Veterinary startup planning guidance inspired by real conversations at VMX
At VMX this year, one theme came up again and again in conversations with veterinarians:
“I want to open my own practice — I just don’t know where to start.”
Some had been thinking about it for a year. Others for five to ten years. Many had already spent money — on a logo, a name, a lease, or even equipment — and still felt stuck.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not behind. You’re just missing the right starting point.
This article breaks down:
- Where to start when opening a veterinary practice
- Where not to start (even though it’s tempting)
- How to avoid the most common veterinary startup mistakes that derail projects before they even begin
The Most Common Mistake: Starting With the Fun Stuff
Let’s get this out of the way:
Designing your logo, picking finishes, choosing equipment, or touring spaces feels like progress — but it’s not where your project should begin.
We met veterinarians at VMX who:
- Had a practice name but no budget
- Signed a lease before understanding zoning or buildout costs
- Bought equipment that didn’t fit their future space
- Had drawings done without a clear operational plan
None of these decisions were wrong — they were just made too early.
When you start in the wrong place, every decision after that becomes harder, more expensive, and more stressful.
Where You Should Start: A Clear, Grounded Veterinary Practice Plan
Opening a veterinary practice is not a single decision — it’s a sequence. And the first step is not physical at all.
Start With These Questions:
Before you look at buildings or talk to vendors, you should be able to clearly answer:
- What type of practice am I opening? (small animal, mixed, specialty, urgent care, etc.)
- What services am I offering on day one — and what can wait?
- Who is my target client?
- What does success look like in year 1, 3, and 5?
- What is my realistic total project budget — not just construction?
This is where business planning, operational planning, and project planning intersect.
A strong plan doesn’t lock you in — it gives you guardrails.
The Right Order of Operations for Opening a Veterinary Practice
Here’s the sequence we wish more veterinarians followed:
- Vision + Business Plan
Define your goals, services, growth plans, and financial realities. - Project Budget + Feasibility
Understand total costs: design, construction, equipment, permits, soft costs, contingencies. - Site Selection (or Lease Review)
Evaluate locations through the lens of your plan, not emotion. - Space Planning + Layout
Design a space that supports workflow, staffing, and patient care — not just aesthetics. - Design Development + Construction Documents
Only after the foundation is solid. - Construction, Equipment, and Move-In
Executed with fewer surprises because the decisions were made intentionally.
Skipping steps or doing them out of order is where most projects run into trouble.
Where Not to Start When Opening a Veterinary Practice
❌ Don’t Start With a Lease
A lease can feel like the “green light,” but it can also lock you into:
- Unworkable layouts
- Zoning limitations
- Unexpected upgrade costs
- Long approval timelines
A lease should be evaluated, not celebrated.
❌ Don’t Start With Equipment Lists
Equipment decisions should be driven by:
- Your services
- Your staffing model
- Your space
- Your budget
Buying early often leads to reordering, resizing, or storing expensive items you can’t use yet.
❌ Don’t Start With Design Aesthetics
Beautiful spaces are important — but workflow, efficiency, and compliance come first.
Design should solve problems, not create new ones.
Why So Many Veterinarians Feel Stuck
Most veterinarians aren’t stuck because they lack motivation.
They’re stuck because:
- No one explained the process
- They were given piecemeal advice from vendors with narrow scopes
- They didn’t have a single place to ask, “What comes next?”
That’s where project management and integrated planning make the difference.
The Goal Isn’t to Do It Alone
One of the biggest takeaways from VMX was this:
Veterinarians don’t need more information — they need clarity and coordination.
Whether you handle pieces yourself or bring in support, knowing:
- what decisions matter now
- which ones can wait
- and how each choice affects the next
can save years of frustration and tens (sometimes hundreds) of thousands of dollars.
If You’re Asking “Where Do I Start?” — You’re Asking the Right Question
If opening your own practice has been on your mind for months or years, start here:
- Pause the impulse purchases
- Step back from the pressure to “just pick something”
- Build a plan that works before anything is built
That’s exactly why we created resources like the Veterinary Practice Development Playbook — to give veterinarians a clear starting point and a realistic path forward.
Because the goal isn’t just to open a practice.
It’s to open the right practice — the right way.
Ready to Talk Through Your Starting Point?
If opening your own veterinary practice has been on your mind for months or years, you don’t need to rush — but you do need clarity.
A short conversation can help you:
- Identify where you actually are in the process
- Understand what decisions matter right now
- Avoid costly missteps before they happen
- Build a realistic plan that aligns with your goals and budget
Schedule a conversation with our team to talk through your practice goals and determine the smartest next step.
You don’t need to have everything figured out.
You just need to start in the right place.
