Get Your Hands Dirty First

There’s no podcast or textbook that can show you what experience as a veterinarian will. Not really. You need to feel the pace of a packed Monday morning, navigate a tough client conversation without flinching, and see how billing breaks down in real time. That kind of messiness is your teacher. Every shift you work for someone else is a rehearsal for what your future clinic will demand of you. Skip this stage, and you’re just guessing with real money.

Business Plans Are Boring—Until They Aren’t

Look, writing a business plan isn’t sexy. But it’s the thing you’ll wish you’d done properly once bills, rent, and payroll collide. The more brutal and honest you are about your numbers, your market, and details about your target audience, the fewer surprises you’ll get blindsided by. Don’t just guess what services to offer—anchor them in real demand. And for the love of clarity, know how you’re getting your first 100 clients. That one sentence alone will filter out half your fluff.

Sharpen Your Business Smarts—Seriously

Vet school teaches diagnostics, not cash flow. And guess what? Knowing where the bleeders are in your books matters as much as knowing where they are in your patients. You may consider this: go back to school for a business degree. Whether you earn a degree in marketing, business, communications, or management, you can learn skills that can help your business thrive. Online programs make it easy to run your business while going to school at the same time. It’s not about the letters after your name—it’s about being able to read a profit and loss statement without sweating.

Your Location Isn’t Just a Map Dot

People don’t drive an hour to a vet if they don’t have to. That means your zip code is marketing. Your parking lot? Retention strategy. Where you plant your flag matters, and being conveniently located for clients can be the difference between a packed lobby and an empty calendar. Walk the neighborhood. Sit in the lot during rush hour. Ask yourself who lives here—and if they’ll pay for premium care. That’s the real site visit.

Buy Equipment Like It’s Coming Out of Your Paycheck—Because It Is

Do not let shiny catalogs or pushy reps cloud your judgment. You don’t need everything, but what you do buy has to pull its weight. Pick tools you’ll use daily. That means digital radiography equipment before the fancy laser therapy kit. Your first year is all about utility, not bells and whistles. Get stuff that won’t break mid-surgery and that your team knows how to use without a week of training. Less is more when it’s built to last.

Telemedicine Isn’t Optional Anymore

Post-pandemic, clients expect options. If you’re not offering remote check-ins or consults, you’re already behind. Telemedicine can enhance animal care, especially for follow-ups or routine meds. But more than that, it shows you’re listening to modern pet owners. Convenience isn’t a perk—it’s standard now. But fair warning: make sure your state laws don’t bite back. The rules can be weird, and crossing them accidentally isn’t worth the headache.

Speak Like a Human, Not a Brochure

Want to lose a client fast? Talk like a pharmaceutical pamphlet. What people want is clarity, not jargon. And they’ll come back if they trust you. That starts with how you explain procedures, pricing, and outcomes. The AVMA says using the right language boosts satisfaction and compliance. So ditch the robotic scripts. Talk like you’re explaining it to your cousin. Clients don’t need to be dazzled—they need to be understood.

This isn’t just about pet care—it’s about self-leadership. The kind where your choices echo five years from now. Starting and opening a vet clinic that survives—and thrives—takes humility, realism, and guts. It’s less “vision board,” more spreadsheets and early mornings. But if you build it right? You won’t just own a business. You’ll own your time, your impact, and your future. Make it count.

Thanks to Jessica for sharing this insightful opening a vet clinic story. Ready to embark on a heartwarming journey with Our Best Friends Pet? Discover how to enrich your feline friend’s life while supporting cat welfare worldwide. Learn more at ourbestfriends.pet.