Why Most Practice Owners Struggle Without Business Training

Ninety-eight percent of private practice owners I speak with have never had any formal business training. They went to vet school, became great doctors, and thought the next step was to open a practice. Buy a brick and mortar, hang a sign, and be the neighborhood vet. Sound familiar?

On the surface, it makes sense. You love animals, you have medical training, and you see other vets owning practices. But there is a piece missing in that picture, and it is the business side.

The Eight-Year Delay

What I am seeing, through hundreds of conversations with owners, is that many should have reached out for professional advice years earlier. On average, it takes about eight years before they finally decide to get help.

To be fair, IVMS has not been around for eight years. But when I look at when owners contact me, it has usually taken that long for them to realize they need a partner in their journey. Some have even been in business for twenty-five years or more.

Here is what shocks me most. Many do not know what their payroll costs are each month. Some do not even know what they are paying in rent. And for those who own their building, they often have not normalized the rent expense to track it properly.

Succession planning?

For many, the plan is simply to say, “Oh, the next vet will buy it.” That is not a plan at all.

I wrote an article about when to start planning for succession here.

Why Knowing Your Numbers Matters

Not understanding your practice numbers is a big mistake. You do not need to be a financial expert, but you must know the basics. The fundamentals. The key numbers that show you where your practice stands today and where it needs to improve.

Yes, you can outsource accounting. You can hire professionals for tax planning, HR, and even inventory. But you cannot outsource your understanding of your own practice. You must know the basics well enough to make informed decisions.

The Call for Help

When owners finally call me, it usually is not about something small like fixing inventory. That is easy. Instead, the conversations often sound like this:

“I do not know what I am doing. I have been winging it for years. I am not making a profit. My technician makes more than I do. I do not know how to fix it. I am ready to close my doors.”

There are two types of emails I get.

The first one usually sounds like this:

“I can’t even find time for myself to grieve the loss of my heart dog, let alone get a meeting for my practice. I am strongly considering closing the practice or selling and leaving vet med. I am tired of being the only one that cares.”

Then there is the second kind.

“Rhys, I just wanted to thank you. From the bottom of my heart, you saved my practice. Last year my accountant told me that if I had another year like that, I would have to close. I did not know what I was doing. One very late night I came across your post on Facebook and decided to reach out. That phone call changed my business life. Now I have money in the bank, and I owe it to you. I turned my first year with a profit, and it is because of you. Thank you so much.”

That email is why I do this work.

These emails were not from the same person. Not everyone who reaches out ends up joining the workshop, but those who do completely change their story. They go from barely holding on to building a practice that works without them. They rediscover why they opened their doors in the first place.

Proactive vs Reactive

In all honesty, I do not want owners to call me only at their lowest point. I want them to be proactive, not reactive.

When someone reaches out in crisis, the first year is often spent fixing what is broken. We need to dismantle old habits, rebuild the foundation, and only then can we move forward. That is twelve months of hard work just to get back to a solid baseline.

If instead you are proactive, we can build from strength rather than from weakness. We can plan for growth, design better systems, and create a practice that thrives instead of one that struggles.

You Are Not Alone

If you are feeling overwhelmed, if you feel lost, you are not alone. Many owners before you have been in the same place. They have felt the same stress, the same exhaustion, and the same doubt. And many have come out stronger by seeking help.

Everything can be fixed if you are willing to put in the work. Nothing is too far gone. But the key is to take that first step and start the conversation.

Why I Exist

My twelve-month program means I am with you every step of the way. I am not a consultant who drops in for a week and disappears. I walk with you, side by side, as we rebuild your practice, your systems, and your confidence.

That is why I exist. To help practice owners move from survival to stability and from stability to growth.

Do not be afraid. Do not feel embarrassed. Your team needs you. Your community needs you. And you need a better way of operating.

Reach out to me today, and let us start that conversation.