Start Your Dental Practice

By Jonathan VanHornBusiness Medicine Health & Fitness

Start Your Dental Practice episodes

January 06, 2016How To Build A Highly Efficient Practice with Dr. Gina Dorfman
When chaos strikes in your dental practice, what happens?
For most dentists, that means:
flustered assistants and hygienist
stress on you from having to tend to demand instead of working on growing your dental practice
And worse, frustrated patients who may never return

Your team plays a huge role in your practice – second only to where your dental practice is located.
That means that by having a method to find, recruit, and keep high-quality people you earn an unfair advantage at growing your business.
If you're struggling to find the right people (and you want to set your dental practice up for success), then meet Dr. Gina Dorfman.
Dr. Dorfman is a dental practice owner and a practicing dentist.
Dr. Dorfman is also one of the founders of YAPI, a practice automation software designed to help dental practices become more efficient and productive with streamlined routine business tasks and improved team and patient communications.
She's here today to help you streamline your business.
Click here to access today's bonus from Dr. Dorfman (exclusively for Start Your Dental Practice listeners) called, "Best Practices For Appointment Confirmations: Scheduling for patients so they actually keep their appointments".
Here are a few things you'll discover in today's episode:
The most important thing to growing a successful practice (second to location)
How to hire amazing employees (and the psychology you need to have to find and keep great people)
The advantage to asking weird questions in the hiring process (and the single question that identifies true leaders in a group interview)
The advantages (and disadvantages) of being a dental practice owner
How teamwork can lead to disaster (and what to do if you want your team to be a well-oiled machine)
The two types of procedures in any dental practice (and how to perfectly automate this one type)
The “front desk octopus”
Why your existing patients aren’t rebooking with your practice (this could add tens of thousands of dollars to your bottom line each year)
Why most practices miss 40% of incoming phone calls
A simple thing you can do to recoup past-due accounts
The most important thing you can do (especially if you’re just starting a practice from scratch and never owned a business before)

Free Episode Bonus:
If this episode resonated with you for your practice – then get the free resource Dr. Dorfman just mentioned, called “Best Practices For Appointment Confirmations: Scheduling for patients so they actually keep their appointments”.
Click here to access today's bonus now.
Quotes:
"People support what they help create." - Dr. Gina Dorfman
"It's terribly inefficient to do something very efficiently that doesn't need to be done at all." - Dr. Gina Dorfman
"Humans leverage technology to be more efficient and profitable." - Dr. Gina Dorfman
"Create your own economy." - Dr. Gina Dorfman

Resources:
YAPI - Dr. Dorfman's Site & Software (go there for a free consultation)
Contact Dr. Dorfman via email
Dental Town
Dr. David Maloley's Podcast (Previous guest. Episode here.)

Support The Show:
Without you, Ambitious Dentists, this should wouldn’t exist.
If you enjoyed today’s episode, please go here to give me an honest rating and review in iTunes.
This allows me to evolve that show as it goes on, and also helps spread the word to other podcast listeners since iTunes promotes shows with active engagement.
51 min
December 22, 2015How To Get 40+ New Patients Each Month With Reviews Online
There are many ways to get your website ranking higher in dentistry today.
You’ve probably heard plenty of SEO strategies – even some that “break the rules”.
But there’s one method that’s highly underused in the industry…
And that’s getting your patients to do it for you.
Chances are they’re already talking about your dental office – and many potential patients are searching the internet for their next appointment.
Well, by implementing this powerful SEO strategy we’re about to cover, you’ll have a high-converting SEO presence courtesy of your customer.
Showing us how to properly us this strategy to grow your online presence is Dr. Leonard Tau.
Dr. Leonard F. Tau maintains a full time private practice in Northeast Philadelphia focusing on general, cosmetic, reconstructive and implant dentistry.
He’s a wiz when it comes to the patient experience, and is about to show you one of the most cost-effective ways to grow your Google rankings in dentistry today.
Here are a few things you’ll discover in today’s episode:
How to get 40-60 new patients to your practice (without taking insurance, charging low fees, or asking for referrals)
What happens to your conversions online (PPC and paid ads) when you don’t have reviews
How to get patients to leave your a positive (and honest) review
Why “reputation management” is the wrong way to approach reviews for your business
What sites online matter most for reviews (Dr. Tau stumped me on this, can you guess why?)
The “buying cycle” that takes place when a potential client looks for you (and how to avoid being invisible online)
What “citations” are and how they help Google (and your patients) to trust you
Why most “SEO Experts” are ruining your reputation online (and why you don’t want to pay these people a single cent of your hard earned money)
The ONLY question you should ever ask right after your patient has gotten out of the chair and approached the front desk after their appointment
The right way to ask your patients to leave you an honest review (even when life gets in the way)
The word you want to AVOID when asking for reviews (and the word you should use instead)
How to incentivize members on your team to explode reviews for your practice

