You're losing money by paying associates

Published about 2 months 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. 👇🏽

When I first saw a practice using the Production Frontload model for paying associates, it seemed logical:

• Associate starts the case, earns 30% of production.

• Lab bill? Deducted at 30%.

• Paid out just like restorative work.

Sounds simple, right?

It works beautifully when patients pay in full upfront.

But let’s be real—most patients don’t.

The Problem:

• Ortho payments trickle in over months with flexible financing plans.

• The practice gets stuck fronting the lab bill while payments slowly roll in.

• If the associate leaves mid-treatment? You’re in trouble.

Now you’re hiring a new associate to take over unfinished cases.

How do you pay them if the first associate already got paid?

You can’t ask them to finish cases for free—that’s insulting and guaranteed to create resentment.

This is how practices end up losing not one but two associates and facing massive headaches.

Takeaway:
Production Frontload is great for associates, but terrible for the business.

If this is the model you’re using, it’s time to rethink.

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

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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