Is a Mobile Veterinary Practice the Right Venture for You?
If you’re thinking about starting a veterinary business, you might be wondering whether a mobile practice is a smart choice. Mobile veterinary practices have become a popular alternative to local practices in recent years. Rather than taking their pets to a local veterinary practice, many owners will call and request the services of a mobile practice. So, is a mobile veterinary practice the right venture for you?
What Is a Mobile Veterinary Practice?
There are two primary types of veterinary practices: local and mobile. Local mobile veterinary practices are brick-and-mortar establishments that operate at a static and fixed location. Mobile veterinary practices, on the other hand, are those that visit clients — pet owners, farmers, etc. — to provide veterinary services.
Most mobile veterinary practices consist of one or more vehicles. These aren’t ordinary vehicles. Rather, they are specialized vans that have been fitted with veterinary equipment and supplies. If you open your own mobile veterinary practice, you’ll drive to clients’ homes or businesses in one of these vehicles.
Benefits of Starting a Mobile Veterinary Practice
You’ll encounter less competition when starting a mobile veterinary practice. Research shows that there are between 28,000 and 32,000 local veterinary practices. Regardless of where you intend to open a local veterinary practice, there are probably other local practices already operating in the same area. Mobile veterinary practices are less common. Many cities, in fact, don’t have any mobile veterinary practices; they only have local practices. Because there’s less competition for them, you’ll have an easier time securing new clients if you start a mobile veterinary practice.
When compared to local veterinary practices, mobile veterinary practices reduce stress in pets. A study conducted by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) found that pets had 11% to 16% lower blood pressure and pulse rate readings when they were seen by a mobile veterinary practice. If you start a local veterinary practice, clients will have to retrain and drive their pets to your clinic, which can induce stress. A mobile veterinary practice offers an easier and less-stressful solution.
Promoting a mobile veterinary practice is a breeze. You can include the name and phone number for your mobile veterinary practice on the side of your van. As you drive around to clients, you’ll promote your mobile veterinary practice. Other motorists will see your van, and if they have a pet in need of veterinary services, they may contact you for assistance.
Education Requirements
The education requirements for starting a mobile veterinary practice are the same as those for other veterinary practices, including local practices. You’ll have to earn a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) at an AVMA-accredited school. In the United States, all licensed veterinarians are required to complete a DVM program. A DVM program is a four-year program that focuses on veterinary medicine. Once you’ve completed a DVM program, you can earn a license in your respective state to work as a veterinarian. The completion of a DVM program, as well as the acquisition of a veterinary license, will allow you to open either a local or mobile veterinary practice.
Keep in mind that you’ll also need to complete the necessary undergraduate requirements. All DVM programs have undergraduate programs. For most DVM programs, you’ll have to earn a bachelor’s degree. Only after earning a bachelor’s degree — or otherwise completing the necessary undergraduate requirements — can you enroll in a DVM program.
Things to Consider When Starting a Mobile Veterinary Practice
There are several things you should consider when starting a mobile veterinary practice, one of which is the location. Mobile veterinary practices aren’t restricted to a fixed location. Nonetheless, most of them serve clients in a specific area. If you’re planning to start a mobile veterinary practice, you’ll have to choose an area in which to operate. It’s a good idea to focus on an area in which there’s a large population of animal owners.
You should also consider the startup costs. Both local and mobile veterinary practices have startup costs. The startup costs for mobile practices, however, are often higher than those for local practices. With a mobile veterinary practice, you’ll have to not only purchase veterinary equipment and supplies but also vehicles. But don’t let the high startup costs discourage you from launching your own mobile veterinary practices. There are plenty of financing solutions available for business owners.
Of course, you’ll have to consider the types of services you’ll offer at your mobile veterinary practice. Some mobile veterinary practices offer more services than others. You may want to focus on small pets, for instance. Many mobile veterinary practices only offer services for common and small pets, including dogs and cats. Conversely, you can branch out into other animals. There are some mobile veterinary practices that provide services for chickens, goats, cows and other farm animals.
