Where are you on your startup journey?
Start with the Bootcamp – one day with people who’ve done it. Open to anyone.
You need a business plan, financial projections and finance lined up before you commit to premises.
Premises identified, need to move
Book a call with Uros – we’ll start on the finance structure immediately.
Or download our free Practice Startup Checklist
Why Samera
Why start your dental practice with Samera
Starting your own dental practice is the most ambitious thing most dentists ever do. A squat practice – building from scratch rather than buying an operating clinic – costs less to acquire, but the build is harder. You’re sourcing the premises, negotiating the lease or freehold, raising two separate loans, fitting out a clinical space, building a patient base from zero, hiring staff, registering with CQC, setting up accounts and tax structures – and learning to run a business at the same time as practising dentistry.
You don’t need a generalist business advisor. You need people who have been through it. We own and run our own multi-site dental group – Neem Tree Dental. We’ve started practices ourselves, made the mistakes, found the workarounds, built the relationships. When we tell you how to structure your squat finance, what your business plan needs to say to the lender, which suppliers will give you the best deal on a chair, or which CQC pitfalls to avoid – we’re telling you what we did ourselves.
Over the past 25+ years we’ve helped over 750 UK dentists start their own dental practices. We’re ICAEW-accredited, FCA-authorised for finance brokerage (FRN 757431) and NACFB members. The team you’ll work with – Uros, Arun and Natasha – is the same team we trust with our own practices.
How our squat startup pricing works
Most of our service to you is free. Finance brokerage on your freehold or leasehold loan is free – the bank pays our commission on completion. Joining the Samera Alliance buying group is free. Initial consultations are free. We charge for three things only: financial projections (£1,500 + VAT – the fixed-fee modelling pack lenders need), a brokerage fee on the fit-out / start-up loan only (2% of the loan, £3,500 minimum), and our dental accounts and tax services once you’ve signed up as a client. Everything else – business plan templates, Alliance discount access, lender introductions on the freehold, ongoing advice – sits inside the relationship.
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300+ Bootcamp graduates building their own practices · About the Bootcamp
£250m+ finance arranged · FCA FRN 757431 · NACFB member
Squat practice finance
How squat practice finance actually works – the two-loan structure
Most dentists approach their high-street bank or current account provider when they want to start a squat. That’s rarely the best route. Squat practice finance is a specialist commercial product, healthcare lenders price it competitively because they understand the sector, and the structure of the loans matters more than the headline rate.
The two-loan structure
A typical squat practice startup is funded by two separate loans, not one:
Loan 1: Premises (freehold or leasehold)
This funds the property itself. If you’re buying the freehold, it’s a commercial mortgage – usually 70% LTV, 15 to 20 year term, fixed or variable rate. If you’re leasing, you’ll be funding the lease deposit, premium and lease-related costs. Premises finance is usually the larger of the two loans.
Loan 2: Fit-out / start-up loan
This funds the conversion of the space into a clinical environment – building works, dental chairs, X-ray equipment, surgery cabinetry, decontamination room, reception fit-out, IT, signage, all the equipment you need to open. Usually 70% of total fit-out costs, capped at £500,000 by the lenders themselves (this is a sector-wide bank rule, not a Samera limit). Term is typically 15 to 20 years to spread monthly repayments and protect your opening-period cash flow. Most lenders will offer an initial interest-only period (often 12 months) on the fit-out / start-up loan if you ask through a broker – critical for an early-stage practice that’s building patient revenue from zero.
Property finance
Commercial mortgages for freehold purchase, leasehold premium and lease-related costs. Whole-of-market, free to you – the lender pays the commission. This is the larger of your two loans.
Asset finance
Equipment finance for chairs, X-ray, CBCT, intra-oral scanners and surgery kit – either inside the fit-out loan or as separate asset finance post-opening when phasing in additional equipment.
How we charge
Freehold or leasehold loan – free to you. We’re paid commission by the lender on completion. There is no charge to you for the premises finance brokerage.