Free Episode Bonus:
Dr. Tau didn’t want to leave you empty handed.
So, if you’re excited to implement today’s episode in your practice to get more leads with reviews – then you’ll want the bonus Dr. Tau created.
It’s called “Strategies To Get Reviews On The Site That Matters”.
It’s great if you’re going to take action or if you’re going to hand this task to someone in your business who handles marketing.
Click here to download that now.
Quotes:
“The best place to hide a body is the second page of Google.” – Dr. Leonard Tau
We always overestimate the amount of change that’s going to take place in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next 10 years.” – Bill Gates

Resources:
Dr. Tau’s Website

Support The Show:
Without you, Ambitious Dentists, this should wouldn’t exist.
If you enjoyed today’s episode, please go here to give me an honest rating and review in iTunes.
This allows me to evolve that show as it goes on, and also helps spread the word to other podcast listeners since iTunes promotes shows with active engagement.
53 min
December 09, 2015The Four Pillars of a Successful Dental Practice
Ever heard this?
"Intelligence is your ability to adapt to change." - Stephen Hawkings
It's as true in life as it is in your dental practice...
In fact, it's the practices that don't adapt to new "intelligent" technologies and methods that fade away.
But, by knowing what's going on in your business (at a highly detailed level), you know where to focus your attention to get more patients (and revenue) to your practice.
Meet Curtis Marshall.
He and the Dental Intel team equip dental practices with the tools to adapt to change – and avoid fading away like many other practices who fail.
When you have a system behind you (like their "Intelligent Board") smart enough to know where to double-down on your efforts, you can make informed decisions that multiply your time and money.
Want to see what your dental practice looks like under the hood? Get your own snapshot (completely free) courtesy of Dental Intel.

Click here or visit startyourdentalpractice.com/bonus to access this now.
Here are a few things you'll discover in today's episode:
How to become the number 1 dentist in a specific area your target market lives in
Why you should use a secret word (like Oklahoma) to keep those around you sane
What to look for to project your dental practice’s growth with exact precision
The real-life “crystal ball” (that any dentist can use and access) to know exactly how to be a better clinician
A huge-downside to technology in the dental field that’s greatly overlooked
How to find balance between being CEO, a good business person, and offering great patient services (without losing money and diminishing profits)
How to avoid getting charged thousands by consultants who “help” you find where you should focus in your business
Why reports are just like driving a car forward while looking in the rear-view mirror
The pitfall most dental practice owners fall into when you stop measuring every aspect of your business
The four main parts of a dental practice that you MUST understand

Free Episode Bonus:
If you wanted to see your dental practice on the "Intelligent Board", you'd normally have to pay a sign up fee and sign up for Dental Intel's service.
(which still completely worth it, in my opinion)
But Curtis made an offer I haven't heard anywhere else to listeners of the show.
So to get a look at your business on the "Intelligent Board" with zero up-front cost or need to sign up, then here's what you need to do:
Click here and let me know you're interested.
You'll get a response from me with directions for how to take advantage of this before they decide to stop.
Quotes:
"It's difficult to track by hand everything that's going on in your business." - Chris Marshal
"Whats managed is improved. What is not measured is not improved." - Jonathan VanHorn
"You can either change people... Or change people." - John Meese

