How to Run a Mobile Veterinarian Business
Business Overview:
If you are a veterinarian looking to go out on your own or an entrepreneur in search of a great business idea, learn how to run a mobile veterinarian business. These days everyone has a busy schedule and with work and small children, it’s hard to find time to take Fido to the vet for his exam. Imagine the appeal of a vet service that makes house calls. In addition, may pet owners will spare no expense to avoid putting their dog or cat through the stress of an office visit. If you are a DVM (doctor of veterinary medicine) who owns or works with a large practice, this may be a side business that you could run in addition to your office hours. Or if you are looking to go a different direction than the standard vet office, running a mobile vet business is the perfect way to bring your training and skills to pet owners all over town. However, if you are not a trained veterinarian but this still sounds like a great idea, you can simply hire a vet to work for you. In either case, you would need to make a sizeable investment to ensure your truck or van is well equipped to handle any situation that may arise. Next you need to decide what types of services you will offer. Services can range anywhere from standard wellness exams and vaccinations to surgeries and dental procedures. Marketing will be important but since your truck is your business, you can use it to advertise wherever you go. As you would with an errand business, you can advertise by putting magnetic posters on the sides of your vehicle promoting your business. You could also ask local veterinarian offices if you can put business cards or fliers in their facilities (if you offer after-hours care that would not compete with their businesses). Set up a website outlining your services and listing prices and policies. Make sure your web address is something easy to remember since most people who pass your vehicle will be in their cars and won’t be able to write anything down. If your business offers high quality pet care at reasonable prices, you may soon find yourself needing to hire additional veterinarians and expand your fleet.
A Day in the Life of a Mobile Veterinarian Business Owner:
Your day will begin with a check of any regularly scheduled appointments (wellness exams, vaccinations, etc.). You (or the veterinarian who works for you) will check supplies and handle appointments throughout the day. You will also handle emergency calls that may arise. If you are not the vet, you will spend your day marketing your business around town and maintaining the website. At the end of the day you will record the day’s earnings and ensure you have the supplies you need for the next day’s appointments.
About Your Customers:
Your customers will be pet owners who want the convenience of having vet services at their homes.
What You Need to Start:
- Vehicle such as a van or small bus
- Medical supplies
- DVM degree or ability to hire a DVM
- Marketing plan and materials
- Website
- Computer with finance software
The Good:
- For an animal lover, this is a great way to provide a much needed service.
- For an experienced DVM, this would be a natural next step that allows more freedom than being in an office all day.
- The business is highly scalable.
- You are likely to be one of only a handful of mobile vet businesses in your area so competition will be low.
- You can charge top dollar for the convenience factor of your services (especially after hours and on weekends)
The Bad:
- Startup costs are high.
- The hours will be irregular if you offer emergency services.
Resources:
- American Association of Housecall and Mobile Veterinarians
- American Veterinary Medical Association
- Bureau of Labor Statistics on Veterinarians
- Wikipedia on Veterinarians
About The Author
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