Fit-out / start-up loan – 2% of the loan amount, minimum £3,500. This is the only fee-bearing brokerage service Samera offers. Squat fit-out / start-up finance is more complex than other dental brokerage work – we’re packaging a deal for an asset that doesn’t yet exist, for a practice with no operating history, with multiple lenders to negotiate against. The fee reflects the additional work. On a £200,000 fit-out / start-up loan, the brokerage is £4,000 (2%). On a £100,000 loan, the brokerage is £3,500 (the minimum). You’re told the exact fee before any commitment.
What we do during the finance process
We work with you to:
- Build a finance application that lenders take seriously – lender-quality projections, structured business case, the right supporting documents in the right order
- Approach multiple healthcare lenders (we’re whole-of-market and FCA-authorised, FRN 757431)
- Negotiate on rate, term, interest-only period, early repayment terms, drawdown structure
- Coordinate with your solicitor and accountant so the finance condition precedents are met without delays
- Manage drawdowns through the build so cash arrives when contractors need paying
Why the £500k fit-out / start-up lending cap matters
Lenders won’t fund a fit-out / start-up loan beyond £500,000 – this is true sector-wide for squat practices, regardless of broker. Knowing the ceiling matters before you start choosing equipment. A 4-surgery fully-digital squat with CBCT and intra-oral scanners in every room can easily quote at £600k+ on fit-out. We help you scope the fit-out to what’s fundable, prioritise where the clinical and patient-experience spend matters most, and phase in extras post-opening when the practice is trading and additional asset finance is straightforward.
Talk through your squat finance
Free initial conversation. We’ll talk through your premises, your fit-out budget, your funding ceiling and your timeline before any commitment.
Real Samera deals
Squat practice finance case studies
Three real squat practice startups we’ve worked on. Names withheld for confidentiality, numbers and structures accurate.
The Problem
Having had an initial conversation with an associate looking to set up a squat practice, they explained they had found a property to convert and wanted help with the finance.
Part of the finance application is to provide the lender with lease and deposit details and when we obtained these, we contacted the client again.
They had no rent-free period and a large rent deposit to provide with no end date for the return of that deposit.
The Solution
We discussed and explained the benefits of negotiating a rent-free period with the landlord. This would not only allow them time to convert the premises, but also to provide them with a period of no rent to help keep the initial costs down when income was growing.
We also discussed the size of the rent deposit and also them agreeing with the landlord a return date and how the money was to be held to protect their funds.
The Result
After our discussions and help with negotiating, we were able to help them argue for far better terms in their agreements.
Once they discussed all these aspects with the landlord, they agreed to reduce the rent deposit and return it within two years with the deposit being held on an escrow account.
More importantly they agreed a six-month rent-free period which eased the cashflow situation of the squat practice when it started trading.
The Problem
One of our clients recently took over a closed practice and approached a bank directly to obtain finance so they could purchase the building and set up a new practice. Due to the lack of income being generated by the closed practice, it was classed as a squat practice.
However, the bank they approached did not provide any finance for the set up of the practice in terms of build and equipment.
Reasons remain unknown. So, to finance the build and purchase the equipment, our client borrowed heavily on short-term finance. They are now lumbered with huge monthly repayments on their short-term debt.
The Solution
We could have negotiated a far better deal.
Here’s how it should have been arranged:
Usually with a squat you can obtain 15 year finance for the build and the equipment needed for the practice. This is usually restricted to 70% of the costs, with a maximum figure of £250K for the build and equipment.
The difference is the loan term. With the 15-20 year term and a broker-negotiated one year interest-only deal, monthly payments are spread out, cashflow is protected and the practice can flourish.
The Problem
The existing principal of a dental practice based in London who had moved their rented dental practice to a new freehold site close to the existing practice contacted us recently.
They explained that they had raised the funding for their move from their existing lender, but the project had overrun, and their existing bank wasn’t able to arrange any extra funding to complete the project.
The Solution
After our initial discussion, we outlined what information we would need to approach the lenders so that we could provide a comprehensive report to raise the finance.
Using our experience with the application and negotiation process with banks we put together a proper finance application.
The Result
The outcome was having received the information, we were able to obtain the additional finance that was needed to complete the project on competitive terms.
