Starting a practice right out of school—even in a big city—is totally achievable. I made it happen with a strategic lease, an affordable small space and a big vision for financial freedom in dentistry.

By Tu-Anh Vu, DM

TOO MANY young dentists believe their only options are working for a DSO, or starting or buying a practice in an underserved area that might not offer the kind of lifestyle and amenities a young professional typically hopes for. I rejected that notion and started a practice anyway—and not in the middle of nowhere, but in New York City. It’s out of network. And it’s thriving.

I was very intentional about how much I wanted to pay in rent. I didn’t want to stress about writing a five-figure check every month and maybe working myself to death in the process. I also don’t want to run a production line; I want to do dentistry I’m proud of that attracts a narrow range of patients who are aligned with my vision. So back in 2017, I settled on a target figure of $5,000 a month: a number that wouldn’t keep me up at night. I’d work one or two days in the beginning, and my collections would equal that amount plus utilities.

Granted, I was lucky that I signed my lease pre-Covid, when rates were more reasonable. Even then, I still had to consider only smaller spaces. I ended up choosing an office that’s 1,200 square feet on the ground level, with another 1,200 square feet of basement, where I have my compressor and storage. I didn’t do this on my own. I worked with a real estate broker to find it and a lawyer who reviewed my lease agreement. It cost a bit more, but I got a lot in exchange. For one thing, they negotiated several months of free rent while I renovated the office. For another, they worked out a ten-year lease with a modest 3 percent increase each year.

By being intentional with my financial decisions, clinical growth and practice design, I built a thriving, fulfilling practice on my own terms.

Like many others, I had student loans. I graduated from Penn in 2013 with $350,000 in debt and a clear goal: Eliminate it within five years. With interest rates between 6 and 8 percent, I skipped income-based repayment and committed to paying $5,000 a month, treating my loans like a mortgage. Every six months, I reassessed my finances and made extra payments, always targeting the highest-interest loan first. After five intense years of budgeting, discipline and focus, I was debt-free. I also invested heavily in clinical growth, knowing strong skills would fuel production. CE was key, and mentors like Drs. John Kois, Newton Fahl and Betsy Bakeman inspired me to pursue excellence. (If you’re starting out, explore broadly before choosing a niche. Pay attention to what excites you, then go deep. That’s how you build a career that’s not only financially sustainable but also personally fulfilling.)

Rents have risen since I signed my lease, as have student loans, but the rulebook is still the same. Start small. Keep your overhead low. Have a financial plan and stay well within your means. Consider hiring an executive or business coach (shout-out to Dr. Brad Olson, another great mentor!). Hire experts to negotiate the best deals and lock in a reasonable rent payment with minimal increases, so your overhead will remain predictable. But don’t deprive yourself. After dental school, my first car wasn’t a Toyota, it was a BMW. I don’t regret it. You can splurge on things that bring you joy—provided you have a plan for everything else.

Finally, remember that the $5K Blueprint isn’t just about rent. It’s about claiming control over your career and your life. Some of my choices were limited, but that didn’t mean making compromises. By being intentional with my financial decisions, clinical growth and practice design, I built a thriving, fulfilling practice on my own terms. If I can do it, you can, too.

TU-ANH VU, DMD owns a successful practice in the Bath Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn. She is a 2022 Incisal Edge 40 Under 40 honoree, a magna cum laude graduate of Bryn Mawr College in chemistry and a Kois Center graduate who earned her DMD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.