Resources:
Dental Intel
801-380-7070

Support The Show:
Without you, Ambitious Dentists, this should wouldn’t exist.
If you enjoyed today’s episode, please go here to give me an honest rating and review in iTunes.
This allows me to evolve that show as it goes on, and also helps spread the word to other podcast listeners since iTunes promotes shows with active engagement.
53 min
December 02, 2015What You Need To Consider When Hiring a CPA For Your Dental Practice
There’s a huge issue when it comes to finances that almost every dentist will have to deal with.
And knowing how to handle this can be the difference between saving hundreds of thousands of dollars a year…
Or being on the radar of the IRS.
That difference:
Having the right CPA or accountant.
With so many options out there (and sharks wanting your money), it can be intimidating to know the right way to handle your books.
Here are a few things you’ll discover in today’s episode:
What you can expect from a dental accountant or dental CPA (and why they exist in the first place)
What exactly is (and isn’t) a dental CPA
The number 1 reason why you should avoid a “generalist” CPA (that can cost you tons and puts the CPA in a position to NOT communicate with you)
Why it’s nearly impossible to decipher a good CPA from a bad CPA
The 5 things to consider when you’re looking to hire a CPA for your dental practice
Who would you need to know before you get involved with a dental accountant or dental CPA
How to avoid getting steered into crazy situations by this specific type of financial predator
How they can be a part of your career long-term

Limited Time Offer:
Getting your business finances in order shouldn’t be complicated and full of the runaround.
As a listener of Start Your Dental Practice, I’d like to offer a free 15 minute consultation to see how we can help your practice and answer any questions you have…
But I can’t do it forever, so I won’t be taking any of these beyond December 15th.
Click here to book your free consultation before time runs out.
Quotes:
“Dentists spend about 15,000 hours learning how to become a dentists, and 0 hours learning to become a business owner.” – Jonathan VanHorn

Support The Show:
Without you, Ambitious Dentists, this should wouldn’t exist.
If you enjoyed today’s episode, please go here to give me an honest rating and review in iTunes.
This allows me to evolve that show as it goes on, and also helps spread the word to other podcast listeners since iTunes promotes shows with active engagement.
47 min
November 23, 2015How to Grow a Dental Practice to $5 Million a Year in Collections (And produce $15,000 a day)
In 1997, the internet was understood by few, and utilized for it’s marketing potential by even less.
Seeing the opportunity at hand, today’s guest went all-in on his online marketing efforts and went on to create a multi-million dollar a year dental empire.
Dr. Williams is in private practice working two days a week in the group practice he founded, Suwanee Dental Care.
He is highly productive (averaging over $15,000 per day in the office) and teaches other dentists to be more capable of doing the same.
His coaching and consulting firm, Solstice Dental Advisors, helps dentists discover how to double their practices by implementing proven marketing, management, efficiency and leadership skills.
His new book, Marketing the Million Dollar Practice, debuted in 2014 and went to the top of Amazon.com as the #1 Best Seller in Dentistry and #15 among all books on marketing.
He runs the Solstice 5M Masters Academy and the 5M Dental Mastermind. He is a partner in the Dental Implant Marketing Formula, a system for generating high end, big case dentistry patients. His expertise is in dental systems and dental marketing.
Click here to get today’s episode bonus: A FREE section of Dr. Bill William’s bestselling book, and information about his exclusive mastermind.
Here are a few things you’ll discover in today’s episode:
The danger of only getting good at one thing (and why you may want to consider diversifying your dentistry skill set)
How to start a dental practice from scratch (with no existing customer base)Why you need to start building a funnel for your practice right now
The power of investing in your marketing early on (and how it draws the right customer into your practice)
What’s working RIGHT NOW in marketing (and exactly how it works)
The downside to some types of masterminds that you want to avoid (and the type of mastermind that actually provides helpful information without competing with other members in the group)

