How do I know if marketing will pay back?
Track cost per new patient and the average value of a new patient over the first year, including hygiene and treatment. If first-year value comfortably exceeds cost, the campaign can pay back.
Use your own practice data. Your scheduling software can show what new patients from past campaigns produced. Without tracking, it is hard to know which channels work.
What channels do practices use?
Search ads, local map listings and reviews, website improvements, direct mail, community sponsorships and referral programs. The best mix depends on your location and patient base.
Make sure the phones and online booking are ready. A campaign that brings calls the team cannot answer wastes money. Train front desk on converting new-patient calls.
How long should a campaign run before judging it?
Give most campaigns a few months. New patients book, attend, and then accept treatment over weeks. Judging too early can lead to cutting a campaign that would have worked.
Set a budget, run the campaign for the agreed period, measure new patients and production by source, then decide. Funding sized to that test period keeps the decision disciplined.
| Metric | Where to find it | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per new patient | Campaign spend ÷ new patients | Efficiency |
| First-year patient value | Practice software | Return |
| Call conversion rate | Call tracking | Front desk training |
| Source tracking | Intake forms | Channel decisions |
Worked example: a three-month campaign
A practice averaging $105,000 in monthly deposits plans an $18,000, three-month new-patient campaign using search ads, local listings and a referral program, with call tracking in place. Using an illustrative factor rate of 1.22, $18,000 would mean $21,960 repaid over roughly 5 months: 22 weekly payments of about $998.
That works out to about $4,392 a month, or 4.2% of the $105,000 this business deposits monthly, and the total cost of the money is $3,960. If new patients from the campaign produce more than the total cost within the first year, it pays back; tracking proves whether it did.
For comparison, repaying the same $21,960 over 3 months would lift the monthly outlay to about $7,320, or 7.0% of deposits, so ask for both terms in writing; the shorter one frequently prices lower even though each payment is larger.
| Average monthly deposits | $105,000 |
|---|---|
| Amount funded | $18,000 |
| Factor rate (illustrative) | 1.22 |
| Total repaid | $21,960 |
| Cost of the funding | $3,960 |
| Term | about 5 months |
| Weekly payment (22 payments) | $998 |
| Payments as a share of deposits | 4.2% |
Who this fits
Usually a fit
- Practices with capacity in hygiene and doctor schedules
- Offices that track new-patient sources
- Owners with a defined campaign plan
When an office may want to wait
- Practices already at full capacity
- Offices without tracking
- Startups without deposit history
What you’ll typically need
- Recent business bank statements
- Marketing plan or quote
- Practice details
Frequently asked questions
Can funding pay for marketing?
Yes; working capital can pay for any marketing.
Should I hire an agency?
It depends on your time and skills; compare costs and results.
If I apply today for a new-patient campaign, when could funds land?
With statements ready, a dental practice owner applying for a new-patient campaign typically hears back the same day, and approved funds tend to arrive in one to two business days.
Can lower credit still get a new-patient campaign covered?
Often, yes. A dental practice owner with a score from 500 can apply for a new-patient campaign, and as credit improves the offers generally get better.
Open chairs to fill?
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Updated October 6, 2026