Guide to Selling a Bariatric & Obesity Practice in Orlando, FL

Selling your Bariatric and Obesity practice is one of the most significant financial decisions you will ever make. For practice owners in Orlando, the current market presents a unique window of opportunity. This guide provides a clear overview of the market, key considerations for selling, and the valuation process. We will help you understand how to navigate this journey to achieve a successful outcome that honors your legacy and financial goals.

Orlando’s Thriving Bariatric Market

If you own a bariatric practice in Orlando, you are in the right place at the right time. The market is not just stable. It is expanding rapidly, creating significant opportunities for owners preparing for a transition.

A Hub for Bariatric Care

Orlando stands out as a top-ranked city for bariatric procedures. This local demand is supported by a global trend. The bariatric surgery market is projected to grow at a staggering 15.8% annually, reaching over $27 billion by 2030. This growth attracts sophisticated buyers, from private equity groups to large health systems, who are actively looking for well-run practices in prime locations.

Built on Proven Outcomes

Your practice is built on delivering life-changing results. The data proves it. With patient survival rates above 99% and major complication rates around 4%, bariatric surgery is one of the safest and most effective long-term treatments for obesity. This track record of success is a core component of your practice’s value and a key point of interest for potential buyers.

Key Considerations Beyond the Numbers

A strong market is a great start. It does not guarantee a smooth or successful sale. Selling a medical practice in Florida involves navigating a specific set of rules that go far beyond a simple handshake. For example, the state has clear guidelines on patient notification and medical record retention that must be followed precisely.

Furthermore, any serious buyer will conduct deep due diligence. They will scrutinize your financials, your corporate records, your compliance history, and your operational workflows. We find that many practice owners are surprised by the level of detail required. Being unprepared for this stage can delay a deal or, in some cases, cause it to fall apart entirely. Proper planning is not just helpful. It is what separates a great outcome from a frustrating one.

Reading the Market’s Activity

While you will not see local bariatric practices listed for sale on public websites, the market is humming with activity. The national volume of bariatric procedures grew by nearly 6.5% in a single year, reflecting robust patient demand. This kind of growth powers a strong M&A environment.

Here is what we see happening behind the scenes:
* Strategic buyers are consolidating. Large hospital systems and national bariatric platforms are looking to expand their footprint in growth markets like Orlando.
* Private equity is active. PE firms see the value in the cash-pay components and recurring revenue streams of obesity medicine.
* Confidentiality is key. The most valuable transactions happen privately. They are managed through advisors who can connect qualified sellers with vetted buyers without disrupting the practice.

Understanding these currents is important for timing your exit correctly.

The Path to a Successful Sale

Many physicians believe selling a practice starts with finding a buyer. In reality, the most successful sales begin long before that. A structured process protects your interests and maximizes your final value. It generally starts with deep preparation to get your practice ready for the market. This involves cleaning up financials, organizing key documents, and identifying potential growth stories a buyer will pay a premium for. Only then does the confidential marketing begin. We introduce your practice to a curated list of qualified buyers. After negotiating initial offers, the chosen buyer begins their formal due diligence. This is the most intense phase. Following a successful diligence period, the final legal documents are drafted, and the transaction is closed.

How Your Bariatric Practice is Valued

What is your practice actually worth? The answer is more complex than a simple percentage of revenue. Sophisticated buyers value your practice based on its profitability, specifically its Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization). This figure represents the true cash flow of the business after normalizing for owner-specific expenses and one-time costs. Your Adjusted EBITDA is then multiplied by a specific number, the “multiple,” to determine the enterprise value. This multiple is not static. It changes based on risk and opportunity.

Getting this calculation right is the foundation of a successful negotiation. It requires a deep understanding of your financials and the current M&A market.

Life After the Sale: Planning Your Transition

Closing the deal is not the end of the journey. The structure of your sale has major implications for your finances, your staff, and your personal legacy. You will need a plan for complying with Florida’s post-sale medical record laws. You will also want to ensure your dedicated staff members are treated well during the transition to new ownership.

Financially, not all proceeds may be paid in cash at closing. Many deals include an “earnout,” where you receive additional payments if the practice hits certain performance targets post-sale. Another common structure is an “equity rollover,” where you retain a minority stake in the new, larger company. This gives you a potential “second bite at the apple” when the new company is sold again years later. Deciding on the right structure depends entirely on your personal and financial goals.