The dental business is very lucrative. It’s possible to make a great turnover, but it’s definitely not easy to be successful. Besides being a reputable dentist, it’s also important to have good business skills that involve business structure knowledge, staffing and marketing. If you’re planning to start your own dental practice in Australia, here’s what to keep in mind:
Competition
Knowing your competition is crucial if you want your business to thrive and stand out. Study your competition’s marketing strategies and their social media, but pay special attention to their service offer. Can you offer something new and unique that can make you stand out? Maybe even consider alternative work hours that will differentiate you from the competition.
Population
One dentist needs at least 2,000 people in order to stay busy and profitable. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but keep in mind that your practice might require several dentists to assist with certain procedures—this will expand your need for clients. However, make sure to also study saturation. Some areas are densely populated but already have established practices servicing the public.
Fitout
Your fitout is crucial for the success of your business, so make sure to hire people who have extensive experience with designing dental practice offices. The fitout of a modern dental practices is very unique, and they need to meet all Australian codes concerning electrical and plumbing works. Your equipment also needs to be up to local codes. Luckily, Australia has many experts that work locally and nationwide, so just study recommendations and reviews and you’ll find a company perfect for your needs.
Support
Just like owning and running any business, your dental practice needs support from many different sides. Things like outages, equipment breakdowns and even plumbing situations can occur without warning, so it’s crucial to have reliable people on your side. Having an experienced plumber in Northern Beaches at your disposal can ensure all issues are taken care of quickly and efficiently. Your business can’t run without water or electricity so fill your team with true support professionals.
Finance
You’re a dentist, not an accountant, so hiring professionals to ensure your financial side is legal and profitable is crucial. You really need someone with experience in the field, because not every accountant can offer the expertise your practice needs. Dental practices in Australia have a load of tax, superannuation and various other factors that concern only the medical field and dental industry. Finding someone who has experience with these laws can positively affect your financial situation in the long run.
Staff
And finally, staffing your practice with the right people is also important. When choosing your staff, try to focus on experience, but also flexibility and willingness to learn and adapt. The attitude of your staff is just as important as their skills and experience—keep that in mind. Why? Well, it’s possible to learn reception work and dental assistance, but it’s almost impossible to change the attitude of people and their stubbornness.
If you choose to focus on skill and experience only, you can easily end up clashing with your staff every day and cause problems for your practice (your clients will pick up the mismatch in philosophies for sure). On the other hand, hiring a dental assistant who is willing to learn and pay attention to your business needs or someone kind and caring to clients can make a load of difference.
Dental practices in Australia have so many things to consider before and after they open their doors to first clients, so do your research, hire the right people and be consistent and confident. If you do everything up to code and care about your clients, success will follow.
