Associate Dentist to Owner Podcast

Chris Marshall
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to The Associate to Owner Podcast, the ultimate resource for dentists ready to make the leap from associate to practice owner. Hosted by Chris Marshall DDS, founder of Practice Ownership Advisors, this podcast delves into the strategies, challenges, and rewards of dental practice ownership. We specialize in helping dentists buy their own practices, offering actionable insights, real-life stories, and expert advice in every episode. Join us as we empower the next generation of dental entrepreneurs to take control of their careers and buy the practice of their dreams. Website: https://practiceown.com Email: info@practiceown.com

  1. 2d ago

    How Long Does It Take To Buy A Dental Practice?

    📋 Free Download: Practice Evaluation Checklist https://practiceown.com/pdf How long does it take to buy a dental practice? It's one of the most common questions I get, and most dentists go in with the wrong expectation. In this episode I break down both phases step by step, and I show you why rushing either one is the most expensive mistake you can make. What we cover: - The two phases of an acquisition, split at the letter of intent - Median time to find the right practice: 4 months (some take weeks, some take years) - Why your search radius is the single biggest factor in your timeline - Why dental brokers don't split commissions like realtors, and what that means for you - Why brokers send you their worst listings first - 84% of the 500 practices I've reviewed were not worth buying - Why every professional in the deal is paid to close fast, not to close well - LOI negotiation: typically 2 to 3 weeks of back and forth - Due diligence: 3 to 4 weeks, including a second in-person site visit - The site visit where I told a client to walk away, and the practice he found 3 weeks later paid 2 to 3 times more - Financing: about 3 months total, and why you need more than one bank - When to hire your attorney, and how the wrong one adds months - How a landlord can kill a deal days before closing - When to give notice at your associate job, and why you should never sign a 90-day notice - Why you need weeks off between leaving your job and taking over the practice 💼 Work with me: I help dentists evaluate dental practices before they buy. Every practice I evaluate gets compared against my database of 500+ evaluations. https://practiceown.com 📬 Questions? Reach out directly: chris@practiceown.com 0:00 The Two Phases, And Where Your Search Starts 4:23 Practice Brokers And What They Show You 7:09 How Long The Search Really Takes 7:54 Phase 2: Signing The Letter Of Intent 9:20 Due Diligence And The Site Visit 12:44 Financing, Attorneys, And The Lease 18:40 When To Leave Your Associate Job 23:11 The Total Timeline

  2. Jul 30

    New Data: How Much Do Dental Practice Owners Actually Make?

    📋 Free Download: Practice Evaluation Checklist https://practiceown.com/pdf The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the median dentist makes $179,000 per year. I have looked at the profit and loss statements and tax returns of over 500 dental practices that sold in the last two years, and the real median owner income is $351,000. In this video I show you the actual numbers, the full distribution, and why the government figure is so misleading. What we cover: - Why the BLS number of $179,000 doesn't reflect what owners take home - The real median owner income: $351,000 across 500+ practices - The full income distribution, from under $200K to $600K+ - The percentiles: 25th ($200K), median ($351K), 75th ($482K), 90th ($722K) - Why the 90th percentile is more reachable than you think - Salary vs. owner distributions, and why the tax return hides your real pay - What owners actually keep: 32.9% of collections - Why owners report $120K in income but take home closer to $350K - Why owners work less than associates and still make more - What happens when you add an associate and part-time specialists - Why the median is probably understated by $200,000 💼 Work with me: I help dentists evaluate dental practices before they buy. Every practice I evaluate gets compared against my database of 500+ evaluations. https://practiceown.com 📬 Questions? Reach out directly: chris@practiceown.com 0:00 The BLS Says Dentists Make $179,000 0:20 Where This Data Comes From (500 Practices) 0:56 How Dentist Income Changes Over a Career 1:49 Being Honest About the Data 2:29 The Real Median Owner Income: $351,000 2:58 The Full Income Distribution 3:57 The Percentiles: 25th, Median, 75th, 90th 4:30 Why the 90th Percentile Is Easier Than You Think 5:49 Why the BLS Number Is Misleading 7:17 What Owners Actually Keep: 32.9% of Collections 8:03 Reported Income vs. Actual Take-Home Pay 8:34 Owners Work Less Than Associates and Make More 9:53 Adding Associates and Specialists 10:52 Why the Median Is Probably Understated 11:28 Buy the Right Practice

