503 The Secrets to Scaling an 8-Chair Practice

The Savvy Dentist

In this episode, Dr Jesse Green is joined by Dr Wendy Peng and Dr Gilbert Ko, owners of Dana Street Dental in Ballarat. Their journey from starting a small, three-chair dental practice to building a thriving, eight-chair business is filled with lessons on leadership, team culture, systems, and scale.

Wendy and Gilbert share candidly about the realities of business ownership—the wins, the missteps, and how they've created a practice that not only delivers outstanding care but also provides them the freedom to enjoy more time with their family. It's a down-to-earth, relatable conversation full of practical strategies for sustainable growth.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to scale your practice without burning out, this episode is for you.

Dr. Wendy Peng and Dr. Gilbert Ko are the founders of Dana Street Dental, a leading dental practice in Ballarat, Victoria. With a passion for creating a patient-focused practice and a strong emphasis on team culture, Wendy and Gilbert have successfully grown their business from the ground up. Known for their commitment to mentoring young clinicians, developing robust systems, and building a positive workplace, they’ve created a business that supports both their professional and personal goals.

In this episode:

• [03:10] Why they chose to open their own practice in Ballarat
• [07:25] Early false confidence and hard lessons in recalls, marketing, and running a business
• [12:40] How refining systems and identifying their ideal patient turned things around
• [17:15] The growing pains of rapid expansion and what they learned going from three to six chairs
• [35:20] How training and mentoring became the backbone of their successful, growing team
• [41:30] Creating a workplace culture that attracts and keeps great people
• [46:15] The difference between six chairs and eight chairs and why it feels easier now
• [50:40] How their business now gives them the time and freedom they always wanted.

Links and Resources:

Connect with Dana Street Dental on their website

Visit the Savvy Dentist website

Connect with Dr. Jesse Green on LinkedIn

Mentioned in this episode:

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