Written by Bryan Martin, CPA, Managing Partner and Founder of Taxstra. Last updated September 1, 2026.
Financial and revenue quality
Collect enough history to reconcile revenue across the practice-management system, books, bank and tax filings.
- Three years of financial statements and tax returns
- Monthly production, adjustments and collections
- Accounts-receivable aging and credit balances
- Provider, procedure and payor concentration
People, lease and equipment
Document what must transfer for the practice to keep operating after closing.
- Employee roster, compensation, benefits and accrued time
- Seller and associate agreements
- Lease term, options, assignment and guarantees
- Equipment list, liens, service contracts and replacement needs
Structure, tax and financing
Keep the signed economics connected to the tax and accounting records.
- Entity and asset ownership
- Proposed purchase-price allocation
- Tax notices, payroll filings and sales/use-tax exposure
- Debt terms, working capital and closing costs
First 90 days
Name the people and dates responsible for getting the buyer to a clean first close.
- Opening balance sheet
- Bank, card and merchant feeds
- Payroll, benefits and loan schedules
- Production-to-collections reconciliation and close calendar
Questions owners ask
Is this dental acquisition checklist a complete due-diligence program?
No. It is an organizing worksheet. Your attorney, lender, valuation professional, insurance advisors and clinical consultants may require additional work.
Should I review both production and collections?
Yes. Production alone does not show adjustments, timing or collectability. Reconcile both to the accounting and bank records.
What should happen in the first 90 days after closing?
Establish the opening balance sheet, payroll and merchant workflows, debt and asset records, production-to-collections reconciliation and a dependable monthly close.