Why Switch to Samera
Most dentists who switch to Samera are not unhappy with their current provider - they have just outgrown them. A generalist accountant who handles fifty trades doesn't know the dental industry. A high-street broker who handles every business loan doesn't know healthcare lending. A local advisor who has never run a dental practice cannot tell you what to expect when you do. Samera is the specialist firm UK dentists move to when they want all of that in one place.
A specialist dental firm built across every service a UK dentist needs
Samera was founded in 2002 by Arun Mehra FCA, a chartered accountant, and Dr Smita Mehra BDS, a practising dentist. For 20+ years we have worked exclusively with dentists and healthcare professionals - never spreading across general trades, never diluting the specialism.
That focus shows up in five concrete ways:
Dentistry specialists only
We have not taken on a non-healthcare client in two decades. Every adviser on the team works in dentistry every day - they know what associate pay looks like in the real world, what NHS pension contributions actually do to your tax bill, how the practice valuation multiples have moved this quarter.
One firm, full service surface
Accountancy, tax planning, payroll, commercial finance broking, practice acquisitions, start-ups, sales, exit planning, growth advisory and AI tooling - all under one roof. Most dentists pay for the same services across three or four providers who don't talk to each other.
Dental practice owners ourselves
Arun and Smita Mehra also own and operate The Neem Tree Dental Group - two clinical sites in Wandsworth and Esher, founded by Smita in 2004. When we tell a client what to do, we usually tell them something we have already done or are currently doing ourselves.
Independent, regulated and on-the-record
ICAEW-accredited firm of chartered accountants. FCA-authorised commercial finance broker (Firm Reference Number 757431). NACFB member. No tie to any specific lender. Lenders pay us a commission on completion - that's why our finance brokerage service is free to you on every product except squat practice fit-out loans.
Track record on the record
Since 2002 we have supported over 1,000 UK dentists. Since 2004 we have raised more than £250 million in commercial finance for UK dental businesses. 700+ practice acquisitions. 750+ start-ups. Every figure published on this site is conservative and verifiable.
We are not the firm dentists pick to save £200 on their year-end. We are the firm dentists move to when they want a specialist who understands the commercial, tax, regulatory and operational reality of running a UK dental business.
What changes when you work with a specialist
Most UK dentists work with one of three providers: a generalist high-street accountant, a generalist commercial finance broker, or a local business advisor. Each is fine for general trades. Each leaves dental-specific value on the table.
| Topic | Generalist provider | Samera |
|---|---|---|
| Sector knowledge | Handles 50+ different trades; treats dentistry as one of many | Dentistry only since 2002 - every adviser works in dental every day |
| Tax planning | Generic incorporation and pension advice; rarely models the specific tradeoffs for dental associate v practice owner v group structures | Dental-specific tax planning - HoldCo / PropCo structures, IR35 for associates, pension carry-forward modelling, EBITDA-driven exit tax planning |
| Finance and lending | Refers you to a generic high-street broker or your own bank | FCA-authorised commercial finance broker in-house with whole-of-market access. Free to you, paid by the lender on completion |
| Acquisitions | Limited or no buy-side advisory; you negotiate the price yourself | Dedicated buyer's agent service - 700+ acquisitions supported since 2002. Valuations, financial due diligence, acquisition finance handled by one firm |
| Practice sales | Refers you to a third-party agent at full commission | Sell-side agent service in-house via Samera Practice Sales Limited. 2.5% commission, paid only on completion |
| Growth advisory | Year-end accounts and ad-hoc tax queries | Fractional CFO services, fee review, cash flow forecasting, supplier savings, DSO advisory - structured ongoing engagement options |
| Practice ownership | None - they have never owned a dental practice | Co-founders own and operate The Neem Tree Dental Group (Wandsworth + Esher, since 2004) |
| AI and automation | None | Productised AI tools via Samera AI (Associate Pay automation live; further functions in build), bespoke AI for groups and DSOs |
| Sector presence | No visibility in the dental profession beyond their own client base | Active in the profession - we speak at BDA and industry events, run the Dental Business Guide podcast, the Setting Up in Practice Bootcamp and the Samera Learning Centre |
The point is not that generalists do anything wrong. Generalists do generalist work well. The point is that dentistry has enough sector-specific tax, regulatory, commercial and operational nuance to repay a specialist relationship - and most dentists have never seen what that looks like.
What changes at each stage of your career
The advantage of a single specialist firm becomes more visible the longer you work with us. Here is what changes at each stage.
AAs an associate
- Specialist associate accounts packages from £750/year, including IR35 review
- Cash flow planning around variable monthly income and tax instalments
- Active routing toward practice ownership - financial readiness review, acquisition finance pre-qualification, bootcamp access
BBuying or starting your practice
- Buyer's agent for acquisitions and end-to-end squat start-up support (700+ acquisitions, 750+ start-ups)
- Setting Up in Practice Bootcamp for first-time owners and squat founders
- Whole-of-market acquisition and start-up finance, free to you, paid by the lender on completion
CRunning your practice
- Practice owner accounts packages from £500/month (Kick-Start / Grow / Expand)
- Quarterly management accounts, Xero implementation, fee review, cash flow forecasting
- Supplier savings through the Samera Alliance buying group - 6-10% per month on consumables
- Year-round tax planning rather than year-end-only reactive work
DGrowing into a group or exiting
- Fractional CFO services for scaling groups (Foundation £1,500/mo, Growth £3,500/mo, Strategic £6,000+/mo)
- DSO Advisory for groups taking institutional investment
- Structured 18-month Exit Planning programme for owners preparing to sell
- Sell-side agent service via Samera Practice Sales Limited - 2.5% commission, paid only on completion
Most clients arrive at one of these stages and stay with us through several of the others. Continuity of advice across stages is the single biggest practical value of a specialist long-term relationship.
