Since I did this six years ago I would like to share my advice.
-get a good accountant (because if you're successful you will get audited, just finished a 3-year audit...and let me share, it wasn't any fun at all. The real reason for the audit was mostly because three other labs closed in our local area and mine is flourishing, so best to be prepared.)
-get a good lawyer or two - (I have a bad temper for stupidity, and you may develop this trait along the way as well, plus its good to have one for general business questions, especially if you have a good accountant).
-Biggest mistake right from the start was buying all my equipment/supplies from a well known supply company that starts with a "Z". I spent close to 40K on day one, and a few months later I found Nowak Dental, sent them an itemized list of what I already purchased on Day one and had a very sobering moment of my own stupidity. I pissed away over 10K on Day one...not something I'm proud to admit.
-A good contractor or someone in the family who is very mechanically inclined. (I mention this because moving a air line, or suction line can be a daunting task if you don't have this go to person)
-Be prepared to work your ass off...(I worked over 100 hours a week for over four years straight...no breaks, no vacations, no holidays, and surely no sick days. It sucked and I wouldn't do it again!!! Sure, I'm a Marine, therefore being a stubborn jerk assuming everything is a battle/war didn't help much either.)
-If you can financially swing it, and I truly hope you can because this could free up so much time for yourself...is get a digital workflow on day one. An Open Scanner is a must, the milling machine is something you have to consider and keep it on the horizon if you can't swing it on Day one. The scanner is a get out of jail free card, along with being able to offer many different products...if you get swamped, sick, or have to leave the lab even for a day or two...you can still scan/design and send all your work out to the milling centers to get it done.
-Take courses that Dentists go to and find a niche, join a dental study club, network with other good techs, DLN, join a guild, etc...
-Make a DSLR twin flash camera a must on Day one. There is no way better way to communicate/learn your skills without it.
-Make up a folder that contains your services, flyers, brochures, mailing labels, fee/time schedules and be prepared to go out and knock on those doors and be prepared to be humbled...those pitbulls at the front desk are tough.
-Lastly, and the most important, don't forget about your family...schedule them in if you have too but whatever you do, don't sacrifice all your family time for your business (this was truly my biggest mistake). Everything in your lab is replaceable, family isn't, tough lesson to learn the hard way!!! Good Luck, keep us posted.Great advice! Thank you! I've found Nowak already thankfully.
I'm going to use all this great advice when the time comes.