s a dental practice appraiser and broker I am fortunate to be in a position where my daily activity is a window into what works and what does not work in terms of value creation in a dental practice. As practice values continue to soar, buyers are being very careful (as they should be); therefore it is more important now than ever that you and your practice are ready when the time comes to sell. This article will take a page from Late Show Host David Letterman’s monologue and enlighten you about my “Top Ten List” for Dental Practice Vendor’s.

This article is not about how to enter into a lease or how to renew a lease. There are experts in that field (one of the best writes in this publication) and I would strongly encourage you to use the services of an expert at that stage. What I want to cover is why a premises lease is so important from a practice value perspective.

There are many options to consider when contemplating the most effective way to transition out of your practice. The dictionary describes merger as the joining together of two or more companies or organizations. In essence, a dental practice is like a small company. However many dentists do not consider the merger as a viable option because they do not understand how it will work or the many benefits for both parties.