Season 8 of the Practice Purchased Podcast takes a new approach – real stories from real buyers, one doctor at a time. Each story arc follows the full journey to ownership in three episodes.
In this arc, we follow Dr. D, a dentist who walked away from two practices before finally finding the right one. The road wasn’t smooth. There were false starts, bad financials, an absentee seller, and a broker who just wasn’t ready. But with persistence, coaching, and a lot of negotiation, Dr. D landed a deal that almost never happened – and made it work on his terms.
Part 1: Search & First Impressions
Dr. D was ready to buy – but not desperate. He reviewed three opportunities and passed on the first two. One was a stagnant practice with barely enough patient flow to stay open. The other was tied to a DSO pushing inflated numbers and no path to ownership.
Then came the third: a small, struggling practice run by an out-of-state owner and a brand-new associate. On paper, it wasn’t promising. But the location was perfect, the equipment was top-tier, and Dr. D saw potential. He decided to dig deeper.
🎧 Listen to Episode 4 →
Part 2: Offers, Lending & Broker Woes
The deeper he looked, the messier it got. Expenses were high. Collections were low. The staff was overpaid and underutilized. The broker glossed over the red flags. But Dr. D had a vision – and the right team behind him.
With support from the DBA team, he ran a full valuation, pushed back on pricing, and treated the deal like a modified startup. He negotiated $100,000 off the asking price and got the accounts receivable included. Then came the bank loan, lease headaches, and a landlord who tried to hike the rent 30%. Dr. D didn’t flinch. He negotiated every step.
🎧 Listen to Episode 5 →
Part 3: Transition & Reality Check
Even after closing, the challenges kept coming. Dr. D discovered the real problem wasn’t the new grad dentist – it was the patient base. Young, healthy patients meant limited treatment needs and slow production.
Instead of panicking, Dr. D kept his associate job while building hygiene, controlling expenses, and growing the practice intentionally. Staff made early demands (like paid holidays and extra hours), but he held firm and set clear expectations.
Now, just months after closing, production is growing, systems are in place, and Dr. D is on track – proving that with the right mindset and support, even a “bad” deal can turn into the right one.
🎧 Listen to Episode 6 →
“He’s ramping up production. I’m happy for him.” – Dr. Dana Fort
Why It Matters
Buying a dental practice isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet. Dr. D’s story shows what most first-time buyers eventually learn: no deal is perfect, and success often comes down to preparation, persistence, and people.
He didn’t chase the shiniest practice. He didn’t fold when things got messy. He made smart compromises, stood his ground, and leaned on a team that knew how to turn a fixer-upper into a long-term win.
If you’re evaluating dental practices, negotiating with brokers, or wondering whether a deal is worth the risk, remember: the right deal doesn’t always look perfect at first. But the right strategy can turn it into one.
