For Practice Owners
Should my practice use pay-per-lead or a monthly listing?
By The Local Dentist Editorial · Updated 13 July 2026
What each model is for
A monthly listing is a visibility product: your practice sits higher in labelled comparison results, your profile can show richer detail, and Standard or Premium includes a block of qualified patient enquiries each month. Pay-per-lead is a performance product: you appear (with free-tier ranking unless you also subscribe), and you are charged only when a patient completes the flow, chooses your practice, and submits contact details we pass on. Neither model sells NHS access as a lead category — our private-need categories are check-up and hygiene, cosmetic, orthodontics, implants and restorative, and emergency.
When monthly usually wins
Choose Standard (£129/month) or Premium (£299/month) when you have chair time to fill every month, want predictable inbound volume, and value priority placement in busy cities. If eight included Standard enquiries would comfortably cover your new-patient goal, the subscription often beats stacking individual lead fees. Premium suits practices that want unlimited included enquiries and maximum labelled exposure without watching a per-lead meter. Annual billing saves two months versus monthly if you are already committed.
When pay-per-lead usually wins
Choose pay-per-lead when you are testing the channel, have irregular capacity (for example only taking private cosmetic cases some months), or refuse a fixed overhead. Fees start from £30 depending on tier and category — see the live table on /for-dentists/. Standalone pay-per-lead on a free listing costs more per enquiry than the same category on Premium, which is intentional: subscribers effectively prepay for volume and placement. If enquiries arrive faster than you can book, pause or tighten your service selection rather than letting leads go cold.
A practical way to decide
Estimate how many new private patients you can onboard per month and what one booked course is worth after clinical costs. If a handful of qualified enquiries already cover a Standard subscription, monthly is usually simpler. If demand is uncertain, start free or pay-per-lead, track conversion from enquiry to booked assessment for 60–90 days, then upgrade. Remember: paid status never changes The Local Dentist Score — pick the commercial model that matches capacity, not a myth about buying rankings.
People Also Ask
Can I use pay-per-lead and a monthly listing together?
Yes. Standard includes up to eight enquiries; further enquiries that month are charged at Standard pay-per-lead rates. Premium includes unlimited enquiries with no per-lead fee on included volume.
Is there a minimum contract?
No minimum term on monthly plans — upgrade, downgrade, or cancel as set out in the partner terms. Annual plans are paid upfront with a two-month discount versus monthly.
Which is better for a new private-focused practice?
Often pay-per-lead or free-plus-PPL while you test conversion, then Standard once you see steady qualified demand. It depends on local competition and how quickly you can book assessments.
Do either option affect my rating?
No. Ratings and match scores are independent of payment. Paid placement is labelled.
Affiliate disclosure:The Local Dentist is free to use. We may earn a fee when you visit a referral partner or send a private-treatment enquiry. That never changes ratings, match results, or the prices you pay. Outbound partner links userel="sponsored". Seeaffiliate complianceandhow we make money.
This article is general information for UK patients, not clinical advice, and NHS rules and charges change — confirm current rules on nhs.uk or speak to a dentist before acting. For severe facial swelling affecting breathing/swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, or trauma call 999 / go to A&E; otherwise NHS 111 for urgent dental access. Price figures are indicative benchmarks from ourmethodology.