Call us: (+44)20 7100 8788

← Back to learning centre

Creating a Business Plan for a Dental Practice

Enter your email address for:

Newsletters • Events • Learning Centre Posts • Blog Posts

Share this article:

“The value of a business plan simply cannot be overstated. Putting ideas and concepts down on paper is invaluable and the act of researching and compiling data about your competitors and the market will prove to be very useful in the years to come.”

Stefan Topfer, The Importance of Business Planning (2)

Why creating a business plan is essential when buying a dental practice

I started this article with a quote that I wholeheartedly agree with. A well put together business plan is at the centre of every successful business. It’s also an essential factor in successfully obtaining acquisition finance. I have had this conversation with many clients over the years. If they cannot show how they are going to be a success, why should the bank have faith in them?

The fact is that a business plan helps anyone who is starting or buying a dental practice to clearly see their current position and the way ahead. It also means that financial professionals can see the reliability and promise of a dental business, before they make a lending decision.

What to include in a dental practice business plan

A well-written business plan needs to be comprehensive and succinct. It should cover all aspects of the business, without going into minute detail. Items to be covered include:

The aims and objectives of the business.

Make sure that aims are well-considered and transparent. It’s also important to make sure that these aims reflect the personal CV of the practice owner.

The services that are available at the practice.

Make sure that the resources, facilities, products and qualifications are in place for all of the services that are included.

Information about the market and competitors.

Research should be completed so that details of the current market, and the level of competition, can be provided. Consider the threats the business may face and the opportunities it can explore. I have found that a SWOT analysis is often useful at times like this. It helps with full exploration of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that can be summarised in the business plan.

The cost of purchasing and running the business.

This is a good indication that all financial implications have been considered. Remember to recognise the risks of hidden costs and indicate that there is a mitigation plan in place. This information helps banks to recognise the reliability of the business.

How the practice is going to be run.

Proposed hours of operation should be included. This information needs to be backed up by details of the amount of staff required and the working hours that will be needed.

Financial forecasts.

Anyone starting or buying a dental practice needs to have informed knowledge of how the financial situation looks for the coming months, and years. Banks also need to see that they are lending to a business that is going to be profitable. Be realistic with the figures that are included and back them up with research and evidence where possible.

Anyone starting or buying a dental practice needs to have informed knowledge of how the financial situation looks for the coming months, and years. Banks also need to see that they are lending to a business that is going to be profitable. Be realistic with the figures that are included and back them up with research and evidence where possible.

Contact us to find out more

How to format a business plan for a dental practice

Any good business plan should have three distinct sections; the executive summary, the narrative and the financials. It should also include appendices with relevant charts and graphs. It’s vital to understand the importance of each section.

The Executive Summary.

This is the most important part of a business plan when looking for acquisition finance. Lenders like to know important aspects about a dental practice business, before they provide any funding. Details of what services are going to be provided, how much funding is required and how it will be repaid should be included in this section.

It’s important to make the executive summary persuasive. Include details of the vision for the future and why the business is such a low risk when it comes to lending. What will make the business succeed?

The Narrative.

The main section of a business plan should be broken down into defined parts, for ease of reading and understanding. These parts should include.

  1. A business overview including aspects such as structure, staffing, loan repayments and risk management.
  2. Location of the business. Is this likely to change as the dental practice succeeds and grows. What are the strengths of the location?
  3. Marketing and analytics. What demographic will marketing be aimed at, what form will it take and what will the investment be. Make sure that the marketing strategy for the practice is defined.
  4. Operating the business. What will happen on a daily basis? What sort of equipment will be used at the business and what supplies will be needed? All aspects of the day to day running of the business should be included here. This includes how the business will be managed and what the staffing requirements will be.

The Financials.

In the final section of a business plan, the finances of the dental practice should be addressed. This should include projected income and cash flow figures, together with any assumptions on which these figures have been based. Provide a comprehensive vision of the financial standing and future of the practice.

Appendices.

This part of the business plan is where supporting evidence and background information is provided. This can include charts, graphs, action plans and schedules.

Putting a business plan together may sound like hard work, but it’s an essential aspect of buying or starting a dental practice. Once the plan has been completed, it’s time to consider funding options for the purchase.

Our Expert Opinion

“No plan, no business. A plan is so important to help you navigate the pitfalls of starting and building a business. Get the basics down on paper and then evolve the plan slowly with ideas and goals.”

Starting a Dental Practice: Get Started

We’ve been helping the UK’s dentists start their own practices for nearly 20 years and we know exactly what it takes to make your practice a success!

Our Dental Practice Start-up Programme is a hands-on consultancy service designed to take you through your whole journey to becoming a dental practice owner. Book a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our team at a time that suits you (including evenings). We’ll call you back and have a chat about how we can help start your dream practice.

Contact us today for all the advice, support and expertise you’ll ever need to start a dental practice.

Learn More: Starting a Dental Practice

For more information please check out the articles and webinars in the start a dental practice section of our Learning Centre, like our guide on How to Start a Dental Practice in 13 Steps.

Make sure you never miss any of our articles, webinars, videos or events by following us on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.

Share this article:

Arun Mehra

Arun is the founder of the Samera Group, starting the business with just one client sitting at his father’s dining table. Fifteen years on, Team Samera now help hundreds of clients across the globe, run training events and conferences, help clients raise and manage their finances, and helping healthcare professionals start, buy and build their businesses.

Enter your email address for:

Newsletters • Events • Learning Centre Posts • Blog Posts

Phone Talk to an Expert