Building a sustainable, resilient practice is vital for dental professionals. If you’re looking for a dental office location for a new or existing practice, here’s what to consider.
Affordability
This is probably one of the top factors when choosing a dental office location. Look into the per-square-foot pricing of each space on your shortlist, and review this in concert with location and amenities to see which space offers the best value. When exploring availability, ensure you know what costs are included in a potential lease, and what sort of lease increases you’re likely to see.
Adequate Space
Ensure that the space you’re looking at provides enough room to meet current patient needs while offering room for growth. You want enough room to provide quality care without paying an excess for areas you won’t use. Consider layout and flow, review zoning, required upgrades, and any obstructions to potential renovations.
Accessibility and Visibility
The perfect space isn’t ideal if it’s hard to get to – or hard to see. When choosing a dental office location, review traffic patterns and consider accessibility from major roads or transit hubs. Similarly, visibility is a must if existing patients are to find you easily, and if you want to attract new patients.
Your Business Model
The people you’ll be serving will shape the type of space that’s optimal to work from. Every dental office, regardless of its specialty, should aim to create a comforting and appealing environment. Dental fear is a common and significant phobia, and fostering a sense of ease can help attract and retain more patients. Whether you’re focused on cosmetic or medical dentistry, prioritizing a welcoming and calming atmosphere is essential for building trust and ensuring a positive patient experience.
Competitive Analysis
Before you sign that dental practice lease, make sure that there’s room in the market for your dental practice – one dentist to every 1,500 patients is the rule of thumb. Research direct and indirect competitors, their target audiences, and any overlap in services. Ensure that there’s room in the market for your practice – and that you have room to grow.
Complementary Businesses
When exploring a dental office location, consider nearby businesses and how they can help support your practice. For example, nearby daycare centers are great neighbors for pediatric dentists, while plastic surgeons can help support cosmetic dentists. Orthodontists, or pharmacies can also be effective in supporting businesses that offer care outside of your offerings.
Leasing Terms
Before you decide on a space, review the leasing terms offered. With more brick-and-mortar spaces coming on the market in recent years, you may be able to negotiate improved rates together with allowances for improvements. Crucially, avoid signing a lease without having it negotiated by an experienced professional. Failure to negotiate a lease can mean thousands of dollars left on the table – so take the time to conduct a lease audit!
Need help? Ask GZ.
If you’re not sure where to start, loop in the team at GZ Realty. As experts in medical real estate, we can help you identify the space that’s best for your needs – and work to negotiate the best possible lease for you. Whether you’re looking to buy, lease, expand, or move, we’re here to help!