How We Help
Running a dental practice comes with financial pressures that most general accountants rarely see up close. Expensive equipment, high insurance costs, specific staffing arrangements, and eventually the question of selling or transitioning the practice all shape your financial position in ways a standard small business accountant might miss entirely.
Dental accountants understand these pressures because it’s what we focus on, not a sideline we picked up along the way. As accountants for dentists, we work with sole practitioners, associates and practice owners across general and paediatric dentistry, so the advice we give reflects the actual economics of running a dental practice, not a generic template. Many dentists come looking for accountants for dentists specifically, after finding that a general accountant just doesn’t get the industry.
Our clients include dental professionals at every stage, from a new practitioner setting up their first practice to an established owner planning an eventual sale. Each of those situations calls for genuinely different advice, and treating them the same way is where a lot of generalist accounting falls short.
Financial stress is common among practice owners juggling patient care, staff and the business side all at once. Our dedicated team handles the financial management properly, so you’re not left trying to interpret your own numbers between appointments.
What We Do
Dental practices carry costs that don’t show up the same way in other small businesses. Dental chairs, imaging equipment and other capital purchases represent significant investment, and getting the depreciation and tax treatment right makes a real difference to your financial position. We help you plan these purchases with tax efficiency in mind, rather than working it out after the fact at tax time.
Getting your business structure right matters just as much. We advise on the right structure for how you actually operate, whether that’s a sole trader arrangement early in your career or a company structure as a practice owner with associates and staff. This affects your tax liabilities, asset protection and how straightforward it is to bring in a partner or sell down the track.
Day-to-day, we manage cash flow around the particular rhythm of dental practice, including insurance costs, consumables, and staffing, and handle payroll and single-touch payroll for your dental nurses, hygienists, and other staff. We also cover tax planning strategies and tax deductions specific to dental practitioners, including continuing education, equipment and professional indemnity.
Different areas of dentistry bring their own considerations, too. A paediatric dentistry practice, for example, often has different patient volume patterns and appointment structures compared to a general practice, which translates into cash flow and staffing needs. We look at your specific circumstances rather than assuming every dental practice operates the same way, and we can benchmark your practice’s performance against similar businesses to help identify where profitability could be improved.
Succession planning deserves particular attention. For many practice owners, selling the practice is the single largest wealth-creation event of their careers, and getting the structure and timing right takes years of planning, not a rushed decision in the final 12 months. When your financial goals extend to personal investment and retirement planning, we work closely with trusted financial planners so your practice accounting and broader wealth management stay properly connected.
Why Choose Us
Improving profitability isn’t only about seeing more patients. Proper financial management across equipment, staffing and structure often makes the bigger difference to a practice’s success.
We bring extensive experience specific to the dental industry, not accounting advice adapted from other small businesses
We understand dental equipment costs and depreciation, so tax efficiency is built in from the time of purchase, not worked out afterwards
We help you choose the right business structure from day one, considering your particular circumstances and where the practice is headed
We support succession planning early, so selling or transitioning your practice happens on your terms
As chartered accountants established in 1993, we bring genuine depth to the medical and dental professionals we work with
Testimonials
Posted on GoogleThe Allens Incredible accountants. They just care so much, they go above & beyond. They welcomed us as business rookies, and patiently continue to go beyond the scope of what’s expected to help us. Huge thank you to Heather, Katie and Tea!Posted on GoogleCaitlyn Tremble John, Heather and the entire team at the Garis group have been incredible to deal with. John took the time to sit down with me one on one to help set up as a sole trader and answer all my questions. The team helped me get set up with Xero and are always incredibly responsive and informative when I have queries. They have made my tax returns painless. Thanks for all your help over the past 2 years Garis Team.Posted on GoogleGrace Brayne I scheduled an appointment with The Garis Group for a few weeks out but noticed some issues I might face with *individual* deductions for the upcoming financial year (I was super stressed!). I asked if I could see them sooner, and John responded after hours to fit me in as a new client the next day. Their service exceeded all expectations, and I’ll definitely continue using them.Posted on GoogleAnthony Jovceski Best accounting firm in Newcastle. I've used John and his team for over 5 years with my personal finances and business finances. The Garis Group always exceed my expectations. I'd recommend The Garis Group to anyone looking for a professional firm that go the extra mile. Anthony.Posted on GoogleDave Le Breton John, Heather and the team have been looking after our growing company with the highest standards of care and attention over the last 4 years. Extremely knowledgeable, friendly and great communicators, they really go above and beyond with their level of service and we have always felt extremely well looked after for all our accounting needs. I would highly recommend them to any individual or business.Posted on GoogleKatarina McNamara Paul's Tennis Academy has been working with Jim, John, Heather and the team for many years now. TGG have always been there for us, ready to answer any questions and provide the level of support we need. The Garis Group rocks! I would not hesitate recommending them.Posted on GoogleLeesa Brown Super knowledgeable and always helpful. They have guided and helped build our successful business. The team at The Garis Group go above and beyond to ensure we understand the figures, offering friendly advise and guidance on business decisions. Can not thank them enough. Couldn't do it without John and his team.Posted on GoogleChris and Jaclyn John explains things clearly and he’s incredibly knowledgeable. We see him not only as a trusted advisor – using his business acumen to be candid about when we should and shouldn’t do something – but also as an extension to our team. Essentially John allows us get on with running our business, so we can sleep at night knowing we’re not going to get caught out by the tax man.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dental practice ownership raises financial questions that don’t come up in a typical small business. Here are some of the questions we’re asked most often.
Dental practices carry unique costs, including expensive equipment, high insurance premiums and specific staffing structures, that a general accountant may not be familiar with. A specialist dental accountant understands these patterns and the deductions and structures that genuinely apply to your practice.
Yes. We help you plan major equipment purchases with depreciation and tax treatment in mind, so the timing and structure of the purchase work in your favour rather than being an afterthought once the invoice arrives.
Common deductions include continuing professional education, indemnity insurance, equipment and consumables, and practice-related expenses, though what applies depends on your particular circumstances. We review your specific situation rather than applying a generic list.
Yes, and the earlier this conversation starts, the better the outcome tends to be. We help structure your practice and your finances well ahead of a sale, so the transition reflects the value you’ve actually built.
As accountants for dentists, we start with a free business consultation to understand your practice and financial circumstances, then set out a fixed-price agreement so you know the cost upfront, with no surprises.
Good dental care and good financial management both take focus, and few practice owners have the time to be genuinely across both. We’ll take the time to understand your particular circumstances before giving you any advice.
Book a free business consultation with our team, and we’ll talk you through what working with dental accountants who understand the healthcare industry could look like for your practice, with a fixed-price agreement so there’s no guesswork about cost.
Mon-Fri: 8:45 am – 5:15 pm
Sat-Sun: Closed