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How
to Sell a Medical Practice
by
Keith Borglum
Think you can't sell a practice anymore? Don't believe everything
you hear in the physicians' lounge at the hospital. Practices sell
regularly, many for a good price, most with minimal fanfare. Not every
practice sells, but not every practice is in a condition to be sold,
nor does every physician properly try to sell his or her practice.
The truth is, the harder it is to start a practice from scratch in a particular
location, the easier it usually is to sell an existing one and the more it is
worth. If a physician new to an area wants to have a practice, often the easiest
and least costly way to do it is to buy one. It may be the only way to enter
the market. Buying a local competitor's practice at the right price is also often
a cost effective way to grow your own practice. The more competition there is,
usually the more an existing practice's transferable cash flow is worth. In underserved
areas, where all practices in your specialty are swamped with patients, and appointment
waiting times are measured in weeks, not days, your practice will have far less
value.
If you want to sell your practice, here are a few keys:
Plan at least a year ahead. Three years ahead is not too far. A physician who
doesn't have a plan for selling his or her practice risks being forced to
sell it at "fire sale" prices, if it sells at all. Consider a "cross-purchase" agreement
with colleagues, using life insurance as the source of funding, in case of
death.
Don't slow down in advance, and even increase productivity and profitability
if possible the two years prior to sale.
Don't tell, or even insinuate, your plans to colleagues or staff until the
right time.
Get a professional appraisal, both to price the practice right and to convince
a buyer of its value. Use a medical practice expert that can demonstrate compliance
with Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), or is a
member of the Institute of Business Appraisers, American Society of Appraisers,
or a member of the AMA ConsultantLink. (medical practice appraisal is an unlicensed
profession and there is much incompetence afield). The cheapest appraisal might
be OK for the cheapest practices. Is that yours? I've seen an extra $3000 worth
of research result in an extra $100,000 in sales price.
Prepare a proper professional promotional package, including a dedicated web
page.
Clean up the office and your desk, to make them appear more modern
and attractive before any candidate ever visits. This can take
a month or two. You'll need
outside help because you can't "see" your own space after having
lived there.
Consider using a confidential intermediary to protect the identity of the practice
for sale.
Require a Non-Disclosure Non-Competition Agreement from any candidate prior
to disclosure of your identity and data so that candidates can't use your information
to open across the street and compete with you.
Be open as to accepting who the buyer is. It might be your biggest competitor,
or they might not look like you or sound like you.
Make sure your last 3 years' (at least) accounting conforms to industry standards
like NAHC or MGMA.
Make sure your last 3 years' accounting clearly segregates regular expenses
from IRS Sec 179 capital assets, and clearly can identify tax-deductible personal
benefits, like health insurance, automobiles, employed family, etc.
Don't "skim the till". Declare all your income. Undeclared
income not only is a crime, but will turn away all but the most
disreputable buyers,
since it breaks trust right up front.
Consider offering the buyer a chance to work for 1-3 years at reduced income,
then sell the practice for the value of the hard assets, without goodwill.
The reduced income will probably equal the goodwill you would have received,
and the price will be more attractive, with less risk to both parties.
Consider merging your practice into a local group in lieu of sale to a stranger,
with a premium of income for 1-3 years in lieu of a sales price. This will
allow them the patient volume to more easily support recruitment of a new employed
associate to take over your patients.
The key to selling a home is "location, location, location".
The key to selling a practice is "planning, planning, planning".
Author Keith Borglum
is a practice appraiser, licensed broker and consultant with Professional
Management and Marketing in Santa Rosa, California. Ph: 1-707-546-4433
Credentials:
Member, Institute of Business Appraisers 1993-present
Member, California Association of Business Brokers 2003, licensed broker since
1983
Director, National Association of Health Care Consultants;
Trustee, California Academy of Family Physicians Foundation
Affiliate, Medical Group Management Association, CalMGMA, NorCalMGMA
Member, Society of Medical-Dental management Consultants; 1990-1993
Member, American Medical Association’s Consultant Network 1993-present
Member, American Academy of Family Physicians Consultant Network 1992-present
Member, American College of Physicians, Experts Panel 1995-2000
Member, American Academy of Ophthalmology Executives Consultant Directory
Faculty, American Academy of Dermatology, Annual Residents Program
Member, The IPA Association of America 1994-2001
Member, Board of Directors, CA Chapter of The IPA Association of America 1999-2000
Founding Member, California Academy of Family Physicians Consultant Panel
Founding Member, Academy of Dental Management Consultants 1983-1990
Editor , Open Directory Project ; topic: Business Appraisal
Permission is granted to reprint or quote any portion of this article provided that the author, firm, phone and city are named and two copies of the quoting journal are immediately mailed to the author at 3468 Piner Road, Santa Rosa CA 95401.
