Solo vs. Team: Setting Up Your Mobile Vet Med Practice

Starting a mobile veterinary practice is exciting! Mobile vets can enjoy flexibility and a closer connection with clients. When setting up your mobile vet practice, one big decision is whether to go it alone or build a team. Both approaches have advantages and challenges. Let’s explore each option as you consider which path will help you reach your goals.

No matter how you set up your unique practice, VetBadger has you covered. Our practice management software meets you where you are and grows with you over time. We help you communicate effectively, streamline your work, and track your finances with ease. Connect with us today for a free live demo to learn more.

Setting Up Your Mobile Vet Practice

Starting any business requires you to make dozens, maybe hundreds, of decisions. When starting a mobile veterinary practice, that number can go even higher as you consider variables such as travel, vehicle needs, and more.

Many mobile practitioners choose to remain a solo act while others prefer to hire a team. Here’s a look at these options, along with their ups and downs.

The Solo Practitioner Route

Operating on your own in a mobile vet practice means you’ll wear many hats—veterinarian, scheduler, marketer, and more. Here are some pros and cons of this path:

Advantages

• Full Control: You make all the decisions, from services offered to client interactions, ensuring your vision remains uncompromised.
• Lower Overhead Costs: Without staff salaries and benefits, you significantly reduce your operating costs.
• Personalized Client Relationships: Clients appreciate the consistency of working directly with you every time, and you get to know your clients much better.
• Flexible Schedule: You have the freedom to set your own hours and adapt to your work-life balance.

Challenges

• Workload: Balancing veterinary duties with administrative tasks can be overwhelming. You may need to limit the number of days you can see clients in order to keep up with admin tasks.
• Limited Scalability: Your ability to grow the practice is constrained by the number of hours you can personally work. At some point, you will hit a maximum.
• Isolation: Without a team, you may miss out on collaboration and support. You also may not have coverage for your clients if you are ill or on vacation.
• Burnout Risk: Managing everything on your own can lead to stress and fatigue over time.

The Team Approach

Building a team for your mobile practice allows you to delegate responsibilities and expand your capacity. Your team may include hired employees or outsourced experts for tasks such as bookkeeping and marketing. Here are some points to consider:

Advantages

• Shared Workload: Your team can share administrative tasks, client communications, and other responsibilities. This option also lets each person tackle jobs that fit their passion and experience.
• Broader Expertise: A team with diverse skills enhances the range and quality of services you offer. For example, you may be able to expand your services to include specialties such as behavior or dentistry.
• Increased Availability: With multiple practitioners or support staff, you can serve more clients and cover more ground.
• Support System: Having colleagues to consult and collaborate with helps boost morale and reduces the feeling of isolation.

Challenges

• Higher Costs: Salaries, benefits, and additional vehicles significantly increase operating expenses.
• People Management: Hiring, training, and managing staff require time and effort. Having a team also means you need to navigate more personalities and expectations.
• Coordination: Ensuring smooth communication and scheduling within a mobile practice takes time and energy.
• Less Autonomy: Decisions will often need to account for team input and compromise.

How To Decide?

To determine the best approach for your mobile veterinary practice, there are several factors to consider. First, think about your overall business goals. Are you aiming for a boutique practice with a personal touch, or do you envision scaling your services?

Next, consider your current financial resources. Do you have the capital to support a team, or would a lean solo operation better suit your budget? Along these lines, also take into account the demand in your market to determine if you might require extra providers on your team to meet the needs.

Finally, don’t forget to consider your personal preferences. Do you thrive independently? Or do you prefer collaboration and delegation?

VetBadger Supports You Either Way

As you think these things through, keep in mind that since it is your business, you can always change your mind. You may start solo and eventually add more people to your team. Or you may go the other direction!

Either way, the VetBadger platform will help you confidently build relationships that lead to a thriving business. We help you simplify your communication, scheduling, workflows, and financial tracking to keep you on the road to success. Claim your free live demo today to get started.