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Data Bites: Dentists cut overhead in 2016

Sept. 13, 2017
In this month's Data Bites column, Dr. Roger Levin looks at why dentists are trimming expenses and reducing overhead. Data come the latest Dental Economics–Levin Group Annual Practice Surveys.
Roger P. Levin, DDS, CEO and Founder, Levin Group

IN A TIME OF STAGNANT PRACTICE PRODUCTION,cutting overhead is an excellent way to boost revenue and doctor income. Dentists seemed to have gotten that message, decreasing overhead by two percentage points from 2015 to 2016 according to our analysis of the two most recent Dental Economics–Levin Group Annual Practice Surveys (figure 1).

Figure 1: Average overhead as a percentage of sales for dental practices

2015—68%

2016—66%

A 2% reduction, while seemingly small, can prove significant. It equates to an additional $2,000 in practice profit per $100,000 in production. For offices generating $500,000, that’s an additional $10,000 in savings. It equals $20,000 for practices with $1 million in production.

Every little bit of waste and unnecessary spending you can eliminate adds more money to your bottom line. If your production is flat, the good news is that you can still increase profit. Find ways to trim the fat, cut the excess, and reduce expenses in targeted areas. Small improvements can lead to big changes.

Author's note: Look for a fuller discussion of this year’s survey results available in the September issue of Dental Economics and on levingroup.com.

Roger P. Levin, DDS, is the founder and CEO of Levin Group, a leading dental consulting firm. A nationally recognized speaker, Dr. Levin presents practice management seminars throughout the country.

CATCH UP ON PAST DATA BITES

Data Bites is a monthly column by Dr. Levin in the Apex360 newsletter.

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Editor's note: This article first appeared in theApex360 e-newsletter. Apex360 is a DentistryIQ partner publication for dental practitioners and members of the dental industry. Its goal is to provide timely dental information and present it in meaningful context, empowering those in the dental space to make better business decisions. Subscribe to the Apex360 e-newsletter here.

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About the Author

Roger P. Levin, DDS | CEO and Founder, Levin Group

Roger P. Levin, DDS, is the CEO of Levin Group, a leading dental management consulting firm. Founded in 1985, Levin Group has worked with over 30,000 dental practices. Dr. Levin is a sought-after speakers in dentistry and is a leading authority on dental practice success and sustainable growth. Through extensive research and cutting-edge innovation, Dr. Levin is a recognized expert on propelling practices into the top 10%. He has authored 65 books and over 4,000 articles on dental practice management and marketing.

Dr. Levin sits on the editorial board of five dental publications and has been named as one of the Leaders in Dentistry by Dentistry Today magazine for the last 15 years. He was recently named one of the 32 Most Influential People in Dentistry by Incisal Edge magazine and voted Best Dental Consultant by the readers of Drbicuspid.com. He has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Time magazine, and is the creator of the Levin Group Tip of the Day,which has over 30,000 subscribers.

To contact Dr. Levin, visit levingroup.com or email [email protected].

Updated March 7, 2019