Startup cost · investment
Dental Practice Startup Cost Calculator
Estimate total investment to open a de novo dental practice or acquire an existing practice.
Opening or acquiring a dental practice requires capital across equipment, buildout, technology, and operating reserves. This calculator totals your investment and compares it against typical dental practice opening ranges.
- De novo startup: $515K – $1.0M all-in
- Acquisition: $1.5M – $2.5M for median general practice
- Working capital: 3–6 months overhead reserve recommended
Built for dentists planning a startup, investors evaluating acquisitions, and lenders structuring SBA 7(a) loans.
Source: BizMetricsHQ 310+ dental practices (2025–2026). Methodology
Investment Line Items
Total Investment
$890,000
De novo startup · Typical
Startup Presets
Lean De Novo
$515,000
4 ops, used equipment, modest buildout
Typical Startup
$750,000
5–6 ops, new equipment, standard buildout
Premium Build
$1,000,000
6+ ops, digital workflow, premium finishes
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to start a dental practice?
De novo general practice startup costs range $515K–$1.0M including equipment ($300K–$450K), buildout ($200K–$350K), technology ($50K–$100K), and 3–6 months working capital ($100K–$200K). Premium builds with 6+ operatories can exceed $1.2M.
How much does it cost to buy a dental practice?
Acquiring an existing general practice typically costs $1.5M–$2.5M at 3.2×–4.5× SDE. A practice with $565K SDE at 3.8× sells for ~$2.1M. Buyers should also budget $50K–$150K for transition costs and working capital.
What equipment does a new dental practice need?
Core equipment includes operatories ($40K–$60K each), sterilization, digital X-ray/CBCT, chairs, compressors, and vacuum systems. A 5-operatory practice typically budgets $300K–$450K for equipment depending on new vs refurbished.
How much working capital does a dental practice need?
Plan 3–6 months of operating expenses ($100K–$200K) for a new practice ramp-up period. Collections lag production by 30–60 days with insurance, so working capital covers payroll and overhead during the first 6–12 months.