It
is now exactly one year from having closed escrow. I've been asked
if I'd do it all over again. Absolutely! Owning your own practice
is the only way to practice medicine the way you want. It is the
only way to manage a business the way you want. And it is certainly
the most rewarding road to financial independence.
If
you are reading this, you are probably thinking about buying a
practice from Gary Ware. I would absolutely advise it. After a
year of owning my practice, there were no surprises. Gary said
it was going to be hard work... it was (and is). Gary said the
seller wouldn't open a new shop across town from me... he didn't.
Gary said I would want to purchase my own stationery within weeks
of ownership... I did. Gary said the few thousands of dollars
I spent purchasing old inventory was no big deal... it wasn't.
Gary said I'd have enough cash flow to pay the bills... I did.
But most of all, Gary said I wouldn't regret it... I do not.
Frankly,
for three months leading up to escrow, I drove Gary insane. I
was really caught up in the little details. I also felt like the
seller and Gary were out to screw me. I would lose nights of sleep
over this. I wanted to hire my own attorney. I wanted to hire
my own broker. I wanted to make sure my voice was getting heard
and that Gary was fighting for me, not the seller.
But
guess what? In the end... I got what I wanted. The seller got
what he wanted. Gary got what he wanted: Two happy clients.
They
say hindsight is 20/20. So, these are the things that I know:
- Go
buy that practice of your dreams for the max you can afford!!
It is worth it! What are you waiting for?!
-
Gary Ware is a good guy who kept his word 100% of the time.
-
Don't waste your money on an attorney or another broker.
-
A few thousand dollars is not a deal breaker. Once you are the
owner, you'll have the opportunity to make thousands of dollars
a day.
Lastly...
Thank you Gary for letting me see the light. I love my practice!
Tanya
N. Gill, OD (Buyer)
Oakland, California
510-893-5566 or ovc.drgill@gmail.com
When
I decided it was time to sell my practice, I hired a well-known
broker from Southern California. It was a disaster. He priced
the practice too high and there was NO response for over 6 months.
And I don't mean no offers - nobody even looked at it. Worse,
in the entire process, the broker NEVER initiated a call to me
and only his assistant replied to my calls.
My practice was very small. It didn't make Gary rich. But you
would never have known that from the way he and Bernie worked
with me. I was open to their new price recommendation, and immediately
got interested buyers coming to look at my office. And I got a
buyer. The sale went smoothly. I got a fair price and my buyer
is also pleased with the result.
I would recommend Gary Ware and his associates to sell any practice.
John
Urey, OD (Seller)
San Diego, California
durey1@san.rr.com
In
every aspect of selling my practice, Gary's expertise made it
all go smoothly. Not only did Practice Consultants attract many
competent screened buyers, but Gary's skills transformed what
would have been a very lengthy, complex and frustrating process
into a simple, successful one. Look no further.
Larry
Harrison, OD (Seller)
Berkeley, California
harrisonlarry@hotmail.com
You
want to talk about volume? This is the third office that I've
bought from Practice Consultants. Mr. Gary Ware and Dr. Bernard
Press have been very helpful in making everything easy and smooth
for me. Can't say enough about these guys. I highly recommend
them for all practitioners.
Tony
Pham, OD (Buyer)
San Diego, California
858-535-8282 or tonydpham@hotmail.com
I
asked Gary to represent me regarding a practice for sale
through another firm. Gary analyzed the target practice,
handled all of the negotiations and paperwork, and guided
us through the escrow process. Even after paying Practice
Consultants on my own (the seller's broker would not share their
fee), Gary saved me thousands of dollars compared to what I expected
to pay before calling him. I was very pleased with both
the business results and the personalized care that Gary
provided, and I highly recommend Practice Consultants to
any buyer or seller.
Kenneth Christopher, OD (Buyer)
Sun City, California
909-645-7126 or KENIDOC@aol.com
I
was in need of a specialized appraisal as part of a legal issue.
