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How to Start a Dental Practice: The Ultimate No-BS Guide to Building a Profitable Practice

February 05, 2025
Written by: Jordon Comstock

How To Launch & Grow a Six-Figure Membership Plan

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Let’s get started with How to Start a Dental Practice

(Or: How to Avoid PPO Nightmares, Create Recurring Revenue & Scale Like a Boss!)


Thinking About Starting a Dental Practice? Read This First.

So, you’ve got that fresh-out-of-dental-school enthusiasm (or maybe you’re a seasoned associate sick of working for “The Man”), and now you’re ready to start your own dental practice.

Awesome! But here’s the deal—this is NOT something you want to wing. If you screw this up, you’ll be drowning in debt, signing your life away to insurance companies, and wondering why you ever thought private practice was a good idea.

What We’re Covering Today

How to start a dental practice from scratch (without going broke).
How to acquire an existing practice (and avoid bad deals).
Why you should NEVER rely on PPOs for your income.
How to attract new patients & scale fast.
Why a membership program = the key to predictable, recurring revenue.

Let’s get into it.


Step 1: Starting a Dental Practice from Scratch

Building a practice from the ground up is a beast—but if you do it right, you’ll create a cash-flowing machine that works for YOU (not the other way around).

1. Set Up Your Business Structure (LLC vs. S-Corp vs. Sole Proprietor)

First things first—you need a legal business entity.

✔️ LLC: The most common structure. Protects your personal assets.
✔️ S-Corp: Tax benefits if you plan to pay yourself a salary.
✔️ Sole Proprietor: The “just wing it” option—NOT recommended.

Pro Tip: Consult with a CPA or business attorney before setting up your practice structure.


2. Location, Location, Location

Your practice location can make or break you. You need:

High-visibility retail space (bonus points if near coffee shops or gyms—where people CARE about their appearance).
Plenty of parking (because nobody wants to struggle to find a spot).
A good demographic fit (avoid areas oversaturated with dentists).


3. Licensing, Credentialing & The PPO Trap

STOP. Before You Sign Up for Every PPO Under the Sun, Read This.

Yes, insurance companies promise to “bring you patients,” but they don’t tell you that:

❌ They’ll slash your fees by 30%-50% (goodbye, profits).
You’ll be drowning in paperwork & denied claims.
❌ Patients will leave as soon as their insurance changes.

The Solution? A Membership Plan.

Instead of begging PPOs for scraps, create your own in-house dental membership plan and get paid directly by patients.

Offer a simple, affordable monthly plan that covers preventive care and gives members exclusive discounts on additional treatments.

Check out BoomCloudApps.com to launch your membership program today!


Step 2: Acquiring an Existing Practice (The Smart Way)

Starting from scratch isn’t the only option. Buying an existing practice can be a faster, less risky way to become an owner.

Pros of Buying a Practice

✔️ Instant cash flow (existing patients = revenue from day one).
✔️ Easier financing (banks love established businesses).
✔️ Skip the startup headaches.

Red Flags to Watch Out For

Declining patient numbers (why are people leaving?).
Toxic staff culture (if the team sucks, you’re in trouble).
Bad PPO contracts (run the numbers before committing).

Pro Tip: Get a dental CPA to review financials BEFORE you buy.


Step 3: How to Attract New Patients (Without Selling Your Soul to Insurance)

1. Social Media Marketing That Works

Facebook & Instagram Ads targeting local patients.
TikTok & Reels showing patient transformations & office tours.
Google Ads targeting “best dentist near me.”

Pro Tip: Use retargeting ads to follow up with website visitors who didn’t book an appointment.


2. Referral Programs = FREE Marketing

Happy patients are your best marketers. Turn them into raving fans.

“Refer a friend & both get a FREE whitening treatment!”
“Family membership plans: Add a member & get 10% off!”

Bonus Tip: Have front desk staff ask for referrals EVERY TIME a patient leaves happy.


3. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) = Long-Term Growth

✅ Optimize for “dentist near me” searches.
✅ Get Google Reviews (5-star ratings help you rank higher).
✅ Write blog content on common dental problems & solutions.

Need help with SEO? Use tools like Yoast SEO to optimize your website.


Step 4: The Power of Membership Programs (Your Secret Weapon for Recurring Revenue)

Traditional dental practices rely on one-time procedures. That’s risky.

What if you could GUARANTEE revenue every single month?
What if patients felt COMMITTED to your practice financially?
What if you NEVER had to deal with insurance companies again?

The Membership Model = Predictable Cash Flow

With a dental membership plan, patients pay you directly for:

✔️ Routine cleanings & exams (included in membership).
✔️ Discounts on crowns, implants, and cosmetic treatments.
✔️ Exclusive VIP perks (whitening for life, emergency exams, etc.).

How One Dentist Scaled to $21,000 MRR with BoomCloud

Dr. Jason Miller was tired of insurance write-offs eating into his profits. So, he launched a membership plan using BoomCloud.

600 members paying $35/month = $21,000/month in predictable revenue.
Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR): $250,000+.
Membership patients spent 3X more on high-ticket treatments.

Check out BoomCloudApps.com and start growing your practice today!


Final Thoughts: Build a Profitable, Scalable Dental Practice (Without Insurance Drama)

If you want a thriving, profitable practice, here’s the winning formula:

Avoid PPO-heavy contracts that destroy your margins.
Offer a membership plan to create predictable revenue.
Use direct marketing (social media, SEO, referral programs) to attract the RIGHT patients.
Focus on recurring revenue (MRR & ARR) instead of one-time procedures.

Ready to scale? Visit BoomCloudApps.com and start your membership plan today!

My Top Podcasts

Download This E-book!

Learn tactics and strategies from practices that have built a million dollars in recurring revenue from their membership subscriptions alone!

Membership Plans For Optometrists

vision-membership-plan-ebook Creating a patient membership plan is the smartest strategy to implement in your practice. You will increase patient satisfaction & loyalty, Increase predictable recurring revenue & increase sales!

Fire The PPOs!

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

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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

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