If you're feeling the pressure of payroll, debt, or daily chaos—it might be a sign you're living on Cash Flow Row… or worse, Burnout Boulevard. You’re not alone—and you're not a bad business owner. At Dental A Team, we’ve coached hundreds of practices through financial stress and emotional exhaustion. In this week’s podcast, Kiera and Dana dive into what it takes to get off cash flow row, regain control, and actually enjoy running your dental practice again.

Whether you're barely breaking even or carrying emotional burnout, here’s your guide to turning things around.

Cash Flow Struggles Don’t Make You a Failure

Before you slash expenses or panic about payroll, pause for a minute.

As Kiera said on the episode:

“You’re not dumb. You’re not a failure. You’re a business owner doing your best—without a manual.”

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means it’s time to pause, assess, and shift your approach. And the good news? There is a way out.

1. Know Your Numbers (And Cut the Right Ones)

Start with your P&L and cash flow statements. The goal is not to gut your team or slash your services—it’s to cut the excess without hurting growth.

Expenses to Reevaluate:

Unused equipment (CBCTs, scanners, etc.)
Outdated software subscriptions
Non-producing investments
Negotiable leases or vendor contracts

Tip: Don’t cut your hygienist or your biller—those roles often directly drive revenue. Cut the fluff, not the function.

2. Clean Up Your AR (Accounts Receivable)

Kiera shared a story of a doctor with over $300,000 in AR… and no idea it was there.

If you’ve already done the dentistry, you deserve to get paid. Make AR a weekly priority, not a monthly panic.

AR Action Plan:

Assign two weekly time blocks for your biller (no excuses).
Alternate insurance and patient follow-ups.
Use text-to-pay and pre-appointment verification.
Train your team to collect at check-in—not check-out.

Tip: If your team needs help working AR effectively, get support. It’s a high-skill task with huge ROI.

3. Focus on Net Production, Not Just Top-Line Numbers

Producing $1M but writing off 50%? You’re not a $1M practice.

Kiera put it bluntly:

“Gross feeds the ego. Net feeds the family.”

Stop focusing on inflated production numbers. Focus on real collections. If you're seeing cash gaps, it's time to:

Block schedule for high-value procedures.
Diagnose comprehensively—not tooth-by-tooth.
Train treatment coordinators to close same-day.
Reassess insurance participation and adjust fees if needed.

Strategic scheduling and diagnostic confidence can create huge shifts—without working more hours.

4. Ditch the Excuses and Get Strategic Support

The fastest way off Cash Flow Row? Accountability and direction. That’s where a good dental coach or consultant comes in.

At Dental A Team, we use the YES Model to guide every client:

Y = You as the leader and human first
E = Earnings and profitable operations
S = Systems + Team Development that support sustainable growth

We’ve seen practices go from “barely surviving” to “wildly thriving”—sometimes in a matter of weeks—with the right plan and support.

You’re Closer to the Solution Than You Think

Burnout doesn’t happen overnight—and neither does recovery. But you don’t have to stay stuck.

Whether it’s cutting a subscription, hiring the right help, or changing how your team schedules treatment, the path to freedom is built in small, strategic steps.

Ready for Your Cash Flow Comeback?

We love nothing more than to make sure YOUR dental practice is truly thriving! Schedule a call.

Don't forget to check out our podcast for more tips.

How to Escape Cash Flow Row and Burnout