Dental Students

Many of you are probably already checking opportunities. There have been several changes in the area of associate arrangements and purchase opportunities in recent years.
Because of economic set-backs a couple of years ago in the stock market, many retirement plans suffered high losses forcing many, including dentists, to postpone their plans for retirement.
Some practices were not being put on the market, those practices that were saw their values increase. This situation has loosened up a bit, but practices on the market today are demanding a higher value then than they would have a few years ago.

If you are not going to complete a GPR, go into a specialty, or purchase a practice, chances are, you will be looking for a job.
When you find this job or opportunity, you will be retained either as an employee or the practice owner might want to discuss wanting you to be an independent contractor.
By the way, you don’t want to be an independent contractor because by doing so you will qualify for no benefits an employee in the practice would enjoy and you inherit some expenses you don’t want – such as covering both the employee’s side and the employer’s side of social security tax and Medicare tax and 100% of all other payroll tax costs which might exist. On a wage of $100,000.00 this cost could exceed $7,650.00. I will say some of these relationships can exist, but it is typically not ideal for the contractor.
A second arrangement which could exist is the associate arrangement without a contract and everything is verbally agreed upon. Dangerous and will not last for long. A third arrangement could exist where there is a contract. This third arrangement discusses terms (how long it will be in effect) and will discuss how you will be paid. It will discuss how to terminate, what happens when you or the owner is sick, vacations, and etc. This type of arrangement occasionally can result with a buy-In, but it is normally used for the associate position and the owner is typically very open about it – to give you a job and a job only.
Common Reasons Why Associateships Fail
- A written associate agreement does not exist.
- Philosophies of practice are incompatible.
- Dentists are unclear as to expectations of each other.
- Practice is not able to support an additional dentist.
- Associate is unwilling to adapt to practice policies and procedures.
- Associate has unrealistic income expectations.
- Associate is unwilling to listen to owner’s advice and suggestions because they are felt to be “outdated”.
- Associate is unwilling to devote sufficient effort to build the practice.
- Associate supports and is involved with the office staff in their complaints about the owner.
- Owner is not willing to pay the associate an equitable income.
- Owner is not willing to assign patients in a fair manner to the associate.
- Owner is not willing to listen to comments and recommendations of the associate.
- Owner is not willing to spend sufficient time with the associate.
- Owner is not willing to relinquish control or authority to the associate
- Owner is not willing to sell all or a portion of the practice to the associate, even after initially indicating he would.
- Owner and associate are not able to agree on the price or terms of the associate buying into the practice.
Advisors
Avoid the problems listed above
It’s important for dentists to realize how to choose and work with professional advisors and consultants, specialists who are able to assist in the process of associating, buying, or selling a dental practice. The average attorney or accountant in private practice may never be involved in a health care practice transaction. It is a specialty field and demands the use of a specialist, such as Hemmen and Associates to assist you as well as your attorney and/or your accountant. We have provided consulting and accounting services to doctors since 1964, specializing with dentists.