Roll the Equity or Take the Cash and Walk Away?

Episode 38

Mark Haddad, Endodontist and Co-founder of Specialty1 Partners and ScoutIQ, pulls back the curtain on what private equity actually wants — and why most dentists walk into a deal completely unprepared. At the heart of every PE transaction is one defining decision: do you take the cash and walk away, or do you roll your equity and bet on a bigger payday down the road?

Key Revelations:

PE created optionality — Before private equity, dentists had almost no exit options. PE firms are market makers — and that's a good thing for doctors.
Rolling equity isn't risky — it's strategic. Trading full cash for a stake in the larger DSO is how younger founders capture the "second bite of the apple."
PE is buying your practice in 5 years — not today. They want a growth story, not just your current numbers. Tell them how you plan to scale.
EBITDA is subjective. Buyers will fight to reduce your number through add-backs. Without a strong CFO and banker in the trenches, you'll lose that battle.

What Every Dental Founder Needs to Know Before Selling

AVAILABLE ON

"What factors should I consider when choosing a practice management software?"

Dallin's answer: Two things outrank every other feature — scalability (can it standardize across multiple locations?) and data access (can you actually get to your own data?). Cloud-based PMS platforms tend to win on both. Everything else — user friendliness, features, cost — matters less if you're building toward a group practice.

View All Episodes

The "Ask Dallin" Question:

Top 3 Episodes Of The Dental Truth Project. Listen Now!

(E.2) Why High-Multiple Exits Are Bankrupting Dental Practices - AJ Peak, Health Wealth Capital

(E.5) The DSO Valuation Crash No One Talks About - Gareth Petsch. pH Partners

(E.11) Unqualified Practice Brokers Are Costing Dentists Millions - Maria Melone, Caber Hill Advisors

If you've ever thought about selling your practice or scaling with PE backing, this episode will change how you think about both paths — and help you figure out which one is right for you

Full liquidity at close. Best for founders nearing retirement or those who want a clean exit. You walk away with 100% of the agreed value — no strings, no risk, no upside.

CASH OUT

OPTION 1

OPTION 2

ROLL THE EQUITY

Take partial cash now, convert the rest into ownership of the larger DSO. If the group grows, your stake multiplies. Mark calls it "the second bite of the apple" — and it's how younger founders build serious long-term wealth.

Get early access to the 'Roll the Equity - How Smart Dental Founders Sell Their DSO'

Learn how sophisticated dental founders navigate a DSO sale

Reserve My Spot

Selling your DSO is one of the most consequential decisions of your career. Roll the Equity: How Smart Dental Founders Sell Their DSOs is the playbook for founders who want to approach private equity transactions with clarity — not guesswork. Join the insider list to get first access when it drops.