The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Steven Patala and Roman Shtimerman of NadaPayments, the company leading the charge in compliant credit card surcharging for dental practices. They discuss how their solution is helping thousands of practices eliminate a top 10 line item on the P&L by shifting credit card fees back to patients—without damaging patient trust or experience.  Steven and Roman break down the difference between compliant surcharging and dual pricing, how to roll this out effectively in your practice, and why most patients are already used to this model. They also dive int...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Ryan Gross, founder and CEO of CMO Share, for an insightful conversation on the evolving landscape of dental marketing, operations, and how to thrive in uncertain economic times. They discuss the critical importance of aligning marketing strategies with operational capacity, how to maximize ROI by tracking the right metrics, and the power of Google Analytics over analog systems.   Ryan shares how his experience with Disney and data-driven thinking shaped CMO Share's unique approach to dental marketing. They dive into the different strategies for startups versus acquisitions, explore how A...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Alexis Gallati, founder of Cerebral Tax Advisors and author of Advanced Tax Planning for Medical Professionals. Alexis brings a wealth of knowledge on proactive, high-level tax strategies tailored specifically for medical and dental professionals. The conversation covers everything from tax-saving tactics for W2 earners like short-term rentals and oil & gas investments, to advanced planning opportunities for business owners, including entity structuring, paying your children, and maximizing retirement contributions through backdoor and mega backdoor Roths.  Alexis also shares personal insights on being married to a neurosurgeon and how that i...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by DSI Black Belt coach and co-founder of The Practice Launchpad, Dr. Chris Green, for an in-depth conversation on startup success in today's challenging dental landscape. Chris shares his journey of building a ground-up dental practice from a shell, highlighting lessons learned around construction, IT, design, and avoiding costly rookie mistakes.  The duo also explores why the fundamentals of a successful startup haven't changed, despite the rise in costs and consolidation across the industry. They emphasize the importance of mentorship—not as a sales pitch, but as a strategic mov...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with longtime friends and financial experts Brent Saunier and Chris Sands of Profi2020 to unpack some of the most overlooked yet critical financial decisions dentists face. From the often misunderstood process of switching CPA firms and the emotional roadblocks that come with onboarding, to the dangers of outgrowing your entity structure without knowing it, this episode is packed with practical advice and real client stories.   The trio dives into why clarity around your finances is essential for long-term success, how to vet a great CPA, and why early education f...

On today's episode, Mark sits down with Dr. Brian Bhaskar, a newly minted oral and maxillofacial surgeon, third-generation dentist, and founder of Cindy, a digital referral management platform designed to modernize how dentists communicate. Dr. Bhaskar shares his journey from Division I basketball at Gonzaga to completing a six-year oral surgery residency at the University of Washington, and how firsthand frustrations with outdated referral systems inspired him to build a HIPAA-compliant, cloud-based solution for seamless collaboration between general dentists and specialists.  The conversation also explores life after residency, the realities of private practice, balancing entrepreneurship with clinical e...

On today's episode, Mark sits down with Dr. Vishal Sharma, Director of Clinical Education and Operations at Spear Education, to explore the evolving landscape of dental education. Dr. Sharma shares his journey from building and scaling private practices to leading clinical education initiatives across DSOs, and now helping shape the next generation of learning at Spear.  The conversation dives deep into hybrid education models, the growing role of AI in diagnostics and training, challenges facing early career dentists, and why blending in-person mentorship with virtual and self-paced learning is the future of dentistry. They also discuss how t...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with longtime friend and marketing leader Joshua Scott for a wide-ranging conversation that blends entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal growth. Josh shares what it's really like to scale a company through a "building year," why infrastructure equity matters more than short-term profit, and how navigating overlapping growth curves can feel both challenging and energizing.  They dive into predictable success, avoiding shiny-object syndrome, balancing ambition with fulfillment, and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people as you grow. This episode is packed with honest reflections on business, creativity, and k...

On today's episode, Ryan Gross, founder of CMO Share, reveals how his background in experiential marketing—from zoos to Disney—perfectly translates into the world of dental marketing. He shares how understanding human behavior, data-driven decisions, and simple brand visibility tactics can significantly grow a practice. Ryan breaks down everything from choosing the right name and logo to leveraging brochures, shirts, and local partnerships for powerful brand repetition.  He explains why operational efficiency drives marketing ROI, how missed phone calls are costing you thousands, and why schedule availability matters more than ad spend. With insights on website optim...

