Reinvest in Exceptional Care by Improving Your Profitability
Improving profitability isn’t just about the numbers—it’s about creating a practice where you and your team thrive, and your patients receive an exceptional level of care.
This guide will cover the keys to improving profitability, including:
Development & Retention
“Shirley is able to generate engagement & promote the development & retention of a cohesive staff.”
- Jeffrey Bowersox, DVM. DACVO
Planning for the Future
Your Practice’s Growth Starts with Profitability
What have you always dreamed the future of your practice will look like?
Expansion, new services, emergency care, or state-of-the-art equipment?
Whatever your goals, profitability is what will make them possible.
Investing in new diagnostic equipment, expanding to a larger building, or offering advanced care options all require a solid financial foundation.
Without profitability, even the best plans for growth will stall.
Staff
The Right Team Elevates Your Entire Practice
You went to school to heal pets—not run interviews.
One of the biggest issues vet practices face is the revolving door of staff.
I’ve seen vets get frustrated when they have to keep rehiring.
Great care and a thriving practice come from finding and keeping the right people.
You can achieve this with a robust Continuing Education (CE) program, whether it be:
in-house
virtual
offsite conferences
Practices that prioritize staff development often see reduced turnover and more engaged employees.
Invest in your team with benefits that truly matter—like continuing education, health insurance, or career growth opportunities. These are key to keeping your best people.
Revenue and Profit
Get Serious About Success, Get Serious About Finances
The reality is that better care comes from profitability.
Too often, vet practices undercharge or set fees just high enough to cover overhead.
You and I both know that’s not sustainable.
Your expertise and the exceptional care you provide deserve to be fairly compensated.
Ask yourself: Are you charging what you’re worth, or are you just breaking even?
Ensure that your fees and markups reflect the value of your services.
Implement incremental fee increases. It’s easier for clients to accept small, regular adjustments than a large price hike all at once.
Look at your profit centers individually to pinpoint where profits are leaking.
Aim to have these profit center Net Profit KPIs be above 20%.
Operations
Simplify Your Workflow to Amplify Your Results
What do smooth operations look like?
Well, I can tell you that it doesn’t look like you staying up until midnight:
reviewing financial reports
documenting HR issues
researching new equipment
Smooth operations look like you focusing on what you’re best at—being a vet.
Hiring a practice manager can take so much off your plate, like:
Overseeing scheduling
Handling HR tasks such as staff hiring, training, and performance reviews
Managing billing and invoicing
Implementing and maintaining practice management software
Using practice management software can automate appointment scheduling, inventory tracking, and billing.
By delegating these tasks, you’ll have more time to focus on patient care—and go home on time.
When operations run smoothly, your staff are happier, workflows improve, and patient care excels.
Leadership
Push Your Practice Forward—Make the Tough Calls
Being a practice owner means making hard choices.
For someone who went to med school, not business school, I know how uncomfortable that can be.
Your team looks to you for direction, especially when things get tough.
Avoiding difficult conversations—whether it’s about fee increases or a staff member’s performance—only makes things worse.
Schedule regular team meetings to address ongoing challenges, review performance, and discuss fee structures to create a rhythm of progress in your practice.
Communicate openly with your team.
Let them know the “why” behind changes, and get them on board with your vision for the practice.
Transparency breeds trust, and when your staff feels involved in the decision-making process, they’re more likely to support the changes.
Integrity and Empathy
“Shirley operates at a level of integrity and empathy that is unmatched.”
- Keith Delaney, CPA, CMA, MBA, CVA. Santora CPA Group
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average revenue of a veterinary clinic?
Average revenue varies widely depending on the size of the practice, location, and services offered. Multi-doctor practices can bring in well over $1 million, with some specialty practices generating even more. The key is to ensure that your clinic’s revenue aligns with its growth goals and operational costs.
How can I make my vet clinic more profitable?
Focus on a combination of strategies:
Keep track of expenses, such as supplies and labor, and find areas where you can reduce waste or negotiate better rates.
Raise your fees incrementally to ensure you’re charging appropriately for the quality of care you provide while also keeping up with inflation and rising costs.
Adding high-demand services, such as wellness plans or specialty care, can drive additional revenue.
Streamline operations by delegating administrative tasks to a practice manager, and use software to optimize scheduling and billing.
What is one of the largest expenses for veterinary practices?
One of the largest expenses for veterinary practices is staffing. Salaries and benefits for veterinarians, vet techs, and support staff make up a significant portion of a practice’s overhead. Offering competitive pay and benefits is crucial for retaining talent, but it also needs to be balanced with ensuring profitability.
Your Practice’s Growth Starts with Profitability
The Right Team Elevates Your Entire Practice
Get Serious About Success, Get Serious About Finances
Simplify Your Workflow to Amplify Your Results
Push Your Practice Forward—Make the Tough Calls
Improve Care by Improving Profitability
Improving profitability in your veterinary practice is about building a strong foundation that supports growth and ensures you’re able to deliver the best care possible to your patients.
Start by taking a look through my Resource Library filled with:
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Find what you need to start building a more profitable, efficient, and successful practice today.