The opportunity is still there, but now is the time to take practical steps.

As January draws to a close, many dentists are still weighing up whether 2026 is the right year to become a practice owner. If that sounds like you, here’s some good news: it’s not too late to get started, but now’s the time to move from thinking to planning.

At FTA Finance, we’ve already seen a spike in enquiries from first-time buyers this month. Lenders are keen to support dentists, and more practices are hitting the market as owners prepare for exit.

If ownership is part of your 2026 vision, here’s what to focus on now to set yourself up for success.

Get clarity on your financial position

You can’t plan your next move if you don’t know where you’re starting from. Take stock of your personal finances:

• Review your current financial position
• Start building a level of savings towards any deposit and associated purchase costs
• Understand how much the Banks would potentially lend to you and the size of Practice you could potentially acquire

Lenders will want to see that you’re financially responsible and capable of supporting the practice from day one.

Book a funding strategy call

Even if you haven’t found the right practice yet, a short call with a specialist broker can give you:

• A clear idea of your borrowing potential
• Insight into current lender appetite
• An understanding of what you’ll need to apply

This step alone can put you months ahead of other buyers and position you to act when the right opportunity appears.

Begin defining your ideal practice

Start to shape a shortlist of what you’re looking for:

• NHS, private, or mixed model?
• Location
• Turnover and profitability goals
• Whether Freehold or Leasehold

Even if your ideal practice doesn’t exist yet, this clarity will help you spot the right opportunity faster and avoid time-wasting.

Build early visibility with agents and sellers

Agents and sellers take pre-approved, finance-ready buyers more seriously. By getting ahead now, you:

• Stand out in competitive situations
• Can move quickly and decisively
• Build trust with brokers and sellers

We’ll help you prepare the right documents and present yourself professionally to the market.

Commit to momentum in February

January may be for setting goals, but February is for making progress. The early steps you take now will make the entire journey smoother, less stressful, and more successful.

At FTA Finance, we specialise in helping first-time owners take those early, essential steps and we’re already working with buyers planning to complete in 2026.