On today's episode, we bring you Dr. Mark Costes' second impactful presentation from the Music City SCALE 2025 event. In this talk, Dr. Costes blends tactical strategy with raw vulnerability as he opens up about achieving his lifelong financial goals—only to find himself exhausted, unfulfilled, and deeply unhappy. He shares the pivotal moment that led him to rethink success, prioritize fulfillment, and build a model for personal and professional transformation.  You'll learn about the six foundational areas that determine practice health, how to avoid burnout with smarter operatory planning, and why redundancy—not minimalism—is the true path to...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Bill Keith and Ben Kacos for an in-depth crash course on DSOs—what they are, how they've evolved, and why every dentist should understand their growing impact on the profession. This conversation dives into the history of dental consolidation, the rise of private equity in the industry, and what those infamous EBITDA multiples really mean for your practice valuation.  The trio compares doctor-to-doctor transitions with DSO sales, laying out the pros, cons, and critical factors like tax strategy, risk mitigation, and personal goals. With real-world insights, valuation math, and...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with longtime friend and respected dental entrepreneur Tiger Safarov, founder of Zen One. Tiger shares his incredible immigrant journey—from arriving in the U.S. not knowing English to building a thriving dental construction company, and later pivoting to launch a tech platform revolutionizing dental supply management.  They dive into Tiger's inspiration for Zen One, the evolution of the platform from a scrappy startup to a streamlined, AI-powered solution, and his deep commitment to supporting private dental practices in an increasingly DSO-dominated industry. With a strong emphasis on integrity, inn...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back DSI Black Belt coach and seasoned dental entrepreneur Dr. Summer Kassmel for a power-packed, tactical conversation on case acceptance. Summer walks us through her step-by-step strategy to improve treatment plan acceptance, starting with clearly defined pillars of care and a unified team approach. She emphasizes the importance of consistency, calibrating with hygienists, and tailoring communication to the patient's personality without overwhelming them.   From managing chief complaints to using analogies patients understand, she explains how to prioritize treatment effectively and guide patients toward long-term oral health. Summer also shares how g...

On today's episode, we continue with part two of Dr. Mark Costes' compelling first presentation at the Music City SCALE 2025 event. In this segment, Dr. Costes delivers a deep dive into key challenges facing today's dental practice owners—employee retention, the nationwide hygiene shortage, and the harsh reality of PPOs. He shares actionable strategies to improve team culture, build loyalty through better leadership, and transform non-producers into practice contributors.   Drawing on Stoic philosophy, he urges owners to focus only on what they can control—systems, leadership, and culture—while tuning out the noise. You'll also hear powerful data on...

On today's episode, we bring you part one of Dr. Mark Costes' powerful presentation from the Music City SCALE 2025 event. With decades of experience as a multi-practice owner and founder of the Dental Success Institute, Dr. Costes shares why most dentists hit a wall when trying to "produce their way out" of business problems.  He explores the foundational importance of fixing broken infrastructure—like poor systems, leadership gaps, and toxic culture—before chasing growth through production or marketing. You'll also hear how his coaching organization has helped hundreds of practices increase profitability, reduce overhead, and give owners the f...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes Dan Van Eps, Senior Director at Henry Schein Dental Practice Transitions, for an in-depth look at the world of dental practice sales, valuations, and the often misunderstood role of brokers. With nearly three decades of experience in the dental space—including founding a dental IT company and helping scale Carr Healthcare Realty—Dan brings a rare, well-rounded perspective to what makes practices valuable and how dentists can successfully navigate a sale.  From breaking down DSO vs. doctor-to-doctor transactions, to why a $2 million practice isn't always worth what you think, this conve...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Steve Steinbrunner of Provide, powered by Fifth Third Bank, for a deep dive into the current state of dental lending. Despite economic uncertainty and mixed signals from the broader market, Steve shares why Provide is seeing record-breaking activity in financing dental startups, acquisitions, ground-up builds, and real estate purchases. They discuss how interest rate trends are actually opening new doors for practice owners, what separates successful borrowers from risky ones, and why bringing in the right advisors is more critical than ever.  Steve also offers key insights for d...

On today's episode, it's time for another Ask Me Anything with Dr. Mark Costes. Mark tackles a range of listener-submitted questions—from navigating burnout and prioritizing systems, to selling your practice to a DSO and balancing clinical work with business ownership. He shares his honest take on creating a mission-driven culture through local outreach and global service, and how those efforts have shaped his personal fulfillment.  You'll also hear practical strategies for systemization using the Elite Practice Blueprint, tips for managing energy with structure (and coffee), and how to incorporate free dental days without leaving your office. It...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Kami Hoss—orthodontist, author, and founder of The Super Dentists and Supermouth—for an incredible conversation that blends clinical excellence with world-class innovation. Recorded in the new DSI studio, Dr. Hoss shares how he and his wife turned a single pediatric and ortho office in Chula Vista into a multi-location, 24% market-share powerhouse in San Diego, complete with superheroes, slides, movie theaters, and their own ice cream truck-driving villain. But that's just the beginning.  Dr. Hoss also details the creation of Supermouth, a revolutionary oral care company with over...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back tax and accounting experts Brent Sonnier and Chris Sands from ProFi 2020 and Phase 1 Financial to tackle some of dentistry's most advanced and impactful tax strategies. Whether you're preparing for a major liquidity event, trying to reduce your W-2 tax liability, or just looking to be more strategic with your investments, this episode is packed with high-level insights.   The trio covers bonus depreciation, the mechanics and timing of cost segregation, oil and gas investments, R&D tax credits, and the true pros and cons of short-term rentals. Mark also shares some personal experiences—bot...