The client now has a new fully equipped dental practice based in a freehold property that is performing well.
Not ready to talk finance yet?
Setting Up in Practice Bootcamp for new dental practice owners
If you’re earlier in the journey – still deciding whether to start a practice at all, or weighing up squat vs buying – the Bootcamp is the place to start. It’s our live one-day event for dentists who are thinking about ownership but haven’t yet committed.
You’ll spend a day with people who’ve been through it – a lead dentist who owns her own practice, a specialist dental accountant, a commercial finance broker and a dental marketing expert. Small-group format – you can ask real questions and get honest answers. Covers what lenders actually look for, how to structure squat finance, the legal and CQC process, the common pitfalls (and how to avoid them), and what ownership is actually like once the doors are open.
Over 300 of the UK’s dentists have attended. The best starting point if you’re serious about starting your own practice but not yet ready to commit to specific suppliers.
What else we do
Everything else you need to start your dental practice
Beyond finance and the Bootcamp, we handle the rest of the practice startup picture directly or through the Samera Alliance partner network. Click through to any of these for detail.
Business plan and projections
Lender-ready documentation. Template free, projections £1,500 + VAT fixed.
Dental accounts and tax
Day-one company formation, VAT, payroll, MTD. Kick-Start packages.
CQC, HR and legal
Coordinated through Alliance partners – CQC compliance, HR, legal and indemnity.
Lender-ready documentation
Business plan and financial projections for a squat practice
A squat practice business plan isn’t a marketing document. It’s a credit committee document. The people reading it are commercial lenders deciding whether to fund a clinical business that doesn’t yet exist – they need catchment analysis, competitor mapping, fee modelling, capacity planning and breakeven analysis.
Two parts to the documentation:
- The business plan – Samera template, free to clients. Refined across 750+ practice startups, structured around what UK dental lenders specifically look for.
- The financial projections – £1,500 + VAT fixed fee. 3-year P&L, cash flow modelling, sensitivity analysis and loan repayment schedule. Built by our dental accounts team – the modelling pack that goes into the lender application as a standalone document.
Business plan and financial projections
Full breakdown of the service and what’s included.
Trusted partner network
Samera Alliance buying group for dental practice startups
For everything we don’t deliver directly – CQC, HR, legal, indemnity, equipment, software, fit-out coordination – we work through the Samera Alliance. It’s free to join, and members get pre-negotiated discounts that match what corporate dental groups pay.
Alliance services include:
- CQC registration and compliance – registration support and ongoing compliance
- Legal – specialist dental legal advice, leases and contracts
- HR and health and safety – employment, policies and workplace safety
- Indemnity insurance – cover at preferential member rates
- Consumables and equipment – supply at pre-negotiated discounts
- Fit-out project management – clinical space design and build coordination
- IT and software – dental practice IT services and systems
- Patient membership plans – practice-branded patient plans
Plus a wider network covering equipment, software, patient finance, clinical waste and water hygiene. Average member savings of 6 to 10% on consumables monthly – which at a 6x EBITDA multiple adds £18,000 to £30,000 of practice value per year.
Join the Samera Alliance
Free to join, no commitment. Full partner list and how to register.
What clients say
Reviews
Been with Samera since 2008 when we bought our first dental practice, their knowledge and expertise is second to none not least because they also own their own dental practices, putting them in a unique position in terms of their knowledge and advice for the Dental Industry. Whether you’re setting up from scratch or acquiring an existing practice, Samera have been there to offer advice on raising finance, staff and team issues, tax knowledge, leadership and having a strong vision, marketing, getting into purchasing groups and also purchasing equipment …
Saijel Kachhala – 5 Stars
After attending the Samera Bootcamp last November, I set about starting up my own practice … very helpful in setting up finance and giving good all round advice about the process, actually well beyond the scope of a financial advisor – wouldn’t hesitate to recommend!
Mat Lowis – 5 Stars
I am a dentist setting up my own private dental practice and Samera have been a great help as my accountants, giving lots of advice, especially in regards to all the complicated financial matters and tax … I have also attended the Samera ‘setting up a dental practice’ course and would definitely recommend this.
