Guidance for Veterinarians Looking to Open Their Own Practice
This article is part of Vetcelerator’s interview series for veterinarians and pet care professionals that want to start their own practice. If you are interested in veterinary practice ownership, read our other interviews in this series.
A Conversation with Jason Hills, Blue Frog
Growth starts with the foundation on which a practice is built. For veterinarians pursuing ownership, that foundation is both financial and physical. In this conversation with Vetcelerator, Jason Hills of Blue Frog shares how veterinary clinic design, construction, and planning decisions shape how it performs long-term.
About Jason Hills
“I’m Jason Hills with Blue Frog. I’ve been in the industry for a little over 20 years. Blue Frog is a design-build firm based in the Southeast, but we are nationwide, and 80% of what we do is in the veterinary space.”
Why Veterinarians Are Choosing to Start Their Own Practice
Across the industry, a consistent theme is emerging: veterinarians are stepping into ownership not just for financial gain, but for control.
Many have spent years as top producers within corporate or privately owned practices. Over time, they begin to realize they are already operating at a high level, just without the ability to shape workflows or long-term direction.
Ownership becomes the opportunity to build something that reflects how they believe veterinary medicine should be practiced. But for many, the next question isn’t why to open a practice, so much as it’s whether they can realistically compete.
It’s Not Just Corporate vs. Independent Veterinary Practices
For many aspiring owners, the biggest hesitation is the perceived gap between independent veterinary practices and large corporate groups, but that gap is often overstated.
“The reality is you CAN do it.”
With the right partners (lenders, real estate experts, and veterinary-specific builders), independent veterinary clinics and pet brands can compete at a high level. Success is less about size and more about how well the practice is planned and executed.
Once that confidence is established, the focus shifts to a practical decision: how to actually enter ownership.
Borrow, Build, or Buy: How Veterinary Clinic Ownership Evolves
Veterinarians typically enter ownership through one of three paths: buying an existing practice, leasing and building within a space, or developing a ground-up facility.
Historically, many veterinary startups began in smaller lease spaces, often limited in size and flexibility. While this allowed for a lower barrier to entry, it also created constraints. As practices grew, doctors quickly found themselves outgrowing their space.
That evolution has led to a shift in how veterinarians approach building a veterinary clinic.
More owners are now thinking beyond the first phase of ownership. Instead of building something temporary, they are designing facilities that can support long-term growth with larger footprints, more exam rooms, and space to expand their teams.
The goal is to build something that lasts. With that in mind, understanding where design and construction fit into the process becomes critical.
Where Design-Build Fits in the Vet Clinic Ownership Process
One of the most common questions from veterinarians about designing a new veterinary practice for the first time is, “Where do I start?”
According to Jason, the process typically begins with two key relationships.
“First and second, kind of in tandem, would be your lender and your real estate partner, especially if you’re in a particularly hot market where you know that space is at a premium.”
From there, the design-build team becomes the bridge between vision and execution.
For many veterinarians, this is unfamiliar territory. Having a partner who understands both design and construction and how they align with budget creates reduced risk later in the process.
Start with Budget, Not Design
An often overlooked principle in building and designing a new veterinary practice is starting with a clear financial framework. Before design begins, owners need to understand:
- What can we realistically invest?
- What does that translate to in space, materials, and layout?
Without that clarity, it’s easy to build pet care facility that exceeds budget, leading to difficult compromises late in the process.
A design-build approach solves this by aligning design decisions with real-time cost insights. Instead of surprises at the end, practice owners can make informed trade-offs throughout.
Once budget and structure are aligned, the next opportunity is using design as a strategic advantage.
Veterinary Clinic Design as a Competitive Advantage
Today, veterinary clinic design is a key differentiator.
Modern, well-designed veterinary spaces play a significant role in recruiting other veterinarians and staff. Many younger professionals are trained in high-quality facilities and expect a similar environment in their workplace. Clients notice as well.
A clean, modern veterinary clinic communicates professionalism, quality of care, and attention to detail. An outdated facility can create friction before care even begins.
The physical space directly impacts perception.
Strong design isn’t all about appearance, though. Design drives clinic performance, too.
Designing a New Veterinary Clinic for Performance
Beyond aesthetics, veterinary clinic layout decisions directly impact efficiency and revenue.
“Open space in treatment is critical when you’re thinking about minimizing walls, and then shrinking reception areas is critical as well.”
- Open treatment areas improve visibility and team responsiveness.
- Maximizing exam rooms increases revenue potential per square foot.
- Reducing oversized waiting areas improves client flow.
A well-run veterinary practice can generate significant revenue per exam room annually, making space allocation a significant business decision.
The goal is to design a veterinary practice that supports better medicine, stronger workflows, and long-term growth. From there, the challenge becomes turning that vision into a buildable reality.
Turning Your Veterinary Practice Vision Into Reality
In Jason’s experience, most veterinarians also come into the design process with a clear vision. They’ve saved ideas, collected inspiration, and thought about how they want their veterinary clinic to look and feel.
A structured design process translates that vision into execution.
- A “wish list” phase to capture ideal goals
- A detailed design phase to align vision with budget
- A final review phase to confirm details and finalize decisions
This balance between creativity and structure ensures the final result is both inspiring and achievable. Once design is complete, the process moves into execution.
Managing Veterinary Clinic Construction
Once design is finalized, the process shifts into execution, which includes navigating permitting, managing construction timelines, figuring out milestones, and coordinating teams across projects.
For most veterinarians (many of whom are still practicing full-time), this phase can be overwhelming. They need structured support.
Having a dedicated point of contact who can give well-defined expectations ensures the project stays on track without requiring the owner to manage every detail.
Even with strong planning, however, challenges are part of the process.
Handling Challenges During Veterinary Practice Construction
No construction project is without challenges. Delays, changes, and unforeseen challenges are part of building a veterinary clinic. What matters most is how those moments are handled.
“We don’t like to bury problems.”
Clear communication, transparency, and accountability create confidence. When issues arise, and they always will, owners need to understand what happened, what it means, and what needs to happen next.
This level of clarity turns potential setbacks into manageable decisions.
Beyond the build itself, long-term success depends on factors outside the walls of the clinic.
Location and Community Matter for Long-Term Success
Even the best-designed veterinary clinic or pet care facility needs a strong foundation in its community.
Successful startup owners often take an active role in building relationships by connecting with local businesses, engaging with potential new clients, and establishing a presence in the area.
“It’s not as simple as putting that pretty sign outside your space and saying, ‘Now Open!’ You have to be that pillar in the community… and to make yourself be known.”
While every veterinarian approaches this differently, proximity and community involvement often play a meaningful role in early growth.
Ultimately, success comes down to more than just location or design. Success comes down to the team behind the practice.
Building the Right Team to Shape Your Veterinary Practice Build
Starting a veterinary practice is not a solo effort.
The most successful owners surround themselves with experienced partners, including:
- A lender who understands veterinary practice financing
- A real estate partner who knows the market
- A design-build team experienced in veterinary clinic construction
These relationships provide guidance throughout the process. Ownership is about building the right team to navigate the journey.
Connecting Design, Operations, and Growth
This conversation highlights a critical truth: veterinary clinic design is deeply connected to long-term success.
Design influences hiring. Layout impacts efficiency. Construction decisions affect scalability.
At Vetcelerator, we see this as part of a larger system. Growth happens when marketing, operations, and infrastructure align.
When those elements come together, veterinarians are positioned to build a veterinary practice that will grow with them.
