Spot On Business Planning

What Spot On Business Planning does

Spot On Business Planning (SOBP) is a UK-based consultancy founded in 2008 by Andy McDougall that provides business planning, financial analysis, mentorship, and strategic advisory services exclusively to dental practices. Its clients are independent practice owners, mini-corporate groups (2–10 practices), specialist practices including orthodontists, and first-time practice buyers, with engagements typically covering profitability improvement, NHS-to-private conversion, exit planning, and financial control. The firm claims to have worked with hundreds of dental practices since 2009 and reports a 100% client retention rate, alongside stated client outcomes of 80% doubling net profit within three years and 90% willingness to recommend the service.

The core service is built around the proprietary SOBP Roadmap, a four-stage cyclical methodology comprising Assess, Plan, Action, and Control phases, supported by personalised Excel-based financial models and KPI dashboards delivered to each client. The product suite is extended by two recurring-revenue sub-brands: Spot On Business Academy (SOBA), a CPD-accredited training video suite, and Spot On Business Mastery (SOBM), a leadership development programme for practice owners. Underlying technology is modest — primarily Excel-based financial modelling — with the team's domain expertise (analysts and consultants drawn from former dental nurses, practice managers, and treatment coordinators) functioning as the primary value driver rather than proprietary software or AI tooling.

SOBP operates a remote team of approximately 10 staff based out of headquarters in Whatton, Nottinghamshire, generating revenue through ongoing professional-services engagements plus subscription-style access to SOBA and SOBM. Distribution is direct-to-client: free initial Zoom consultations and complimentary business analyses feed a consultative sales funnel, supplemented by content marketing (blogs, free webinars, BDA-certified courses), client referrals, and industry events. The company is privately held and founder-owned, with no disclosed external funding, M&A activity, or non-UK expansion; strategic growth has historically come through organic hiring, productised programmes, and a curated partner ecosystem that includes Patient Plan Direct, Dental Practice Sale, Lloyd & Whyte Flexiplan, and Surf Pacific.

Name

Spot On Business Planning

Legal name

Spot On Business Planning

Website

https://spoton-businessplanning.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Spot On Business Planning is a UK-based consultancy, founded in 2008, that provides business planning, financial analysis, mentorship, and strategic advisory exclusively to dental practices, using a proprietary four-stage Roadmap methodology and Excel-based financial models.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dental Practice Management Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAAAGAJ

Financial Planning & Analysis Support (Budgeting, Forecasting, Management Reporting)

Business & Public Services/Administrative & Support Services (BPO, Call Centers, Back Office)/Finance & Accounting Outsourcing (AP/AR, GL, Billing)

Keywords

• Dental practice consultancy
• Business planning services
• Financial analysis consulting
• Dental industry mentorship
• Profitability consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Whatton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Dental Practice Consultancy Services: Ongoing consultancy engagement providing financial analysis, strategic planning, business mentorship, and performance management for dental practices. Clients work through the 4-stage SOBP Roadmap methodology with dedicated business analysts and accounting technicians.
2. Education and Training Programmes: Revenue from Spot On Business Academy (SOBA) training videos and Spot On Business Mastery (SOBM) leadership programme. Also includes paid BDA-certified courses and educational events.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Spot On Business Planning provides strategic business planning, financial analysis, mentorship, and consultancy services exclusively to UK dental practices. The firm works in long-term partnership with practice owners using its proprietary 4-stage SOBP Roadmap (Assess, Plan, Action, Control) to improve profitability, with a stated goal of doubling net profit within three years. Services are supplemented by the Spot On Business Academy (SOBA) CPD training suite and the Spot On Business Mastery (SOBM) leadership programme.

