At this year’s Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting, visitors to our booth came ready to ask thoughtful questions, share challenges, and discuss what’s next for their practices. Here are the top three questions we heard on repeat at Hinman 2026, along with our advice: stay ahead of your practice timeline.

1. “When should I renegotiate my lease?”

Our answer: “Earlier than you think.”

Many dentists weren’t exactly sure when their lease expired or assumed they had plenty of time to deal with it later. In lease negotiations, time equals leverage. Whether you plan to stay in your current space or relocate, we recommend starting the process at least two years in advance. The earlier you plan, the more options you have and the stronger your negotiating position.

Our Advice:

Dental practices have unique requirements, that differ from other tenants, which must be considered in structuring your lease. Details like when you originally moved in to the space, updates to the space, assignment and subletting rights, renewal options, and relocation clauses can significantly impact your risk and flexibility.

Today’s commercial real estate market offers tenants real opportunities when renewing or extending a lease. Renegotiating the right terms can minimize overhead and improve cash flow along with a potential reduction in liability.

We’ve helped many practices save substantial amounts of money simply by starting early and negotiating strategically. Even when they are staying in their current space and not moving.

For doctors whose spaces no longer fit their needs, we take a proactive approach to realign their dental real estate with personal and professional goals, uncover savings, and create opportunities.

We are happy to offer a complimentary lease review to provide an objective assessment of your current situation and identify opportunities to reduce risk and improve profitability.

2. “I’m thinking about opening my own practice. Where do I start?”

Our answer: “Starting a practice doesn’t have to feel overwhelming, but it does require a thoughtful, strategic approach.”

Many dentists are ready to take the leap into ownership but are unsure how to prioritize all the moving pieces. The most successful startups begin with a clear plan that aligns financing and real estate, making the process more efficient and less stressful. Early decisions, particularly around location, leasing or purchasing space, and timing, can have a lasting impact on your success, efficiency, and long-term growth.

Our Advice:

• Financing first: Understanding your budget upfront helps define what’s realistic, from buildout and equipment to rent and overhead.
• Choosing the right area: Selecting the right area depends on your goals, patient demographics, and type of practice.
• Defining your space: Retail, medical, or traditional office space? Second-generation versus full buildout? Number of operatories? These decisions affect cost and functionality.
• Building a realistic timeline: From site selection to lease negotiations to construction, opening a practice takes time. Working backward from your desired opening date ensures a smoother, more predictable process.

Whether you are just considering the idea or ready to move forward, we guide you through the process, identifying key milestones and helping you make informed decisions every step of the way.

There is a lot to think about when starting a practice. Download our exclusive checklist to stay on track.

3. “I’ve already been looking for properties. Why do I need a broker?”

Our answer: “Finding the right space isn’t just about availability. It’s about understanding the market and positioning yourself for success.”

It’s natural to want to do your own research scrolling online and driving desired areas jotting down “for lease” numbers. That enthusiasm is great, and we find partnering with doctors on the search is effective. We provide you with the insight and expertise to make smart decisions and develop our negotiation strategy.

Securing real estate is about timing, market knowledge, and strategic negotiation. Contacting a landlord directly can unintentionally limit options or reduce leverage.

Our Advice:

The best outcomes result when you work with a tenant/buyer-only healthcare broker. Here’s how we help:

• Access to real-time market info: Listings often on sites for consumers such as LoopNet are not updated in real-time and often outdated. Access to our exclusive listing platform gets the most up-to-date information from brokers.
• Guided location research: We combine local insight with the latest technology to provide demographic reports and market surveys, along with competition and patient maps developed by our firm. These analytics help you make informed decisions and negotiate favorable real estate terms to save your practice significant money.
• Strategic negotiation: We handle real estate transactions every day and know how to get you more for your buck. Operating completely conflict-free, we align ourselves with your objectives and negotiate aggressively with landlords or sellers to protect your interests. Our skilled negotiations result in the opportunity for you to add thousands of dollars to your bottom line and invest savings back into your practice, while mitigating risk and reducing liability.

Discussions like these are what make meetings like the Hinman so valuable. It’s not just about what’s new. It’s about what’s top of mind for dental professionals right now.

If we didn’t get a chance to connect in person, we’d still love to continue the conversation. Request a FREE consultation or contact our team directly.