Why it matters
Practice ownership brings a different set of financial responsibilities
The moment you own a practice, the financial complexity increases significantly. You are no longer managing one income stream and a self-assessment return. You have payroll to run, corporation tax to plan for, VAT to manage across exempt and taxable treatments, associate pay to calculate each month, and management accounts that should be telling you something useful about how the business is performing.
This is one part of our full dental accountancy service – the package for dentists who own a practice, whether you operate as a sole trader or through a limited company.
Most practice owners we speak to are getting the basics done – accounts filed, tax paid – but not much more than that. Reports are late, tax planning is reactive, and there is no real visibility on whether the practice is performing as well as it should. Often this is not their accountant’s fault – it is simply that most accountants do not understand dental practice finances well enough to know what good looks like.
Samera has worked with practice owners since 2002. We understand NHS contracts, associate splits, mixed VAT and the specific financial decisions that come up at each stage of ownership. We also own The Neem Tree Dental Group – which means the advice we give comes from direct experience of the challenges you face, not just the numbers.
What we handle
What should a dental practice accountant actually do for you?
More than most practice owners realise they are getting. The honest truth is that a lot of dental practices have an accountant who is primarily reactive – filing what happened last year rather than helping you understand what is happening now or shaping what happens next. If your accountant contacts you once a year around your accounts deadline, that is compliance. It is not advice. The difference between the two shows up in your tax bill, your profitability and your ability to make informed decisions about the practice.
- Annual accounts and corporation tax – prepared accurately and filed on time. We make sure you are not paying more than you need to.
- Management accounts – a clear picture of your revenue, costs and profit each month so you can make decisions based on current numbers, not last year’s figures.
- Payroll and pensions – accurate payroll for all staff, pension compliance and PAYE managed on your behalf.
- Associate pay calculation – monthly associate pay calculated correctly, including UDA adjustments and any clawback provisions in the associate agreement.
- VAT – dental practices have a mixed VAT position across exempt NHS and private treatment and any taxable work such as cosmetics. We manage this correctly.
- Tax planning – corporation tax, dividend strategy, capital allowances and pension contributions planned in advance rather than managed after the fact. For a full breakdown of the tax planning strategies available to practice owners, see our tax planning for dentists page.
- Making Tax Digital – Xero setup and quarterly MTD filing handled on your behalf.
- HMRC correspondence – any queries, investigations or letters handled directly by our team.
- Dedicated dental accountant – one named contact who knows your practice, not a different person every time you call.
Why Samera
We own a dental practice. That changes the quality of the advice.
We own dental practices
We built, own and operate The Neem Tree Dental Group. When we advise on practice finances, it comes from direct experience of the decisions you are facing – not just the theory of running a dental business.
Fellow of the ICAEW
Arun Mehra FCA holds the most senior tier of UK chartered accountancy. The accounts team is qualified and trained specifically in dental sector work.
Dentistry only
We do not serve retail, construction or hospitality. NHS contracts, mixed VAT, associate agreements and CQC compliance are what we work with every day.
Management accounts that mean something
We report against dental-specific KPIs – chair utilisation, revenue per UDA, cost of associate pay as a proportion of revenue. Numbers a general accountant would not know to track.
Packages
Choose the level of support that fits your practice
All packages are fixed fee plus VAT. Start at the level that suits you now and move up as the practice grows.
Dental Practice
Kick-Start (Basic)
From £500/month + VAT
Ideal for start-up or newly established dental practices that need an essential financial setup and compliance.
Operational accountancy
- Monthly bookkeeping
- Quarterly management accounts (P&L, balance sheet)
- Quarterly balance sheet reconciliations
- Bookkeeping software and support
- Tracking categories
Annual compliance
- Annual financial statement
- Corporation tax
- Company secretarial (basic)
- Personal tax return (1 director)
Tax planning
- Basic tax estimation and planning
- HMRC investigation cover
Client care
- Dedicated dental accountant
- Email and phone support
- 48-hour response time
- Support with HMRC correspondence
Setup
- Sector-specific chart of accounts
Samera Alliance
- Access to Level 1 – Dental Buying Group
Dental Practice
Expand
From £950/month + VAT
Best suited for dental groups, DSOs or high-performing practices seeking strategic financial insights.
