5 signs your dental practice is ready to add a subscription plan

At Subscribili, we like to chat with offices in all stages of growth. We’ve heard from tiny start-up practices, just sourcing their first patients, to thriving small businesses and even DSOs. And at every stage, prospects ask us the same question: “is my business really a good fit for a subscription plan?” 

It’s a good question, especially since you want to maximize value for your practice and for the patients who will become your members. 

Here are the factors we recommend looking at in your practice to evaluate whether you’re ready to successfully launch a new subscription plan. You don’t necessarily need all of these factors–even 1 or 2 could be an indication that your practice is primed to benefit from patient subscriptions!

1. You’re FFS or have a high mix of self-pay patients.

What does your current payer mix look like? Self-pay patients are typically the first to sign up for a subscription, since the subscription model typically offers the greatest financial benefit for them. Even if they only visit for their regular preventative care, they stand to save money. 

If you have more than 10% of your patients paying out-of-pocket now, you already have a built in market for your plan!

2. Your front desk team is fielding a lot of financial conversations.

Ask your team–are they having a lot of tough conversations about patient finances? Are you offering more discounts than you’d like, just to give patients access to the care they need? What proportion of your patients need a payment plan to cover the costs of basic care? 

All of these could be good indications that your patients may be struggling with cost. Dental subscriptions can be incredibly accessible for these patients, ensuring they get basic preventative dental care for a predictable monthly fee. This allows patients to include dental care as a regular line item in their budget and–in many cases–actually decrease their overall out-of-pocket expenses. 

3. You have availability you’d like to fill.

A subscription plan incentivizes more patients to come in at regular intervals. But before introducing a plan, it’s essential to assess whether your practice has the bandwidth to accommodate those additional visits. Review your calendar availability over the past three months to determine if you had enough time to manage extra appointments. Have you been experiencing scheduling bottlenecks, or were there periods of low demand?

The average Subscribili practice sees 15% more appointments. Consider whether you can accommodate this increase in appointments without sacrificing the quality of care. 

4. You want patients to visit the office more regularly.

Take a look at how often your patients are scheduling their routine preventive care appointments. If you have a solid patient base, but many aren’t coming in for at least two visits per year, that could be a sign they are putting off necessary care due to cost concerns or lack of convenience. A subscription gives patients an affordable, predictable payment structure for their essential care, giving them a schedule for care and a plan for how they will pay for it.

Subscribing to care can also create a sense of commitment, where patients feel like they’re investing in their health and are more likely to take advantage of the full benefits throughout the year. 

5. You’re already diversifying your revenue streams. 

If your dental practice is already considering new ways to boost income, then you’re likely prepared to take on the level of change that comes with introducing a subscription plan. 

Introducing a subscription can complement your efforts to diversify by providing a reliable, recurring source of revenue. If you’ve been adding new services, like cosmetic treatments, orthodontics, or even merchandise, subscriptions can enhance your overall business model while giving patients access to continuous, predictable care.

Do you think your practice might be ready to explore a subscription plan for your patients? We’d love to talk and help you make the right decision for your practice!