Dental accountant Sydney for practice owners
As a dental accountant in Sydney, SMA Business Advisory supports dental practices with the accounting, tax and structuring decisions specific to running a practice, from equipment finance to associate buy-ins.
Understanding dental practice finances
Owning or buying into a dental practice brings a specific set of financial decisions. Financing a new chair, imaging system or CAD/CAM equipment, working out the right structure for an associate buy-in, and managing the cash flow pressure of high material and lab costs against patient billing are all part of running a practice, not incidental extras.
Financial statements and tax returns need to reflect a practice’s mix of patient billing, private health fund payments and any Medicare-eligible items, and BAS and IAS management has to account for the practice’s equipment purchases, materials, lab fees and patient revenue together. Cash flow forecasting matters here more than most industries, given how much of a practice’s cash is committed to equipment finance repayments, lab costs and staffing before a single patient is billed.
Ownership questions add another layer. Associate buy-ins, partner arrangements and, increasingly, approaches from corporate dental groups looking to acquire independent practices, all raise real structuring and valuation questions that need to be worked through before anything is signed. Payroll for dental nurses, hygienists and associate dentists also needs correct classification from the outset, particularly where associate arrangements sit between contractor and employee.
Equipment finance, buy-ins and growth decisions, worked through properly
Dental practices carry a different cost and capital profile to most small businesses. Equipment finance is often one of the largest ongoing commitments a practice has, and getting the finance structure and depreciation treatment right matters. Associate buy-ins and practice sales, including to corporate dental groups, raise real structuring and valuation questions that need to be worked through before you sign anything, not after.
Manraj and his team work through your specific equipment finance, ownership structure and growth plans rather than applying a generic small business template, backed by 15+ years of accounting and advisory experience.
- Chairs, imaging systems and other major equipment financed and depreciated correctly for tax purposes
- Associate buy-ins, partnership interests and service agreements reviewed before you commit
- Clear advice on the tax and structuring implications of a sale to a corporate dental group
- Forecasting built around equipment repayments, lab and materials costs, and staffing
Clear, practical advice across every stage
Our services are structured around the way business owners actually make decisions, at every stage of growth.
Business Accounting & Tax Compliance
The foundation of good compliance, handled accurately and reported on time, every time.
- Financial Statements
- Income Tax Returns
- Personal & HNW Tax
- BAS & IAS
- Payroll Tax
- FBT
- ATO Correspondence & Audit
Business Advisory
Guidance that looks well beyond this quarter, toward where your business is headed next.
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Structure your business, plan your tax position and protect what you've built with confidence.
- Business Tax
- Personal and Family Groups
- Tax Planning
- Structuring & Asset Protection
- Family Group Structuring
- Trust & Estate Planning
- Wealth & Succession
Business Support Services
Dependable bookkeeping, payroll and systems support working quietly behind the scenes.
- Bookkeeping
- Payroll Processing
- Business Structure and Company Setup
- ASIC Compliance and Management
- Xero Setup and Support
- Cloud Accounting Solutions
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Book a consultationFrequently asked questions
Answers to the questions we hear most often. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.
I'm buying into an existing dental practice as an associate. What should I have reviewed before signing?
Before committing, it’s worth having the proposed buy-in structure, whether that’s a partnership interest, a share purchase or a service agreement, reviewed so you understand the tax position and what you’re actually acquiring.
We're financing a new chair and imaging equipment. Can you help structure that?
Yes, equipment finance is one of the more common conversations we have with dental practices, including how the finance is structured and how the equipment is depreciated for tax purposes.
A corporate dental group has approached us about buying the practice. What do we need to think about?
There are real tax and structuring implications to a corporate sale, including how goodwill is treated and what stays with you personally versus the practice entity. We can work through those implications with you, alongside your solicitor for the transaction itself.
How should we structure pay for associate dentists working in the practice?
This depends on whether the associate is genuinely a contractor or should be treated as an employee, which affects payroll tax, superannuation and PAYG obligations. We review these arrangements as part of practice structuring work.
Our lab fees and materials costs are eating into margin. Can you help us get visibility on that?
Yes, cash flow forecasting and regular financial reporting can highlight where materials and lab costs are moving against revenue, so it’s not just a surprise at year end.
Do you handle GST and BAS for a practice with a mix of dental and cosmetic services?
Yes, we manage BAS and IAS obligations for practices with mixed service offerings, including where GST treatment differs between core dental services and cosmetic or elective procedures.
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