Can you protect both your marriage and your margins while building a dental practice from scratch?

In this episode, Eva Baughman of Clearwater Dentistry in Greeley, Colorado, shares the behind-the-scenes story of launching a practice with her husband just before the pandemic hit and how she transitioned from a non-dental background to becoming the financial strategist their office needed. Eva unpacks the path her husband took from serving as a military dentist in Germany to stepping into ownership for the freedom to care for patients on his own terms. This journey demanded Eva step in, shoulder-to-shoulder, to shape the practice into a sustainable, patient-focused team.

Central to this conversation is Eva’s candid look at managing insurance-heavy operations in a brand-new community. She walks us through her step-by-step approach to mastering local demographics, mapping employer insurance plans, and using those insights to negotiate stronger PPO contracts, sidestepping third-party headaches wherever possible. Eva also details her hands-on methods for tracking expenses, building airtight claims systems, and empowering her team (all while protecting work-life boundaries as both a spouse and business partner.) Whether you’re a dental entrepreneur, office manager, or anyone seeking better insurance and cash flow management, Eva’s real-life experiences offer practical takeaways for turning your practice from stressful to sustainable.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

How to objectively assess your local market and maximize insurance contracting power.
Ways to prevent insurance from controlling the patient conversation and keep care patient-centered.
Smart strategies for tracking practice expenses and improving cash flow predictability.
How to build a claims system that minimizes rejections and supports faster payments.
The benefits of negotiating direct PPO contracts and periodically reassessing terms.
Why understanding insurer requirements leads to better documentation and estimates.
Tips for hiring and team-building in a startup practice.
Navigating the unique dynamics of running a spouse-owned office.
Setting boundaries to protect your family time while still growing your practice.

Tune in now to hear Eva's story on building a practice from scratch with her husband and the ins and outs of everyday operations!

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Sponsors:‍

Net32: Founded by a dentist, for dentists. Net32 is the leading online marketplace for dental supplies, helping dental and medical professionals save on high-quality products for over 25 years. Start saving today at: https://www.net32.com/dentalmarketer

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