Since many dentists are inherently “Do it Yourself-ers”, they sometimes try to sell their practices on their own.  They may or may not have a decent idea of what is important or reasonable, and usually a myriad of details falls through the cracks.  If they then finally engage a broker, the marketplace will not respond as well now that the “bloom is off the rose”.  This will frustrate both the seller and the broker.   Even if you have a current associate or a dentist already in mind, I would still advise you to hire a broker. We generally will decrease our commission in this situation. This keeps the buyer honest in the negotiations and ensures their performance. Every year I end up listing several practices where the doctor was strung out for months or years waiting for the associate who expressed their desire to buy the practice but never did.   All practices need to be appraised or analyzed for any lender. We provide a rough draft of the contract of sale and navigate the arrangements between the attorneys and accountants. Most of our time and efforts occur AFTER we have designated a buyer! There is a reason we say we “practice” dentistry, and there is a good reason to hire an experienced broker! In short, hiring a broker allows you to do what you do best….caring for patients!