Developing Cashflow Cavities

Operating a successful dental practice requires balancing patient care and effective bookkeeping, which is essential to ensure smooth operations and long-term growth. If you neglect ongoing maintenance and the "hygiene" of your financials, then inevitably, they will decay and start forming 'cashflow cavities.' We understand the unique financial challenges of dental practices and offer specialized guidance to help you take control of your finances, allowing you to focus on patient care.

Here are some core bookkeeping practices to enhance your practice’s financial health:

1. Separate Personal and Business Finances

Separating personal and business accounts is crucial. Mixing funds complicates tax preparation, makes it difficult to assess financial health, and can pose risks if your practice faces legal issues. Set up dedicated business checking accounts and credit cards to simplify bookkeeping and maintain a clear financial picture, which can be valuable when dealing with lenders or potential buyers.

2. Utilize Dental-Specific Accounting Software

Modern accounting software can streamline bookkeeping processes and reduce errors. Look for solutions that integrate with your practice management system and offer real-time financial insights. We help clients customize Quickbooks Online to fit their dental practice based on the best practices we have accumulated from performing this exercise so many times. This allows you to monitor finances accurately and make informed decisions.

3. Track Income and Expenses in Detail

Break down revenue streams—such as patient payments and insurance reimbursements—and categorize expenses like dental supplies, payroll, and lab fees. This detailed tracking helps reveal where your money is coming from and going, providing insights into profitability and areas for improvement.

4. Manage Cash Flow Consistently

Effective cash flow management is essential but not easy. Dental practices often face delays in receiving payments, so closely monitoring accounts receivable is critical. We work with practices to analyze cash flow patterns and improve billing and collection processes. Setting up patient financing options or offering incentives for early payments can also stabilize cash flow.

5. Plan for Taxes Year-Round

Taxes are a significant expense, and dental practices have unique tax deductions. By planning, you can maximize deductions for expenses like dental supplies, equipment, and continuing education. With our help, you can ensure compliance with tax regulations and proactively reduce tax liabilities. We provide tailored tax planning to help you keep more of your income.

6. Implement Internal Controls

Establishing internal controls is essential for preventing errors, abuse, and even fraud. By infusing our Comptroller ProAdvisors into your operations, we can monitor the general ledger of your books, conduct inventory checks, and regularly review financial compilations after the books have been reconciled. Our team of certified experts can help implement these processes, ensuring your practice’s finances are accurate and secure.

7. Consider Outsourcing Bookkeeping

Outsourcing can improve efficiency if bookkeeping tasks take time away from patient care. Partnering with Relax, It's Handled means gaining accuracy, reliability, and access to industry-specific expertise. This optimization lets your team focus on patient experience while we manage the financial details.