset shift.

Ask yourself:

• Am I ready to be the leader in a practice?

• How will I manage staff, schedules, and patients?

• Do I have a vision for the kind of office I want to build?

This is a great time to talk to current owners or mentors and get a real sense of what day-to-day ownership looks like.

---

Final Thoughts: Smart Buyers Start Early

January listings are coming. If you wait until the new year to get organized, you might lose valuable time—or worse, miss out on the right opportunity entirely.

Make December your launchpad, not your off-season.

---

Ready to Prepare for 2026 Ownership?

At American Practice Consultants, we work with buyers at every stage—from “just curious” to “ready to close.” If practice ownership is your goal for 2026, we’ll help you get everything in order now, so you can act when the right practice appears.

👉 Schedule a confidential buyer planning call today.

Perfection Is the Enemy of Progress

If you’re searching for a dental practice to buy, it’s easy to fall into the trap of waiting.

Waiting for:

• The perfect location

• The ideal number of ops

• The latest technology

• The exact production level you want

• The “right feeling” from a seller or staff

But here’s the truth: “Perfect” rarely shows up. And if you’re still waiting for it a year from now, you’ll have missed real opportunities that could have set you on the path to ownership, income growth, and long-term equity.

What Happens When Buyers Wait Too Long?

Buyers who hold out for the unicorn office often find themselves:

• Competing with more buyers as interest rates drop or demand rises

• Facing higher purchase prices due to inflation or market shifts

• Losing out on practices they were “still thinking about”

• Continuing to work as associates with little control or equity

• Second-guessing every listing and becoming paralyzed by indecision

Owning a practice is a powerful wealth-building tool, and the sooner you own, the sooner you begin building value.

“Good Enough” Can Be a Great Investment

You don’t need a fully digital, six-operatory, $1.2M-per-year practice to succeed.

In fact, many of the best deals are practices that:

• Have stable revenue, but need operational improvements
• Refer out specialty procedures you can keep in-house
• Are under-producing due to part-time owners
• Need marketing, updated systems, or expanded hours
• Are priced more affordably because they’re not flashy

These practices may not be “perfect,” but they’re profitable, and they come with upside.

You Don’t Need to Buy a Dream Office. You Can Build It.

Most successful practice owners didn’t buy a flawless office. They bought a solid foundation and made it better over time.

They:

• Upgraded technology when it made financial sense

• Hired and trained the right team

• Improved systems and marketing

• Grew collections with consistent recall and production

Don’t let surface-level issues (older chairs, outdated paint, paper charts) distract you from the fundamentals.

How to Spot a Smart Buy (Even If It’s Not “Perfect”)

Look for practices that have:

• Consistent collections over multiple years

• Strong hygiene recall and active patient base

• Loyal staff willing to stay post-sale

• Reasonable overhead and stable profit margins

• Room for you to grow the practice in your own way

Ask yourself: Could I succeed here with some thoughtful changes?

If the answer is yes, don’t wait.

Final Thoughts: Perfect Is a Moving Target

Every month you wait, you’re:

• Missing income you could be earning as an owner

• Delaying the equity you could be building

• Letting someone else run the show

There’s no such thing as the perfect practice – only the right practice for you, right now.

Ready to Find the Right Practice (Not a Perfect One)?

At American Practice Consultants, we help buyers focus on value, growth potential, and strategic fit, not just bells and whistles. If you’re ready to stop waiting and start building your future, we’re here to help.

👉 Schedule a buyer consultation and take the first step toward ownership.