What Dental Practice Owners Should Know About Unsolicited Offers

Why Are Unsolicited Offers So Common Today?

• High demand, low supply: There are more buyers seeking dental practices than there are practices for sale.
• Attractive industry: Dentistry remains a resilient, profitable field — practices continue to thrive despite economic shifts and even global health crises like COVID-19.


• Who’s buying?
• Individual dentists looking for practices in specific regions
• Dental corporations and dental service organizations (DSOs)
• Investor dentists


• What are buyers looking for?
• Larger practices
• Opportunities where the current owner might stay on after the sale
• Flexible deal structures: partnerships, associateships, or full buyouts

How do Unsolicited Offers Differ from Planned Sales?

• Unsolicited offers:
• The owner did not plan to sell — the offer came out of the blue.
• Usually, no market exposure or competitive bidding happens.
• Planned sales:


• The practice is intentionally marketed, creating competition among buyers.
• Typically involves valuation, staging, and targeted marketing to drive the best price and terms.

If You Receive an Unsolicited Offer-Key Actions to Take

Pause and assess

• Don’t rush into decisions — even if the buyer imposes a deadline.
• A strong practice today will still have value tomorrow. Take your time to explore options.

Review your personal readiness

• Are you financially and emotionally ready to sell?
• Do you have a plan for what comes after the sale — whether that means retirement, partnership, or continued work?
• Consider the financial impact — owning your practice may still offer better returns than investing sale proceeds elsewhere.

Understand your practice’s true value

• Get a professional appraisal.
• Ask independent experts to help you evaluate the market and your practice’s strengths or weaknesses.

Learn about the buyer

• What are their intentions for your practice?
• Will they uphold your standards for patient care and team culture?
• What role do they expect you to play after the sale?

Create competition

• Even if the first offer looks great, explore other buyers to be sure you’re getting fair market value.
• Competition among buyers helps ensure the best price, structure, and future for your practice.

Ready to take control of your practice’s future? At Meridian Sales & Appraisals, we specialize exclusively in dental practice sales and appraisals. Whether you’ve received an unsolicited offer or are simply exploring your options, our team will help you understand the true market value of your practice, create buyer competition, and guide you through a sale on your terms. Contact us today for a confidential consultation — and let us help you maximize the value of your life’s work.

Alan Rustom