Free Episode Bonus:
Dr. Williams was gracious enough to offer a FREE section of his bestselling book Marketing The Million Dollar Practice as well as information about his exclusive mastermind.
Access today’s bonus by clicking here.
Quotes :
“You stack a bunch of different tools on top of each other and eventually there’s nothing you can’t do.” – Dr. Williams
“I believe you should good at one thing, then get good at another thing.” – Dr. Williams
“You’ll double the speed at which you grow if you become a pillar in the community.” – Dr. Williams
“One of the secrets to success is not saying no all the time.” – Dr. Williams
“Plans are worthless. But planning is essential.” – Winston Churchill

Resources:
Dr. William’s Site

Support The Show:
Without you, Ambitious Dentists, this should wouldn’t exist.
If you enjoyed today’s episode, please go here to give me an honest rating and review in iTunes.
This allows me to evolve that show as it goes on, and also helps spread the word to other podcast listeners since iTunes promotes shows with active engagement.
1 hr 1 min
November 12, 2015The $0 Down Startup Dental Practice with The Founder of Dental Town
It’s common thinking in business that you should pick a location with tons of people – but that can be misleading.
Yes, you want access to a lot of people you can potentially help…
But what if there’s a lot of competition already there?
When it comes to starting your dental practice, you have to be strategic with where you setup or take over a dental practice.
That’s one of the many things I love about today's guest, Dr. Howard Farran.
Dr. Farran started his dental career by thinking strategically and opening a practice in a community that numerically made sense...
With $0 down.
He’s no small name in our industry as the founder of Dental Town – the premier forum for the dental industry to collaborate.
On top of that, Dr. Farran has achieved high acclaim over the years for his philosophy and efforts to fluoridate the waters of the Phoenix community.
You’ll quickly know why Dr. Farran is such a sought after name in the dental industry.
In today’s bonus, you’ll get the highlights from Dr. Farran’s advice, and action steps to implement immediately.

Click here to download that now.
Here are a few things you’ll discover in today’s episode:
The “sandbox” event that led to the creation of Dental Town
How Howard used insanely basic market research to find the exact target market he wanted to work with in his practice
How to get your first dental office and ALL necessary equipment for $0 down
How Howard and his team know exactly what dentists around the world are dying to read and know about
The lesson Sam Walton taught Howard about how to treat demographics (and how to best serve a target market)
How to ethically charge more (and double your profit in the process)
The brilliant location strategy Howard used that made “veteran” dentists laugh at him (at first)
Free Episode Bonus:
Dr. Farran absolutely full of great business and dental wisdom that I wish everyone was exposed to.
In today’s bonus, you’ll be able to remember the highlights of Howard’s advice and start implementing it immediately.
Get access to that here.
Quotes:
“If you get 100 dentists in the room, everyone’s a student.” – Howard Ferran
“Not one dentist has the answer to everything.” – Howard Ferran
“People say I got lucky because I found a town 1,000 away and signed a lease without ever being in the city before.” – Howard Ferran
“Get out there and run for mayor.” – Howard Ferran
“Customer service is always innovated in the rural areas.” – Howard Ferran

Resources:
Dental Town
Dr. Farran’s Website

Support The Show:
Without you, Ambitious Dentists, this should wouldn’t exist.
If you enjoyed today’s episode, please go here to give me an honest rating and review in iTunes.
This allows me to evolve that show as it goes on, and also helps spread the word to other podcast listeners since iTunes promotes shows with active engagement.
1 hr 7 min
November 05, 2015Corruption. Leadership. And Personal Growth As A Dental Practice Owner
Today’s guest has seen it all.
Marilee Sears comes from a “dental household” and watched her father run his dental practice as she grew up…
Which gives her a unique advantage and perspective.
Nowadays, Marilee uses her strengths to specifically help dentists put the right systems in place so they can focus on what’s really important: work, family, and friends.
Marilee helps dentists through private and group coaching to break through the 7 figure mark while reducing stress and making the process as fun as possible.
Today’s bonus: Exclusive access to Marilee’s “The Future Of Dentistry” Interviews (not available anywhere else). Click here to get those now.
Here are a few things you’ll discover in today’s episode:
How Marilee’s father played a HUGE role in her becoming the “systems” person to dentists across the world.
The thing that was said in front of dental students at a local event that upset the industry (and the problem posed by corporate dentistry having a presence in dental schools)
Why it’s a GOOD thing that the dental industry is highly competitive (and why you can still make a ton of money if you go about it the right way)
Natural leadership as a dentist. Is it natural or a teachable skill?
The breakthrough moment Marilee had that reshaped her career, business, and life.
One of the biggest ways to get further as a dental practice owner (and why this was the best investment Marilee and I have made).
What sets apart the dentists who succeed from those who don’t

