How Much Is My Optometry Practice Worth (in 2026)

What Is My Optometry Practice Actually Worth

We get this question a lot. Sometimes it comes up during webinar Q&A sessions. Other times it comes up during one on one calls when our transition experts are speaking with practice owners. In most cases, the first question is the same, no matter whether the practice is veterinary, optometry or dental.

What is my practice actually worth?

That is a fair question to ask.

You have spent years building your practice. You have built a loyal patient base that you are proud of. You have taken care of patients, supported your team and managed everything that comes with ownership. Now, when you start thinking about selling or retiring, understanding the real value of what you have built naturally moves to the top of the list.

Most owners are not asking this question because they are selling tomorrow. They are asking because they want clarity. They want to know where they stand and what the business they have built can support in the future.

What we want to cover today goes beyond putting a number on your practice. The goal is not just to talk about value, but to help you understand what creates that value. The factors that influence it. The small things that often get overlooked. And how different elements of your practice can increase its value over time.

Once you understand how value is shaped, the number itself starts to make more sense. More importantly, you gain more control over it.

How Buyers Look at Your Optometry Practice Value

One of the most challenging parts of understanding practice value is learning to look at your practice the way someone else would. As an owner, you naturally see the years of effort behind it. You see the relationships you have built with patients. You see the team you trained and the problems you solved along the way.

A buyer looks at the same practice from a different place.

They are not questioning your effort or commitment. They are trying to understand how the practice will perform once you are no longer there every day. Their focus is on stability, predictability and how smoothly the practice can continue under new ownership.

We have seen many situations where two optometry practices had very similar revenue yet their valuations of their optometry practices were not close. In one case, both owners were producing comparable numbers year after year. From the owner’s perspective, the practices felt equal.

When buyers looked closer, small differences stood out.

One practice had consistent scheduling, clear roles within the team and systems that allowed the day to run without the owner needing to step in constantly. The other practice depended more heavily on the owner to handle decisions, solve staff issues and manage daily operations. Neither owner was doing anything wrong but one practice felt easier to take over.

Location also played a role. One practice was in an area with steady patient demand and limited competition. The other was in a market where growth required more effort and marketing. That difference affected how buyers viewed long term stability.

This is what buyers are really evaluating. Not how hard you worked but how confidently the practice can continue without disruption. Practices that feel organized, steady and transferable tend to be valued more strongly because they reduce uncertainty for the next owner.

When owners begin to understand this shift in perspective, the idea of value becomes clearer. It stops feeling personal and starts feeling practical.

Why Profitability Matters More Than Revenue

One of the next areas buyers focus on is profitability. This is often where owners feel surprised or even frustrated because revenue is the number they have watched and worked to grow for years.

Revenue matters but it is not the number buyers rely on most. Buyers want to understand how much of that revenue consistently turns into profit and how predictable that profit is over time. A practice can generate strong revenue and still feel risky if expenses fluctuate or margins are thin. High staffing costs, inconsistent collections or rising overhead can all affect how stable the practice appears.

We have seen practices with lower revenue valued higher than larger practices because their profitability was cleaner and more consistent. Their expenses were controlled. Their margins were steady. From a buyer’s perspective those practices felt easier to manage and easier to forecast.

Profitability tells a buyer whether the practice can support ownership without constant adjustments. When profits are predictable, value becomes easier to justify.

How Owner Dependence Affects Value

Another major factor that influences value is how dependent the practice is on the owner. When buyers evaluate a practice the first important question they quietly try to answer is what happens when the owner is no longer there every day. If too much depends on one person, the practice may perform well now but feel fragile later.

In many optometry practices, the owner has naturally taken on multiple roles over time. Clinical work, management decisions, staff issues and problem solving often fall to the same person. That involvement may be what helped the practice grow, but it can also limit value.

We have worked with owners whose practices looked strong financially but yet buyers hesitated because the owner was central to everything. The concern was not about the owner’s ability. It was about continuity. Patient retention, staff confidence and operational consistency all felt tied to one individual.

Practices that have systems, defined roles and leadership within the team feel different. When responsibilities are shared and processes are documented, the practice feels stable even when the owner is not present. That stability often leads to stronger valuations and smoother transitions.

Why Patient Behavior Matters

Patient numbers alone do not tell the full story. Buyers pay close attention to patient behavior.

They look at how often patients return, how predictable scheduling is, and whether revenue is spread across a broad patient base or concentrated among a smaller group. Practices with steady retention and consistent visit patterns feel more reliable.

Growth trends matter as well. A practice that shows stable or gradual growth over time sends a positive signal. A practice that appears flat or declining raises questions even if current revenue looks acceptable. From a buyer’s perspective, patient behavior helps answer a simple question. Will this practice continue to perform the same way after ownership changes?

Why Timing and Preparation Matter

Practice value is not fixed. It changes over time based on performance, preparation, and timing. Owners who begin thinking about value early usually have more flexibility. They have time to improve systems, strengthen profitability, and reduce owner dependence without pressure. Even small improvements made gradually can have a meaningful impact on how the practice is valued.

We often speak with owners who wait until they feel burned out before looking seriously at value. At that point, decisions tend to feel reactive. Options still exist but they may feel limited and rushed.

Understanding value early does not mean committing to a sale. It means preparing on your own terms. When the practice is performing well and you are not under pressure, you can choose your timing, your buyer, and your transition structure with confidence.

What a Valuation Really Provides

A valuation is not a commitment. It is information. For many optometry practice owners, not knowing their value creates unnecessary stress. Some assume their practice is worth more than the market would support. Others assume it is worth less and delay planning longer than necessary. Both situations are driven by uncertainty. A valuation provides context and It shows what is supporting value today and what may be holding it back. It replaces guessing with understanding.

Once owners have that clarity, planning becomes easier. Financial decisions feel more grounded. Conversations about retirement, partnership or transition feel less abstract. Instead of wondering what might be possible, you are working with real information.

Final Thoughts

Asking how much your optometry practice is worth is not about making a decision today. It is about understanding what you have built and what it can realistically support moving forward.

Your practice represents years of responsibility, care and commitment. Taking the time to understand its value is not about stepping away. It is about being prepared.

If this question has been on your mind, even quietly, it may help to talk it through with someone who understands optometry practice ownership. Our goal is not only to help find the real value of your optometry practice but we will work with you to find the reasons, the opportunities and ways to improve the overall value of your clinic. Even if your goal is to sell in a few years or may be in a few months. We highly recommend booking a free consulting call with our transition expert. This conversation is all about you and your clinic and how we can help you.