Fractional CEO vs. Full-Time CEO: What Orthodontists Need to Know l 5MF

What if I told you the CEO your practice “needs” might actually be the most expensive mistake you’re about to make?In this Five Minute Friday, I’m challenging orthodontists to think carefully before hiring a CEO, COO, or high-level executive for their practice. Too many doctors hit $2–3 million in production, feel stretched, and assume the next move is bringing in a $250K–$300K leader. But in most cases, you’re not ready for that—and you probably don’t know how to hire that person yet.Instead, I break down why a fractional C-suite executive may be the smarter move. Whether you’re dealing with capacity issues, technology decisions, growth opportunities, or confusion about whether to expand into satellites, this episode will help you think like a business owner—not just an orthodontist. You’ll walk away with a clearer sense of when to ask for executive-level help, what kind of help you actually need, and why growing your main practice may be far better than chasing expansion too soon.💬Quotes“Think long and hard when you think you’ve reached an inflection point in your practice where you want to bring a CEO in. Chances are you’re not ready for it.”— Dr. Glenn Krieger“If you’re doing $2 million or $3 million a year, you should not be thinking about bringing somebody into your practice to pay them $200,000 or $300,000 a year.”— Dr. Glenn Krieger🎯 Key TakeawaysIntro (00:00)Why most practices aren’t ready for a full-time CEO (00:07)What fractional C-suite executives actually do (00:44)Why orthodontists often make poor business decisions around technology (01:22)Dental Monitoring as an example of C-suite thinking vs. orthodontist thinking (01:48)When a CEO-level hire starts to make sense financially (03:18)Why $2–3 million practices should avoid $250K executive hires (04:00)Why growing your main practice may beat opening satellites (05:27)How a fractional C-suite advisor can help you see blind spots (07:34)🟦 Additional ResourcesI’ve seen firsthand how the wrong executive hire can create more stress, more overhead, and less clarity—not more growth.Before you bring in a CEO, COO, or high-level executive, think carefully about where your practice really is and what kind of help you actually need. If you’re at an inflection point and want help thinking through fractional C-suite support, DM me. I have no financial interest in the company I mentioned, but I’m happy to make a connection or help you think through the decision.- Airway Meeting: https://web.orthopreneurs.com/arizonasleepandairway2026 - For more information, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/- Join our FREE Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/