# Dental CEO Podcast #53 - Startups, Acquisitions, or Mergers: What's the Smartest Way to Scale

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-dental-ceo-podcast-7180211/dental-ceo-podcast-53-startups-acquisitions-or-mergers-what-s-the-smartest-way-to-scale
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-dental-ceo-podcast-7180211/dental-ceo-podcast-53-startups-acquisitions-or-mergers-what-s-the-smartest-way-to-scale.md
Podcast: [The Dental CEO Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-dental-ceo-podcast-7180211)
Published: 2026-03-02T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/69ec1a8f
Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/69ec1a8f/5ee62297.mp3
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Duration seconds: 1626

## Resource

Should your next move be a startup, an acquisition, or even a merger? In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune explains why repeating the same growth strategy over and over can stall momentum and how a blended approach creates smarter expansion, easier funding, healthier cash flow, and stronger long term equity. He breaks down how bank underwriting changes after your first location, why stacking too many startups can strain your organization, how acquisitions can deliver immediate profit improvement, and how mergers and larger group structures increase overall valuation through EBITDA multiple expansion. If your goal is to build real net worth and not just add locations, this episode outlines a practical strategic framework for sustainable multi location growth.

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## Transcript

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