An Argument For DSOs – Compliance, Consolidation & the Future of Dental Practice – Brian Colao: Ep# 572

Selling your practice can look like a financial win—and still feel like a personal loss if you choose the wrong partner. In this episode, David Phelps sits down with Brian Colao, one of the earliest architects of the DSO legal framework, to unpack what most dentists misunderstand about consolidation, private equity, and the true risks hiding behind “fair value” offers. With nearly three decades advising DSOs and representing more than 780 dental organizations, Brian brings rare clarity to a space filled with noise, fear, and half-truths.

This conversation goes far beyond multiples and EBITDA. Brian explains why fit matters more than price, how the current economic environment has changed leverage, and why many dentists end up unhappy even after a “successful” sale. Whether you’re a young doctor with debt, a mid-career owner feeling burned out, or a seasoned practitioner exploring an exit, this episode offers a grounded, practical framework to help you evaluate your options with eyes wide open—and avoid mistakes that are hard to undo.

Minute Markers:

00:00 – Intro
01:19 – Brian Colao’s role in shaping the modern DSO landscape
04:30 – How early DSO litigation defined compliance and guardrails
09:57 – How much consolidation is really coming—and over what timeline
12:57 – Why today’s cost pressures favor the DSO model
17:37 – Which dentists are best suited for DSOs—and which are not
21:32 – How DSOs remove non-clinical burdens and restore enjoyment
27:30 – Choosing the right DSO partner and avoiding costly misfits
30:50 – Why the highest offer is often not the best deal
36:10 – The missing standard in valuations and EBITDA confusion
44:57 – What every dentist must do before considering an exit

If you like this episode, here are more episodes we think you’ll enjoy:

Ep #571 – When The Practice Doesn’t Need You Anymore – Dr. Dylan & Kelsey Everett
Ep# 550 – Every Dentist Must Master Leadership, Exit Strategies and Burnout – Dr. John Meis

Links Featured on the Show:

Brian Colao: Website | LinkedIn
Dykema DSO Conference
Private Facebook Group: The Exit-Ready Dentist
Download the Exit Strategy Playbook
Schedule your Freedom Founders discovery call

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