Fortuous Dental Accountants explains why better financial clarity starts with better conversations with your accountant.
Walk into a coffee shop and say: ‘I’ll have a coffee.’
You’ll get something drinkable, but probably not what you actually wanted.
Say instead: ‘Flat white. Oat milk. One shot. Extra hot.’
Same barista, very different result.
That simple idea applies to your finances.
Better questions, better outcomes
We are now living in the age of AI.
Everyone is talking about prompts: you get better outcomes when you ask better questions.
Your relationship with your accountant works the same way. Most dentists do not have bad accountants, instead hey have vague conversations. Vague conversations lead to vague outcomes.
So instead of theory, here is something practical: a list of 10 questions that change the quality of the conversation, and the quality of decisions that follow.
1. What was my real profit last month?
Not turnover.
Not the bank balance.
Actual profit.
If you cannot see this monthly, you are guessing.
2. What profit margin should a practice like mine be aiming for?
Not a generic average.
A practice like mine: my mix, my model.
3. Where am I overspending compared to similar practices?
Every practice has leakage.
Usually staffing, labs, consumables, or subscriptions.
This is about focus, not blame.
4. If revenue stayed exactly the same, what one change would improve profit the most?
One change.
Not a list.
Not a strategy document.
5. What single number should I be checking every week?
One anchor number.
Something that tells me whether I am in control or drifting.
6. Am I paying the right amount of tax, or just whatever appears on the calculation?
Compliance is expected.
Planning is where value sits.
7. Can I afford to hire, and what needs to happen first?
A useful answer includes numbers such as break even impact and minimum revenue required.
8. If I took a month away from the practice, what would actually happen financially?
This is about resilience and dependency.
9. What decision am I delaying because I do not have clarity?
Most dentists already know what they want to do.
They are waiting for confidence.
10. What should we be reviewing before the year ends, not after?
Once the year is finished, most opportunities are gone.
Try asking these questions and listen carefully to the answers. Some will be clear, some will be vague. Some may not come at all.
That is not a criticism. It is simply information.
And as a business owner, information is what allows you to decide what you need next.
This article is sponsored by Fortuous Dental Accountants.
