43: Finding the Right Dental Practice with Chris Marshall

About this episode

Wes Read and Chris Marshall discuss key warning signs dentists should look for when evaluating a dental practice for purchase.

In this episode of the Dental Boardroom Podcast, host Wes Read, CPA and financial advisor at Practice CFO, and Chris Marshall break down some of the most important warning signs dentists should watch out for when evaluating a dental practice for purchase. Drawing from real client cases and common deal-flow patterns, they discuss the financial, operational, and clinical red flags that often hide beneath the surface of seemingly attractive listings. Listeners will learn how to interpret declining numbers, inconsistent hygiene schedules, sudden production increases, PPO manipulations, risky seller behaviors, and gaps in patient flow. By the end of the episode, you’ll understand how to look past broker language and identify the true health or weakness of a prospective practice. Key Takeaways 1. Declining Production or Collections Are a Major Red Flag If collections or production drop year-over-year even slightly it signals deeper issues. This could mean a declining patient base, ineffective ownership, poor systems, lack of demand, or mismanagement. 2. Hygiene Department Instability Signals Deeper Problems Large swings in hygiene revenue Inconsistent recall schedules Declining hygiene…

People in this episode

Host: Wes Read

Guest: Chris Marshall

Topics covered

• dental practice evaluation
• warning signs
• financial red flags
• operational issues
• clinical red flags

Keywords

• dental practice
• purchase evaluation
• financial red flags
• hygiene instability
• production increases

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Practice CFO