Imran Kassam – 5 Stars
Arun … helped us tremendously over recent years in setting up our dental practice. From attending the bootcamp, discussing finances to support with marketing, the team have been brilliant. Very approachable and always go over and beyond. Highly recommended!!
GG Smiles – 5 Stars
I attended the Samera Setting Up Bootcamp last Friday and I’m so glad I did. I’ve been considering acquiring my own dental practice for a couple of years, and attending this bootcamp was definitely the best decision. The experience felt almost like a one to one session thanks to the small group setting and the incredibly knowledgeable team … The day gave me a much clearer understanding of the steps involved in buying and setting up a practice, as well as the common pitfalls to avoid! I would highly recommend this bootcamp to any dentist who is thinking about owning their own practice.
Hazel de la Rosa del Toro – 5 Stars
Recently attended Setting up in Practice Bootcamp. Very practical, comprehensive volume of information was given, high concentration of professionals in one place who rather generously shared their knowledge (finance, law, cqc compliance, surgery design, equipment, online and offline marketing).
Natallia Charnetskaya – 5 Stars
A must attend boot camp from Samera for those who are looking to open a practice, things were very confusing for me didn’t know where to start from, what are steps involved when do we need to speak to bank, landlord, local council etc. They covered every aspect including marketing …
Bilal Chudhary – 5 Stars
Attended a setting up in practice boot camp, just over a year ago … Samera are always extremely professional and proficient. Their advice and ongoing support has been invaluable and I will highly recommend them, for any dentist setting up a squat practice or hoping to buy an existing practice.
Jamal Johnston – 5 Stars
I really enjoyed the bootcamp. It showed me how is it feasible to open up a squat practice by going through the speakers own journey. I really appreciated the way they also exposed their failures which was very interesting too. I highly recommend it to associate dentists who are thinking of opening their own practices & becoming leaders of their team.
Dara Beiki – 5 Stars
I recently attended Samera’s ‘setting up in practice bootcamp’ in Weybridge and I must say it’s the best course I’ve been on all year by far! The Samera team have a wealth of knowledge and experience and were all very approachable. Arun and Smita were particularly inspirational …
Chris Burn – 5 Stars
Who you’ll work with
Speak to the dental practice startup team
Book a free, no-obligation call directly with the team member whose work matches what you need. Squat startups typically involve all three of us at different stages.
Business Development – Finance and Accountancy Services
- Squat practice finance (freehold + fit-out / start-up loans)
- Asset and equipment finance
- Lease and deposit negotiation
- Property finance
- Samera Alliance – dental buying group
CEO and Founder
- Building your own dental group (hands-on)
- Squat practice strategy and viability
- Business planning and growth
- Samera AI – automation of financial systems
Accountancy Senior Manager
- Dental accountancy for new practice owners
- Tax planning and profit extraction
- Financial projections and cash flow modelling
- Day-one accounts setup
Free download
Free dental practice startup checklist
The complete checklist we use ourselves when we start a practice. Every workstream, every decision point, in the right order. Free PDF – no email gate, no popup.
Samera Dental Startup Guide Checklist
The full checklist – finance, premises, business plan, CQC, equipment, accounts, staff, marketing, opening day. PDF, no signup.
Related reading
Guides to starting a dental practice
How to start a dental practice in 13 steps
The canonical step-by-step guide from our own experience starting practices.
How to finance a squat practice
The squat-specific finance guide – two-loan structure, lender requirements, common pitfalls.
Creating a business plan for a dental practice
The business plan walkthrough plus a free template download.
Five traits of failed dental start-ups
The cautionary article – the patterns we’ve seen that cause squats to fail and how to avoid them.
See all our practice startup resources
Related services
Other ways Samera supports new owners
Dental practice finance broker
Whole-of-market dental finance – the broker hub serves the squat finance strand.
Tax planning for dentists
Company formation, incorporation structure, dividend strategy – get the tax foundation right from day one.
Dental practice growth strategy session
60-minute call with someone who owns and runs practices – the low-commitment entry point if you’re still scoping.
Accounts for dental practice owners
The ongoing accounts and tax service once you’re trading – what most squat owners move on to after opening.
