PLANNING
1. YOUR VISION & BUSINESS PLAN
Your vision comes first — everything else builds from there
Before you delve into opening your new practice or planning your next move, take a step back to consider why you’re making the change. If you’re refreshing a practice, is it to increase patient flow, create a more harmonious space, get a higher-ticket treatment mix or refresh your image? Once you have answered the "why," the next step is to define your vision for the practice.
A vision statement is an aspirational view that expresses your organization's high-level purpose and may include plans for the future and potential impact on you, your team, your patients and your community. This is a big-picture statement that helps others understand your ambitions and values. It goes beyond the practical steps of the services you offer, helping to articulate your dreams and how you gauge success. Your vision is intended to guide you and your team with direction, purpose, and motivation.
This is a foundational element within the process. Defining a vision statement is both an essential and foundational element of starting a business. Whether you're starting a practice from scratch or embarking on the next level of growth, there are proven strategies that lay the groundwork for success.
GETTING STARTED
Questions to ask yourself:
- What motivates me to help patients?
- What kinds of procedures, services, or specialties do I care most about?
- Who is my ideal patient?
- What do I want patients to feel when they walk in?
- How do I want my team to feel working here?
- What values or principles do I want to lead with?
- Where do I want to live and raise a family?
- What kind of commute am I willing to make each day?
- Do I want to be part of the community I serve — or commute into a different one?
- What does success look like in 3–5 years?
Your business plan
Once you’ve clarified your vision, it’s time to get tactical. A business plan [PO1] isn’t just for your lender — it’s your personal roadmap. It helps you map out budgets, timelines, and strategies, so you’re building with clarity and intention. It also signals to others (like partners, lenders, and vendors) that you’re serious, prepared, and set up for success.
Writing a business plan can feel daunting — but you don’t have to go it alone. Henry Schein offers free business plan templates designed specifically for dental startups. These tools walk you through every section — from crafting your mission statement/vision plan to projecting cash flow and defining your differentiators.
Think of it as your foundation. It gives structure to your ideas but leaves room to grow and adapt as your practice takes shape.