Financing expert Dan Lewis from Huntington Bank delivers a data‑driven breakdown of how lenders evaluate dental startups and acquisitions—and the key financial indicators dentists must understand before choosing a path. Dan explains why banks view dental borrowers differently from other industries, what factors strengthen or weaken a loan application, and how new graduates, associates, and multi‑location owners can position themselves for approval.

Listeners will learn how cash flow, production history, practice value, borrower experience, and market conditions influence lending decisions—and why the “best deal” is not always the one with the lowest rate.

Topics include:

● How banks evaluate startup vs. acquisition risk

● What lenders look for in production history, credit, and liquidity

● Why cash flow matters more than collections in practice valuation

● Common mistakes borrowers make during loan applications

● How to secure stronger terms through preparation and documentation

● Financing considerations for multi‑location expansion

● What borrowers misunderstand most about dental lending

Technology expert Dan De‑Steno dives into the operational and cybersecurity challenges dentists face when starting or acquiring a practice. With decades of experience supporting dental IT infrastructure, Dan outlines the hidden costs, risks, and long‑term implications of both paths—especially when it comes to outdated hardware, inconsistent data systems, network vulnerabilities, and HIPAA compliance gaps.

This episode provides a practical, behind‑the‑scenes look at how technology impacts production, efficiency, patient experience, and team performance—making it essential listening for any dentist evaluating a practice or preparing to build one.

Topics include:

● Startup IT requirements vs. acquisition IT cleanup

● Legacy systems, outdated hardware, and hidden upgrade costs

● Cybersecurity risks unique to dental offices

● HIPAA compliance mistakes and how to fix them

● Server vs. cloud considerations for growing practices

● How poor technology slows production and frustrates teams

● What to evaluate before signing a purchase agreement or lease

Dr. Ben Liu shares one of the most dynamic ownership journeys featured in this series—relocating to a new state, rapidly expanding across multiple locations, acquiring underperforming practices, and launching startups inside existing orthodontic spaces. His path includes buying distressed practices, relocating them, scaling from 2 ops to 5+, and using systems to turn stagnant offices into high‑growth pediatric dental practices.

Dr. Liu also discusses the unique challenges of specialty ownership, the importance of trust when evaluating acquisition opportunities, and how market selection and landlord relationships shape long‑term expansion strategy.

Topics include:

● Starting with two practices overnight—one leased startup, one small acquisition

● Relocating an outdated two‑op practice and growing it into a high‑volume office

● Acquiring distressed practices and scaling patient bases

● Expanding to 4–5 locations through strategic opportunity, not randomness

● How startups differ when launched inside an existing ortho space

● Financial, operational, and staffing challenges of multi‑location growth

● Acquisition vs. startup strategy for pediatric specialists