470: Daryl Holmes - Business Lessons from Australia's most successful practice owner

The Savvy Dentist

Dr. Daryl Holmes is the founder of 1300-Smiles which was the first listed dental company in Australia and was recently acquired.

Daryl's idea was simple, yet brilliant, bring aging dental practices back up to speed through injecting them with brand-new equipment and state of the art systems and operating them under the one brand.

In this episode of the Savvy Dentist Podcast, Daryl shares his lessons about business and life across the journey of the 1300-Smiles story. From the early days in partnership with another dentist … through to building out six practices of multiple chairs … to listing the business on the ASX and the process that entails … to managing a listed company.

1300-Smiles would become an icon in North Queensland and around Australia after Daryl successfully negotiated the naming rights to the North Queensland Cowboys' stadium.

• [2:31] - Where 1300-Smiles all began for Dr. Daryl Holmes.
• [12:46] - How to build a leadership team while you build your business.
• [20:57] - Keep your debt low, and your cash flow can fund your growth. The key to managing both is in your recruitment.
• [26:32] - How you can duplicate and build your own 1300-Smiles customer focused culture.
• [37:28] - Designing your business growth plan is step one. Dr. Holmes explains his philosophy on how to execute and floor your plan through to the end result.
• [44:39] - GSD … Get. Stuff. Done. The principle that changed it all for 1300-Smiles.
• [45:22] - Opportunities exist everywhere. Dr. Holmes explains where he sees the future growth opportunities within dentistry.