  3. Jul 7

    Waiting To Buy A Dental Practice is Costing You $14,000 Per Month

    📋 Free Download: Practice Evaluation Checklist https://practiceown.com/pdf Waiting to buy a dental practice could be one of the most expensive decisions you ever make. In this video, I break down the real cost of staying at an associate job, why the most common excuses don't hold up, and how even being conservative, you're leaving $14,000 per month on the table by not becoming an owner. What we cover: - The $500,000 difference between my first and second year - Owner vs. associate income: $350K vs. $200K (conservative) - The $14,000/month opportunity cost of staying as an associate - Why you don't need more clinical experience to become an owner - Why "the timing isn't right" is never a valid excuse - Why paying off student loans first makes no financial sense - The trap of waiting for the perfect practice - Why fear of ownership is holding you back 💼 Work with me: I help dentists evaluate dental practices before they buy. Every practice I evaluate gets compared against my database of 500+ evaluations. https://practiceown.com 📬 Questions? Reach out directly: chris@practiceown.com 0:00 Intro 0:21 My Story: $200K to $700K in One Year 1:11 Owner vs. Associate Income 3:00 The $14,000/Month Opportunity Cost 4:57 Excuse #1: I Need More Experience 6:10 Excuse #2: The Timing Isn't Right 7:14 Excuse #3: I Need to Pay Off Student Loans 9:35 Excuse #4: Waiting for the Perfect Practice 12:10 Excuse #5: I'm Just Afraid 13:30 Stop Waiting, Start Now

  4. Jun 16

    How This Dentist Saved $161,842 Buying A Practice

    📋 Free Download: Practice Evaluation Checklist https://practiceown.com/pdf I recently helped a dentist save $161,000 on their dental practice acquisition. In this video, I walk through exactly how we did it, from negotiating $100,000 off the purchase price to saving over $60,000 on financing. When you're spending a million dollars, small decisions can make a massive difference. What we cover: - How we found the right practice after 3-4 months of looking - Why we offered $100K below asking price (and the seller accepted) - How time on market gives you negotiating power - Saving $60,000 by switching to the right bank - Why you should never just use one lender - A separate client who saved $500,000 on their purchase price - Why you need someone on your side during this process 💼 Work with me: I help dentists evaluate dental practices before they buy. Every practice I evaluate gets compared against my database of 500+ evaluations. https://practiceown.com 📬 Questions? Reach out directly: chris@practiceown.com 0:00 Intro 0:21 How the Process Started 1:20 Looking at the Broker Packet 2:48 Local Market Knowledge and Fair Pricing 3:28 Offering $100K Below Asking Price 5:40 Saving $60K by Switching Banks 7:33 This Is Extremely Common 8:07 A Client Who Saved $500,000 9:22 Don't Do This Alone

  5. Jun 2

    If You Want Freedom, Become an Owner

    📋 Free Download: Practice Evaluation Checklist https://practiceown.com/pdf The number one predictor of job satisfaction is autonomy. If you want freedom and control over your life as a dentist, you need to become an owner. In this video, I cover the four types of freedom you gain when you stop being an associate and start being the boss. What we cover: - Why autonomy is the #1 predictor of job satisfaction - Freedom to control your schedule (my 3-day work week) - Freedom to choose which patients and insurances you take - Freedom to take time off without asking permission - Freedom to build equity in a business you own - Why DSOs need you to stay as an associate - The real financial difference between owning and associating 💼 Work with me: I help dentists evaluate dental practices before they buy. Every practice I evaluate gets compared against my database of 500+ evaluations. https://practiceown.com 📬 Questions? Reach out directly: chris@practiceown.com 0:00 Intro: Autonomy and Job Satisfaction 1:33 Freedom to Control Your Schedule 4:33 Freedom to Choose Your Patients 6:36 Freedom to Take Time Off 7:44 Freedom to Build Equity 9:41 It's Hard, But You Can Do It 11:00 Why DSOs Don't Want You to Become an Owner

