What does this DSO Model Really Look Like? - Part 3 of 6

In this blog series, we will talk about Dental Service Organizations (DSO), why to build one and how Stock Legal can help.

Welcome back to our DSO blog series!  In our last blog post, we talked about the legal structure of a DSO and how you can engage Stock Legal to assist you with these services. 

So, what does a DSO model really look like?  You ask, we deliver! See below for a "Basic DSO Organizational Chart.

Org Chart

 

What does this all mean?  In its simplest form, we create an entity to act as the DSO.  That DSO can have one member or many members.  That DSO enters into a services agreement with the clinic or clinics that it serves (that are typically owned by one or more dentists). That services agreement is similar to the services agreement that we talk about in this video, but we will talk more about the specifics of a DSO services agreement in our subsequent blogs in this series.

What can the DSO do?  All of the “back office” or non-clinical support, such as payroll, billing, accounting, collections, marketing, information technology, management, etc.

What can the DSO not do? All of the clinical activities, including: 1) patient evaluations, 2) diagnosis and treatment, 3) patient records, 4) clinical protocols, 5) hiring, training and terminating of dental professionals, etc. 

Often the first step in building out the DSO model is creating the DSO entity. The good news is that a DSO entity looks a lot like any other entity.  So as not to reinvent the wheel, we’ve written blog posts on the creation of organizational documents for LLCs  and corporations. 

If you’re considering a DSO and want more information or legal counsel, please contact us! We’re prepared to meet your timeline.

The choice of a lawyer is an important decision, and should not be based solely on advertisements.

Related Articles

February 4, 2026
The Deal-Killers: Legal Issues That Derail M&A Transactions

Keep the Momentum: Avoiding the Legal Landmines of M&A In the world of Mergers and Acquisitions, momentum is everything. Once a deal loses its pace, it risks falling apart entirely. While a business may be financially sound, a single overlooked legal detail can be enough to erode trust, stretch timelines, and ultimately kill the transaction.

Read more
February 2, 2026
The Deal Architect: How Legal Structure Builds (or Breaks) Your Valuation

The Hidden Value Driver: Is Your Legal Structure Costing You at the Closing Table? When it comes to valuation, most founders focus on EBITDA and growth—but your legal structure is what determines how much of that value you actually get to keep.

Read more
Ready to get started?

Join the many other businesses who trust Stock Legal.