Timing, EBITDA, And Freedom: Choosing Your Best Dental Exit with Elijah Desmond

Want out of the grind without hanging up the handpiece? We sit down with dental entrepreneur and master connector Elijah Desmond to rethink what “exit” really means for practice owners. Instead of a cold stop, Elijah maps a path where you sell high, keep a strong paycheck, and drop the admin headaches that drain your time and energy.

We get practical with numbers. Elijah breaks down EBITDA in plain English, why buyers pay on profit after a market-rate doctor salary, and how multiples translate to real checks. You’ll hear when to sell for maximum value, why trending up beats slowing down, and how age and health risk color buyer confidence. We dig into preparation windows, from 6 to 18 months, and the exact levers that lift margin: recall and hygiene reactivation, scheduling templates, fee calibration, clean financials, and vendor renegotiation. The result is a practice that runs on systems rather than personality—catnip for DSOs, PE-backed groups, and private buyers alike.

Elijah also opens up about his journey from uplifting underdogs to becoming a national seller-side broker with deep relationships across dentistry. That network powers deal flow and gives sellers more choices, not fewer. We talk life after the sale—paying off debt, focusing on clinical work you enjoy, and creating space for family, travel, coaching, or a new venture. If you’ve ever felt the pull to do more with your life but stayed put out of fear or confusion, this conversation gives you clarity and a step-by-step way forward.

Ready to see where you stand and what your practice could be worth? Listen now, then subscribe, share with a colleague who needs this, and leave a quick review so more owners can plan smarter exits.