Many people will do anything to avoid going to the dentist but it appears the opposite is true for a dental franchise business.

When Ideal Dental Care launched its joint venture partnership model, it got the expected glut of enquiries from dentists who wanted to take the next step and run their own business.

However, within months, the level of enquiries from those outside the profession also started to soar as people realised you don’t have to be a qualified dentist to run a dental franchise.

Serial entrepreneurs, dental nurses, opticians and even beauty parlour owners have all been enquiring about running a stand-alone franchise or incorporating a dental practice within an existing business.

Managing Director, Peter Thompson (pictured) , said: “Our partnership agreement meets my profession’s governance and strict regulations, which means non-industry investors can operate an Ideal Dental Care practice in the same way they would any other franchise operation.”

Thompson didn’t realise his business would have such a broad appeal when he first took his concept for a dental franchise to Tony Urwin, Franchise Consultant at FDS North, whose team helped create the current franchise model. It proved an instant hit and Ideal Dental already has franchises across the North of England and Scotland.

“The level of interest we have had from those outside the dental industry has been a pleasant surprise,” said Thompson. “But when you stand back and look at it, it makes perfect sense because dentistry is a profitable business model.”

Urwin added: “I’ve watched Peter’s business grow from the germ of an idea into a flourishing business and the realisation that it had a broader appeal than just to the dental industry makes it a very exciting and profitable opportunity for anyone who wants to build a business through franchising.”

Published: 9 June 2011

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