Gary researched the facts, analyzed the value, developed the appropriate
documentation, and then testified as an expert witness at the
trial. His testimony was accepted in full by the court and, as
a result, I came away with a very satisfactory outcome. I would
be happy to chat with you if you are considering using the services
of Practice Consultants.
Henry
Rodgin, OD
Sunnyvale, California
408-773-0441 or edoc2020@yahoo.com
I
have known the buyer of my practice for many years. One of our
important considerations was to complete a transaction that wouldn't
jeopardize our friendship. Having Practice Consultants as a neutral
third party was very beneficial to this process. Gary negotiated
the deal and then kept us on track right to the end. The entire
process was as much fun as a business deal can be, and it still
met all of the operational, legal and financial requirements that
a prudent transaction must have.
Robert Shepard, OD (Seller)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
954-563-7948 or nanboshep@aol.com
I
was very pleased with the service Gary provided facilitating the
sale of my practice. He was readily available any time of the
day or evening, including weekends, and was always very prompt
in responding to any questions, concerns or problems. He even
handled an issue that came up after the deal was closed.
Diane
Santesson, OD (Seller)
Kihei, Maui, Hawaii
808-276-3694 or dsantesson@hotmail.com
Gary
did a great job and was fair to both parties.
Jason
Lake, OD (Consulting Client)
Warrensburg, Missouri
660-885-7116 or lake.od@juno.com
Gary
made the seemingly overwhelming process of selling my practice
virtually effortless. He is highly competent and his support was
sincere. Bottom line: We got the desired results in a most timely
fashion.
Laurie
Chaikin, OD (Seller)
Castro Valley, California
510-693-8053 or drchaikin@comcast.net
What
can I say but THANK YOU, GARY!!! Not only is he knowledgeable,
he is kind, patient and helpful. He made the process of buying
a practice smooth like a true professional, and in times when
I needed advice he was just a phone call away. For a practice
consultant, I highly recommend Gary Ware. He really is wonderful.
Nicole
Sim, OD (Buyer)
Berkeley, California
415-377-9004 or isite_nicole@yahoo.com
Gary,
you have been extremely helpful and professional throughout this
entire process. I would highly recommend you to anyone who seeks
to purchase a practice. Your guidance has been invaluable. Thank
you so much for everything.
Winnie Lei, OD (Buyer)
Cameron Park, California
530-677-8809 or wingalvez@yahoo.com
If
you want to sell your practice, look no farther than Gary Ware
and Practice Consultants. Gary's approach is honest, fair, timely,
and very productive. You will not be disappointed.
Douglas T. Munroe, OD (Seller)
Corona, California
714-961-6826 or dandlinc@adelphia.net
I
found Gary Ware to be very professional and personable all at
the same time. He is knowledgeable, yet open to differing views
and willing to help work out compromises in order to achieve win/win
outcomes.
Gary Osias, OD, FAAO (2nd Time Buyer)
Castro Valley, California
510-538-3937 or gosias@earthlink.net
Practice
Consultants provided the guidance we needed to arrive at a fair
and equitable contract for both parties. Gary's advice is timely,
accurate, and makes the process easy.
Jon Jacobs, OD (Buyer)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
954-771-9120 or tlcdrjon@aol.com
Gary
helped me through a lot of issues that pop up during negotiation.
He was as unbiased as he could possibly be. I felt that he was
honest and forthright, qualities that are hard to find in business
today. I wholeheartedly recommend his services to purchase a practice.
Michele Hayes, OD (Buyer)
Santa Rosa, California
707-546-3836 or Hmichelly@gmail.com
When
I was approached by another optometrist asking if I would consider
selling my practice, the first person I called was Gary Ware.
