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The 13 Stages That Built 900+ Dental Startups (And How They Can Work For You)

The 13 Stages That Built 800+ Successful Dental Startups
2025-06-04  • 49 min
The 13 Stages That Built 800+ Successful Dental Startups
The Startup Dentist
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The 13 Stages That Built 900+ Dental Startups (And How They Can Work For You)

If you’re like most dentists dreaming of practice ownership, you probably have a vision already forming in your mind. Maybe it’s scribbled in your CE notes or stuck in the back of your head during long associate shifts. That “someday” practice? It doesn’t have to stay on the sidelines forever.

Here’s what most new owners don’t realize: there’s an actual roadmap to get you from dreaming to doing. We’ve used it to help over 900 dentists launch successful startup practices — and it’s more than just a checklist. It’s a system built to eliminate the common pitfalls that derail so many well-intentioned startups.

I break it all down on this week’s episode of The Startup Dentist Podcast, where we walk through the 13 stages that make up the Ideal Practices Startup Method.

Why Strategy (Not Equipment) Builds Real Practices

Let’s get this out of the way: your startup journey is not about rushing to sign a lease or picking out a chair color. You’re building the future of your clinical career — and that deserves more than trial and error.

The foundation of our process is what we call the 3P Method:

  • Practice – Secure your real estate, financial model, and build-out strategy the right way.
  • Profits – Create operations, hiring systems, and marketing that actually drive performance.
  • Purpose – Develop the kind of culture and brand that patients and team members align with deeply.

That’s how you create a practice that thrives — clinically and financially.

What the 13 Stages Actually Look Like

No fluff, no filler. Here are a few of the stages we dive into:

  • Clarifying your vision with legacy-level thinking
  • Making demographics personal (yes, ratios matter — but context is king)
  • Avoiding the flashy “free floorplan” trap
  • Launching marketing before your first patient walks in the door
  • Hiring people who align with your mission, not just your payroll

These are the strategic moves most startups miss. But when done right, they help doctors move from “zero to full schedule” in record time. (Yes, we’ve seen that happen in less than 30 days.)

What Stage Are You In?

If you're in that “what if” or “someday” phase, this episode is your next move. Let’s get your startup dream into a strategic plan.

Remember, this isn’t just about opening a practice. It’s about building your career on your terms — with purpose, profit, and pride baked into every step.

Let’s make sure you’re following a proven plan, not winging it and hoping for the best. Your dream practice is closer than you think.