The Money Deep Dive: Loans, Leverage, and the Cost of Day Zero
Episode Summary: Happy New Year! We are officially in 2026, and we are kicking off the year with a masterclass in startup finance. To celebrate our recent win as Course Karma’s 2025 Best Facebook Group for Business Management, we are diving straight into the "Day Zero" realities of Dr. Toni Torres and Bloom Dental Co.
In this episode, Toni pulls back the curtain on the phase before the lease is signed. We explore the terrifying transition from being an associate to asking a bank for nearly a million dollars. If you have ever wondered how to negotiate with lenders, what insurance you actually need, or how to survive the first 90 days of "insurance lag," this episode is your tactical manual.
Time-Stamped Highlights
[11:20] – Dental School Doesn't Prepare You for This
[12:30] – The First Phone Call: The Rep Connection
[14:10] – Approval Before the Search The golden rule of startups: Do not look for a location until you know your budget. Toni explains why she prioritized the loan approval process to understand her square footage limits and avoid "exhausting" herself looking at locations she couldn't afford.
[15:45] – Interviewing the Banks: How to Negotiate Terms Toni interviewed four different banks. She breaks down the "vibe check" of lenders and how she used a competing 14-year loan proposal to negotiate her preferred lender's monthly payments in half.
[18:30] – Specialized Lenders vs. Big Banks A look at the difference between general banks and medical/dental specific lenders. Why specialized lenders understand the "insane" overhead of dentistry (plumbing, compressors, $130k CAD/CAM setups) that general business lenders might not.
[20:10] – The Collateral and the Spouse’s Role The weight of the "Personal Guarantee." Toni discusses signing for the loan with her husband, putting their home and investments on the line, and the emotional pressure of having a partner who fully believes in your vision.
[22:00] – The Insurance Quadrant: Four Pillars of Protection Lenders won't release funds without these. Toni details the four types of insurance she had to secure:
[26:40] – The First 90 Days: Managing Runway Cash Toni shares the "rollercoaster" of the first few months. She explains the reality of opening $7,000 shy of paying the bills due to "insurance lag" and why having at least two months of "runway cash" ($45k–$75k) is critical for survival.
[31:15] – Building the "Dream Team"
Connect with Toni:
Instagram: @the.joyful.dentist • @bloomdental.co
Connect with Ashley:
Instagram: @ashleyjovesdds
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