Starting your own veterinary clinic: a quick breakdown

There’s a lot that goes into starting your very own veterinary clinic, from research and planning to funding and marketing—not to mention the emotional and physical demands. We’ve put together a detailed timeline of what each stage of your veterinary start-up journey could look like, along with powerful marketing strategies and veterinary-specific solutions to help you get the job done more efficiently!

The first 6 months: planning your veterinary start-up

Know your audience: It’s hard to know what you’re getting into without reliable industry insights. First, you can do some research on your target audience to make sure you understand their specific needs and preferences. This could mean looking into local competition to see the services they offer, and which additional or specialized services could help attract clients and make your clinic stand out a bit more.

Create your roadmap: Thorough market research is imperative to creating your business plan—which is the next step in your veterinary start-up adventure. Consider outlining your audience, goals, competition, as well as the services you’d like to offer. Knowing which types of services you’ll provide is key to understanding the equipment costs and establishing a financial plan for your veterinary start-up.

Cover all the bases: You should decide how many staff members you’d like to hire in order to better determine the size of your veterinary clinic, as well as the initial cost estimates. If you plan to run a smaller-sized clinic of two to three staff members, you can anticipate your financial plan ranging anywhere from $150,000 to $300,000, while a medium-sized practice (four to five staff members) can range between $600,000 to $900,000. Larger clinics with six to ten team members can cost up to $1.2 million, and usually require advanced tools and technology to support this high level of operation.

With every veterinary clinic comes necessary equipment to help teams work more efficiently. Although prices fluctuate, you can expect basic veterinary equipment (exam tables, diagnostic tools like stethoscopes, basic surgical instruments, as well as x-ray and ultrasound machines) to collectively cost around $100,000 on the higher rage, while more advanced diagnostic, surgical, and medical equipment can cost up to $180,000 or more. You can compare the services you plan to provide with the necessary equipment you’ll need to see the specific price range for your own veterinary start-up.

The next 6 months: funding your own veterinary practice

Attract investors and lenders: With structured plans in place—both a detailed business plan to outline your vision and revenue projections, as well as an accurate financial plan to prepare for cost estimates—you’ll find it easier to make well-informed business decisions and attract the attention of more investors.

Identify your funding options: In order to cover your start-ups costs and prepare for a steady business, you need to know exactly where you stand financially. Make sure you explore all the different funding options you have available, such as personal savings or loans. These insights will also help prepare you to provide a well-planned and transparent business proposal to investors and lenders.

Choose the right location: You can set your business up for a higher chance of success by finding the perfect location to open your clinic. Factors like accessibility, visibility, and convenience can significantly impact the amount of pet parents who come to your clinic. Try to find a healthy balance between cost and comfortability, like how much parking you offer and how spacious your building is.

After one year: making your veterinary clinic vision a reality with design, licensing, and staff!

Design and equip your clinic: Now that you’ve found a great location and a cost-effective, convenient facility to work from, it’s time to bring your practice to life! You can start by considering the needs of your team members and clients, like strategically planning out your clinic’s overall layout, reception area, exam rooms, and kennels. Stock your clinic with industry-leading medical equipment, veterinary-specific tools, and eye-catching decor to create a more inviting experience for staff members and pet owners.

Follow all legal requirements: A critical step to preparing your clinic for opening day is being sure to obtain all the licenses and permits you need to do business in your area. It’s important to follow state, local, and federal business regulations so that your opening day is as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Form and train your team: Recruit qualified and experienced veterinary professionals, and be sure to consider if they’re a good fit for your clinic’s culture. Invest in continuous training to keep your staff updated on policies, strengthen their skills, and maintain their overall job satisfaction.

Opening day and beyond: setting your veterinary clinic up for long-term success

Spread the word: Start attracting pet parents to your veterinary practice by proactively getting your clinic’s name out there. You can put together a detailed marketing plan that consists of a strong social media strategy, custom-made website, and powerful advertising tactics that keep new pet owners coming to your clinic. Plus, be sure to remain active on your online platforms to maintain engagement with new and potential clients, turning everyday website traffic into a consistent customer base. You also can impress the pet owners you already serve with easy-to-use direct booking software that works on any device, an efficient phone system for quick and personalized calls, and a pet parent mobile app loaded with everything they need to manage their pets’ health journeys.

Track and monitor finances: Put accounting and financial management systems into place so you can keep an eye on expenses and profits. You can consider hiring a personal accountant or investing in veterinary accounting software that helps you better monitor your financial records and keep business on track.

Prepare for a grand opening: It’s time to launch! At this point, all your hard work has paid off and you’re getting ready to open your doors to the public. But before you do, triple-check that all your staffing, equipment, and marketing needs are met, and that you’re prepared to support your daily operations as efficiently as possible. Kick things off with a soft launch or grand opening, which are the perfect ways to introduce your veterinary team to the community and build solid connections from the very beginning.

Identify areas for improvement: Just as you should keep track of your clinic’s finances, it’s important to look out for any and all ways in which you can improve your veterinary practice and ensure future success. Once your clinic is up and running, always monitor your operations and address any challenges you may be facing to set you and your team up for long-term prosperity. Encourage regular feedback from clients and make adjustments as needed to provide every pet and pet parent with the best veterinary experience possible.

Here’s how PetDesk can help with your veterinary start-up!

PetDesk’s veterinary-specific solutions can help make your start-up adventure more efficient and less stressful. Attracting and retaining clients with a strategic marketing plan, saving time through direct online booking software, making your calls more efficient with a PIMS-VOIP phone system, and simplifying communication by equipping pet parents with a pet health mobile app are all crucial elements that factor into a high-performing and successful veterinary practice—and we have the solutions to help you do it all!

We know starting your own clinic is no easy feat. That’s why our FREE veterinary start-up guide is here to help you throughout your next big adventure! Whether you’re ready to begin making a plan or want to learn more about ongoing marketing strategies, we’ve got you covered with everything you need to know to help your veterinary clinic thrive.