Product overview

Spot On Business Planning is a dental practice consultancy that offers a unified service combining business planning, financial analysis, strategic planning, and mentorship. The core offering is the consultancy service built around the Spot On Business Planning Roadmap—a 4-stage cyclical methodology (Assess, Plan, Action, Control)—supplemented by the Spot On Business Academy (SOBA), a CPD training video suite, and the Spot On Business Mastery leadership programme. The company works in long-term partnership with dental practice owners to double net profits within three years, improve financial control, and maximise exit value.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Spot On Business Academy: SOBA - Spot On's own dental academy - a CPD suite of training and development videos that facilitates the growth and development of clients and their teams.
• Spot On Business Mastery

Products and services

• Spot On Business Planning Consultancy Ongoing business planning, financial analysis, strategic planning, and mentorship service for UK dental practices, delivered through a 4-stage SOBP Roadmap methodology (Assess, Plan, Action, Control) by dedicated business analysts and accounting technicians. Targets independent practice owners, mini-corporate groups, and specialist practices with the stated goal of doubling net profit within three years.
• Spot On Business Planning Roadmap (SOBP Roadmap) Proprietary 4-stage cyclical methodology (Assess, Plan, Action, Control) used to transform dental practice performance. Provides a structured framework for establishing current position, setting strategic goals, implementing changes, and monitoring progress with KPIs, with a stated goal of doubling net profits within 3 years.
• Spot On Business Academy (SOBA) A CPD suite of training and development videos that facilitates the growth and development of dental practice owners and their teams, accessible as part of the SOBP client engagement.
• Spot On Business Mastery (SOBM) Leadership programme for dental practice owners focused on mastering business skills, developing and leading efficient teams, attracting talent, and creating environments for team flourishing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% of clients double net profit within 3 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Patient Plan DirectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK's most cost-effective major dental plan provider. Partnership supports SOBP clients with patient plan setup, NHS conversion, and plan patient transfer services including 'Simple Switch' bulk transfer process and exit fee support for practices switching from long-term contracts.
• Dental Practice SalecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialist dental broker with national network for buying and selling dental practices. Partnership provides SOBP clients with complimentary appraisals and expert support for practice sales and acquisitions, complementing SOBP's exit planning services.
• Virtual Treatment Coordinator (VTC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirtual treatment coordinator service provider. Partnership supports SOBP clients with front-of-house team management, lead qualification, and patient conversion services to improve practice revenue pipeline.
• Lloyd & Whyte FlexiplancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPractice plan provider offering branded practice plans from £1.10 per patient per month. Partnership enables SOBP to offer clients plan setup, NHS conversion support, and cost-effective plan management with 'Flexiswitch' bulk transfer service.
• Surf PacificminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital marketing agency specialising in dental practices since 1997. Partnership provides SOBP clients with comprehensive 360 marketing solutions including SEO, reputation management, websites, social media, and paid advertising.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Portman Dental Care: UK corporate dental group acquiring independent practices nationwide. Comparable because it sits on the buy-side of the practice-acquisition transactions that SOBP's exit-planning clients pursue.
• Bupa Dental Care: Large UK corporate dental group and insurance provider operating hundreds of practices. Comparable because it competes for the same practice-owner talent and acquisition pipeline that SOBP serves.
• Rodericks Dental: UK dental corporate group operating NHS and private practices. Comparable as a large incumbent that absorbs independent practices SOBP currently serves.
• Wesleyan: UK mutual financial services provider with a dedicated dental professional segment offering financial planning, insurance, and practice financing. Comparable because it serves the same UK dental-practice owner base with financial advice and business-support products.
• Agilio Software: UK provider of practice management and compliance software to dental and medical practices. Comparable as a UK dental-practice technology and support vendor, and is a listed SOBP partner.

Direct peers

• Practice Plan: UK provider of patient dental payment plans and practice support services, including business mentoring and growth consultancy for dental practices. Closely comparable as a UK dental-practice business services provider with overlapping client base and partnership overlap with Spot On via Lloyd & Whyte Flexiplan.
• Frank Taylor & Associates: Specialist UK dental practice sales, valuations, and acquisitions broker. Comparable as a UK dental-practice business services firm operating in the same client lifecycle (practice exit, acquisition, valuation), and is an existing SOBP partner.
• PMA Practice Management Associates: UK dental practice management training and consultancy provider. Comparable as a direct competitor delivering training, consultancy, and business-support services to UK dental practice owners.
• Dental Elite: UK dental practice sales, valuations, and finance broker. Comparable as a specialist UK dental-practice services firm addressing the same principal-owner segment with overlapping practice exit and acquisition services.
• MediEstates: UK specialist broker for dental practice sales and acquisitions, plus practice valuations. Comparable as a UK dental-practice business services firm with overlapping client base in practice sale and acquisition advisory.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spot-on-business-planning-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Spot On Business Planning