054: Why Selling to a DSO Might Cost You Millions | Mike Baird

A DSO alternative for dentists exists, and it's built to make sure the company can never sell itself to private equity. If you have ever felt like your only two options are staying solo forever or eventually selling to a DSO, this episode breaks down why that's not actually true, and what the real numbers look like right now in 2025 compared to the frothy days of 2022.Brandi Marzolino, a 20 year dental industry veteran and leadership coach, sits down with Mike Baird, CEO of Accelerate Dental and former CEO of Henry Schein One, to unpack why he built a minority-partnership model where doctors keep majority ownership and the group is legally barred from ever selling. Mike shares the real recapitalization data behind today's DSO market and the outcomes his doctors are seeing, including doubled collections and 50 percent higher personal income over five years. This is the conversation every dentist weighing their next move needs to hear.You’ll learn:Why the two options most dentists think they have, staying solo or selling to a DSO, aren't actually the only choices.The DSO alternative model where dentists keep majority influence and the company can never sell itself to private equity.Why DSO recapitalization multiples dropped from 14 times revenue in 2022 to closer to 10 times in 2025.The real odds of getting recapped in 2025 versus what brokers and DSOs are telling dentists right now.Why private equity ownership in medicine created three minute doctor visits, and why dentistry is following the same path.The real numbers behind doubling collections, growing equity value 2.5 times, and raising personal income 50 percent over five years.Who is actually the ideal fit for a minority partnership model instead of a traditional DSO buyout.🔗 Join the community and submit your anonymous questions:https://www.therealtalkofdental.com🔗 Learn more about The Empowered LeadHERship Program for Woman in Dental:https://leadhershipexperience.com/🔗 Boundary Boss GPT:https://leadhershipexperience.com/boundarybossWe talk about:00:00 The two options every dentist thinks they have03:22 Mike's alternative to DSOs, Accelerate Dental05:10 Why most dentists don't know their real options06:07 How he built the model by interviewing 100 dentists09:00 Why 80% of doctors in medicine work for a corporation13:01 The Walmart story and what it means for dentistry18:19 What is the real downside of selling to private equity20:11 Why DSO recap multiples dropped from 14x to 10x21:49 The real odds of getting recapped in 202525:24 How the Accelerate Dental model actually works30:47 Who is the ideal fit for this model 38:25 The real numbers behind doubled income and equityConnect with MikeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/accelerate-dentalPersonal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bairdmike/Website: https://www.acceleratedental.com/Connect with meLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/https://courageandjoyatwork.com/https://leadhershipexperience.com/Phone: 616-682-6222#DSOAlternative #DentalPrivateEquity #DentalPracticeOwnership #DentalGroupPractice #DentalIndustry #PracticeTransition #DentalBusiness #DentistIncome #DentalLeadership #HealthcarePrivateEquity #DentalConsolidation #PracticeOwnership #DentalPodcast #DoctorOwned #RealTalkOfDental