Getting Your Dental Practice Through the Slow Periods: Selling Upfront to Secure Appointments

Why do people open savings accounts? In order to have funds to tide them over when regular income is interrupted for any reason, or when life's emergencies arise.

You should be selling your dental services upfront for the very same reason: When things get slow, having secured appointments on your calendar is like having money in a savings account!

Securing appointments ahead of the month in which you will need them will help you get past those "downs" that are part of every professional practice. Typically, the first couple of months of the year are slower than other times.  Post-holiday sales are over, spring seems a long way away, people are recuperating financially from holiday spending, heating bills are higher, etc. etc.

So start doing some serious marketing now to avert a financial crunch in your practice then.  Sell dental plans, maybe four cleanings for the price of three. Give a discount on cosmetic dental services. Offer free exams for family members of patients. Do whatever it takes, but get the money—or at least most of it—upfront.  After all, if you're offering your professional services at a reduced price, why  should you have to wait to get paid?