Overhead feels too high, and many dentists try to fix it by cutting costs in the wrong places. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt talks with co-host Miranda Beeson about how to evaluate overhead through two lenses—spending and collections—so you can reduce overhead without compromising the practice. You’ll learn what “high overhead” actually looks like, where practices typically leak revenue, what to review inside your overhead buckets, and the specific actions you can implement today to strengthen collections and control supply and lab spend.
Listen to Episode 1024 of The Best Practices Show!
Main Takeaways:
- Overhead should be evaluated through two lenses: spending and collections.
- Cutting costs reactively can create team frustration and does not fix the root cause of high overhead.
- If collections are below 100%, the practice is chasing money, accounts receivable grows, and overhead percentage rises.
- High overhead is often tied to inconsistent expense review and emotional purchasing decisions instead of systematic ones.
- Strong overhead performance includes consistent review of overhead buckets and budgeting supplies and lab as a percent of collections.
- Same-day financial closure and clearer ownership of accounts receivable improve collection performance.
- Assigning an ordering and inventory “champion” with a defined budget helps prevent overspending and product waste.
Snippets:
00:00 Metric Mondays Intro
01:30 Overhead Problem Framing
02:33 Two Lenses Overview
04:37 Common Overhead Mistakes
07:59 What Good Looks Like
10:57 Fix Collections Today
12:51 Control Spending Systems
14:20 Supply Budget Benchmarks
16:15 Labs And Invoice Checks
17:26 Wrap Up And Next Steps
Guest Bio/Guest Resources:
Miranda Beeson has over 25 years of clinical dental hygiene, front office, practice administration, and speaking experience. She is enthusiastic about communication and loves helping others find the power that words can bring to their patient interactions and practice dynamics. As a Lead Practice Coach, she is driven to create opportunities to find value in experiences and cultivate new approaches.
Miranda graduated from Old Dominion University, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Chuck, and her children, Trent, Mallory, and Cassidy. Family time is the best time, and is often spent on a golf course, a volleyball court, or spending the day boating at the beach.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Smile Source Marketplace: https://smilesource.com/
- Smile Source Transform membership: https://smilesource.com/membership-benefits-for-private-dental-practice-growth-and-success
More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:
The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/
Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
Upcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/
Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/
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