Shared Practices | Your Dental Roadmap through Practice Ownership - podcast cover

Shared Practices | Your Dental Roadmap through Practice Ownership

Dr. Richard Low | Shared Practices Networksharedpractices.com
A bootcamp in small business ownership and practice management for dentists, giving the new graduate a roadmap to successful practice ownership. We interview the best dentists, experts, consultants and more on our weekly show. Here's the topics we will be covering in our 8 Seasons: 1. First Years as a Dentist 2. Think Like a Business Owner 3. Money and Numbers 4. Startups, Acquisitions, and Partnerships 5. Internal Systems 6. Marketing & Growth 7. Leadership, Vision and Culture 8. Beyond Dentistry Go to SharedPractices.com to download the 8 Season Roadmap.
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Episodes

Practice Under Water with George – Alejandro Part 1

Dr. "Alejandro", a seasoned fee-for-service solo dentist, joins George to discuss the business evolution of his 20+ year-old practice. They unpack the challenges of dropping Delta, staffing hurdles, and a vision for sustainable growth with minimal drama. This episode offers a clear roadmap for mature solo owners striving to increase collections without changing who they are.

Jul 28, 202532 minEp. 52

Ask George - Creating a True Team Led Environment

In this Ask George episode, George Hariri and Richard Low explore what it truly means to empower your team through effective leadership. Learn the crawl–walk–run framework for team development, how to create clarity and accountability, and why infrastructure—not charisma—is the key to sustainable growth. Plus, details on our free Pathway to Team Leadership course (Sept 19–20).

Jul 21, 202538 minEp. 51

Ask George - Your Practice - Your Primary Financial Asset

Think the fastest path to wealth is selling your practice or hustling outside of dentistry? Think again. In this powerful Ask George episode, George Hariri and Richard Low reveal how owning your practice long-term—on your terms—is the real key to financial freedom, sustainable income, and a life you love.

Jul 14, 202541 minEp. 50

From Dental School to CEO: A New Owner's Journey

What happens when you buy a dental practice straight out of school? Richard and Andrew get real about the wins, the painful lessons, and the strategies that make it possible. If you're dreaming of ownership, this episode is packed with practical advice—and a few hard truths.

Jul 07, 202537 minEp. 49

Ask George - Ready to Grow Practice

Thinking about buying your first dental practice? In this episode, George Hariri and Richard Low revisit Shared Practices' evolved approach: acquiring “ready to grow” practices. Learn how to identify these opportunities, avoid common acquisition pitfalls, and set yourself up for sustainable growth aligned with your long-term vision.

Jun 30, 202541 minEp. 48

How One Decision Can Change Your Trajectory

Thinking of buying a practice? Hear how Dr. Brian Belsterling used Shared Practices’ tools to go from associate to thriving owner—without the stress. This candid interview with Richard Low unpacks the wins, setbacks, and strategy behind Brian’s path to long-term growth.

Jun 23, 202533 minEp. 47

Practice Under Water with George – Nesto Part 2

Remember Nesto’s wild story from last week? This time he’s on the mic, and he’s sharing what it’s really like to manage two totally different dental practices while building a team, coaching his associate, and chasing a dual-group-practice dream.

Jun 16, 202548 minEp. 46

Practice Under Water with George – Nesto Part 1

In this solo Practice Under Water episode, George Hariri narrates the gritty and inspiring ownership journey of “Nesto,” a dentist navigating the challenges of two practices—one thriving, one bleeding cash. George details Nesto’s path from a promising acquisition to hard financial lessons, culminating in a pivotal decision to persist with both practices. This episode is a deep dive into real-world ownership grit, strategic crossroad decisions, and long-term vision.

Jun 09, 202538 minEp. 45

Ask George - How to Achieve Sustainable Income Early On

Richard and George explore the financial journey of a dentist’s career through three key phases: income generation, wealth accumulation, and eventual stagnation. They discuss critical decisions around practice ownership vs. DSOs, income benchmarks, and strategies for building generational wealth. This episode offers practical financial guidance for dentists navigating each stage of their career. Check out our events page for our upcoming events https://sharedpractices.com/events/

Jun 02, 202535 minEp. 44

Building Culture that Persists - Is it Possible in Dentistry?

This episode features Richard Low and Alex Sharp in a deep dive on culture as a foundational driver of practice success. From turnover and team expectations to measurable metrics and mission-driven leadership, they outline how to build a culture that’s both intentional and resilient. Whether you’re just starting out or refining your systems, this conversation offers actionable strategies you can implement tomorrow. Check out our events page for all 2025 events https://sharedpractices.com/events/...