  6. May 19

    Your Accountant Is Wrong About Dental Acquisitions

    📋 Free Download: Practice Evaluation Checklist https://practiceown.com/pdf If you're buying a dental practice, be very careful about listening to advice from accountants. Accountants are great for taxes, but they don't understand how dental practices actually work. In this video, I break down why financial statements alone can't tell you if a practice is worth buying, and how the wrong advice can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars. What we cover: - Why accountants don't understand dental practice acquisitions - The fundamental trap of assuming buyer production = seller production - Why "unprofitable" practices can be goldmines for buyers - How older sellers slow down and stop treatment planning - Using a 500-practice database to spot over-treatment red flags - Why the most profitable practices on paper can be the worst to buy - The danger of buying a practice with no patients 💼 Work with me: I help dentists evaluate dental practices before they buy. Every practice I evaluate gets compared against my database of 500+ evaluations. https://practiceown.com 📬 Questions? Reach out directly: chris@practiceown.com 0:00 Intro 1:02 The Fundamental Trap: Seller vs. Buyer Production 2:28 Why Older Sellers Stop Treatment Planning 4:56 Goldmine vs. Overcrowded: Real Examples 5:32 The 500-Practice Database and Crown Ratios 6:09 Gross Negligence and Over-Treatment 7:27 Buying a Practice with No Patients 8:57 Key Takeaway

  7. May 5

    The Best Dental Practice To Buy

    📋 Free Download: Practice Evaluation Checklist https://practiceown.com/pdf What type of dental practice should you actually buy? In this video, I break down exactly what makes a practice worth buying. The short answer: buy a practice with a lot of active patients where the seller's revenue per patient is as low as possible. That's where your growth opportunity is. What we cover: - Why two practices with identical financials can be completely different - How to calculate active recall patients (not the broker's inflated number) - Revenue per patient: the most important number - How conservative sellers create massive growth opportunities - The ideal number of hygienists, operatories, and patients - Why high revenue per patient can be a red flag - Associate vs. owner income comparison - Why you can't trust broker documents at face value 💼 Work with me: I help dentists evaluate dental practices before they buy. Every practice I evaluate gets compared against my database of 500+ evaluations. https://practiceown.com 📬 Questions? Reach out directly: chris@practiceown.com 0:00 Intro 0:43 Two Practices, Same Revenue, Completely Different 1:48 Don't Trust Broker Patient Numbers 4:06 Revenue Per Patient: The Most Important Number 5:07 Conservative Sellers and Undiagnosed Dentistry 7:54 The Best Practice to Buy 9:09 The Perfect Practice for You 9:51 Hygienists, Operatories, and Patient Count 13:17 Summary

  8. Apr 21

    How to Buy a Dental Practice in 2026 (Complete Guide)

    📋 Free Download: Practice Evaluation Checklist https://practiceown.com/pdf A complete, step-by-step overview of how to buy a dental practice in 2026. From saving your emergency fund to finding practices, negotiating the price, securing financing, and closing the deal. If you're a dentist thinking about ownership, this is the video to watch first. What we cover: - How much you need saved before buying (5-10% of purchase price) - Why there's no "Zillow" for dental practices - How practice brokers work (and their incentives) - Why 80% of practices on the market aren't worth buying - How to negotiate the purchase price - The truth about practice valuations and "multiples" - How banks decide how much to lend - Comparing loan offers and avoiding bad terms - Due diligence and verification - The "death spiral" of buying a practice without enough patients - Why now is the best time to buy 💼 Work with me: I help dentists evaluate dental practices before they buy. Every practice I evaluate gets compared against my database of 500+ evaluations. https://practiceown.com 📬 Questions? Reach out directly: chris@practiceown.com 0:00 Intro 0:10 Step 1: Save Your Emergency Fund 1:53 Step 2: Find a Practice to Buy 5:17 What Brokers Will Show You First 7:40 Evaluating the Broker Packet 10:12 Step 3: Negotiate the Purchase Price 17:24 Step 4: Due Diligence and Verification 18:56 Step 5: Secure Your Loan 21:54 Other Steps Before Closing 25:01 The "Death Spiral" of Not Enough Patients 28:35 Growth Opportunity vs. Obligation 30:15 Wrap-Up

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Associate to Owner Podcast, the ultimate resource for dentists ready to make the leap from associate to practice owner. Hosted by Chris Marshall DDS, founder of Practice Ownership Advisors, this podcast delves into the strategies, challenges, and rewards of dental practice ownership. We specialize in helping dentists buy their own practices, offering actionable insights, real-life stories, and expert advice in every episode. Join us as we empower the next generation of dental entrepreneurs to take control of their careers and buy the practice of their dreams. Website: https://practiceown.com Email: info@practiceown.com

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Marshall
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    86
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024-2026 Chris Marshall / Practice Ownership Advisors
  • Show Website
    Associate Dentist to Owner Podcast

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