James Kennedy sits down with Austin Moffat, founder of DSO CFO, to unpack how Austin built a thriving fractional CFO firm for dentistry – despite taking a non-traditional route (no CPA). Austin shares how high-level competitive soccer shaped his business IQ, how an early “trial by fire” accounting role accelerated his learning, and why the dental industry urgently needs simple, decision-ready financial clarity. They also dig into dental-specific KPIs, the rise of DSOs and private equity in dentistry, and the practical AI/tech stack Austin is using to run a modern accounting firm.
About Austin Moffat:
Austin Moffat is the founder of DSO CFO, a fractional CFO and accounting firm serving the dental industry – supporting 200+ dental practices including single-location offices, multi-location groups, and DSOs (Dental Service Organizations). Based originally in Southern California (now in Utah), Austin helps practice owners and operator groups make smarter decisions with clean financials, cash-flow visibility, and a KPI-driven playbook built specifically for dentistry.
What You’ll Learn:
● Building credibility without a CPA: How Austin earned trust through real-world execution, mentorship, and results.
● Why dentistry is a powerful niche: Dentists are clinically trained – but often unprepared for the financial and operational realities of ownership.
● Dental KPI “guardrails” that protect margins: Benchmarks like supply %, lab %, payroll %, and target profitability ranges.
● Avoiding “covenant surprises”: Why bank covenants can break even when cash is coming in – and how to stay ahead of them.
● How DSOs and private equity change the game: What dentists need to know before evaluating acquisition offers.
● AI and automation in a modern accounting firm: Practical tools Austin uses (and how they impact speed, capacity, and value).
● Flat-fee vs hourly pricing: Why predictability wins – and how to manage scope and expectations without micromanaging time.
Episode Highlights:
“Just because I’m not directly involved in the play doesn’t mean I can’t contribute.”
“If they don’t understand what the heck is going on in their business financially, then we’re doing it wrong.”
“We know where you should be. If you want to be successful, this is the playbook.”
“If we’re not using AI, we’re falling behind.”
More About Austin’s Role:
At DSO CFO, Austin and his team help dental practices and operator groups translate messy accounting into simple, actionable clarity – especially for owners juggling patient care, staffing, debt, and growth. His firm focuses on:
- Clean monthly closes and financial reporting that dentists can actually understand
- KPI tracking (supplies, lab fees, payroll, margin targets) tied to real operational decisions
- Support for multi-location complexity, including intercompany activity and DSO-style management structures
- Tech-forward delivery, using tools like ChatGPT for analysis, Keeper to streamline bookkeeping workflows, and Reach Report to turn financial statements into visual, digestible insights – while keeping pricing predictable through a flat-fee model
Get in Touch with Austin:
Austin recommends reaching out via his firm’s website contact form (response typically within 24 hours) or via LinkedIn, where he’s active and responsive.
