10 minute read
The dental industry is evolving fast. DSOs are expanding, regulatory demands are rising, and investors now expect more than just growth. If you run a group practice or multi-clinic DSO, you know that success can swing on small details: consistent EBITDA, operational discipline, staff retention, clinical quality, and readiness for an exit.
The DSO Playbook: Exit 2030 shows you, step by step, how to build a strong foundation, document performance, and prepare your organization for the next wave of consolidation. It is designed to help you lock in value today so you don’t scramble when you decide to sell. Use it to align clinical standards, financial reporting, leadership depth and growth strategy for maximum valuation when the time comes.
This playbook cuts directly to the levers that investors value and that protect your bottom-line while you scale. Download now to get a clear, actionable plan.
What to Expect?
Insights that Need Action!
1.
Global DSO market set to grow at 18% CAGR through 2034
The global DSO sector was valued at over USD 160 billion in 2024 and is forecast to grow substantially over the next decade.
This means well-prepared DSOs will enter 2030 in a buyer-friendly environment. With the right foundation, you position yourself to leverage rising demand, consolidation trends, and favorable investor interest.
2.
Multi-location DSOs now command 9–12× EBITDA multiples
Recent data shows that large, well-run, multi-site dental groups routinely achieve valuation multiples in the 9–12× EBITDA range.
This underlines the financial premium attached to scale, consistent performance, and systemized operations, all foundational outcomes from the Playbook.
3.
Most DSOs still operate without investor-grade structure or exit readiness
Industry reports note that only about 25% of all dental practices in some large markets are DSO-affiliated, leaving a huge potential for consolidation but also signaling a fragmented industry.
For DSOs, that means the difference between commanding a premium valuation and being a last-minute scramble lies in execution. Those who adopt standardized processes, centralized management, governance, and clean financials will stand out.
Arun Mehra FCA
Samera Group CEO
Most people plan for growth but very few plan for exit.
Samera started by helping practice owners build better businesses through finance and growth strategy. Today, we support DSOs around the world with capital advisory, operational planning, valuation improvement, and exit preparation.
And one thing that’s come very clear with my experience is that most leaders focus largely on building clinics, hiring teams, and expanding capacity. But when investors finally arrive, they are unprepared. Value is lost not because the business is weak but because the story is unclear.
This playbook exists to fix that gap. Exit readiness is commercial discipline applied over time. Standardizing operations, managing EBITDA drivers, preparing leadership, and documenting financial performance directly influence the multiples buyers will pay.
2030 is a target to work towards. The DSOs that succeed will be those that treat exit planning as daily work, cultivating second-line leaders, improving reporting, and diversifying revenue. They will take control of their valuation rather than wait for the market to define it.
And investors? They are looking for more than profit. They want resilience. Predictable cash flow, strong governance, low clinical risk, and clear systems are what reduce doubt. Every decision you make today either increases your valuation multiple or puts it at risk.
If this playbook gives you one idea, let it be this. The best exit is built long before you sell. Start now, stay disciplined, and treat EBITDA protection as a priority. The groups that do this well will define the dental landscape by 2030.
Dr Smita Mehra BDS MFGDPRCS
Clinical Director
As a clinician, I have seen how dentistry has changed from a practice culture led by individual expertise to a system driven by consistency, safety, and measurable patient outcomes. The future belongs to groups that are structured, well governed, and able to deliver the same clinical quality every single day. That is the foundation for patient trust.
Running multiple locations has made one thing clear. Operational discipline protects clinical standards. It is not the other way around.
At Samera, we have worked with DSOs across different markets and stages of growth. I have seen first-hand how the right systems, support, and structure help clinicians focus on patients rather than paperwork. Our story has always been rooted in helping practices scale without losing their clinical identity or standards.
Valuation is an important part of exit planning, but we also have a responsibility towards the teams and patients who rely on us. If ownership changes, clinical continuity must not break. Leaders who invest in governance, training, and transparent systems will create smoother transitions and protect the integrity of the practice.
2030 may feel distant but in dentistry it is very near. Regulatory expectations will rise, patient awareness will grow, and investors will demand deeper proof of quality. DSOs that prepare today will achieve more than just a higher EBITDA. They will keep clinicians engaged and patients loyal.
My hope is that this playbook gives clinicians clarity on what matters most. Build for consistency, invest in people, and treat clinical governance as a growth engine. When clinical quality is stable, valuations follow. That is the real opportunity in front of all of us.