January 16, 2019

5 Considerations when Sharing a Dental Office Space

Transitions aside, an often-overlooked option is to share an office space. Renting out under- or unutilized office space can come with its financial advantages if done correctly. In locations that are more densely populated and with greater competitive saturation, just by joining forces, consolidating operations, minimizing facility costs, bundling overall expenses and maximizing production, an additional 14% can be made on the bottom line. However, like with any leasing agreement, there are factors to consider to ensure you aren’t costing your dental practice money or goodwill. Here are some considerations to take into account before signing any agreements.

Share the load

A space may be underutilized if there are multiple unused operatories or the current doctor only works a few days a week, leaving the office closed for many days. Renting out space to another doctor will also provide emergency patient coverage while one doctor is away.

Save on costs

Taking on a tenant to help reduce overhead will only help increase income, not to mention the ability to upgrade equipment through a shared cost with the lessee, while also offering additional networking and business opportunities for both parties.

Provide a test-run

A lessee is afforded the opportunity to save on business expenses in terms of equipment and office space until they build up their own practice. Along the same lines, the leasing doctor is able to test out success rates in specific geographical areas before opening their own practice doors.

Draw the line

Just because you are sharing space, does not mean that you are also sharing patients. It is important to know the difference between a spaced share versus an associateship or partnership as it can be harder to sell your practice if you already have a space share in place.

Crunch the numbers

Have an attorney with health care law experience draw up a legal contract before the commitment is made, including duration of and terms of lease, termination and renewal terms, conflict resolution, insurances accepted, outline of equipment sharing and maintenance costs, any shared staff or office number, and schedule for the shared space.

What’s next?

Contact the experts at Professional Transition Strategies to learn more about different space-sharing opportunities to find out if this option makes sense for your dental practice.