I trust his business expertise and know of his respected reputation
in our optometric community. The decision to sell the practice
was probably the biggest decision I ever made. Gary understood
that selling the practice was a business transaction and a whole
lot more. The outcome of the sale would impact the rest of my
life. He knew how attached I was to the practice and yet how tired
I was of the day-to-day management. We created many scenarios
and it soon became clear that selling the practice could be an
opening for new possibilities in my life and a wonderful opportunity
for the new doctor. Gary was always available to me and the buyer
to answer all the questions one could possibly think of. He kept
me updated, kept me on task and kept me calm. I would recommend
Gary to anyone who is considering selling their practice. I value
his opinion and appreciate his generosity and willingness to be
a resource. He also is just a great guy.
Dorothy
Okamoto, OD (Seller)
Oakland, California
510-501-8594 or dorothyokamoto@netscape.net
I
can't thank you enough for doing such a terrific job in handling
the recent sale of my practice. Dr. Bernard Press found the perfect
buyer, and the entire process went as smoothly as I could ever
have hoped. Everyone involved was attentive, prompt, efficient,
and caring. I would highly recommend Practice Consultants to anyone
considering buying or selling an optometric practice.
Gary
R. Saks, OD (Seller)
San Diego, California
858-487-7900 or garysaks@yahoo.com
I
would like to highly recommend Gary for use in Optometric purchases
or partnership issue resolution. I have used Practice Consultants
for both and have been very pleased with the results. Oftentimes,
Optometrists try to represent themselves in these arrangements
and it is as foolhardy as representing yourself in court without
a lawyer. We are too emotionally involved in our own practices
to effectively negotiate complex agreements; often the intended
result is not achieved and it sours the relationship with the
buyer or partner. Do yourself a favor and hire a professional,
and Gary is one of the best!
Dennis
Kennedy, OD (Seller)
Santa Rosa, California
chilebird@verizon.net
Gary,
I want to thank you for your very professional yet personal treatment
during the recent sale of my Petaluma practice. Although you are
involved in many transactions, you really made me feel that mine
was foremost in your mind whenever we communicated. Your upbeat,
positive attitude was a real asset. I was very pleased with how
smoothly the transaction proceeded, and I am impressed with how
quickly it sold. Please feel free to use me as a reference.
Peter Weber, III, OD (Seller)
Rohnert Park, California
707-795-9565 or pete_weber44@yahoo.com
"I
couldn't have done it without you." This phrase may be used
often, but I really mean it! I appreciate that you handled all
of the procedural issues and the details that went with them,
from negotiating the deal through preparing us for closing. I
also know how critical you were to the buyer obtaining appropriate
financing. Not only am I happy to recommend you, I already have
suggested to two friends that they sell their practices through
you.
Daniel
A. Cohen, OD (Seller)
Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
215-479-3560
Gary,
I am writing to you to thank you for your intelligent, informed,
patient, and productive efforts in the sale of our practice in
California. When a private practitioner decides to sell a practice
after 27 years, he confronts issues that never occurred to him
before. Valuation of the practice and equipment, marketing approaches
that are likely to work, legal aspects with which he has no experience
– the list goes on. From our first contact, it was apparent
that you were very conversant with these problems, and that you
knew how to solve them. Your explanations were always patient
and careful, your advice was always well considered, and your
actions were always productive. Our experience with your brokering
of our practice was completely satisfactory; in fact, it was just
great. Please feel free to use us a reference at any time, and
thanks again for a great job!
Phil
Hanson, OD (Seller)
Aledo, Texas
817-914-2252 or phil@drphilhanson.com
Gary,
I don't know how to begin to thank you for helping me through
the process of buying a practice. You really made things so easy
and straightforward. I appreciate your tremendous insight and
experience especially in helping me deal with my unique situation.
I highly recommend anyone considering selling or buying a practice
to go through you.
Mei
Fleming, OD (Buyer)
Alamo, California
925-820-6622
As
a buyer, I was a bit hesitant about Practice Consultants representing
both the seller and me. I needn't have been at all. Gary was very
responsive to my questions and concerns, both via email and telephone.