May 26, 202536 minEp. 43

Thinking About Practice Ownership? Financing Secrets Every Aspiring Owner Should Know

Explore the essential steps to securing financing for your dental practice with Richard Low, Steve Steinbrunner, and Brian Carroll from Provide. From liquidity requirements to real estate expansion, this episode outlines best practices for both startups and acquisitions—plus details on the July Pathway to Practice Ownership event. Check out our events page https://sharedpractices.com/events/ for more details.

May 19, 202546 minEp. 42

Coaches Corner - Avoiding Information Overload: Filtering the Noise and Taking Action

In this episode of Coach’s Corner, Richard and Caitlin dive into the challenges of analysis paralysis—that overwhelming feeling of having too many options and struggling to take action as a practice owner. They discuss decision-making frameworks, managing attention and focus, and avoiding the trap of endless learning without execution. Whether it’s dealing with daily operations, implementing new systems, or choosing which advice to follow, this episode provides actionable strategies to filter th...

May 12, 202529 minEp. 41

Ask George - Buying Right vs. Buying Regret: How to Spot the Wrong Practice

One decision can change everything. In this episode of Ask George, we reveal why buyer’s representation isn’t optional—it’s essential. George and Richard share the biggest mistakes pre-owners make and how to spot a growth-ready practice before someone else does. Don’t miss this masterclass in practice acquisition strategy.

May 05, 202544 minEp. 40

Bold Moves, Light Laughs: How One Dentist Found His Calling

Dr. Brady Smith joins Dr. Richard Low for a raw, hilarious, and insightful conversation about the wild turns his dental career has taken—from owning Comfort Dental franchises to building a hygienist-less group practice, launching comedy shows, and pioneering charitable dentistry. They explore Brady’s bold social media strategy, his unfiltered patient interactions, and how making dentistry fun again can redefine fulfillment. Whether you’re into practice ownership, stand-up, or scaling without hyg...

Apr 28, 202546 minEp. 39

The Entrepreneurial Dentist: Balancing Wealth, Risk, and Fulfillment

In this episode of the Shared Practices Podcast, Dr. Richard Low and Dr. Alex Sharp tackle an important question: Once you’ve built a thriving practice and reached financial success, what’s next? Most dentists focus on growing their practice and increasing income, but after hitting a financial milestone, the next steps become less clear. Richard and Alex explore the challenges, mindset shifts, and opportunities for investing beyond the dental practice.

Apr 21, 202542 minEp. 38

Coaches Corner - Beyond Bonuses: How to Build a Culture of Buy-In

In this Coach’s Corner episode, Richard and Caitlin dive into one of the most common challenges for practice owners—getting their team to truly buy in. Spoiler alert: It’s not about throwing more money at the problem! They break down three key areas that drive real engagement: genuinely caring about your team, defining the “why” behind your practice, and clearly communicating your vision and expectations. If you’ve ever felt frustrated by a disengaged team, this episode is for you.

Apr 14, 202528 minEp. 37

Ask George - What to Expect When You're Expanding

Expanding a dental practice is an exciting but high-stakes challenge. In this episode of Ask George, Richard and George take a deep dive into the operational and financial realities of scaling up. From hiring the right office manager to streamlining systems for efficiency, they discuss the critical steps that can make or break a growing practice. The discussion also touches on the financial stress of expansion, how to prepare cash reserves, and why managing risk wisely can mean the difference be...

Apr 07, 202545 minEp. 36

Dr. Simon Wu: How He Doubled His Practice in 18 Months

In this episode of the Shared Practices Podcast, Dr. Richard Low interviews Dr. Simon Wu about his journey from associate to successful practice owner in Southern California. Dr. Wu shares how he navigated the challenges of buying a practice with high overhead and low new patient flow, the strategies he used to turn it into a thriving business, and the role coaching played in his success. Listeners will gain insights on evaluating practice opportunities, negotiating PPO fees, and scaling a pract...

Mar 31, 202534 minEp. 35

Achieving Financial Escape Velocity as a Dentist

Dr. Richard Low and Dr. Alex Sharp dive into the personal financial strategies that dentists need to achieve financial escape velocity. They discuss how to manage student loans, build financial security, and make the strategic moves that lead to wealth and financial freedom. Whether you’re a new associate, an early practice owner, or looking to optimize your finances, this episode provides real-world advice on increasing income, building net worth, and making the right financial decisions for lo...

Mar 24, 202533 minEp. 34

Ask George - Should You Start or Acquire Practice #2 and Beyond?

Expanding from one practice to multiple locations is a whole different ballgame—are you ready for it? In this episode of Ask George, Dr. Richard Low and Dr. George Hariri break down the critical decision points, from assessing your readiness to navigating the burdens of multi-practice ownership. They dive deep into the challenges of acquisitions vs. startups, the importance of long-term vision, and why patience and quality always outweigh reckless growth. If you're thinking about scaling your pr...

