The Making of a Dental Startup

The Making Of Smile and Co. #2 — Episode THREE – Floor Plans, Architects, and Unexpected Surprises

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Show Notes


Building Ashley's Second Smile & Co. Office: Floor Plans, Architects, and Unexpected Surprises

In this episode, Ashley and Collin go behind the scenes of building Ashley's second Smile & Co. office, diving into the two-year construction timeline and the decisions that shaped the space from day one. Ashley opens up about drawing her own floor plan on taped-together printer paper, why she brought on a dental-specific architect for this build (unlike her first location), and the surprising realities of buying an existing building versus leasing one.

In this episode:

  • Ashley's original floor plan: drawing it herself on taped printer paper and comparing it to the final result
  • Why Ashley hired an architect for this build (and didn't for her first location)
  • Architect vs. GC: cost differences, scope of work, and who actually needs an architect
  • The Denver trip: Pinterest boards, a 3D walkthrough, and designing the vision from scratch
  • How the architect, GC, and interior designer worked together (and Dave's initial hesitation about "too many cooks")
  • Designing a separate cosmetic wing, the "office within an office" concept
  • Communication between the build team: walkthroughs, emails, and staying in the loop
  • Unexpected surprises: shared Wi-Fi with the building next door, a load-bearing wall that couldn't move, and the "pony wall" fix
  • The $71,000 building permit shock, and why budgeting for city fees matters more than people think
  • Ashley's advice: architect vs. no architect, and why owning your building changes the equation

Thank You to Our Partners

  • Net32: The dental marketplace that helps practice owners stop overpaying for supplies. Compare and save at net32.com/themakingof.
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  • Kasper Opportunity Finder: Fill those empty chairs and reclaim lost revenue with one click. Get it free at meetkasper.com/register.

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