Free Episode Bonus:
Marilee hosts a show of her own, called “The Future Of Dentistry”, but handles it a little differently than I do this podcast.
For instance, you can’t get your hands on these interviews anywhere.
Marilee was extremely generous during our interview and decided to give exclusive access to all 23 of her interviews, just for Ambitious Dentists.
To get access, click here or the image below.
Quotes:
“Don’t think that schools are inviting people with your best interest in mind.” – Marilee Sears
“The defining factor of successful dentists is that they’re focused on becoming great leaders.” – Jonathan VanHorn
“The opportunity for both personal growth and profit is huge… And the two go hand in hand.” – Marilee Sears
“I believe that every practice problem is actually a personal problem that’s been magnified.” – Marilee Sears
“We have more power than we realize we have.” – Marilee Smith
“If you’re doing it on your own, and your working too hard, you’re doing it wrong.” – Marilee Sears
“You don’t climb Mt. Everest in a day.” – Jonathan VanHorn
“Each of us is here for a reason… that reason isn’t just to drill and fill. It’s to connect with people and touch people. And thats the best thing that happens in dentistry.” – Marilee Sears

Resources:
Marilee’s Website – Sign up for her list!

Support The Show:
Without you, Ambitious Dentists, this should wouldn’t exist.
If you enjoyed today’s episode, please go here to give me an honest rating and review in iTunes.
This allows me to evolve that show as it goes on, and also helps spread the word to other podcast listeners since iTunes promotes shows with active engagement.
1 hr
October 30, 2015How To Know What Metrics Determine A Successful Dental Practice
Do you know the numbers that matter in your dental practice?
Today’s show is a clip from a past interview where I was featured on Howard Speaks with Howard Farran - the founder of Dental Town.
I went over a few things that I don’t normally cover in interviews on this show, and I go in-depth on the metrics that drive a successful dental practice.
In today’s bonus, I’m sharing a quick exercise you can use to get a grasp on the account in your business so that you can see where your practice is headed.
Go here to get today's episode bonus: The "Know Your Numbers" Litmus Test.
Here are a few things you'll discover in today's episode:
Appointment by appointment: Are you making money or losing money?
What sets apart million and billionaires in terms of the roles they have on their employee teams
The business quote that Bill Gates lives by that’s applicable to dental practice owners
Which accounting software and practice management I personally recommend to my private clients
How I spot embezzlement in a non-traditional way (this is how sneaky employees get away with stealing thousands of dollars from your practice)
Metrics in your business. Do I personally believe in having transparency around the numbers that matter in your practice (and should employees know how much is in the bank?)
How to read your balance sheet (and why this is critical to building a successful practice)

Free Episode Bonus:
When you know what numbers you need to focus on to drive your dental practice, everything else becomes clear.
Access the "Know Your Numbers" Litmus Test I mentioned in today's episode so that you can easily grasp (and stay aware of) your key metrics by clicking here.
Quotes - Click To Share On Twitter:
"Accounting is the language of business." - Jonathan VanHorn
"We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten." - Bill Gates