His guidance was crucial in finding my way through the loan
process. I highly recommend Practice Consultants for anyone buying
or selling a practice.
Quyen
La, OD (Buyer)
Huntington Beach, California
qlaidr@yahoo.com
Gary,
thank you for brokering, and tactfully negotiating, what I considered
to be a difficult, if not impossible, deal in the sale of my primary
practice and building to my partner, and my purchase of the partnership’s
satellite practice. What appeared on the surface to be a
very logical deal for both parties was fraught with stumbling
blocks, which you skillfully overcame – something I could
never have brought about. I am genuinely grateful for your masterful
and successful handling of this situation.
Theodore
G. Crook, OD, FAAO (Seller)
Camden, South Carolina
803-424-1142 or a_crook@bellsouth.net
We
are happy to recommend Practice Consultants. In fact, this is
the second practice we have purchased through them. After substantially
growing our first practice, we decided to relocate. For this second
transaction, both Dr. Bernie Press and Gary Ware were involved.
They handled the sometimes delicate and sometimes tense negotiations,
and led both the seller and us to a very satisfactory result.
Kelvin
H. Nguyen, OD and Jacquelin Le, OD (Buyers)
San Diego, California
858-487-7900 or kqnjml@sbcglobal.net
Gary
is a real pro, having an MBA and also having worked with an optometric
buying group. He came up with a fair price for the practice, and
advertised it in the various journals and on the internet. Gary
seems to have a lot of good sources available to find out who
is out there with an interest in buying an optometric practice.
He sent me seven different prospects, who came by the office and
asked a lot of questions over the first three months. Finally
the right optometrist committed, and we had a done deal. Gary
works extremely hard behind the scenes, and he leaves no stone
unturned in his pursuit of making a good and fair match between
seller and buyer. He arranged the business end of things between
our CPA and the escrow agency. His fee is very fair for the amount
of work that he puts into his projects. I am extremely happy with
Gary and Practice Consultants, and I recommend him to any optometrist
with a practice for sale.
Peter
L. Blake, OD (Seller)
Vacaville, California
707-448-2983
We
were pleased with the friendly assistance offered by Practice
Consultants, and very impressed by Gary's willingness to return
our calls and emails within 24 hours. This showed us how he valued
our business. Gary was also great at introducing us to people
willing to help us financially. Gary was the right person for
us; we knew what we wanted, and we needed to be guided by a person
who was knowledgeable and honest in acquiring a practice. We highly
recommend Practice Consultants if you ever need help with purchasing
a practice.
Hang
T. Nhan, OD (Buyer)
Vacaville, California
707.446.2090 or nhan_optometry@msn.com
A
business like mine presented a unique set of challenges, but Gary
did not let the perceived negatives obscure the fact that we had
a fantastic opportunity for the next guy. Ours was a high volume
practice in a great location, but it was also a franchise (you
have to pay royalties) with a very tough mall lease (open seven
days a week). These two facts present challenges, but Gary correctly
pointed out that they were also the reason for our high volume
and growing market share. Even though our numbers were high, he
identified areas where we were weak that presented huge upside
potential for the new owners. The skillful presentation of these
facts combined with his artful mediation was critical to the sale.
We are pleased to recommend Practice Consultants as a vital component
to any practice owner's exit strategy.
Robert
Jack, Optician (Seller)
Naples, Florida
robertjack@comcast.net
Thank
you Gary! You made a potentially difficult situation surprisingly
stress free. I can't imagine doing this without your knowledgeable
assistance.
David E. Clarke, OD (Buyer)
Chico, California
530-343-3291
The
sale of my practice had some financial complexities. Additionally,
both parties wanted the buyer to take over the practice immediately.
Gary handled it all, so the aggravation was invisible to me. He
even made the arrangements for the immediate transfer of operating
authority. Given the circumstances, escrow closed smoothly and
without fanfare. I am happy to highly recommend Gary to buyers
and sellers.
