Career guide · Career and growth
Becoming a dental clinic owner: the guide
Becoming an owner is the project of a career. Here are the main steps, real costs, rules to respect and models that make it possible without personal debt.
Who can own a dental clinic in Quebec?
The practice of dentistry is reserved for dentists and ownership of practising companies is governed by the Dental Act and the Professional Code. Non-dentist partners can take part in certain structures (management, real estate, financing) in compliance with these rules; have the structure validated by a lawyer.
How much does it cost to open a clinic?
Several hundred thousand to a few million dollars depending on the number of rooms, the equipment (X-ray, panoramic, units) and the fit-out; a complete, modern clinic often exceeds a million. Taking over an existing clinic is priced as a multiple of profit instead.
Open or buy?
Open: new equipment, a culture to create, a ramp-up to finance, total choice of location. Buy: immediate clientele and revenue, but equipment and habits to assess, and a price that reflects profit. The two are financed differently; both benefit from support.
How do you choose the location?
Population growth, density of dentists per capita, accessibility and parking, visibility, proximity to families. Vaudreuil-Soulanges is one of Quebec’s fastest-growing regions, which explains the Vaudreuil-Dorion and Saint-Zotique openings.
How do you finance without a down payment?
Through a partnership with a group that brings the capital and guarantees. At Go Dentiste, for eligible projects, financing can cover up to 100% of the cost with no down payment or personal guarantee from the dentist; the clinic remains responsible for its loans. Details are on Become an owner.
What are the concrete steps?
First contact, meeting and analysis (numbers, project), tailored proposal (share, financing, guarantees), agreement and financing (reviewed by your advisors), then opening and support. Generally count several months between first contact and the opening of a new clinic.
What do you gain by opening under a banner?
A proven formula (marketing, online booking, 10-language website), group purchasing, operations management, team recruiting and onboarding, and often a higher resale value thanks to the group structure. You keep clinical control and your name on the door.
How do you recruit a new clinic’s team?
Start early (six to twelve months ahead), recruit key positions first (coordinator, hygienists), train the team in an existing clinic and communicate about the project. A banner brings a decisive advantage here: its experienced employees and its reputation.
Which advisors should you consult?
A lawyer specialized in professional and corporate law, an accountant who knows the dental sector, an appraiser for a takeover, and your professional order for ownership and advertising rules. A good partner encourages you to consult your own advisors; beware of one who talks you out of it.
Where do you start?
With a no-commitment conversation: Félix Hamel, general manager of Go Dentiste, meets dentists who want to join an existing clinic, take part in Saint-Zotique or open in their area. Our guide From percentage dentist to partner dentist completes this reading.
Go further
- Become a Go Dentiste owner
- Press release: Saint-Zotique opening in 2027
- Dental career guide: the 1,000 questions
- All positions at Go Dentiste
Sources and references
- Ordre des dentistes du Québec
- Canadian Dental Association — Career options: key questions on associateships
- Gouvernement du Québec — Dentists: outlook and training (IMT)
Content prepared by the Go Dentiste team (Dr Dominic Morel-Maynard, general dentist and owner). Last updated: September 25, 2026. General information for guidance only: only an in-clinic exam can establish a diagnosis and a treatment plan suited to your situation.