Operational accountancy
- Monthly bookkeeping
- Monthly management accounts
- Monthly balance sheet reconciliations
- Consolidated management report
- Bookkeeping software and support
- Tracking categories
- Supplier payment runs
- Associate pay calculation
Annual compliance
- Annual financial statement
- Corporation tax
- Company secretarial (basic)
- Personal tax returns (directors)
Advanced reporting
- Budget vs actuals
- Variance and trend analysis
- Standard financial ratio analysis
- Sector-specific KPIs for dental practices
Tax planning
- Advanced tax estimation and planning
- HMRC investigation cover
Client care
- Dedicated dental accountant
- Email and phone support
- 48-hour response time
- Support with HMRC correspondence
Setup
- Sector-specific chart of accounts
- Initial system health check and data clean-up
Samera Alliance
- Access to Level 1 – Dental Buying Group
Strategic services (Expand only)
- Virtual Finance Director (FD) services
- Chair time revenue analysis
- Treatment mix profitability review
- Pricing benchmark analysis
- Practice valuation report
- Cash flow analysis (actual vs projected + 12-month forecast)
- NHS UDA analysis and planning
- Profit per clinician report
- Exit and succession planning advisory
- Cost benchmarking and overhead analysis
- Financial training (workshops or 1:1)
Optional add-ons – available on Kick-Start and Grow
Operational
- Monthly management accounts (Kick-Start only)
- Supplier payment run (Kick-Start only)
- Associate pay calculation
- Standard financial ratio analysis
- Sector-specific KPIs for dental practices
- Advanced tax estimation and planning
- Initial system health check and data clean-up (Kick-Start only)
Strategic
- Virtual Finance Director (FD) services
- Chair time revenue analysis
- Treatment mix profitability review
- Pricing benchmark analysis
- Practice valuation report
- Cash flow analysis (actual vs projected + 12-month forecast)
- NHS UDA analysis and planning
- Profit per clinician report
- Exit and succession planning advisory
- Cost benchmarking and overhead analysis
- Financial training (workshops or 1:1)
Not sure which package is right for your practice? Book a free 30-minute call and we will recommend the right starting point based on your practice size, current setup and what you are trying to achieve.
Coming soon
Samera AI add-ons
We are building AI-powered tools to give practice owners live visibility of their financial performance – EBITDA tracking, real-time tax liability, cash flow forecasting and profit per clinician. Add-on packages will be available through samera.ai – join the waitlist to be first to know.
If you are a self-employed associate rather than a practice owner, our accounts for dental associates packages are designed for your situation. If you run more than one practice, see our accounts for dental groups packages.
How it works
Up and running within two weeks – including the handover
- Book a free call – A 30-minute conversation with our accounts team. We will ask about your practice, your current setup and what is not working.
- We handle the handover – If you are switching from another accountant, we manage the transfer. We contact your previous accountant, request the relevant records and make the switch as straightforward as possible.
- We set up your systems – We get your Xero environment configured correctly for a dental practice – with the right chart of accounts, tracking categories and reporting structure for your specific setup.
- Ongoing support from there – Management accounts, payroll, associate pay, VAT and tax planning – all handled on a rolling basis. We flag issues and opportunities as they arise rather than waiting for year end.
Who this is for
We work with practice owners at every stage
Whether you have just bought your first practice or have been running one for years and feel like your current accountant is not keeping up, our team has seen the situation before.
- First-time practice owners
- Established practice owners
- NHS practices
- Private practices
- Mixed NHS and private
- Squat practices
- Acquired practices
- Practices preparing for sale
- Practice owners considering expansion
Client reviews
What practice owners say about working with Samera
Arun Mehra and his friendly team … helped and advised me in all matters of accountancy, raising finance, payroll, furlough support and general business advice. The whole teams collective vast experience and knowledge in all business matters and dentistry is invaluable when you are running any type or size of business. …
Antimos, Dentist – 5 Stars
Arun, Natasha and all the team at Samera have provided outstanding service to me over a number of years – they are experts and are friendly and easy to deal with – would thoroughly recommend.
