Why Veterinarians Shouldn’t Stop Accepting New Clients

The top reason to focus on continually growing your business is simple: a veterinarian shortage is on the way. According to a 2023 Mars Veterinary Health study¹, the veterinary industry faces “a chronic shortage of veterinary professionals.”

Key findings from the studies include:

• With pet ownership steadily increasing, a 33% increase in pet healthcare service spending is expected over the next ten years.
• Nearly 41,000 additional veterinarians will be needed to meet the needs of companion animal healthcare by 2030.
• Even with the new veterinary graduates expected over the next ten years, a shortage of nearly 15,000 veterinarians will likely still exist by 2030.
• It would take more than 30 years of graduates to meet the 10-year industry need for credentialed veterinary technicians.

This data shows that it’s more important than ever to gain insights and take actionable steps toward growing your clinic.

Why you should always be accepting new clients for your veterinary business

Patient fluctuations and seasonality in veterinary medicine are like human medicine. A recent study² said that half of the people are looking for a new doctor right now: “A new survey from Everyday Health and Castle Connolly suggests many patients are willing to make an effort. Nearly half said that they’re considering a switch this year. Twenty percent said looking for a new doctor is always on their to-do list or something they consider every year, while another 25 percent of respondents said it’s now on their mind more than ever.”

We can safely assume that there are always similar trends in veterinary medicine. It doesn’t stop there; seasonality affects all businesses and will likely impact your business this year. A semi-recent AVMA study showed that veterinary business revenue drops hard during the holidays³: “An examination of the effects of seasonality on veterinary practices shows that 27.9 percent of revenue in veterinary practices comes from the first quarter, 28.6 percent from the second, 24.9 percent from the third, and only 18.5 percent from the fourth.”

Even with the growth of pet ownership and spending on pets, it’s essential always to keep a funnel of new clients available. We can assure you if you aren’t actively looking for new clients, your competitors are.

Reviews and word of mouth are essential for new veterinary business

Word of mouth is an effective way to grow your business. Veterinary practices that have a good reputation can often count on new clients coming in from referrals. Review sites like Google and Yelp help get your name out there and attract new clients.

Bad reviews can stem from people who never met you, but were turned away by your business. Once a pet parent is turned away, they are probably not coming back any time soon, so be sure that not accepting them as a client is in your business’s best interest.

What happens if I don’t want to accept new patients or cannot right now?

If you don’t want to or can’t accept new patients now, there are options other than just turning them away. First, consider the reasons why you can’t take more patients. If you’re understaffed, let potential new clients know that you’re currently filling some roles so you can take the best care of their pet, and keep their contact information handy for when you get some new hires in the door (we recommend adding a specific page for this on your custom-made PetDesk website!).

If you are picky about your clients and only want a particular type, that’s okay too. Set up interviews or an online form for potential clients to fill out. Perhaps you’ll find perfect matches for your business and find ways to bring them in to see you.

Use technology to save time in the clinic and see more patients

Automated check-in options, online appointment requests, flexible payments, and digital veterinary forms can all help you speed up the appointment process. No matter what you decide, don’t close your doors to new clients because you’re short on staff. There are always ways to work around it, and your business will be better off for it in the long run.

Veterinary-specific tech like our 24/7 real-time booking platform allow you to have new and existing clients book an appointment online and ensure you have all the details uploaded directly to your practice management software. You can also set up automatic veterinary service reminders using convenient communication tools like our veterinary mobile app, saving you time by reducing scheduling friction like missed appointments and last-minute cancellations.

Technology is the fastest way to scale your veterinary business

It all starts with your website—the headquarters of all of your information, online forms, and connections to download an app or book an appointment online. Customizing these tools can help you continue to grow your business and provide a wonderful work-life balance for your veterinary team. Modernizing practice processes, automating day-to-day activities, and taking a proactive approach to managing a fluctuating patient list will help you keep your doors open without adding stress.

¹ Mars Veterinary Health. “Tackling the Veterinary Professional Shortage.” MarsVeterinary.com

² Everyday Health “Looking for a New Doctor? Nearly Half of People Have the Same Goal, Survey Suggests.” EverydayHealth.com

³ American Veterinary Medical Association. “Practices busier than ever, except for one time of year.” AVMA.org