Orthodontic practices for sale

What to check before buying an orthodontic practice

An orthodontic practice changes hands with patients partway through treatment, so the numbers that matter most aren't all on the profit and loss statement. Before you make an offer on an orthodontist practice for sale, ask for these:

• Active cases and prepaid fees. A list of patients in treatment with each case fee, what's been collected and the expected finish date. Fees already collected for treatment you'll deliver are owed work, and the purchase agreement should say how they're handled.
• The new-start trend. Case starts by month for the last two or three years. Collections trail starts, so a slowdown in starts shows up there first.
• Where new patients come from. Referrals from general dentists, direct consultations or marketing. If a few referring offices send most of the starts, those relationships are part of what you're buying, and they won't move to you on their own.
• Retention and observation patients. How many patients are in retainer checks or being watched before treatment, and who sees them.

Our guide to finding a practice to buy covers the rest of the search.