Associate to Owner: The Modern Dental Ownership Series

Part 1 — Startup vs. Acquisition: Choosing the Right Ownership Path

📅 January 22 | ⏰ 7:00 PM EST | 💻 Live + Free

A free, live educational conversation for associate dentists who are starting to think about ownership, but want clarity before committing to a path.

This session kicks off a 6-month series designed to help associates think through ownership the right way: with context, real-world patterns, and long-term perspective.

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They get worn down practicing inside systems they do not control. For many dentists, that tension is what starts the ownership question.

That’s why we created Associate to Owner: The Modern Dental Ownership Series—a 6-part educational series built for associates who want to explore ownership thoughtfully, without pressure or hype.

Each month focuses on a different decision point associates face before ownership, so when the time comes, you’re not guessing or reacting.

This first session focuses on one of the most common (and misunderstood) questions:

Should I start a practice… or buy one?

Ownership is supposed to create stability...

But the wrong practice can create the opposite.
👉 Debt.
👉 Stress.
👉 Constant pressure.
👉 Long hours.
👉 Missed games and dance recitals.

Some dentist owners spend years trying to fix decisions that were made too quickly or based on advice that did not fit their situation, goals, or season of life.

This live conversation exists to help associate dentists understand the difference between a scratch startup and a buying a practice before committing to a path that costs more than just money.

Success Stories From Associates Like You

Hear how associate dentists gained clarity and confidence in their ownership journey after attending our webinars.

The webinar with Stephen cleared up all my confusion about practice ownership. Finally, I have a clear roadmap for my career that aligns with my values and standards.

Dr. Sarah Johnson

Associate Dentist, Chicago

I was on the fence about ownership for years until Ideal Practices' guidance helped me understand the startup vs. acquisition decision. Their expertise was exactly what I needed to take the next step.

Dr. Michael Chen

Associate Dentist, Denver

The mental exhaustion I felt from compromising my standards disappeared after working with Ideal Practices. Their webinar was the turning point in my professional journey.

Dr. Emily Roberts

Associate Dentist, Atlanta

After receiving conflicting advice about startups vs. acquisitions, Stephen's webinar provided the clarity and factual information I needed to make an informed decision about my future.

Dr. James Wilson

Associate Dentist, Seattle

The strategies I learned from Ideal Practices' webinar gave me the confidence to pursue practice ownership. Now I have more control and alignment in how I practice dentistry.

Dr. Alisha Patel

Associate Dentist, Dallas

I was overwhelmed by the ownership decision until I attended Stephen's webinar. His practical approach and industry knowledge transformed my uncertainty into a clear action plan.

Dr. Thomas Rodriguez

Associate Dentist, Phoenix

Part 1: Startup vs. Acquisition — Choosing the Right Ownership Path

In this session, we’ll walk through:

The real differences between startups and acquisitions (beyond surface-level pros and cons)
Where stress, regret, and financial pressure tend to show up later—depending on the path
How timing, risk tolerance, and personal goals should influence your decision
Common mistakes associates make when deciding too early—or too late

This conversation is based on patterns we’ve seen across nearly 1,000 dental practices opened nationwide.

This session compares both paths side by side so you can understand what each option actually requires before choosing one.

Not all advice is equal

We know that dentists hear strong opinions about ownership everywhere...

Friends.
Colleagues.
Facebook groups.
Podcasts.

Most advice comes from people who have only opened 1 or 2 practices... or watched a friend do it. Or maybe they have even helped docs open 100 offices. Ideal Practices has helped over 900 dentists open the practice of their dreams..

This conversation is grounded in patterns seen across the real practices we've worked with and the 500+ years of collective experience (from DSOs to private practices, floor plan design, banking, real estate and more) to show you:

What works
What causes stress later and
What dentists often underestimate at the start.

Not theory.
Real outcomes.

This series is for associate dentists who:

Are starting to feel the limits of associate life
Want ownership eventually—but aren’t rushing blindly
Feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice online
Want to make decisions that support both their career and their life outside dentistry

What you’ll walk away with

A clear comparison of startup vs acquisition
How dentists think through fit, risk, and timing
Common ownership mistakes that cost years and money
A clearer sense of which path aligns with your goals

No pitch.
No pressure.
Just clarity.

If ownership has crossed your mind at all, this conversation is designed to help you think it through clearly.

➡️ Join the live conversation on startup vs acquisition for associate dentists.

Whether you attend just this session or follow the full 6-month series, you’ll walk away with clearer thinking and fewer unknowns.