Resources:
Skype
Open Dental

Support The Show:
Without you, Ambitious Dentists, this should wouldn’t exist.
If you enjoyed today’s episode, please go here to give me an honest rating and review in iTunes.
This allows me to evolve that show as it goes on, and also helps spread the word to other podcast listeners since iTunes promotes shows with active engagement.
1 hr 6 min
October 23, 2015How To Prepare For The Dental Bank Loan Process
In all previous episodes of Start Your Dental Practice, we’ve featured the best and brightest names in the dental industry.
Today, I’m it switching up.
(you’ll find out exactly why at the beginning of today’s episode)
There’s a huge problem with today’s up and coming dental practice owners:
They’re more debt averse than ever before.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing…
But, chances are you’re going to need help from the bank if you want to acquire or start a practice of your own when you complete dental school.
If that’s the case, you probably have a lot of questions about the right (and wrong) way of going about working with the bank – and that’s why I made today’s episode and bonus.
Get today’s bonus guide: How to Successfully Apply for Dental Practice Loans
Here are a few things you’ll discover in today’s episode:
My personal business philosophy on debt (and why you should adopt this thought process)
The different reasons why you’ll want a bank loan
What kind of loans exist (and the features in each)
The moving parts of loans that you need to be educated and aware of
My NUMBER 1 takeaway from doing business with the bank

Free Episode Bonus:
In today’s bonus, you’ll get access to the top questions I get asked by readers, students, and my email list around dental banks and the exclusive interviews I held with 6 banks to discover the ins and outs of dental practice loans.
Click here to access that now.
Support The Show:
Without you, Ambitious Dentists, this should wouldn’t exist.
If you enjoyed today’s episode, please go here to give me an honest rating and review in iTunes.
This allows me to evolve that show as it goes on, and also helps spread the word to other podcast listeners since iTunes promotes shows with active engagement.
43 min
October 16, 2015Using Facebook To Grow Your Dental Practice
For several years, Dr. Colin Lathrop has honed his skills working as a dentist in the Houston area and built up a loyal clientele who appreciate his friendly chairside manner and outstanding skill in all aspects of dentistry.
If you’re unfamiliar with Dr. Lathrop’s approach, his philosophy is to treat each patient individually — not according to a cookie-cutter “one-size-fits-all” dental regimen.
His simple, but effective approach to his patients also rings true in his business and his marketing.
Dr. Lathrop and I had an incredible conversation about the brass tacks of his marketing strategy.

I received permission from Dr. Lathrop to reveal this behind the scenes conversation in today’s bonus.

Click here to access that now.

Here are a few things you’ll discover in today’s episode:
Why you might not want to start your own practice or buy into one at the two-year mark out of school
How to find the perfect location for your dental practice and family (that creates a one of a kind connection with the community)
The top things that can contribute to the growth of your practice (and how to get an unordinary amount of exposure)
What not to do with your Facebook marketing (miss this, and you’re sure to come off as boring and scare off potential patients)
How to make it fun for your staff to contribute to your marketing (and how to know who on your staff can help drive your social media efforts)

Free Episode Bonus:
Before sitting down to record this interview with Dr. Lathrop, we had an incredible conversation about the brass tacks of his marketing strategy.
Dr. Lathrop gave me permission to reveal this behind the scenes conversation in today’s bonus.
Click here to access that now.
Quotes:
“If they like you, then they’ll accept treatment from you.” – Dr. Lathrop
“You want to show that you’re fun, nice, and trustworthy. You have to be unique about it.” – Dr. Lathrop

Resources:
Dr. Lathrop’s Site
ArrowHead Dental Lab
Practice Cafe
Dr. Taun Pham from Episode 5
Support The Show:
Without you, Ambitious Dentists, this should wouldn’t exist.
If you enjoyed today’s episode, please go here to give me an honest rating and review in iTunes.
This allows me to evolve that show as it goes on, and also helps spread the word to other podcast listeners since iTunes promotes shows with active engagement.
44 min

About Start Your Dental Practice

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In every episode, we aim to demystify the "how to start a dental practice" problem by bringing on world-class influencers and consults to pick their brain about how to get past the barriers involved…

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About Start Your Dental Practice