Do You Want to Start, Acquire, Renovate or Exit Your Dental Practice?

"Kathy was absolutely integral in making our complicated practice acquisition happen in a timely manner. Her highly organized approach helped us stay on track and remember every little, yet important, detail involved with becoming new business owners. She is an absolute “shark” when it comes to negotiating loan terms and made sure we secured appropriate financing, saving us thousands in the long run. We utilized her vast knowledge and resources in the dental field to obtain the appropriate valuation of assets, legal support, etc. Simply put, we would not have been able to start our practice without her and are forever grateful!"

"As a podiatrist opening and building a medical practice, I can confidently say that working with Kathy Ells and Next Step Dental Consulting was one of the best decisions I made during the process. Although her background is in dental consulting, the knowledge, organization, and guidance she provided translated seamlessly into the medical world.

Kathy brings an incredible depth of experience to the table. From startup planning and financial guidance to coordinating timelines and keeping projects moving forward, she helped simplify what can otherwise feel like an overwhelming process. Her attention to detail, responsiveness, and ability to anticipate challenges before they became problems were invaluable.

What stood out most was her ability to see the big picture while still managing the countless moving parts involved in opening a healthcare practice. She was not only a consultant, but a true advocate and partner throughout the process.

I would highly recommend Kathy and the Next Step Dental Consulting team to any healthcare professional looking to start, transition, or grow a practice. Her expertise, professionalism, and dedication are exceptional."

“One of Kathy’s first clients, and I still remember calling her on Easter Sunday. She took the time to speak even with family coming over just a few hours later, which really shows how dedicated and committed she is to her clients. Our project was large and required a great deal of attention to the many details. She provided guidance from start to finish and made what could have been an overwhelming process, feel manageable.

Due to her years of experience and previous projects before starting Next Step Dental Consulting, she brought an incredible network of resources and practical knowledge to the table, and asking the right questions. In our many meetings, Kathy was always prepared with organized files, worksheets, important questions, and notes that kept everything moving in the right direction. Brokers, bankers, and contractors were always ready when Kathy was involved because they know how thorough she is. If you are looking for someone who is reliable, caring, personable, and highly knowledgeable in the dental field, we highly recommend Kathy. She is professional, accommodating, and has an excellent network of other like-minded professionals that supports these types of dental projects. Kathy has become like family, and her dedication throughout the dream project will always be appreciated”

"Kathy is incredibly knowledgeable and well connected, and she made the whole process of looking into buying/ starting a dental practice feel much less overwhelming. She’s super organized, always available, and really good at breaking down obstacles so they don’t seem impossible. Even though I didn’t end up buying a practice through her, she was still kind, helpful, and generous with her time and advice. It was clear she genuinely wanted to help, not just make a deal, much different than others that I have met through my ownership journey. I’d absolutely recommend Kathy to anyone thinking about buying or starting a dental practice.

Kathy is extremely knowledgeable and well connected, making the process of exploring dental practice ownership far less overwhelming. She is highly organized, always available, and takes the time to break down obstacles so they don’t feel insurmountable. Even though I ultimately did not purchase a practice through her, Kathy remained kind, supportive, and generous with her time, continuing to offer much-needed advice without hesitation. Her professionalism, honesty, and genuine desire to help truly set her apart, and I would highly recommend her consulting services to anyone considering buying or starting a dental practice."

"I have had the pleasure of working with Kathy Ells this past year when I purchased my first dental practice from a local retiring dentist. As a first-time practice owner, Kathy's expertise and guidance were paramount to my success through this huge transition in my personal and professional life. She was there every step of the way, and she was able to help me navigate through all the challenges we faced. One of the first things Kathy told me when we started working together was that every practice transition comes with one big bump in the road. Lo and behold, we had our bump, but we were prepared, and the transition went smoothly overall. I would recommend any dentist looking to get into practice ownership to speak with Kathy. Her background in finance serves her clients well, and she is a pleasure to work with and a total straight shooter. I am now a proud owner of a thriving family dental practice–a dream that I had set out to accomplish ever since I decided to go into dentistry–and I have Kathy to thank for helping me get to where I am today."

"I highly recommend Kathy Ells, owner of Next Step Dental Consulting, for her exceptional expertise in securing and negotiating business loans. Kathy guided me through every step of the process, developing detailed cash flow models and impactful presentations that helped secure a highly competitive loan for my expansion. Her knowledge of the players in the industry and ability to work with multiple banks and secure the best terms was invaluable. With her coaching and strategic approach, I felt confident and well-supported throughout. If you're looking to expand and need expert financial guidance, Kathy is the go-to professional."