Making the leap from veterinarian to practice owner is an exciting move, but it comes with a big decision: Should you buy an existing clinic or build one from the ground up?
There’s no universal answer. The right path depends on your goals, finances, appetite for risk, and how much control you want over your business. In this blog post, we’ll explore both options honestly and in detail. We'll weigh the pros and cons of each route so you can make a decision with confidence.
Key takeaways
Buying a practice offers immediate revenue, an established client base, and lower risk - but may come with hidden issues, cultural challenges, or limitations on change.
Starting from scratch gives you full creative control and the ability to build modern systems from day one - but requires more time, money, and risk to get off the ground.
The right path depends on your goals, resources, and appetite for risk.
Buying an existing veterinary practice
Buying a clinic can be a faster, more predictable path to ownership. But it’s not without its challenges.
Pros of buying a practice
- You get an instant client base: One of the biggest advantages of buying a practice is stepping into a business that already has momentum. You inherit an existing patient list, often with loyal, long-term clients who trust the clinic and its team. This gives you a head start on revenue and helps ensure you can meet financial obligations, such as loan repayments or payroll, from the outset.
- Staff and systems are in place: You’re not just buying a clinic - you’re buying its people, processes, and sometimes its technology. An existing team can offer continuity of care and help retain clients who value familiar faces. Established workflows and familiarity with the current practice management software (even if it’s a system you plan to upgrade) can provide a level of operational stability during the transition. This can reduce the day-to-day decision fatigue that often comes with starting from scratch.
- Track record of performance: An established practice gives you access to years of financial records, making it easier to assess the business’s strengths and weaknesses. You can examine key performance indicators like average transaction value, client retention rates, and cost of goods sold. This data can guide improvements and provide reassurance to lenders that your investment is sound. In contrast, startup projections are more speculative and may require you to defend assumptions in your business plan.
- Faster path to profitability: Because the clinic is already generating income, you may be able to draw a salary or invest in upgrades sooner than you could with a startup. While buying a practice can be expensive upfront, the shorter time to profitability may offset those costs, especially if you manage the transition carefully.
- Built-in community reputation: A long-standing clinic may have a strong presence in the local community. This can open doors with local referral partners, schools, shelters, and other stakeholders. Even if you plan to eventually rebrand or reposition the practice, having a solid foundation of trust gives you something to build on.
Cons of buying a practice
- You inherit the good and the bad: Every established clinic comes with a history - and not all of it may be positive. You might discover deferred maintenance, ineffective systems, or a backlog of unpaid invoices. Existing relationships with suppliers, labs, or landlords may not serve your business goals. Even outdated practice management software can slow you down if it lacks cloud-based access or integrated diagnostics.
- Team culture may not be a perfect fit: People are the heart of any practice, and inheriting a team doesn’t always mean inheriting harmony. You may find staff who are resistant to change or who were deeply loyal to the previous owner. Mismatched expectations about leadership, compensation, or work-life balance can lead to turnover. If you're planning to make operational or cultural shifts, be prepared to invest in communication and team-building.
- You may face limitations on change: Even if you’re eager to modernize the clinic, drastic changes in branding, services, pricing, or hours can disrupt business. Clients may be wary of new policies or miss the old ways of doing things. Striking the right balance between innovation and continuity is key - and not always easy.
- The upfront cost can be high: Well-performing practices in desirable areas can sell for a premium. On top of the purchase price, you may need to invest in renovations, new equipment, software upgrades, or marketing. You’ll also need to factor in legal and due diligence costs. Without careful evaluation, there’s a risk of overpaying or underestimating how much additional investment the business requires.
- Hidden liabilities can bite: From long-term lease obligations to employee disputes or lapsed insurance, buying a business comes with legal and financial baggage that may not be immediately visible. A thorough due diligence process, including legal and financial advisors, is essential to avoid costly surprises after settlement.
Starting a veterinary practice from scratch
If you have a clear vision and don’t mind starting small, launching your own practice can be incredibly rewarding. But it comes with higher risks and a longer runway.
Pros of starting a veterinary practice from scratch
- You control the vision from day one: Starting your own practice gives you the freedom to design every element of your business - from the clinical philosophy to the team culture and patient experience. You choose your service offerings, set your hours, and decide how much emphasis to place on things like wellness plans or telehealth. If you’ve always dreamed of a paperless, tech-forward clinic with a strong focus on customer service, this is your opportunity to build exactly that.
- You can build with modern systems in mind: When you start from scratch, you’re not tied to legacy systems. You can choose cloud-based practice management software from the outset, enabling features like automated reminders, online booking, digital payments, and integrated lab results. You can also set up your workflows for efficiency from day one, rather than retrofitting someone else’s setup. This is especially helpful if you plan to run a lean team or grow rapidly.
- Brand identity is yours to create: You have a blank slate. From your clinic name and logo to your interior design and social media presence, you have complete control over how your business is perceived. This can be particularly powerful if you want to differentiate yourself in a competitive market. With the right branding, you can carve out a niche, attract your ideal clients, and build loyalty early.
