media, signage and a simple, executable marketing plan. Hiring
marketing professionals with dental experience helps to ensure
that the new brand is created effectively and in a manner com-
pliant with regulatory agencies.
Hiring & Team Training
Even the most talented clinicians are only as effective as the team
that surrounds them each day. Many new practices fear that
their limited budget will preclude them from hiring the best or
the brightest – not so! The new owner simply needs to focus
resources in the right manner. For example, a cross-trained den-
tal assistant can serve as a business team member until the prac-
tice can support two full-time employees. Choose the new team
wisely and hire quality, not quantity, and once the team is in
place, be sure you’ve engaged attorneys and consultants to have
employee manuals and systems in place.
Whenever uncertainty exists around a referral or a purchase, ask
questions of qualified, experienced professionals. Research
options. Select advisors whose only goal is the success of the new
practice and its owner.
In the end, build a practice that is protected and prepared to
serve its owner, team and patients at the highest level.
Trusted Referrals
The new practice owner will find that everyone in the industry
wants to offer a product or service! While many offers will seem
inviting, be sure to pause before saying “yes” to a purchase. Hold
each purchase up to the light of the goals and budget set for the
new office and before following a referral, examine how the per-
son making the referral benefits from the referral. Many profes-
sionals in the industry receive a payment or commission for
referrals made to lenders, equipment specialists, etc. While this
practice does not necessarily negate the quality of the profes-
sionals involved, it may influence the integrity of the referral.
20 HOUSTON DENTISTRY | www.houstondentistrymagazine.com
Justin M. Kendall, ESQ, CPA and Haylee N. Davis, MBA are co-founders
of KAD Dental, a division of The KAD Group. KAD Dental is a business serv-
ices firm specializing in the business needs of dentists and dental
practices. Justin and Haylee each have nearly 20 years of experience in law,
accounting, business transitions and dental practice management.
Email [email protected], visit www.kaddental.com or call (972) 294-5254
for more information.