Practice valuations on the rise again

The average goodwill valuation for practices saw another leap to 124 per cent of goodwill. This is up almost 13 per cent compared with the autumn of 2015, and 12 per cent up on the summer of 2014. NHS practices are attracting an average valuation of 142 per cent of goodwill with mixed practices perceived as even more valuable at 155 per cent of goodwill.

In terms of practice sales, the overall trend is still up with average sales 11 per cent higher when compared with the summer of 2014.

Alan Suggett, specialist dental accountant and partner in UNW LLP, explained, “The market is still very buoyant and there is huge demand for NHS practices. With 2018 being the earliest a new contract can begin and a more likely date of 2020 and beyond, many purchasers are happy to take the calculated risk. Whether Brexit will have an effect on the market will be seen in due course but the banks are certainly letting it be known that they currently see it as ‘business as usual.’”