Download our Free "2026 Dental Practice Sellers Guide"

Learn More
Have Questions? (800) 815-0590
Sell My Practice
100% Confidential Process
Free EBITDA Analysis
30+ Years Experience

You've spent decades building something real. Now you're wondering what's next.

Most owners we talk to aren't in a hurry — they're just tired in a way they didn't expect. Maybe the administrative load keeps growing. Maybe you're carrying the practice's future on your shoulders alone. Maybe you simply want to know that the years of work will provide for your family the way you planned.

Selling to a DSO isn't giving up. Done right, it's how you take real money off the table now, often keep practicing on your terms, and protect the legacy you built for your team and patients.

Here's the hard part: you'll likely be the only person in your practice who even knows you're considering it. You need a confidential partner who knows the DSO buyers, knows your numbers, and represents you — not the buyer writing the check.

Serious about Selling To A DSO

Many owners want the value a DSO can offer — but the buyer you choose and how the deal is structured will shape your price, your autonomy, and your life after closing. We help motivated owners reach the right DSO buyers, position the practice for maximum value, and stay in control of the process.

The best first step isn't deciding how you want to sell — it's finding out what your practice is actually worth. Everything else follows from that number.

Not All DSOs Are the Same

  • Management styles vary. Larger DSOs are more corporate and structured; mid-size groups are often more flexible on autonomy and clinical control.
  • Patient philosophy matters. Some run high-volume models; others prioritize the relationship-based care you built your reputation on.
  • Bigger doesn't mean more money. Mid-size DSOs — many of which we have direct relationships with — frequently pay more and offer better terms than the largest names.

The difference between a good outcome and a great one comes down to a thorough EBITDA analysis and relationships deep enough to create real competition for your practice. That's the work we do before your name ever reaches a buyer.

What Full Representation Actually Changes

A DSO makes its money on the spread between what it pays and what your practice earns. Its team negotiates transactions every week. If you walk in without an advisor, that experience gap shows up in your price and in the terms you live with for the next three to five years.

We manage the whole process: a defensible EBITDA analysis, confidential positioning, a competitive buyer approach, offer comparison across cash, rollover equity, and earnout, then negotiation and closing support. You see every offer side by side, in plain numbers, before you commit to anything.

Why Owners Trust Us

We represent you, not the buyer. You get a free EBITDA analysis from real analysts, access to 100+ active DSO and private-group relationships, and complete confidentiality — your staff and patients won't know until you decide.

Selling to a DSO isn't right for everyone, and we'll be candid about fit — whether the right move is a DSO sale, a private buyer, or another exit entirely. The starting point is always the same: a free, confidential look at what your practice is worth.

Why Sell With 1st Med?
  • DSO Transition Experts
  • Free EBITDA Analysis
  • Fair Commission Structure
  • Get 6x to 10x Multiples
  • 100+ DSO/Private Groups NW

Have DSO Questions?

Don't hesitate to contact myself or one of our DSO Sale Advisors.

Michael S. Furlong

Senior Transitions Officer


(800) 815-0590
All Discussions Are 100% Confidential

DSO Selling FAQ

Most of our closed DSO deals land between 5x and 7x, and the single biggest driver is the size of your EBITDA — larger, faster-growing practices command the higher end, and multi-location or specialty practices can go higher still. You can see the actual multiples from our recent transactions further down this page. The other major lever is the EBITDA analysis itself: capturing every legitimate add-back raises the number the multiple is applied to. That's the first thing we do for you, free.
Confidentiality is built into every step. Your practice is presented to vetted buyers under NDA, and your staff and patients won't know anything until you decide the time is right.
Usually not — and many owners don't want to. Most DSO deals include a continued clinical role for a period after closing, often with the upside of shedding the administrative burden. We structure your involvement around what you want post-sale.
EBITDA is your practice's true earnings after normalizing for owner compensation, one-time costs, and add-backs. DSOs price almost entirely off it. A careful normalization can raise your defensible EBITDA — and your sale price — significantly. It's exactly what our free analysis is built to do.
A private-buyer sale is typically one transaction at a market multiple. A DSO sale can combine cash at closing, equity or rollover, and earnout components — often a higher total value, but more complex. We help you compare real offers from both, side by side.
There's no fee for your EBITDA analysis or for any of the work before you decide to move forward. Our fee depends on the size and complexity of your practice and the scope of representation you need — your advisor will give you a specific number before you commit to anything. What matters more is what you net at closing: a competitive process and hard negotiation on terms typically more than cover the difference.
Most run roughly 4–9 months from first conversation to close, depending on your readiness and how competitive we make the process. Clean financials ready to go speeds everything up.

Still just thinking about it?

That's where most of our sellers start. The EBITDA analysis is free, completely confidential, and commits you to nothing — it just tells you what a DSO would actually pay for your practice today.

Get my free EBITDA valuation No obligation · Your staff and patients are never contacted

Testimonials From DSO Sellers

  • Dr. Dennis Norkiewicz, DDS

    Sold / Affiliated With A DSO

    "Mike and his team know the business very well and they take good care of their clients.

    I would definitely recommend using 1st Med Transitons if you are in the market to sell to a DSO."

  • Dr. Najib Adi, DMD

    Sold / Affiliated With A DSO

    "The professionalism, patience and tolerance David demonstrated... was remarkable.

    His commitment to our practice well-being and our professional future well-being was truly unmatched."

  • Dr. Gary Adams, DDS

    Sold / Affiliated With A DSO

    "Michael did a wonderful job of explaining to me the process,

    introducing me to a variety of different groups and helping me to find the best fit and value for my situation. "

  • Dr. Steven Booth, DDS

    Sold / Affiliated With A DSO

    "I had a great experience with 1st Med Transitions selling my dental practice to a DSO.

    David was very attentive the entire process and was great at negotiating the price and some other contested issues."

Our DSO Sales Process

GET STARTED
  • 1

    Initial Consultation

    Complete our Sales Consultation Form Here and one of our Senior Transition Advisors will contact you to discuss your current and long-term goals and learn more about your pracitce.

  • 2

    Free EBTIDA Valuation

    Our Senior Transition Advisor will work with you to review your financials and PMS reports to determine an accurate EBTIDA Analysis. With your input, we will determine a valuation multiple expectation and preferred DSO strucuture to meet your future / exit planning goals.

  • 3

    DSO Outreach & Negotiations

    We will confidentially market your practice for a DSO sale / partnership through our preferred DSO contacts and maximize your value by generating as much interest as possible!

Wondering where your practice would land?

Every one of those deals started with an EBITDA analysis and a conversation. Yours can too.

See what a DSO would pay Free · Confidential · No obligation

Questions?

Ask A DSO Expert?

To speak with a Senior Transition Advisor Call Us: (800) 815-0590 or

Click Here To Get Started