Insights: Dental Practice Brokers

Here is my list of recommended California dental practice brokers, either as a buyer or seller as indicated. I have worked with these individuals personally and recently, and can speak of my experiences with them. All will give seller appraisals, the cost varying with the level of detail.

Factors that contribute to list exclusion or less than full recommendations are brokers who:

• have not worked with me enough to know their current quality of work;
• have recently undergone significant shifts of responsibility to new personnel;
• have overreaching and self-serving language in their listing agreements;
• are not headed by an experienced and licensed attorney but provide sample contracts;
• rush parties into signing contracts without ample time to consult with an attorney;
• attempt to influence the attorney to minimize review of the transaction;
• recommend inexperienced or ineffective attorneys to minimize review of the transaction;
• practice “deliberate ignorance” by not investigating the practice independently;
• do not affirmatively disclose known practice problems to the buyer (as is legally required);
• insist on closing the transaction despite known, significant and unwarranted post-closing risks for the buyer or seller;
• disengage from the transaction before closing or are unavailable to answer client questions;
• have significant negative feedback from multiple 3rd parties (such as lawsuits, board complaints, complaints from those involved in the broker’s previous transactions, and my own observations);
• provide dual broker representation, particularly those with additional charges to the buyer; or
• receive or offer referral fees with lenders, consultants, insurance providers and/or attorneys.

NOTE: Many dental brokers give or accept some form of fee for referring other transaction specialists. I do not give or accept any such referral fees.