---
title: "What Is EBITDA? Dental Practice Glossary | Copeland Consulting Services"
description: "EBITDA stands for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. It is a measure of operating profit, before those costs, that buyers often use..."
url: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/ebitda
publisher: Copeland Consulting Services
email: drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com
contact: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact
---

Finance and valuation

# EBITDA

EBITDA stands for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. It is a measure of operating profit, before those costs, that buyers often use to compare businesses.

ADA News (March 2026) explains that EBITDA, or Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization, is a measure of profit before certain expenses. The same article adds that multiples show how buyers value that profit. EBITDA is not a measure defined by accounting rules for private practices, so each seller or buyer may calculate it differently. Because owner pay and one-time costs vary, advisers also use [adjusted EBITDA](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/adjusted-ebitda). A buyer applies a [valuation multiple](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/valuation-multiple) to it. Check the definition used before comparing two figures, and ask a CPA to explain it.

[Next stepPractice consulting with Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact?topic=consulting)

## Related terms

-   [Adjusted EBITDA](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/adjusted-ebitda)
-   [Valuation multiple](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/valuation-multiple)
-   [Practice valuation](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/practice-valuation)
-   [Owner compensation](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/owner-compensation)

## Sources

1.  [ADA News, Ask the Expert: What are my financial paths to practice ownership? (March 2026)](https://adanews.ada.org/new-dentist/2026/march/ask-the-expert-what-are-my-financial-paths-to-practice-ownership/)

## Talk with Dr. Copeland

[Contact Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact)[Email](mailto:drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com)