# How do you prepare a dental practice for sale? Henry Schein Dental Practice Transitions describes a pre-sale readiness phase of 12 to 24 months, during which an owner fixes what buyers test: financial records, a transferable lease, clean compliance records and documented systems. TUSK Practice Sales cited dental practice valuations of 5x to 9x+ EBITDA in 2026, so documented earnings carry weight. By DDSIntel Editorial. Source: DDSIntel, https://ddsintel.com/lifecycle/preparing-to-sell-checklist. Published 2026-10-26; data as of 2026-10-25. ## Key numbers - **12** months, the short end of one broker’s pre-sale readiness phase (Henry Schein Dental Practice Transitions, 2026-07-03; https://dentalpracticetransitions.henryschein.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-sell-a-dental-practice/) - **24** months, the long end of that phase (Henry Schein Dental Practice Transitions, 2026-07-03; https://dentalpracticetransitions.henryschein.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-sell-a-dental-practice/) - **5** times EBITDA, the low end of 2026 valuations TUSK cited (TUSK Practice Sales, Q3 2026 Dental Market Report (PR Newswire), Q3 2026; https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tusk-practice-sales-assesses-the-state-of-the-dental-industry-in-its-q3-2026-dental-market-report-302823046.html) - **9** times EBITDA or more, the high end of that range (TUSK Practice Sales, Q3 2026 Dental Market Report (PR Newswire), Q3 2026; https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tusk-practice-sales-assesses-the-state-of-the-dental-industry-in-its-q3-2026-dental-market-report-302823046.html) ## What should happen in each period of preparation? The 12 to 24 months of readiness is one broker’s frame, not a benchmark. Early on, set goals and assemble a CPA, an attorney and perhaps a broker. Next clean up financials, then check records and compliance, then review the lease, equipment and systems, and finally choose a buyer type. The [practice lifecycle](https://ddsintel.com/lifecycle) shows where this stage sits. ## Which records do buyers check? Buyers commonly check state license status, business-entity standing, federal exclusion-list status, HIPAA policies and breach history. Owners can review the same public records themselves; [what public records show](https://ddsintel.com/lifecycle/what-public-records-show) lists each category. Correcting an error means contacting the agency that keeps the record. ## Which financial and operating items matter most? Henry Schein lists incomplete or inconsistent financial records, lease complications and unclear transition planning among causes of delay. Owners can reduce them by separating personal expenses, supporting add-backs, confirming the lease can be assigned, documenting systems and keeping the team stable. A CPA should review normalized earnings before a practice goes to market. ## Will preparing to sell show up in public records? Some steps may, such as an entity restructuring or an associate’s license added at the practice address. DDSIntel reads these in aggregate as [dental transition signals](https://ddsintel.com/signals) and never publishes a single practice. Owners can see and control their own record, as [how owners control their record](https://ddsintel.com/lifecycle/claim-your-practice-record) explains. Related guides: [patient records in a sale or closure](https://ddsintel.com/lifecycle/patient-records-in-a-sale), [unplanned transitions](https://ddsintel.com/lifecycle/unplanned-transitions), [selling in a dental shortage area](https://ddsintel.com/lifecycle/selling-in-a-shortage-area). Value context is in [what drives practice value](https://ddsintel.com/lifecycle/value-drivers), and market figures are in [dental market data](https://ddsintel.com/data). ## Frequently asked questions ### How long does it take to prepare a dental practice for sale? One broker describes a readiness phase of 12 to 24 months; the real time depends on the practice’s starting point. ### What do buyers look for in a dental practice? Supportable earnings, transferable patients and lease, a stable team, clean records and compliance, and documented systems. ### Does preparing mean I have to sell? No. The same work raises value and options whether an owner sells, brings in a partner or keeps practicing. ### What multiples are practices selling for? TUSK Practice Sales cited 5x to 9x+ EBITDA in 2026; a specific practice differs. ## Sources 1. Henry Schein Dental Practice Transitions. How long does it take to sell a dental practice? And how to control the timeline (July 3, 2026). https://dentalpracticetransitions.henryschein.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-sell-a-dental-practice/ 2. TUSK Practice Sales, via PR Newswire. TUSK Practice Sales assesses the state of the dental industry in its Q3 2026 dental market report (July 10, 2026). https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tusk-practice-sales-assesses-the-state-of-the-dental-industry-in-its-q3-2026-dental-market-report-302823046.html --- DDSIntel is a dental transition intelligence platform that detects pre-market dental practice transition signals for brokers, DSOs, lenders and the firms that serve them.