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Building a new dental office is a major decision that can affect your practice for years to come.
However, fear and inertia often prevent dental professionals from moving forward with this important decision.
In this guide, we’ll explore how to overcome these obstacles and take the first steps toward building your dream dental office.
If you’ve been considering building a new office for years but haven’t taken any action, fear and inertia may be holding you back.
Fear of the unknown and fear of losing control over costs can be major obstacles.
However, making financial decisions based on emotions is not a good idea. It’s important to let numerical facts guide your decision-making process.
The first step in the process is to determine the project cost. To do this, you’ll need to have a clear vision of your dream office.
An architect can then estimate the building cost based on your vision. Once you have this estimate, an accountant can help you determine the impact on your cash flow.
This will help you determine if you can fund the project while still meeting your current financial obligations.
It’s also important to assess the risk involved in the project. The increase in cash flow required for the project should be divided by your current production to determine the risk of undertaking the project.
For example, if the cash flow analysis results in a production increase requirement of $5,000/month and you are currently collecting $50,000/month, then you would have a 10% production increase requirement.
On average, projects that require less than a 20% increase in production have virtually no risk of failure.
However, this applies only to those new offices that employ the principles of dental office design described in the book, A Guide to Designing the Elegant Dental or Medical Office: The Largest Marketing Tool of Your Career.
If the production increase requirement is greater than 20%, your risk increases. In this case, you may need to scale back the project or increase your current production to decrease the production increase required.
Inertia is another common obstacle that prevents dental professionals from building a new office. With so many demands on our time, it can be difficult to prioritize non-essential tasks.
However, building a new office should be a top priority if you want to improve your practice. If you’ve always been swimming upstream, you may not realize what you’re missing.
That’s why it’s important to take the first step toward building your dream office.
Once you’ve determined that building a new office is the right decision for your practice, it’s time to start designing your dream office.
This process involves several steps:
The first step is to define your needs and wants. What do you need in a new office to improve your practice? What features do you want to include in your dream office? Make a list of these needs and wants to help guide the design process.
The first step is to assemble a team of professionals who can help you with the project.
This team should include an architect, contractor, and dental equipment supplier. You may also need to work with a financial advisor, accountant, and attorney to ensure that your finances and legal documents are in order.
When selecting your team, it’s important to choose individuals who have experience working with dental offices.
This will ensure that they understand your specific needs and requirements.
Next, you will need to work with your team to develop a plan for your new office.
This plan should include a detailed layout of the office, including the location of each room and piece of equipment.
You should also consider the flow of patients through the office, as well as the aesthetic design of the space.
Your plan should also include a detailed budget and timeline for the project. This will help ensure that the project stays on track and within your financial means.
Before construction can begin, you will need to obtain all necessary permits and approvals from local and state agencies.
This may include building permits, zoning approvals, and health department inspections.
Your team should be able to assist you with this process and ensure that all necessary paperwork is completed correctly and submitted on time.
Once you have obtained the necessary permits and approvals, it’s time to start selecting equipment and furnishings for your new office.
This may include dental chairs, x-ray machines, and cabinetry.
It’s important to work with a reputable dental equipment supplier who can help you select high-quality equipment that meets your specific needs and budget.
With your plan in place and the equipment selected, it’s time to begin construction and installation.
Your contractor will oversee the construction process and ensure that everything is built according to the plan.
Your dental equipment supplier will also be involved in the installation process, ensuring that all equipment is installed correctly and functioning properly.
Now that construction and installation are finished, it’s time to take the final step toward opening your brand-new office.
The last thing to do is to have the office inspected to make sure everything is working correctly and up to code.
Once you’ve passed the inspection, you’re ready to go!
You can finally open your doors and start welcoming patients into your beautiful new space. It’s an exciting time for your practice, and you can be proud to offer your patients a comfortable, modern, and welcoming environment for their dental care.
Building a new dental office is a significant investment, both financially and in terms of time and energy.
However, with careful planning and the right team in place, it can be a worthwhile endeavor that pays off in the long run.
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your new office meets your specific needs and requirements, while also providing a comfortable and welcoming environment for your patients.
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