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You're losing money by paying associates

Published over 1 year ago • 1 min read

You’re losing money by paying your associates to do Clear Aligners.
I see a lot of practices making this mistake.
Here’s why it’s costing you—and how to fix it. 👇🏽
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When I first saw a practice using the Production Frontload model for paying associates, it seemed logical:
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• Associate starts the case, earns 30% of production.
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• Lab bill? Deducted at 30%.
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• Paid out just like restorative work.
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Sounds simple, right?
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It works beautifully when patients pay in full upfront.
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But let’s be real—most patients don’t.
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The Problem:
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• Ortho payments trickle in over months with flexible financing plans.
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• The practice gets stuck fronting the lab bill while payments slowly roll in.
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• If the associate leaves mid-treatment? You’re in trouble.
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Now you’re hiring a new associate to take over unfinished cases.
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How do you pay them if the first associate already got paid?
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You can’t ask them to finish cases for free—that’s insulting and guaranteed to create resentment.
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This is how practices end up losing not one but two associates and facing massive headaches.
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​Takeaway:​
Production Frontload is great for associates, but terrible for the business.
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If this is the model you’re using, it’s time to rethink.
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One solution I recommend is the Start + Finish Model.
It’s the framework I have all my DSO clients and practice owners implement to ensure a fair and effective way to pay associates without hurting the business.

I break this model down in the youtube video below.

Video of the Week

video preview​

This video breaks down all the payment models for associates - including the Start and Finish Method.

If you are a practice owner - watch this so you run a more efficient business.

If you are an associate - watch this so you can share with your owner.

Your Friend,

Dr. Avi

P.S. We do 2 day in person courses to help docs get the confidence to start offering aligners. We have a few spots left for our upcoming course May 16-17.

​Check it out here 🚀

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by Dr. Avi Patel

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