A. Dodd Carr, OD (Seller)
Chico, California
530-520-5980
Making
a transition from one business owner to another is a stressful
endeavor. Gary Ware takes the stress to a manageable, controllable
level. Thank you Gary.
Karen Stene (Seller)
Boca Raton, Florida
ravenscovessi@gmail.com
Gary
made the process of selling my practice much smoother than I expected.
He was always available to answer my questions from start to finish.
I highly recommend Gary to anyone who is selling his/her practice.
David
N. Stein, OD (Seller)
Huntington Beach, California
310-260-6166 or al4dv@yahoo.com
This
transaction would not have been cost effective for me without
Gary. He cut almost all of the usual red tape hassles and made
the buy/sell uneventful!
Dorothy
Park, OD (Buyer)
Columbia, South Carolina
803-254-6306 or Dot2Jerry@aol.com
Dr.
Bernard Press of Practice Consultants found the right buyer for
my practice. He patiently persevered until the buyer and seller
were both satisfied.
Leonard
R. Wilensky, OD (Seller)
Augusta, Georgia
706-650-8542
There
are so many legal and emotional things that go on in the sale
of an office, the fee was well worth it.
Clinton
Pon, OD (Seller)
Elk Grove, California
916-718-3178 or ccjpon@cs.com
I
invited Gary to present an exit strategy seminar, at our surgery
practice, for our network optometrists. Gary was very thorough
in his preparation for the lecture and his follow through with
items required prior to his arrival. He engaged the attendees
with pertinent information and stimulated discussion along with
questions. It's gratifying when you plan a seminar to educate
your attendees and they actually walk away from it with useful
information. I'm very pleased with our decision to bring Gary
in.
Vincent P. Vincent
Director of Marketing, Eye Center South
Dothan, Alabama
334-793-2211
Gary,
I really appreciate your help. I can't imagine how it would have
been to sell my practice without your knowledge and humor. Thank
you for being there whenever I called and for gently cajoling
me into appropriate action.
Lisa Harvey, OD (Seller)
Fort Bragg, California
707-961-1037
I
give Gary Ware my highest recommendation as a practice broker.
His integrity, professionalism, and dedication are unsurpassed.
John C. Kotulak, OD (Seller)
Clearlake, California
kimnjack@earthlink.net
I
would like to wholeheartedly recommend Gary Ware for services
involving issues of evaluation, partnership appraisals, and conflict
resolution. He helped resolve these issues in a recent conflict
within my practice. I was most impressed with some of his advice
on the phone earlier in the year and the time he was willing to
spend with me. In the back of my mind, I thought we would be needing
his services and offered them to my associate to resolve issues
between us. We were both impressed when we met him personally
at a local restaurant. His past work experiences seemed to meld
into the job we had asked him to do for us. He counseled both
of us, worked up an exit strategy, and crafted the final agreement
which we both signed. In my humble opinion, Optometry needs someone
of Gary's talents to work through the difficult situations that
present to us in private practice in varying stages of our careers.
Dennis Kennedy, OD
Santa Rosa, California
707-546-3836
Gary
was my business consultant in the sale of my optometric practice.
He spent many hours determining the needs of both seller and buyer,
and negotiating the terms to the satisfaction of both parties.
He walked me through the process as we went along and tactfully
looked out for the interests of both parties when there might
have been doubts, questions and apprehensions from both the seller
and buyer. Although he was hired by me, the result was equitable
creative financing which helped in the finalization of the sale.
When I had a concern, request or clarification, whether with the
process, timing of the close, contract details, or follow through,
he always responded quickly. He was diligent and persistent with
the necessary paperwork which both parties had to provide for
the final transfer of title; he had reliable contacts with an
experienced attorney knowledgeable in writing up a contract specific
to optometry, and with a title company who handled the close and
transfer of ownership smoothly. Gary was knowledgeable, detailed,
and very skillful in understanding the nuances to make the sale
of my practice successful. His closure skills were necessary in
order to make it happen. I appreciate all his efforts and diligence.
