You’re hustling, your ops schedule is slammed, you’re booked out for weeks, and you’re doing more hygiene checks than a squirrel on Red Bull. The phones ring. Patients want in—but you can’t clone yourself (yet).
It hits you:
“Should I hire an associate dentist?”
If that question is haunting you while you brush your teeth at night, congratulations—you’re probably killing it. But before you slap a “Dentist Wanted” sign on your window, let’s talk data, timing, and a secret hack for stacking cash (and loyalty) before you ever cut a job offer.
STORY:
Meet Dr. Jamie. Six years ago, Jamie ran a solid solo practice, grinding hard, seeing patients sunup to sundown. The hustle was real, but so was the burnout. Days were long, family time was rare, and patient waitlists stretched into next quarter.
Jamie wondered, “Is it time to bring on an associate?”
But here’s the twist—Jamie didn’t just want to add another dentist. Jamie wanted scalability, less chaos, and, yes, more profit.
Cue the “Epiphany Bridge.” Jamie realized the goal isn’t just to be busier. It’s to be more profitable—to create a business, not just a job.
So before signing that associate contract, Jamie did one thing first: Launched a dental membership program using BoomCloud™.
Bringing on an associate dentist is a major business move, but if you do it too early (or for the wrong reasons), you risk more overhead and stress than you bargained for. The real game-changer? Building predictable, recurring revenue with a membership plan. It’s the move that gives you financial cushion, steadier patient flow, and the data to know when you’re truly ready for an associate.
Here’s the deal:
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Most dentists don’t know their exact “breaking point” for hiring.
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But if you track Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR), Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR), and revenue per patient… you get clarity and confidence.
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And membership patients? They spend 2X-4X more, come in more, and don’t ghost you for the doc down the street.
Why a Membership Plan Changes Everything
Let’s lay it out:
Most practices hire an associate when their schedule is jam-packed and new patients are being turned away. But if you don’t have a predictable revenue stream (like, say, 10-20% of patients on monthly autopay), your cash flow is at the mercy of insurance, cancellations, and, let’s be real, the weather.
With a membership plan:
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Your baseline revenue is steady.
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Patients are more loyal (95% retention, baby).
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Treatment acceptance jumps (discounts + trust = more yes’s).
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Your value per patient soars—making that associate salary a smart, safe investment.
Case Study: Dr. Jamie’s Practice
After launching BoomCloud™, Jamie grew a membership base of 400 patients in 12 months.
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MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue): $14,000/month
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ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue): $168,000/year
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Membership patients spent 3X more per year than non-members.
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Jamie’s revenue per patient shot up, and hygiene chairs were full months in advance.
So when Jamie finally brought on an associate, it wasn’t a leap of faith—it was a data-driven slam dunk.
When IS It Time to Hire an Associate Dentist? [With Data & Personality]
Ask yourself these questions:
1. Are You Booked Out Solid?
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2+ weeks for hygiene or restorative? You might be ready.
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New patient waitlist growing every month? Good sign.
2. Is Your Revenue Predictable?
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If your monthly collections are all over the map, slow down.
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If you’ve got solid MRR (thanks, BoomCloud™), you’ve de-risked the hire.
3. Do You Have Recurring Revenue To Support Payroll?
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20% of your practice revenue should be recurring before you scale the team.
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Membership programs = recurring revenue on tap.
4. Is Your Team Maxed Out?
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Burnout, overtime, missed family dinners? You need more hands.
5. Is Your Revenue Per Patient Growing?
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If yes, you’re optimizing. If not, fix that first—before you double your overhead.
DATA & STATS (for the Number Nerds):
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Dental practices with membership programs see 2X-4X more spend per patient.
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Patients on a plan are 4X more likely to refer friends and family.
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Practices with stable MRR/ARR are 3X more likely to grow profitably after hiring an associate.
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The average associate needs to produce at least 3-5X their compensation in collections to justify the hire. Don’t guess—know your numbers.
Bullet List: How to Prep for an Associate Dentist (the Smart Way)
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Launch a Membership Program (BoomCloud™ makes this stupid easy)
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Track your MRR, ARR, and patient retention like a hawk
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Optimize your revenue per patient (membership patients drive this up fast)
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Automate recurring payments & communication
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Set clear KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) for your associate before hiring
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Use BoomCloud™ analytics to know exactly when your practice is “associate-ready”
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Celebrate growth (and sanity) with team bonuses when you hit targets!
Pro Tips & Cool Ideas (Stolen From BoomCloud™’s Top Users)
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Offer special membership perks for referrals—fuel word-of-mouth growth.
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Use BoomCloud™ to segment your patient base: target dormant patients, upsell perio plans, and keep your schedule full year-round.
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Share your MRR/ARR milestones with your team—make growth a shared mission.
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When hiring, show candidates your membership program stats—it’s a recruiting magnet!
Final Word:
Bringing on an associate dentist can unlock massive growth—but ONLY if you’ve set your practice up for scalable, recurring revenue and optimized your patient value first. Membership programs aren’t just “nice to have”—they’re your safety net, your growth engine, and your retention machine.
When your membership numbers are up, your revenue per patient is climbing, and your team is stretched thin with happy, loyal patients—that’s when you know: it’s go time.
Resources & BoomCloud™ Links
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Download the Million-Dollar Membership Plan Ebook:
https://boomcloud.myclickfunnels.com/million-dollar-book -
Take The Six-Figure Patient Membership Plan Course:
https://www.boomcloudapp.com/six-figure-membership-course -
Schedule a Demo of BoomCloud™ & Learn how to manage & grow your membership plan:
https://boomcloudapps.com/demo-schedule/ -
Create Your BoomCloud™ Account For FREE:
https://www.boomcloudapp.com/main-online-demo-and-sign-up-page
Author:
Jordon Comstock (in spirit & style)
