Chapter 3: Location and Facility

Choosing the right location

Affordability, foot traffic, suitability, accessibility, population and demographics, and competition all matter. The Veterinary Care Accessibility Project's interactive map scores every county in the contiguous U.S. on access to veterinary care.

Buy, build, or rent?

Renting is best for cash flow and flexibility. Building gives full control but costs the most and takes longest. Buying gets you an established client base. Mobile saves on overhead but limits scope. Practice valuations typically use an 8x-13x EBITDA multiple.

Space planning

Reception 150-300 sq ft, exam rooms 200-300 sq ft total, treatment/prep 300-600 sq ft, surgical suite 250-400 sq ft, diagnostic/lab 100-200 sq ft, kennels/recovery 150-400 sq ft, pharmacy/storage 100-200 sq ft, staff/admin 150-300 sq ft.

Downloadable: Space Planning Worksheet

Lease terms worth negotiating hard on

Tenant improvement allowances, plumbing/ventilation/electrical capacity, exclusivity clauses, renewal terms, and signage rights. A few vet-specific design-build firms: Animal Arts, RWE Design Build, and Blue Frog.