No compliance gap, no painful handover, no surprise costs
The reason most dentists do not switch accountant or broker is not that they prefer their current provider. It is that they assume switching will be painful, expensive or risky. None of that has to be true. Here is what the actual process looks like.
Free consultation with the team
Every Samera relationship starts with a free, no-obligation consultation - in person, on the phone or by video. We understand where you are, what you currently have, where you are trying to get to, and whether Samera is the right fit. There is no charge and no sales pressure. If we are not the right firm for you, we will tell you.
Professional clearance and records transfer
Once you decide to switch, we handle the professional clearance process directly with your existing accountant. UK chartered accountancy bodies require firms to cooperate on client transfer; we know the process, your existing accountant will know it, and you do not need to make awkward conversations. We collect your records, prior-year accounts, tax filings and the basis of preparation.
Onboarding and timing
You can switch to Samera at any point in your accounting year. We tell you exactly when the cleanest cutover date is for your circumstances (often the end of a quarter or VAT period), and we run the necessary bookkeeping and reporting through the handover so there is no compliance gap. Xero implementation is included for clients moving onto our digital workflow.
Your first year - what to expect
You meet your assigned partner and team. We complete your year-end accounts and tax filings on time. We schedule the proactive work - tax planning, fee review, cash flow forecasting - that most generalist firms do not include. Communication is via Xero, email, phone, WhatsApp - whatever works for you. By the end of year one, switching costs are usually recovered through tax savings, supplier discounts, or better lending terms on any new finance raised.
Switching mid-year is normal. Switching at a year-end is cleaner but not required. The work involved in cooperating with your existing accountant on the transfer is OUR work, not yours.
Real numbers from the last 12 months
We arrange commercial finance for dentists across acquisitions, refinancing, asset finance, property finance and tax loans. Below is a snapshot of recent deals - all anonymised but all real.
For the full library of recent deals and detailed case studies with timeline, structure and outcome, see the Dental Practice Finance Broker hub.
What our clients say about us
The strongest signal that Samera is the right move is what clients say after they have actually made it. Every review below is a real Samera client, sourced from Google and verified.
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.
As a busy dental associate, I have been using Samera Accounting services for over 7 years now and have found them to be highly professional, prompt in correspondence and extremely helpful to any enquiries which I have had.
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.
Amazing, helpful and never made me feel silly for the million questions I had, and was always very accessible. 19/20 was my first year with Samera and I wish I had come to them sooner!
Great team. Honest valuable advice. Sound knowledge of the dental industry. Thank you.
Arun is very helpful and accountancy goes the extra mile to solve your problems. Overall Samera is a fantastic team, and always had a good experience every time I reached them.
For more reviews and longer-form client stories, see the case studies on the Dental Practice Finance Broker hub and Sell a Dental Practice hub.
What dentists ask before they switch
I'm mid-way through my tax year. Should I wait until year-end to switch?
No. Most clients switch mid-year. We handle the transfer with your existing accountant, run the necessary bookkeeping through the handover and pick up your year-end on time. Switching at a year-end is cleaner but not required.
How long does the switching process actually take?
From your decision to switch to us being your accountant of record, typically 2-4 weeks. The 30-minute consultation comes first, then engagement letter, then professional clearance with your existing provider. The work involved is mostly between us and your old firm.
What will my old accountant say?
UK chartered accountancy ethics require existing accountants to cooperate on client transfer. They are not allowed to obstruct you. Your existing firm will receive a standard professional clearance request from us and will transfer records to us in the normal way. You do not need to have an awkward conversation; we handle it.
Is your fee higher than my current accountant?
It depends. Our pricing is fixed and transparent - associate packages from £750/year, practice owner packages from £500/month, group accountancy from £750+/month. Some clients pay slightly more than they did with a generalist; many pay less once the proactive work (tax planning, fee review, supplier savings) is factored in.
I have multiple businesses (practice + property company + private work). Can you handle all of it?
Yes - this is exactly the kind of structure we specialise in. HoldCo / PropCo arrangements, multiple director-level entities and split self-employed / company income are standard for our practice-owner clients.
I'm in dispute with HMRC. Can you take me on?
Yes. We take on clients mid-investigation regularly. We have a dedicated Tax Investigation Insurance Cover service for ongoing cover, and we can step in to handle live cases. We will assess the situation in the initial consultation.
For more questions, see the FAQs on each service page. Most concerns dentists raise about switching are addressed somewhere in the Dental Accountants hub FAQ.
Start with a free consultation
Every relationship starts the same way - a free, no-obligation chat with the team. We work out where you are, where you are trying to get to, and whether Samera is the right firm to help. If we are not, we will tell you.
If you would prefer to send a message first, the form below comes straight to the team and we will be in touch within one working day.
Where to go next
About Samera
The full Samera profile - founders, credentials, regulatory standing, group structure and track record.
Learn moreOur Team
Meet the wider Samera team - accountants, tax advisers, finance brokers, sales agents and growth advisers.
Learn moreOur Story
The story of how Samera grew from a small Surrey accounting practice to a UK-wide specialist firm.
Learn moreAll Services
The full set of services Samera provides to UK dentists and healthcare professionals.
Learn moreDental Accountants
The main service hub for accountancy and tax. Packages, pricing and audience segments.
Learn moreDental Practice Finance Broker
The main service hub for commercial finance broking. £250m+ raised since 2004.
Learn moreBook a free virtual consultation with one of our specialists and discover what Samera can do for your practice.