Mar 17, 202536 minEp. 33

From A Dinosaur Practice to Digital Success with Dr. Mohiuddin Ifaz

In this episode, Richard Low sits down with Dr. Mohiuddin Ifaz and Lori Williams to discuss an incredible practice transformation journey. Dr. Ifaz shares how he acquired and modernized a 40-year-old dental practice with no digital systems, turning it into a thriving, fully digital, fee-for-service practice. Lori, one of Shared Practices' top coaches, details the critical role of coaching, team management, and strategy in scaling a practice successfully.

Mar 10, 202546 minEp. 32

Practice Under Water with George - Part 2

In Part 2 of our deep dive with Gregorio, we lay out the step-by-step blueprint to scale his $1.9M, 7-op practice into a $3.5M mega-group practice—all while reducing his clinical days to just two per week. George walks through the critical decisions Gregorio must make, including expanding the facility, hiring the right associate, and implementing an office manager to streamline operations. They also discuss profit-sharing vs. equity, how to finance the expansion without disrupting cash flow, and...

Mar 03, 202541 minEp. 31

Practice Under Water with George - Part 1

In this episode of 'Practice Underwater', George Hariri sits down with "Gregorio," a real dentist with a fake name but real numbers. After a four-year journey from associate to owner, Gregorio now runs a thriving $2M practice but faces a major crossroads—how to scale his business while reducing his clinical hours. George dives into Gregorio’s background, practice dynamics, and vision for a two-day clinical work week while maintaining high profitability. They explore his implant and endo-heavy cl...

Feb 24, 202534 minEp. 30

Growing a Fee for Service Group Practice with Dr. Jesspreet Parmar

Dr. Jesspreet Parmar shares his incredible journey from solo doctor to scaling a thriving fee-for-service group practice—but it wasn’t all smooth sailing. From navigating a rocky practice acquisition and staff drama to unlocking massive growth through hygiene, leadership, and internal marketing, Dr. Parmar reveals the hard lessons and game-changing strategies that took his practice to $2.4 million in collections. Tune in as he and Shared Practices coach Caitlin Embree break down the mindset shif...

Feb 17, 202553 minEp. 29

Selling to a DSO - When Would It Make Sense?

Selling your practice to a DSO can be tempting, but is it the right move? In this episode, Dr. Scott Leune joins us for part two of our deep dive into practice sales, exploring when it actually makes financial sense to sell and how to avoid the biggest pitfalls. We break down net multiples, walkaway options, and the long-term impact of your decision—so you don’t trade one set of problems for another. If you're considering selling, this episode is a must-listen!

Feb 10, 202537 minEp. 28

Ask George - A New Mastermind with George

This episode unveils the launch of the Ask George Mastermind, a unique opportunity for growth-minded dentists to collaborate, learn, and gain direct access to Dr. George Hariri's expertise. Discover how to tackle challenges like associate mentorship, expansion decisions, and marketing strategies while learning from real-world scenarios. Don't miss out—visit mastermind.sharedpractices.com for more information.

Feb 03, 202551 minEp. 27

The Path from a Solo Doctor Practice to a Multi-Doctor Practice

On this episode of the Shared Practices Podcast, Dr. Richard Low chats with Dr. Austin about his journey from military dentistry to owning and scaling a thriving multi-million-dollar practice. They discuss the challenges of transitioning into ownership, implementing systems, and building a ground-up 16-operatory practice while balancing growth, leadership, and family.

Jan 20, 202527 minEp. 25

Ask George - THE BEST Startup vs Acquisition Episode Shared Practices Has Ever Done

In this episode of the Shared Practices Podcast, Dr. Richard Low and George Hariri dive into the debate of startup versus acquisition for dental practices. Drawing on their extensive experience, they discuss the risks, rewards, and key factors to consider for each approach, helping listeners determine the best path for their goals.

Jan 06, 202530 minEp. 23

Coaches Corner - Creating Self-Managed Teams

In this episode of the Shared Practices Podcast, Dr. Richard Low and Caitlin Embree discuss the importance of checklists for creating self-managed dental teams. They cover how clearly defined roles, structured checklists, and accountability empower team members to work efficiently, reduce micromanagement, and prepare practices for sustainable growth.

Dec 23, 202438 minEp. 21

Ask George - Metrics Driven Growth Avatars

In this episode of the Shared Practices Podcast, Dr. Richard Low is joined by longtime co-host Dr. George Hariri to explore the metrics-driven growth pathways for dental practices. Building on prior discussions, they revisit the foundational concept of practice "avatars" and unveil an updated framework shaped by insights from Dr. Scott Leune. This new approach offers dentists greater clarity and tailored options for growth at every stage of their career. Richard and George discuss the transition...

Dec 09, 202443 minEp. 19
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