Transition Announcement and Patient and Team Retention
By Megan Urban, Practice Transition Advisor
In my experience, sellers get concerned with the “correct” time to tell their team about the transition. We recommend informing them when all documents or some are signed and there is no doubt the sale will go through. It may be 2 weeks or 2 days before closing, it depends, and your transition advisor will assist you.
If you tell your team too early, they may become stressed, confused, and unsure of their future, so they may panic and find another job and possibly tell patients. None of this is good! Your team and patients are important to the goodwill of your practice.
When you do announce the new buyer, remind the team that they love their teammates and patients and that isn’t changing. Explain a bit about the new dentist and schedule time for them to meet. Help them feel confident that the transition will be great, and the new dentist will need their assistance for everyone to be successful.
A letter to patients is typically sent from the seller with the buyer’s approval. Depending on both the buyer and seller and the unique area, a newspaper ad can be placed, and an open house can be scheduled. Your transition advisor will provide ideas and examples to help you choose the best method for announcing the transition.
Patients may be unsure of the new buyer, so consider not making any abrupt changes, such as incomplete treatment and payment options. You can’t underdiagnose or discourage ideal treatment but be aware of a way to communicate based upon the previous owner to retain as many patients as possible and still bring in your processes and protocols.
The new team will be concerned about the new buyer’s expectations so consider not changing much in the practice for a while, so they have a chance to transition and become comfortable. Provide information they won’t know such as how to schedule and what instruments you need for each procedure. Help everyone to be successful in their position.
Remember to remind your team often that everything is ok. Consider having one-on-one meetings with each new team member and ask specific questions. “What keeps you coming here every day? What’s one thing you would change in the practice if you could? Can I count on you to bring questions and concerns to me rather than involve the entire team?”
Transitions can be stressful. Work with your transition advisor that has many experiences and ideas to share to help everyone be successful.
Read More6 Steps to Selling a Dental Practice
Dr. Cindy Pauley, Practice Broker with OMNI Practice Group, breaks down the process of selling your dental practice into 6 steps.
Read MoreHow to Determine the Selling Price of Your Practice
Want to know how you can determine the selling price of your practice? Do you know why it is smart to hire dental practice brokers?
Watch the eighth episode of the Dental Marketing Podcast with Chris Pistorius, Founder & CEO of Kickstart Dental, and Megan Urban – Dental Broker at Omni Practice Group, to get your answers!
Read More
Choosing Between Buying an Existing Practice or Doing a New Build
By Corey Young, Practice Transition Advisor
Choosing between buying an existing practice and doing a start-up practice can be one of the biggest decisions of your life. Here are four considerations and two suggestions for when you are contemplating.
The four considerations:
Market Saturation – How many veterinarians are practicing in the area you are considering? Hardly any? One on every corner? Somewhere in between? Establishing traction in a high competition area will require a much higher marketing budget. Do you know your marketing budget? Do you have a marketing plan?
Available Practices for Sale – How many practices are for sale in the area you are considering? Do those practices have a broker representing them? Broker representation usually equates to well-substantiated pricing and a defined plan for acquisition. For-sale-by-owner practices can be more of a wild card.
Population Demographics – If you are considering an area for a new build, will the demographics of the area you are considering support your business plan?
Personal Financial Situation – Do you have the financial reserves to weather a start-up? While there are pros and cons to both routes, buying an established practice certainly generates more initial cash flow.
The two suggestions:
Get Help – This will be one of the biggest decisions of your life, whichever route you take. There are some truly skilled and experienced professionals out there that will help guide you through this process in an efficient manner and allow you to minimize risk while seizing the opportunity.
If You Can Produce, Get Moving – Are you a high producer? Can you manage and lead? Can you practice great veterinary medicine without someone looking over your shoulder? If you answered yes to these questions, what are you waiting for?
Read MoreChoosing between Buying an Existing Practice Or Doing a New Build
By Choosing between buying an existing practice and doing a start-up practice can be one of the biggest decisions of your life. Here are four considerations and two suggestions for when you are contemplating.
The four considerations:
Market Saturation – How many dentists are practicing in the area you are considering? Hardly any? One on every corner? Somewhere in between? Establishing traction in a high competition area will require a much higher marketing budget. Do you know your marketing budget? Do you have a marketing plan?
Available Practices for Sale – How many practices are for sale in the area you are considering? Do those practices have a broker representing them? Broker representation usually equates to well-substantiated pricing and a defined plan for acquisition. For-sale-by-owner practices can be more of a wild card.
Population Demographics – If you are considering an area for a new build, will the demographics of the area you are considering support your business plan?
Personal Financial Situation – Do you have the financial reserves to weather a start-up? While there are pros and cons to both routes, buying an established practice certainly generates more initial cash flow.
The two suggestions:
Get Help – This will be one of the biggest decisions of your life, whichever route you take. There are some truly skilled and experienced professionals out there that will help guide you through this process in an efficient manner and allow you to minimize risk while seizing the opportunity.
If You Can Produce, Get Moving – Are you a high producer? Can you manage and lead? Can you do great dentistry without someone looking over your shoulder? If you answered yes to these questions, what are you waiting for?
Read More