Buy a dental practice
The buyer’s-agent service – if you’re weighing up buying an operating clinic against starting a squat.
Sell a dental practice
When the squat is established and the time comes to exit – our sales agent service.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about starting a dental practice
Should I buy an existing practice or start a squat?
Both routes work, and the right answer depends on your capital, your risk appetite, your patient acquisition plan and the area you want to practise in. A squat costs less to acquire but takes 12 to 24 months to reach the trading position an existing practice gives you on day one. Buying gives you operating revenue, staff and patients from the start, at a higher acquisition cost. We work with dentists on both routes – see our practice buying service if buying is the route.
How much does it cost to start a squat dental practice?
Total project costs typically range from £400,000 to £1m+ depending on size, location and clinical specification. The premises (freehold or leasehold) is usually the largest line. Fit-out and equipment for a fully-digital 3 to 4 surgery squat runs £350,000 to £500,000+. Working capital for the opening months (staff, marketing, rent before patients are paying) needs to be modelled in – this is what our projections pack quantifies precisely.
How much can I borrow for a squat practice?
Premises lending: typically 70% LTV on freehold purchases, 15 to 20 year term. Fit-out / start-up loan lending: typically 70% of fit-out cost, capped at £500,000 by the lenders sector-wide (not a Samera cap – this is the bank rule). Most squat startups need to fund the remaining 30% from personal savings, family, or supplementary asset finance.
How long does it take to start a squat dental practice?
12 to 18 months from decision to opening is typical, sometimes longer. CQC registration alone takes 8 to 12 weeks once the application is submitted, and the application can’t be submitted until premises, staff, policies and clinical leadership are in place. Build and fit-out is 3 to 4 months for a typical squat. Finance application to drawdown is 6 to 12 weeks with the right paperwork.
What does Samera charge for squat startup work?
Most of our service to you is free. Brokerage on the freehold or leasehold loan is free (the bank pays us). Joining the Samera Alliance is free. Business plan template is free. Initial consultations are free. We charge for three things: financial projections (£1,500 + VAT fixed), brokerage on the fit-out / start-up loan only (2% of the loan, £3,500 minimum), and dental accounts and tax services once you’re a client. Everything is quoted in writing before commitment.
Do I need to be a Samera client to get help?
No. The Setting Up in Practice Bootcamp is open to anyone considering ownership. The Samera Alliance buying group is free to join and you don’t need to be a Samera accounts client. Most clients come to us through the Bootcamp or via the finance broker side and decide on the accounts and tax service separately when they’re ready.
What about CQC, legal, HR and equipment – do you do all of that yourselves?
The specialist regulatory and legal work is handled by our Samera Alliance partners – CQC compliance, legal, HR, indemnity, equipment supply and more. We coordinate the whole picture so the timelines align, but we don’t pretend to deliver work that specialists do better. Honest framing – and we’ve worked with each Alliance partner for years.
Can you help me find premises?
Premises sourcing is not a service we deliver directly. We can introduce you to commercial property agents who specialise in healthcare premises, and we can help you assess and negotiate on premises you’ve identified. Once you have premises in mind, lease/freehold negotiation and the finance structure are areas we work directly.
Is there a maximum loan size for a squat fit-out?
Yes – £500,000 is the typical sector-wide ceiling on fit-out / start-up loan lending for squat practices. This is a lender rule, not a Samera rule. If your fit-out is quoting above £500k, we’ll help you phase the spec – prioritise what funds within the limit, phase the rest in as additional asset finance once the practice is trading.
What if my bank has already turned me down for finance?
This happens often, particularly when dentists approach their personal bank first. The high-street relationship banks are not always set up to underwrite squat dental practices, even when their commercial division technically offers the product. We’re whole-of-market and FCA-authorised. We’ve placed deals where existing brokers had given up – see Case Study 3 above.
Ready to start your own dental practice?
The hardest part of starting a squat practice is starting. Most dentists who become owners say the same thing – they wish they’d done it sooner. Let us help you get going.
Free, no-obligation initial conversation. Pick whichever route works for you.
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
- Or book direct: Book a call with Uros