Strategic Doctor-to-Doctor Sales
A Personalized Approach to Private Transitions
Private transitions provide practice owners with the opportunity to choose the next doctor, maintain greater control over the sale process, and structure a transition that aligns with their goals. Whether you’re considering forming a partnership or fully retiring, we provide the guidance and expertise needed to create a successful outcome for both you and the future owner of your practice. Below are some of the most common types of private transitions.
Full value at closing, a defined transition period, full exit from the business.
Partner with a doctor, share the clinical and business responsibilities.
Combine two or more practice into one entity.
Sell the practice, stay clinical part-time on terms you set.
How Private Transitions Differ from Group Partnerships
There’s no one-size-fits-all transition. Whether you’re considering a private transition or a group partnership, we help you understand the transition path and decide what makes the most sense for you and your goals.
A private transition usually fits when
- You're ready to be done practicing and don't want to spend 3-5 more years under someone else's employment agreement
- You're looking for a specific type of doctor personality, you want the transition to play out a certain way, or you have a vision for what you want your legacy to look like after you leave
- Maximum cash at closing matters more to you than a higher number spread across an earnout
- You already have a successor in mind, whether that's an associate, a partner, or a doctor down the road
- Your practice is strong but smaller than the EBITDA threshold most groups will look at
A group partnership usually fits better when
- Your practice has the scale and growth curve that draws competitive institutional bidding
- You want to monetize now but keep practicing for several more years
- Rollover equity and a potential second bite are attractive to you
- You want the administrative side lifted off your plate entirely
- You want stable employment while reducing risk and workload
- You aren't interested in the traditional associate-to-partner/owner process.
The Path to a Successful Private Transition
Private transitions offer flexibility and control, and a successful outcome starts with a process designed around what matters most to you. Here’s how 7 Pillars helps you navigate the journey from engagement to close.
- DISCOVER (Steps 1-3)
Understanding Your Goals
We take the time to understand your desired outcome, analyze the practice opportunity, and determine a market price for your practice.
Confidential discovery call and honest read on timing
Valuation, cash flow normalization, and a defensible price
Positioning, readiness, and the gaps a buyer will find
- EXECUTION (Steps 4-6)
Getting To Agreed Terms
Once you’ve identified an interested buyer who is ready to move forward, we assist in establishing and/or negotiating the initial terms.
Negotiation across price, type of sale, closing date, and terms of the transition
A letter of intent structured to hold up
- CLOSE (Steps 7-8)
Closing with Confidence
Diligence and lending are where private deals stall. We manage both, work alongside your attorney, and stay available through closing and beyond.
Due diligence managed and lender requirements coordinated
Legal review, close, and post-close transition support
Frequently Asked Questions
Often that’s the best outcome available. The clinical fit is proven, the patients already know them, and the transition risk is far lower. What associate deals need is structure. Pricing, financing, and timelines are best addressed upfront. When these foundational details are clearly established, buyers and sellers can navigate the personal side of the transition with greater confidence and fewer complications.
Every transition is different. Oftentimes, a transition typically takes three to six months from engagement to close. There are several variables, including seller preparation, lender timing, legal negotiations, and discrepancies or issues with the practice financials.
Usually, yes, but the right approach depends on your transition goals. Formal valuations, conducted by a Certified Valuation Analyst, are most commonly used for doctor-to-doctor partnership transitions or when a documented value is needed for negotiations. For the full sale of a practice, a detailed financial analysis is often sufficient to determine a fair market price.
A common mistake among owners is they decide they want to be done practicing yesterday. By the time they engage an advisor, get their practice listed and find a buyer, it often takes longer than they’d like before they can physically stop working. The Advisory Program exists for this window. Understand what the practice is worth now, what buyers reward, and what would move the number while there’s still time to act on the answers.