Being a dentist doesn’t come easily. It requires years of training and a number of qualifications to become a general dentist, but if you have completed these steps you may be looking to expand your career by setting up your own practice.
If you are thinking about taking this step in your career, have a look at how you can achieve it and what it takes to make the venture a success.
Create a financial plan
The first step is to make sure you have the finances in place to achieve your goal.
There is little point in planning and forming your business if you do not have enough funding to complete the project.
You will need to consider all of the costs involved, including premises, equipment, staffing, insurance, professional fees, compliance, marketing and working capital. These costs can add up quickly, so it is important to understand what funding you need and when you will need it.
Your financial forecasts should form part of your wider business plan. The British Business Bank provides useful guidance on business finance and funding options.
Write a business plan
You cannot expect to build a successful dental practice without planning. You will need to think carefully about the steps required to get from your current position to opening and growing the practice.
Your business plan should cover areas such as your target patients, services, location, competitors, pricing, staffing, marketing strategy, financial forecasts and growth plans.
GOV.UK provides practical guidance on writing a business plan, including templates and information on financial forecasts.
Talk to someone in your field
You do not need to work everything out alone. Speaking with other successful dental professionals and practice owners can give you a better understanding of the practical challenges of running a practice. Tudor Dental in Chester is a sterling example of how to buy an existing dental practice as opposed to starting from scratch with a squat practice. Through clever digital and traditional marketing, Tudor Dental has rebranded and now enjoys a larger share of the local dental market.
If you currently work in a dental practice, consider speaking to the practice owner or other experienced professionals in your network. Their experience can help you understand staffing, patient management, compliance, finance and the day-to-day realities of practice ownership.
Understand the regulatory requirements
Opening a dental practice in the UK also involves important regulatory responsibilities. Dental professionals must meet the requirements of the General Dental Council, while practices in England that provide regulated activities generally need to meet Care Quality Commission requirements.
The General Dental Council provides current guidance for dental professionals, while the Care Quality Commission provides information specifically for dental providers in England.
What features make a highly successful dental practice?
What makes your practice unique?
Think about what will make your practice stand out from competitors and encourage patients to choose you. This does not always have to involve physical features, although a comfortable and well-designed practice can certainly improve the patient experience.
Consider how you are going to market your business. A professional, user-friendly website, strong local visibility and carefully managed marketing campaigns can help prospective patients understand your services and why they should choose your practice.
A successful practice ultimately depends on the quality of the services and patient experience you provide. Rather than simply trying to offer as many treatments as possible, consider which services best match your expertise, local demand and the positioning of your practice.
You may also decide to develop a specialist or referral-led practice focusing on a particular area of dentistry, provided the relevant clinicians have the appropriate qualifications, experience and registrations.
Improve patient referrals
Once your clinic is established, continue paying close attention to your patients. Listen to their needs and look for ways to improve every stage of their experience, from appointment booking and waiting times to treatment communication, referrals and reception services.
Strong patient care can contribute to recommendations, positive reviews and repeat visits. It is also important that any marketing involving testimonials, reviews or treatment claims remains accurate and compliant with professional advertising requirements.
The General Dental Council provides guidance on advertising for dental professionals, which should be considered when promoting a new or established practice.