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Fee for Service Dental: How to Build a Thriving Practice Without PPOs

December 23, 2024
Written by: Jordon Comstock

Alright, dentists, it’s time to shake off the shackles of PPOs and embrace the sweet, sweet freedom of being a fee-for-service dental practice. Think of it as breaking up with an insurance company that keeps ghosting you and saying, “You know what? I deserve better!”

But how do you make the leap without losing patients or revenue? It’s all about killer marketing, an unforgettable patient experience, and (you guessed it) a rock-solid membership program. And with tools like BoomCloud™, you’ll have everything you need to manage payments, sign up patients, and grow your practice like a boss.

Let’s dive into how to make the transition, keep your schedule full, and build a practice you actually love running.


Why Go Fee for Service?

PPOs may bring in patients, but they also bring:

  • Reduced fees (ouch).
  • Endless admin headaches (double ouch).
  • Delayed cash flow (seriously?!).

Switching to a fee-for-service model means YOU control your revenue, not some insurance company. Plus, patients who pay out-of-pocket tend to value your care more and stick around longer.


How to Transition to Fee for Service Dental

Making the move isn’t as scary as it sounds, especially if you follow these steps:

1. Improve Your Marketing Game

If you want to attract patients who are willing to pay for top-tier care, your marketing needs to shine brighter than a freshly whitened smile.

What Works in Dental Marketing?

  • SEO: Optimize your website for keywords like “best dentist near me” and “dental membership plans.”
  • PPC Ads: Run Google Ads targeting high-income areas.
  • Social Media: Share patient success stories, behind-the-scenes content, and glowing reviews.

2. Elevate the Patient Experience

People will pay for value, but you’ve got to deliver it. Create an experience so amazing that patients can’t imagine going anywhere else.

How to Wow Your Patients

  • Offer comfort items like blankets, headphones, and coffee in the waiting room.
  • Send personalized follow-ups after appointments.
  • Streamline scheduling with online booking and SMS reminders.

3. Launch a Patient Membership Program

A membership program is the ultimate tool for replacing PPO patients with loyal, fee-for-service patients. Think of it as a subscription plan for your practice, where patients pay a monthly or annual fee for exclusive perks.


Sample Membership Plan

The Smile Club Membership Plan

  • Cost: $40/month or $450/year.
  • Benefits:
    • Two free cleanings per year.
    • 15% off crowns, fillings, and whitening.
    • Free emergency exams.
    • Priority scheduling.

Why It Works: Membership patients spend 2X to 5X more than PPO or cash patients, and they say yes to treatment 40% of the time (compared to 38% for PPO patients and 24% for cash patients).


How BoomCloud™ Helps You Go Fee for Service

Switching to fee-for-service isn’t just about ditching PPOs—it’s about setting up systems that make your practice run like a well-oiled machine. That’s where BoomCloud™ comes in.

What BoomCloud™ Can Do for You

  1. Automate Membership Payments: No more chasing payments or sending awkward reminders.
  2. Create Custom Plans: Tailor your membership program to fit your practice and patient needs.
  3. Launch SMS Campaigns: Text uninsured patients with an easy sign-up link.
  4. Online Sign-Up Pages: Integrate BoomCloud’s sign-up page directly onto your website.
  5. Patient Marketplace Visibility: Get discovered by new patients actively searching for membership-based practices.

Learn More About BoomCloud™ Here: BoomCloud™ – Membership Plan Software


Case Study: PPO vs. Cash vs. Membership Patients

Let’s break it down with some real-world data.

The Challenge

A mid-sized dental practice wanted to transition from PPOs to a fee-for-service model without losing patients.

The Solution

They launched a membership program using BoomCloud™ to attract uninsured patients and retain existing ones.

The Results

  • PPO Patients:
    • Case Acceptance: 32%.
    • Annual Spend: $500/patient.
  • Cash Patients:
    • Case Acceptance: 24%.
    • Annual Spend: $950/patient.
  • Membership Patients:
    • Case Acceptance: 40%+.
    • Annual Spend: $2,150/patient.
  • Membership Revenue:
    • Members Signed Up: 1,200 patients.
    • Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR): $48,000.
    • Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR): $576,000.

“Switching to fee-for-service with a membership program was the best decision we ever made. BoomCloud™ made it so easy to manage,”


Final Thoughts: Build a Thriving Fee-for-Service Practice

Transitioning to a fee-for-service dental practice doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With smart marketing, a stellar patient experience, and a membership program powered by BoomCloud™, you can grow your revenue, attract loyal patients, and finally say goodbye to the PPO grind.

Ready to take the leap? Sign up for BoomCloud™ today and start building the practice of your dreams.

Sign Up for BoomCloud™ Here: BoomCloud™ – Membership Plan Software

Now go out there, take control of your practice, and thrive like the fee-for-service pro you were born to be!

My Top Podcasts

Download "The Million Dollar Dental Membership Plan" E-book!

Learn tactics and strategies from practices that have built a million dollars in recurring revenue from their membership subscriptions alone! Creating a patient membership plan is the smartest strategy to implment in your practice. You will increase patient satisfaction & loyalty, Increase predictable recurring revenue & improve your case acceptence by 3X with members. Download the book Now!

Membership Plans For Optometrists

vision-membership-plan-ebook Learn tactics and strategies from practices that have built a million dollars in recurring revenue from their membership subscriptions alone! Creating a patient membership plan is the smartest strategy to implement in your practice. You will increase patient satisfaction & loyalty, Increase predictable recurring revenue & improve your case acceptence by 3X with members. Download the book Now!

What is BoomCloud™?

BoomCloud is a software platform that allows you to create, manage & grow your own membership program. Build unlimited plans, track recurring revenue, active members metrics. Integrate your online membership enrollment with your website & start growing recurring revenue. Schedule a demo!

Fire The PPOs With These Proven Strategies!

Discover how to break free from the grip of PPOs and transform your practice into a thriving, profitable business. Imagine better cash flow, higher profits, and stronger patient relationships. It’s not a dream – it’s a reality waiting for you.

Say goodbye to PPOs and hello to a thriving, independent dental practice. Don’t miss out – your journey to financial freedom starts here!

Watch a BoomCloud™ Demo

Power your patient membership program, Create recurring revenue, improve patient loyalty & maximize patient spend. 

Subscribe to Our Podcasts!

Jordon Comstock

Author Bio

Jordon Comstock is the Founder & CEO of BoomCloud™, a software that allows practice, clinic & spa owners to build, manage and scale a membership program. This helps practice & clinic owners to create recurring revenue & improve loyalty via membership programs. Jordon is passionate about Music, Hawaii, Healthcare businesses like: dentistry, optometry, med spas and massage spas. Schedule a demo of BoomCloud™ and learn how membership programs can improve your business. Here are more dental books to improve your practice

Calculate Your Potential

with BoomCloud™

Recurring Revenue Growth Calculator

Discover the revenue potential of your practice’s membership plans. This calculator helps you project growth by analyzing key factors like patient volume, plan pricing, and service utilization. See how implementing a custom plan can boost your bottom line.

Revenue Calculator

 PPO Loss Calculator – How Much are YOU Losing?

Calculate the hidden costs of relying on traditional PPO plans. Our PPO Loss Calculator reveals the revenue you could be missing out on and helps you strategize for greater profitability with a membership-based model.

PPO Loss Calculator