Practice Underwater: How an $8M Multi-Location Owner Gains Clarity and Reclaims Control - Part 2

Welcome back to another episode of Shared Practices. Today on Practice Underwater, we sit down with Bob, a driven dentist navigating the crossroads of optimizing what he has versus pursuing further acquisitions in dentistry. Bob’s journey showcases incredible scale, taking his organization to nearly $8 million in dental collections across two unified locations. However, as revenue exploded, Bob realized this rapid dental growth was immensely taxing emotionally, physically, and financially. To survive, mastering dental practice profitability is essential. This episode explores establishing boundaries without sacrificing the momentum built in dental practice ownership. After serving in the Air Force and as an associate, Bob transitioned into dental practice ownership a decade ago. Starting as a six-operatory clinic, he built his practice to $2 million. During COVID-19, Bob discovered Shared Practices and implemented dental business strategies focused on aggressively investing in growth. He surged to a $7.75 million multi-location powerhouse. For any dentist listening to Shared Practices, Bob's story exemplifies mastering dental practice ownership. Yet, this success came with hidden costs. Because Bob reinvested everything to fuel acquisitions in dentistry, he endured 18-month stretches without paying himself appropriately for his contributions to dental practice profitability. During a recent integration, Bob was sucked back into the chair, working clinically four days a week in the new location. George points out this destroyed his leverage. Instead of acting as a CEO guiding his dental team of seven department leaders, an office manager, and an accountant, he was doing the clinical output of one person. On Practice Underwater, George helps Bob improve his dental practice profitability. They evaluate his impressive 2.6% facility costs across three leases, including a nonclinical dental call center. George identifies opportunities to shave supply and administrative expenses. By lowering supply costs from 8% to 5% or 6%, Bob can fund a robust owner's draw. Each percentage point saved equates to roughly $75,000 a year. George introduces the concept of building a "bubble". Bob must dedicate exactly three days a week to clinical dental care at his flagship office, and take a fixed owner's draw—hypothetically $20,000 a month. Inside this bubble, his schedule and income are protected. Outside, his team must handle daily emergencies. By delegating to his team, Bob can enjoy the dental practice profitability he earned. Stabilizing this bubble is crucial before further acquisitions in dentistry. As noted on Shared Practices, a high-achieving dentist must pause, pour a drink, and appreciate reaching the top tiers of dental practice ownership. Thank you for tuning in to Practice Underwater! Ready to take the next step in your dental practice journey? Visit to learn more about our Buyer Representation and Coaching services, designed to help dentists buy, grow, and optimize profitable practices. You can also use our Free Look to evaluate dental practice opportunities with real data before making a decision. For daily Dental Moneyball insights, strategy tips, and updates,

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Practice Underwater: How an $8M Multi-Location Owner Gains Clarity and Reclaims Control - Part 2 is an episode from Shared Practices | Your Dental Roadmap to Practice Ownership | Custom Made for the New Dentist by Dr. George Hariri.

This episode is 34:56 long.

This episode was published on Feb 9, 2026.

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