Thank you Gary.
Susan G. Louie, OD (Seller)
Pleasant Hill, California
925-788-5118 or optometrist@surfy.net
Gary
was both very helpful and extremely efficient in assisting me
with the dissolution of a partnership I had with an ophthalmologist.
He worked hard and, after numerous phone calls and meetings, he
obtained a mutually agreed upon "buyout" that allowed
us both to part amicably. I appreciate his diligence and look
forward to working with him in any future business endeavors.
Joseph S. Wald, OD (Seller)
Mount Vernon, Washington
360-424-9226
Gary
did a great job. My advice to anyone considering retirement is
to plan five years in advance. After 47 years in practice, there
is a lot to do. Thanks, Gary, for your patience.
Robert France, OD (Seller)
Solvang, California
nannysaf@aol.com
Mr.
Ware was able to answer my concerns in our first hour consult.
I really appreciated his professionalism and experience.
William R. Kossol, OD
Fredericksburg, Virginia
540-785-3937 or wossoli@aol.com
Gary
was pleasant to work with, practical and fair to both sides in
negotiating and setting up our partnership agreement.
Teresa Goldberg, OD
Lisa Verdon, OD
Albany, California
510-526-0194
Many
thanks Gary, you were critical in guiding myself and my employer
to a mutually acceptable split. During a very difficult time,
your insights and objectiveness allowed us to bring our work relationship
to a close while still allowing us to maintain our friendship.
We were so fortunate to have your assistance.
Janet M. Caddell, OD
Santa Rosa, California
707-575-3800
I
was very pleased with your services. You were always prompt
to return calls/emails and your suggestions for resolving differences
were always reasonable and fair.
Gary
Osias, OD, FAAO (Buyer)
Castro Valley, California
510-886-1856 or gosias@earthlink.net
Darren Brown, OD (Consulting Client)
Irvine, California
714-313-7856 or drdarrenbrown@gmail.com
Glenn
Johnston, OD (Consulting Client)
Family Eye Care Optometry
Chico, California
glennj.feco@gmail.com
Alicia
Van, OD (Buyer)
Kihei, Maui, Hawaii
808-875-4466 or aliciavan@hotmail.com
Abba
Eyecare c/o Marcus Meyer (Buyer)
Colorado Springs, Colorado
719-229-2020 or abba6@abbaeyecare.com
Nicole
Esqueda, OD (Buyer)
Hanford, California
559-584-4227 or nesquedaod@aol.com
Mark
Huang, OD (Buyer)
Hesperia, California
760-948-2020 or suminhuang@linkline.com
Raymundo
Mendoza, OD (Buyer)
National City, California
858-581-1808 or rmendoz3@san.rr.com
Richard K. Simonds, OD (Seller)
National City, California
858-535-8282
David
Schymeinsky, OD (Buyer)
Milpitas, California
408-262-4178
Bruce
Stamper, OD
San Francisco, California
415-824-2376
Karin
Schoeler, OD (Buyer)
Palm Coast, Florida
386-334-0527 or karinlynnod@aol.com
Ruston Hess, OD (Seller)
Daytona Beach and Palm Coast, Florida
386-405-8791
Gregory Kraskowsky, OD (Buyer)
Alamo, California
925-820-6622 or drgreg_od@yahoo.com
Jim
Pietrantonio, OD
Los Gatos, California
408-354-9310
Sharon
Segal, Practice Manager
Mill Valley, California
415-388-8262
Beth
Browdy, OD
Mountain View, California
650-961-9290
Valerie
Rasner, OD
Riverside, California
909-656-0500
Carole
Hong, OD
Kristina Stasko, OD
San Carlos, California
650-593-1661
Sam
Pesner, OD
Stephen Anderson, OD
Los Altos Optometric Group
Los Altos, California
650-948-3700
Lawrence
Henry, OD
Pacific Palisades, California
310-454-4213
