06/24/2026
You can have a completely full schedule and still feel like the practice is eating you alive if overhead is out of control.
Overhead is the number that quietly determines whether practice ownership is actually worth it financially. And it's the number that gets the least attention in most practice acquisition conversations.
What counts as overhead? Staff costs, supplies, lab fees, rent, equipment, marketing, utilities, and everything else that isn't your take-home pay. A practice with strong revenue but bloated overhead can leave an owner with less financial flexibility than a smaller practice running lean.
Before you buy or evaluate a practice, understand the overhead percentage and how it compares to what is realistic for your practice type and size. That number tells you more about the financial health of the business than the gross revenue does.
Questions about what to look for in a practice's financials? That's exactly what we work through with dentists at Codrea Financial Services.