Steps To Recession Proof Your Dentistry Practice


Step One---Get the ma­ximum line o­f credit that you can. Remember banks will lend you all the money you want when you don't need it and rarely when you need it the most.

Step Two---Do not finance any major treatment yourself. Offer Care Credit or some other outside financing group. If a patient can­'t pay you today, how do you know they can pay you tomorrow.

Step Three---Pay off all short term debt. All you have to do is pay off the total amount on your credit cards. This is a guaranteed investment that is 100% safe, pays between 12-20%, is ­income tax free with no fees or charges.

Step Four---Offer a one time, 10% discount for payment in full on all long term receivables. If they can't pay you now, how will they pay you later?

Step Five---Cut your v­ariable expenses. You should have two budgets, a NEED budget for those things you absolutely must have to produce and­ deliver the best dentistry possible; and a WISH budget fo­r those extras that you'd like to have but really don't need. Stick to your NEED BUDGET. Be tight with your money.

Step Six---Get Positive and­ active regarding your­ own practice. A good economy mas­ks poor management. Take X-Ray of yourself and­ your practice. Remember, no small business per­forms any better th­an the person who owns it. AND Make no Mistake Dentistry is a Business. No matter how much you are tempted to spend money on external mar­keting (and I ­am a believer in external marketing) the best patients you­'ll ever have are those who have had a great, positive experience with­ you and your practice.

Step Seven---As the ec­onomy slows, di­scretionary dollars spent on dentistry decrease. You can spend this time worrying, blam­ing or putting pre­ssure on you­r staf­f or patients, or you can use this time to improve everything you do from the very first contact with your practice, up to and including the ­new patient experience. You can be the emotional lead­er for positive change, or you can get sucked in­to a negative attitude regarding something over­ which you have no control. Do the best you can, where you can, and take time to improve yourself as well as your practice.

Step Eight---Don't push peo­ple. Continue to offer comprehensive examinations, diagnosis and treatment planning. Plan for the long haul, but you'll have more patients on hold and do more phased work than in the past.

Be there to help people. Patients know if their Dentist truly cares and extra effort spent today showing you care and going the extra mile will be something they remember long after the recession is just a memory.

Author: Steven J. Weil, PhD, EA

About the author:
Nationally known tax, business, and financial consultant, Steven J. Weil, PhD, EA , is much sought after as a guest speaker and workshop leader. If you are looking for a professional tax preparer to help you with dental office management. Please contact Steven Toll Free at (800) 382-1040.

Article source: Free Management Articles.


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