Buying a General Practice can be one of the most exciting and dangerous moves in your career as a Clinic Owner. 

In this episode, Dr Sachin Patel and Dr Todd Cameron break down the realities of purchasing a clinic: the opportunities, the traps, and the types of businesses you’ll come across.

Todd reveals the five key “practice avatars” you’ll encounter — from post-peak clinics to cultural-chaos turnarounds — and explains how to assess which ones are worth saving and which to walk away from. Together, they unpack what due diligence really looks like, how to avoid overpaying for a dud, and why having the right advisors can literally save you a decade of pain.

If you’ve ever thought, “Maybe I should buy a practice,” this episode will make you smarter, safer, and more strategic in that decision.

In this episode of the Scale My Clinic Podcast, you’ll learn:

• 00:30 – Why ownership looks so attractive and the mindset shift every future owner needs before diving in
• 01:00 – The 5 types of clinics you’ll find, each with unique risks and hidden opportunities
• 11:15 – Where to look, how to assess your competitive advantage, and the critical mistake that sets GPs back ten years 
• 18:46 – Creating options instead of falling for scarcity
• 25:03 – Real-world pitfalls that turn dream purchases into nightmares (and how to protect yourself with expert advice)
• 33:18 – The fax story and how Todd bought a clinic with a ransom note

QUOTES

“Buying the wrong practice will break you. It will set you back a decade in your life, or maybe 15 years.” – Dr. Todd Cameron

“Money’s recoverable, time isn’t. I would actually prefer to save the loss of time than money.” – Todd Cameron

“There’s something really important that people who are listening or watching this will be thinking about buying. The bit people skip is creating a panel of options.” – Dr. Sachin Patel

Resources

Episode 40: The Highs, Lows, and Lessons of General Practice: Sachin’s Story

Episode 60: Buying the Wrong Practice Will Break You — Here’s How to Spot It Before It’s Too Late

Missed the previous Episode?

Listen to Episode 90 here: How Values-Driven Leadership Turned This Clinic Into an Employer of Choice