What is my dental practice worth to a DSO?

Enter five numbers and get an instant range: your estimated EBITDA, what a private dentist buyer would likely pay, and what a DSO would likely pay in today's market. No account required.

Price my practice

Free · no sign-up · 2026 multiples

Estimated EBITDA

$324,000

18% margin on $1.8M collections

Estimated private-buyer range

$1.08M – $1.44M

60% – 80% of collections, the basis lenders and brokers commonly use for a dentist-to-dentist sale

DSO enterprise value range

$1.30M – $2.11M

4.0x – 6.5x EBITDA · single-location general dentistry, 1–2 year transition

Enterprise value is not the same as cash at closing. DSO offers typically split the price between cash, rollover equity, earn-outs, and holdbacks, and often depend on the owner staying on.

Cash at closing typically 60–80%Rollover equity 15–30%Earn-out and holdback 5–15%

Illustrative structure from published 2026 commentary; see methodology. Compare two real offers.

Annual collections ($)

EBITDA margin (%)

Practice type

Operatory count

Transition plan

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Next question: how much of that value depends on you staying after the sale?

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How does the dental practice valuation calculator work?

The calculator estimates EBITDA from your collections and margin, then applies current DSO market multiples adjusted for practice type, scale, capacity, and your transition plan. It produces a range, not an appraisal.

Single-location general dentistry starts at 4.0x to 6.5x. Specialty practices, groups, and practices above $1M EBITDA move the range up. Exiting at closing moves it down about a full turn because DSOs price provider dependence as risk. Staying three or more years moves it up modestly.

The detailed report normalizes EBITDA from your actual P&L rather than a stated margin. That step commonly moves the number by a meaningful amount in either direction, which is why the calculator output is a starting point for a conversation rather than a price. See how these ranges are assembled.

What moves the multiple
Factor	Effect on DSO multiple
EBITDA above $1M	+0.5x
EBITDA above $3M	+0.5x more
EBITDA below $250K	−0.5x to −0.75x
Pediatric, ortho, perio	Base range 5.5x – 7.5x
Oral surgery, endodontics	Base range 6.0x – 8.0x
Multi-location group	Base range 6.5x – 8.5x
8+ operatories, single site	+0.25x on the top of range
Owner exits at closing	−1.0x
Owner stays 3+ years	+0.25x to +0.5x

What is adjusted EBITDA for a dental practice?

Adjusted EBITDA is operating profit before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, with owner-specific and one-time expenses added back and a market-rate salary for the owner-dentist subtracted. It is the number every DSO offer is built on.

The replacement-salary adjustment is the one most dentists miss. If you produce $900,000 a year and pay yourself $400,000, a buyer will need to pay an associate roughly 28% to 32% of that production to replace you. That cost comes out of EBITDA before any multiple is applied.

Read the full guide, including a worked example.

Common add-backs and deductions
Item	Direction
Owner compensation above market associate rate	Add back
Personal vehicle, travel, meals, family payroll	Add back
One-time legal, equipment, or build-out costs	Add back
Above-market rent paid to owner's real estate entity	Add back the excess
Market-rate replacement salary for the owner-dentist	Deduct
Below-market rent that will reset at sale	Deduct the shortfall
Deferred maintenance or required capex	Deduct or price separately

Valuation questions dentists ask

What EBITDA multiple do DSOs pay for a dental practice in 2026?

DSOs typically pay 4.0x to 9.0x adjusted EBITDA. Single-location general practices with $300,000 to $700,000 of EBITDA usually see 4.0x to 6.5x; specialty practices and multi-location groups see 5.5x to 9.0x or more.

Is EBITDA the same as net income for a dental practice?

No. EBITDA starts from operating profit and adds back interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA then adds back owner-specific and one-time expenses and subtracts a market-rate replacement salary for the owner-dentist.

Why do DSOs pay more than private buyers?

DSOs price on EBITDA and expected synergies from centralized billing, purchasing, and recruiting, and they have institutional capital. Private dentist buyers are typically constrained by bank financing and price closer to 60% to 85% of collections, which is a different basis from an EBITDA multiple and can come out higher or lower depending on the practice's margin.

Is enterprise value the amount I receive at closing?

No. Enterprise value is the headline price. DSO offers typically split it among cash at closing, rollover equity in the DSO, an earn-out tied to future performance, and a holdback. Published market commentary commonly describes cash at closing in the 60% to 80% range, with the balance in rollover, earn-out and holdback.