Peter, Dentist – 5 Stars
Huge thanks to Natasha, Aditi, Arun, Karyn, and the entire Samera team for their outstanding support and guidance. Their professionalism, responsiveness, and deep expertise is a great support for our business. I truly felt supported every step of the way. Highly recommended!
Rajvansh, Dentist – 5 Stars
Who you’ll work with
Speak to the practice owners team
Book a free, no-obligation call directly with the team member whose work matches what you need.
Director of Operations – Accountancy and Tax
- Dental Accountancy and Tax for Practice Owners
- Accounts Automation (Samera AI)
- Tax Saving Advice
CEO
- Dental Accountancy and Tax for Dental Groups and DSOs
- Samera AI – Automation of Financial Systems
- Dental Practice Sales – £1m+ Only
Business Development Executive – Accountancy and Tax
- Dental Accountancy and Tax for Dental Associates
- Making Tax Digital Expert
Get in touch
Or send us a message
If you’d prefer to send us your details rather than book a call, fill in the form below and our team will be in touch as soon as possible.
- Phone: (+44) 20 7100 8788
- WhatsApp: Message us on WhatsApp
Related services
Other ways Samera supports practice owners
OVERVIEW – Dental accountants
Our full dental accounts and tax service – the parent service this page belongs to.
Samera Growth Advisory
Ongoing growth advisory for practice owners and groups, from £1,500/mo monthly retainer.
Further reading
Guides to dental practice accounts and tax
Taxes for Dental Practice Owners
Corporation tax, VAT, capital allowances, dividend strategy and what practice owners need to know about managing their tax position.
Bookkeeping for Dentists
Why good bookkeeping is the foundation of a well-run practice and how to keep your records in order throughout the year.
How to Manage Your Dental Practice Accounts
Six steps to managing the finances and accounting of your dental practice effectively.
Frequently asked questions
Dental practice owner accounts FAQs
How much does an accountant cost for a dental practice?
Our practice owner packages start from £500 per month plus VAT for Kick-Start, rising to £650 for Grow and £950 for Expand. All fees are fixed and agreed upfront – no hourly rates or unexpected bills. Book a free call and we will give you a specific recommendation based on your practice size and what you need.
What is the difference between a dental accountant and a general accountant for a practice owner?
A general accountant will file your accounts and corporation tax return. A dental specialist will also understand NHS contract income, mixed VAT across exempt and taxable treatments, associate pay structures, CQC costs and the sector-specific benchmarks that tell you whether your practice is performing well. That depth of knowledge directly affects the quality of the advice you receive.
I already have an accountant – is it worth switching?
If your current accountant does not specialise in dentistry, there is a reasonable chance you are missing out on proactive tax planning, getting management accounts that are too late to act on, or not getting the benchmarking insight that comes from working with hundreds of practices. Book a free review of your current setup and we will give you an honest view.
Do I need management accounts for my dental practice?
If you are making decisions about staffing, equipment or pricing based on your year-end accounts, you are working with information that could be up to 18 months old. Monthly management accounts give you current data so you can act on what is actually happening in the practice rather than what happened last year.
Can Samera help if I am thinking about selling my practice?
Yes. Exit planning is included in the Expand package and available as an add-on on other tiers. We work with practice owners on the financial preparation for a sale – normalising accounts for a buyer, advising on Business Asset Disposal Relief and making sure the practice valuation reflects the work you have put in. Starting this process 12 to 24 months before you want to sell gives you the best outcome.
How long does it take to switch my practice accounts to Samera?
Most transitions are completed within two weeks. We contact your existing accountant, request the relevant records and get your Xero environment set up correctly before we start. Most practice owners find it takes less effort than they expected.
Speak to an accountant who actually understands running a dental practice
Book a free 30-minute call with Natasha or the team. We will look at your current setup, tell you what we would do differently and give you a clear picture of what working with Samera would cost.