Becoming a practice owner is a big enough decision, and you may be lucky enough to have to make another decision: whether it is better to buy or lease the commercial space for your dental practice. Like many things in life and business, the answer is: it depends. There are pros and cons to both options, and we are going to analyze some of those as you get ready to make your decision.
Most successful advisors will tell you that owning real estate should be a major part of your retirement portfolio. This is something that we agree with, as we have seen thousands of dentists retire comfortably with real estate holdings.
If you are lucky, you’ll be able to purchase commercial real estate with tenants that have leases that can provide you with a regular income stream. Although the old adage that real estate never goes down is certainly not true, over the long haul there is very strong appreciation in value in most geographic areas.
Additionally, you will be paying down the debt while you use the property, so you can build significant equity. Not only is the equity great but it can also provide you with a hedge against inflation as rents normally increase at least 2-5% every year.
Your CPA will tell you that you also will enjoy significant tax benefits by being able to deduct mortgage interest and depreciation which can further reduce your taxes and increase your income.
As with most things, there are drawbacks. First, you will likely need a 10-20% down payment for the loan which may make you cash poor. You will also be responsible for paying taxes on the entire building which can be over 1% of the value of the building, in addition to any capital and/or maintenance costs that may need to be addressed for the comfort of your tenants.
Second, there is a significant time investment required when you own and manage your own building. There are a lot of things to do when you buy a practice or start one from scratch such as marketing, billing, insurance and human resources. When you become a commercial property owner or landlord, your obligations increase both in terms of time and money. Suddenly, you are in charge of literally every inch of your building, as landlords are generally responsible for all repairs and maintenance issues including keeping the carpets clean or the common areas tidy. Although many commercial property management issues can be complex, you have the option of hiring a property manager or a property management company to handle any disputes that may arise.
Finally, there’s a risk associated with owning commercial real estate. For example, if tenants have customers or if you have a lot of patients that come and go, they may get injured or things may happen while they are on your property. Therefore, it is vital you have all the appropriate insurance policies.
Despite the disadvantages, the general belief is that it is a wise investment to own your own property especially if your dental practice is located within that property. Although it may take a few years of hard work and financial investment, it will pay off in the long-term especially if you end up selling the practice but keeping the building, as you will now have a stable long-term tenant.
There are some advisors who advise against owning real estate especially in certain markets where the advantages detailed above do not come to fruition as easily or if the real estate market is so hot that finding a good property is very difficult.
You should not shy away from leasing your space, as the advantages of starting your practice quickly are just as important as owning your space. For example, the move-in costs are generally much less as the landlord will likely assist you with some tenant improvement money. Additionally, depending on the kind of lease you get and how well you negotiate, you might be able to lower your monthly costs to be in the space. If you plan on expanding the practice or spending a lot on technology, then it might be best to save your cash to invest in the practice as opposed to buying a commercial property. Also, another perk of leasing is that relocating is possible because you are only committed until the end of your lease. Once it ends, you are free to move your practice as you wish or to extend your lease. If you buy your commercial space, it becomes a little more complicated because relocating a dental practice when you own the building is not only expensive, but can result in lost rental revenue. Additionally, if you move too far away, the results will be extra impactful because not only are you losing rental income, but you also might be losing patient revenue because you are moving away from your existing patient base.
If you are confident that the location you are looking at is where you want to be now and well into the future, then buying may make sense. If you think you want more flexibility to relocate, you should consider leasing.
Some questions to ask yourself in this regard, include:
When it comes to deciding to buy or lease your dental office, there are many factors to consider, such as where your business is and where you envision it going. Ask yourself how invested you can be in the business, whether you plan to sell down the road or if you may need to re-locate. These three key questions will establish a good foundation to help guide you towards a decision before speaking with your dental CPA and dental lawyer.
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