Selling an optometry practice involves two major steps. The first is deciding it is time to sell the practice that you have spent your life building. The second step is executing a well-laid plan for getting maximum dollars for your life-long investment. When I coach buyers to successfully analyze an optometry practice, we look at the cash flow generated and the net dollars kept after expenses. Buyers are keenly aware of the financial benefits of an optometry practice that keeps $0.40 for every dollar collected. If you desire to sell your practice and are currently keeping $0.26 for every dollar collected it is time to evaluate your practice. Consider implementing these four options for increasing your net dollars kept.
Decrease expenses – There are many different strategies to decreasing expenses. One strategy I have seen other practices use successfully is using multiple labs. If a practice uses three different labs and does a line item expense comparison, they will notice that the lab prices vary between products. By highlighting the products that are least expensive between the three labs and then having your staff order the least expensive ones from the respective lab, the practice will find the decreasing cost of ophthalmic goods more profitable than one would expect.- Increase volume of new patients – There are two ways to market–internal or external. The least expensive and usually most effective is internal marketing. Talk to your existing patients about the medical eye care that your practice offers. Visit with them during the exam about the latest development in contact lenses. They may not be a candidate but their friends might.
- Increase product sales – As optometrists we have no problem prescribing antibiotic infections for the eye, so why do we not prescribe specific anti-reflective coatings for computer fatigue? It amazes me how many optometrists feel like they are selling something when they say, “as part of your glasses prescription, I am adding (Prevencia or Recharge) to protect your eyes from the damaging blue light emitted from computer/tablet/phone screens.” By prescribing products your patients need, you are helping them and increasing product sales at the same time.
- Increase fees – This is easy. Simply add $10 to the cost of each contact lens professional service. My business partner and I just bought a second practice and the Optos fee went from $20 (previous practice price) to $32 (our price). There has been minimal to no push back from patients. Do not be afraid to charge more.
Selling an optometry practice involves more than just posting a “for sale” ad on Optometry’s Career Center. A seller must intentionally prepare to market the practice by getting the books in order and making the practice net as attractive as possible. The above four options can increase the value of your practice immediately.