- You can scale intentionally: Starting from zero means you can grow at a pace that aligns with your goals, lifestyle, and cash flow. Whether you want a boutique single-vet clinic or plan to open multiple locations, you can build systems and a team with that trajectory in mind. Strategic use of automation and integrations within your software can help reduce manual admin and free you up to focus on patients or growth.
- Deep personal satisfaction: Starting your own clinic is very much a labor of love. Many owners describe a deep sense of pride in watching their vision come to life, especially when the community responds positively. Milestones like hiring your first team member, receiving your first online review, or filling your calendar for the month can be incredibly fulfilling.
Cons of starting a veterinary practice from scratch
- It takes time to build a client base: You may open your doors to silence. Without an existing reputation or referral network, it takes time to earn trust and attract clients. Expect to spend a significant amount of time (and budget) on local advertising, digital marketing, and community events. It may take 12-24 months to build consistent revenue.
- Financing can be harder to secure: While some lenders are supportive of startups, many prefer the security of established cash flow. You’ll need to build a strong business case and be prepared for a more involved approval process. Personal guarantees or equity contributions are often required. It’s also critical to budget conservatively and factor in a longer-than-expected ramp-up period.
- You’ll wear many hats: In the early days, you might be the only full-time team member. From ordering supplies and setting up software to cleaning kennels and answering phones, it’s all on you. Even with a great practice management system in place, the sheer volume of decisions and tasks can be overwhelming. Time management, delegation, and prioritization become essential survival skills.
- There’s more risk involved: Unlike a purchase with a known cash flow, a startup is a leap of faith. There’s no guarantee your chosen location, pricing model, or marketing plan will succeed. You may face unexpected delays in construction or permitting. You could open at a time when consumer demand is lower than forecasted. All of this adds pressure - both financially and emotionally.
- Hiring from scratch can be tough: You’ll need to find the right people to share your vision, which is easier said than done in a tight labor market. It may take time to find a receptionist who gets your tone, a nurse who complements your work style, or an associate vet who wants to grow with you. A clear culture and good systems can help, but early hiring missteps can be costly.
Key considerations to help you decide
Still not sure which route is right for you? Here are a few questions to help you weigh the options more objectively.
What’s your appetite for risk?
Buying tends to be less risky - especially if the practice is well established and has reliable financials. Starting from scratch often means betting on your own ability to build something from nothing, which can be incredibly rewarding but comes with more uncertainty.
How important is control?
If your goal is to build something entirely your own - to shape the culture, set the standards of care, choose your technology stack, and design the client experience - starting from scratch gives you full creative license. Buying, by contrast, requires working within an existing structure, at least in the short term.
What kind of timeline are you working with?
Buying can often get you up and running much faster, especially if the current owner stays on to help with the transition. Starting a practice may take 12–24 months or more between planning, construction, hiring, and marketing before you see regular income.
How strong is your financial position?
Buying a successful clinic will likely require more upfront capital, but banks may be more willing to finance it. Startups might cost less initially, but cash flow will be tighter and less predictable in the early stages. A strong business plan, a clear understanding of your cost structure, and access to a financial advisor are essential either way.
Do you already have local roots?
If you're well-known in your community or have a referral network from past employers, starting your own clinic may be less of a risk. If you're new to the area or looking to enter a saturated market, buying a practice with an existing reputation may give you a better foothold.
What are the current market conditions?
Are there practices for sale in your target location? Are they in good financial health? On the flip side, is there unmet demand in your area that a new clinic could fill? Talking to a veterinary business broker or consultant can give you valuable insight into local opportunities and challenges.
Do you have the right support team?
Whether you buy or build, surround yourself with experts. A good accountant, lawyer, lender, and possibly a veterinary-specific consultant can save you time, money, and stress. If you're starting fresh, a software provider with solid onboarding and training support will also make a huge difference in setting up smooth operations.
FAQs: Buying vs. starting a veterinary practice
1. Is it better to buy or start a veterinary practice?
It depends on your goals, risk tolerance, and financial situation. Buying offers faster cash flow and a built-in client base, while starting gives you full control and a chance to build your own vision from the ground up.
2. What are the risks of buying an existing veterinary practice?
Common risks include overpaying, inheriting a poor team culture, outdated systems, or hidden liabilities like long-term lease agreements or legal issues. Thorough due diligence is essential before purchasing.
3. How long does it take for a new veterinary practice to become profitable?
Most new practices take 12–24 months to break even, though this can vary based on location, demand, marketing, and operational efficiency. Choosing the right practice management software can help reduce admin time and improve cash flow.
4. What should I look for when buying a veterinary practice?
Key factors include financial performance, client retention, staff quality, location, lease terms, and existing systems (including software). Reviewing performance data and conducting legal and financial due diligence is crucial.
Conclusion
Owning a veterinary practice is a career-defining move. It’s a chance to lead, innovate, and build something meaningful for yourself and your community. But deciding how to become an owner - by buying or starting - requires careful thought.
There’s no wrong answer - just the one that’s right for you.
Talk to other owners. Run the numbers. Visit potential clinics. Dream about what kind of leader and business owner you want to be. And when the time comes, trust yourself to take the leap.
Choosing ownership is a big decision. Let us show you how the right software can make it easier. Book a FREE ezyVet demo today!