What we do.
We work closely with you to ensure that your needs are well understood and that the proper strategies are implemented to meet those needs. We seek to mitigate your risk and tax liability while striving to provide you with the best financial return possible. We are driven by a desire to develop and maintain an open, trusting relationship with both the buyer and seller throughout the transaction and offer advice and suggestions to ensure the continued success of the agreement after the ownership changes. In short, we are with you every step of the way. It is this unmatched dedication to our clients that has earned us a positive reputation and a history of many satisfied dental practice buyers and sellers. We are prepared to help you meet the most demanding transition needs with solutions backed by expertise, experience and personalized service.
Willis & Associates specializes in facilitating the unique and complex transition needs of dentists and dental practices. Our expertise includes not only helping those new to dentistry acquire a mature practice through personal introductions, but also providing guidance to practice owners regarding associateships, partnerships, practice sales and various other transition needs. Whether you are interested in bringing in an associate as a future buyer of your practice, adding a partner, retiring and selling your practice, or just need an unbiased look at your practice to determine its value, trust Willis & Associates to provide you with the tools, information and guidance to make your transition smooth and successful. In every transition which we facilitate, the ultimate goal is always for a Win-Win.
Our personal touch.
At Willis & Associates, we provide introductions, consulting, planning, and facilitation assistance on all transactions. With more than 35 years of private practice experience, practice buyers, practice sellers, and those looking for associateship opportunities can rest assured Willis & Associates will advise them with the expertise needed through every step of the process.
We are most proud of the firm’s reputation for ethical and even-handed transactions. We are elated over the positive responses from the many colleagues we have represented. Willis & Associates provides practice valuation, negotiations, pro forma, and contract expertise from initial consult and assessment to process completion.
Our understanding of the intricacies of the practice of dentistry, business valuation, the dental transition marketplace, and our own practice transition experience makes us the perfect fit to plan and execute our clients’ financial goals, and integrate them seamlessly into their existing retirement planning and practice exit strategies.
Financing assistance.
Our connections with the dental finance divisions of many national lenders anxious in assisting with the financing of your dental practice acquisition have resulted in successful financing of many recent deals in Mississippi. These banks often finance 100% of the purchase price with an additional 10% added for working capital and at fixed competitive rates for up to 15 years. We gladly assist our buyers in their acquisition of practice purchase financing.
Flat-fee structure.
Our flat fees for our services are affordable and usually a fraction of the percentage-of-the deal fee that the large, national practice brokers charge. Our sellers let us know that they appreciate being able to keep more of the purchase value for themselves rather than pay the 10% fees of many of the big box transition companies.
Additionally charging a flat fee allows us to be unbiased in our practice valuation since our fee doesn’t increase as the valuation increases. I will be happy to discuss our standard fees. Just ask! Over the years we have found our flat fee approach to be very appealing to our clients. This approach earns credibility and trust from prospective purchasers and lenders.
Considering a sale to a DSO (Dental Service Organization)?
Will the DSO want me to work for it after the sale closes?
DSO’s generally want the seller to stay and work for a minimum of 2 years after the closing. You probably will be earning less money than when you owned the dental practice yourself. Remember, you probably are not going to be receiving profits from the hygiene department.
Will the DSO pay a premium for your practice as opposed to an individual buyer?
In the most cases the DSO will pay more than an individual dentist will pay for your dental practice. Depending on the characteristics and desirability of your dental practice, it can be substantially more.
Will the DSO pay me all of the purchase price at the closing?
In most cases when a DSO purchases your practice, they will want a hold back of 10-40% of the purchase price. This holdback will be released over the term of the seller’s employment.
Will the DSO want to purchase my building as well?
We have found that DSO’s are not interested in buying real estate. They do not want to be in the real estate business and much rather have long terms office leases in place.
Do I need a practice broker to negotiate the sale of my dental practice to a DSO?
YES! There are many DSO’s and emerging DSO’s They have very different requirements for their purchase. A seasoned practice broker will know the various DSO’s, who is offering the most favorable terms, and who is the easiest to work with during process and after the sale closes.