Just Two Minutes: Why Most Partnerships Suck

Bite-sized dental wisdom in under 2 minutes.

I’ve been in two business partnerships but have owned five businesses (including two dental offices). Funny enough, the two that didn’t work out were the ones with partners. I’m not saying partnerships are always a bad idea—but they’re a lot more complicated than people make them out to be.

With one of the dental offices, the partnership fell apart because of a change in ownership. We just weren’t aligned, and we had to amicably part ways. The second time? Goals weren’t being met. Probably because the expectations were never really clear. Again, we parted ways, but it was a lesson learned the hard way.

Here’s the thing: There are two kinds of people.

1. Those who want to do everything on their own (yep, that’s me).

2. Those who prefer working as a group (that’s Eric).

I genuinely believe in the power of doing things alone. When you learn every part of the business or process by yourself, those skills can never be taken away from you. You don’t rely on anyone to get things done, and you know every in and out of your own business. But, let’s be honest—sometimes you do need help. Bringing in an expert or a partner can help you get to the next level faster. But how do you know when to go solo or bring someone on board?

If you’re thinking about bringing on a partner, here’s a simple framework to follow:

1. Start With Aligned Goals

This is non-negotiable. If one person wants to scale and sell, while the other wants a long-term lifestyle business, you’re heading for disaster. I’ve been there—twice. Before signing anything, get brutally honest about your goals. And don’t sugarcoat it. If you’re not aligned now, it will only get worse later.

2. Set Clear Expectations

What exactly is each person responsible for? How much time is each person committing? If you think this will sort itself out naturally, you’re in for a rude awakening. The two partnerships I had? Expectations were either unclear or changed along the way. If you don’t lock this down from the start, you’ll end up resentful, doing all the work, or worse—both.

3. Outline the Exit Strategy Before You Start

No one likes to think about breaking up before the honeymoon even starts, but trust me—it’s necessary. If things go south (and they might), how are you going to part ways? In one of my partnerships, the split was amicable because we had an exit plan in place. In the other? Well, let’s just say it could have been a lot messier.

4. Know When to Go Solo

Not every venture needs a partner. If you can learn the skills on your own, do it. Those skills are yours forever, and you won’t be giving away equity to someone who isn’t pulling their weight. But if you genuinely need expertise that you don’t have (and can’t learn fast enough), then bring in the right person—just make sure they’re as committed as you are.

I talked a lot about this on the latest episode of Just a Couple of Dentists with Dr. Richard Low. We went deep into the pitfalls of partnerships, including his own breakup story and how he navigated it without lawyers. It’s worth a listen if you’re considering a partnership or already knee-deep in one.

-Dr. Alex

P.S. Thinking of getting into a partnership? Make sure you’re not just looking for an easy way out. And if you’re already in one and it feels off… well, maybe it’s time for some brutally honest conversations.