Case Study: How Dr. Jones Acquired the Podiatry Practice Where She Worked

For many doctors, practice ownership feels like the natural next step. They have the clinical experience, the patient relationships, and the desire to build something of their own. But one question often stands in the way:

How do I buy a practice if I do not have a large amount of cash available for the down payment?

Dr. Daalia Jones’ acquisition of Atlanta Foot Care Center is a powerful example of what is possible when the right buyer, the right practice, the right financing strategy, and the right advisory team come together.

Dr. Jones acquired the podiatry practice where she already worked in a successful management buyout. With guidance from EDGE Business Advisors and access to the right financing resources, she was able to complete the acquisition with no money down.

From Associate Doctor to Practice Owner

Dr. Jones was not an outside buyer looking at a random opportunity. She already knew the practice. She understood the patients, the team, the operations, and the culture.

That made this acquisition especially meaningful.

A management buyout can be one of the strongest paths to practice ownership because the future owner already has knowledge of the business and relationships inside the company. For patients and staff, the transition can feel natural. For the buyer, there is already familiarity with the daily operations and the opportunity ahead.

Dr. Jones was not just buying a podiatry practice. She was stepping into ownership of a practice where she had already built trust.

The Challenge: Getting the Deal Financed

Like many talented doctors, Dr. Jones had the skill, credibility, and desire to own a practice, but the financing structure was the key challenge.

Most buyers assume they need a large cash down payment to acquire a business. In many cases, that is true. But medical practice acquisitions can sometimes qualify for specialized financing, especially when the buyer is a licensed doctor acquiring a business in their field.

EDGE Business Advisors helped introduce Dr. Jones to financing resources that ultimately led to an exceptional financing package.

Through the right lending relationships and deal structure, Dr. Jones was able to acquire the practice with no money down.

This was not just a win for the buyer. It was a win for the seller, the patients, the employees, and the long-term future of the practice.

Why This Deal Worked

Several factors made this acquisition financeable and attractive:

Dr. Jones had direct experience in the practice.

Because she already worked at Atlanta Foot Care Center, she understood the operations and had existing relationships with the patient base and team.

The practice had continuity.

The buyer was not starting from scratch. She was taking over an established practice with existing infrastructure, patients, staff, systems, and goodwill.

The seller had a strong transition story.

The previous owner was able to pass the practice to a doctor who could carry it forward. That type of continuity matters to lenders, patients, and employees.

The buyer was acquiring a business in her licensed profession.

Lenders often look more favorably on professional practice acquisitions when the buyer has the required credentials and experience.

The right financing resources were introduced.

A great buyer and a great business still need the right capital source. EDGE helped Dr. Jones connect with financing resources that made the no-money-down acquisition possible.

How EDGE Helped Guide the Process

Buying a business is very different from starting a new job or even running part of an existing practice. There are several steps that must come together, including valuation, deal structure, due diligence, lender review, lease or real estate considerations, closing documents, transition planning, and financing approvals.

EDGE Business Advisors helped Dr. Jones navigate the acquisition process by helping her understand:

• What lenders would need to evaluate the opportunity
• How to prepare for financing conversations
• What documents and information would likely be requested
• How the acquisition process typically moves from offer to closing
• Why the structure of the transaction matters
• How to think like both a doctor and a business owner

One of the most important parts of EDGE’s role was helping Dr. Jones connect with financing resources that understood medical practice acquisitions. That guidance helped her move from interest to action, and ultimately from employee to owner.

The Bigger Lesson: Doctors Can Buy Practices Without Millions in Cash

Dr. Jones’ story is important because many doctors are closer to practice ownership than they realize.

A doctor may already be working inside a practice where the owner is thinking about retirement. A physician may know of a practice in their community that needs a succession plan. Or a doctor may want to acquire an established practice instead of starting from scratch.

The obstacle is often not the opportunity. It is the belief that ownership is out of reach because of cash requirements.

This case study shows that with the right practice, the right buyer, and the right financing strategy, a doctor may be able to acquire a medical practice with little to no money down.

Why Buying an Existing Practice Can Be Powerful

Starting a practice from scratch can be difficult. A new owner may need to find a location, build out space, buy equipment, hire staff, attract patients, create systems, and wait for revenue to grow.

Buying an existing practice can offer a different path.

An established practice may already have:

• Existing patients
• Trained staff
• Equipment
• Vendor relationships
• Referral relationships
• Operating systems
• Revenue history
• Community goodwill

For the right buyer, acquiring an existing practice can reduce some of the uncertainty that comes with starting from zero.

In Dr. Jones’ case, the opportunity was even stronger because she already worked in the practice. She was not walking into the unknown. She was stepping into a business she understood.

A New Chapter for Atlanta Foot Care Center

Dr. Jones’ acquisition of Atlanta Foot Care Center represents more than a business transaction. It represents professional growth, continuity of care, and the power of strategic practice ownership.

For Dr. Jones, the acquisition created a path into entrepreneurship and long-term professional independence.

For the patients, it allowed continuity of care.

For the staff, it helped preserve stability.

And for the community, it ensured that Atlanta Foot Care Center could continue serving patients under the leadership of a doctor who already knew the practice well.

That is what a well-structured management buyout can do.

Considering Buying or Selling a Medical Practice?

EDGE Business Advisors helps business owners sell their businesses and helps qualified buyers acquire established companies and professional practices.

If you are a doctor who wants to acquire a practice, or a practice owner thinking about succession, we can help you understand the process, evaluate your options, and connect with resources that may make the transaction possible.