In this episode of Doc Secret, our guest is Ken Kaufman, CFO, author, and seasoned leader in the dental support organization (DSO) space. With decades of experience scaling multi-location practices and guiding private equity-backed groups, Ken shares how financial clarity—through tools like accrual accounting, cash flow insights, and ROI-based decision-making—can transform dental businesses. Drawing on lessons from his book and real-world DSO leadership, he explains why prioritizing systems, data, and education are key to sustainable growth in a rapidly evolving dental landscape.
Doc Secret is sponsored by Quantics Marketing, LLC. https://www.quanticsmarketing.com/
00:00 – Meet Ken Kaufman: DSO CFO, investor, and co-author of Financial Secrets
01:13 – Ken’s journey from fractional CFO to dental finance leader
02:11 – Unlocking growth: How culture and latent opportunity drive DSO success
04:29 – The hardest leap: Why going from 1 to 2 practices is a make-or-break move
06:52 – What “financial clarity” really means and why it matters
09:38 – Red flags: How to tell if your practice is financially disorganized
11:35 – The #1 clarity tool owners ignore (and why prioritization matters)
12:55 – Cash flow: The ultimate measure of business health
16:30 – Why accrual accounting is critical—and how it impacts valuation
26:14 – Post-PE: Why great operators and clear systems determine who thrives
39:41 – Lightning Round and Close
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