10 Jun 2025
Two entrepreneurial vets share their opinions on how to thrive in your own business, the challenges along the way and the successes they have enjoyed
Vet Times
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Image: Vasyl/ Adobe Stock
No doubt exists of the dynamic changes occurring in the veterinary profession at present, with the multiple challenges of a post-pandemic pet demographic, the cost of living concerns for pet owners and the investigation of the veterinary industry by the Competition and Markets Authority causing shifts in the sector as we know it.
But against this shifting background, entrepreneurial vets are recognising opportunities and forging their own paths into the future by starting their own practices – and they are thriving.
Two inspiring vets describe their motivations for opening their own independent practices, the challenges they have faced along the way and the successes they have enjoyed.
Both are members of the Vetsure network, which supports and champions independent veterinary practices by sharing knowledge, expertise and fostering genuine collaboration.
They also share their thoughts on the future of independent veterinary practices, their place in serving their communities and the opportunity for choice in the industry, both for vet professionals and animal owners.
Q: What motivated you to start your own practice?
A: My parents were medical professionals, so I grew up seeing the positive impact providing care and support for others can have. I have always felt that caring for pets was more than just about looking after animals.
I love that, together with our amazing team, we have been able to create a practice where we have the autonomy to deliver our kind of support to owners.
Providing an environment for the team to experience the “I love my job” feeling, so they can be the best veterinary professionals possible, is a huge source of happiness and professional satisfaction for me.
Q: What is the biggest challenge or setback you have faced along the way and how have you tackled it?
A: The biggest challenge has been to navigate balancing having three small children as well as devoting time to the practice. My husband is a huge support, and I am also lucky to have an excellent network in the Vet Mums Who Own peer group of women, all leading their own practices, to turn to for advice.
This collective of inspiring women is a powerhouse when it comes to support for each other and offering help on what can, at times, be a very challenging journey.
Q: What do you consider to be your top success and what have you learned from this?
A: I think our greatest success is measured by what our clients say about the care they experience with us. Our Google reviews are all five star and total more than 130, which for a practice that is less than 18 months old is pretty amazing.
Joy and sparkle emanate throughout the practice, and it feels so good to have been able to create this for the team and clients alike.
Ultimately, it leads to better care for our patients because when you feel good, you can do good.
Q: How do you see independent veterinary practice developing over the coming years?
A: As society gets increasingly disconnected, I hope that independent practices can continue to be integral parts of their communities, offering connection, support and care, not just for the pets we look after, but caring for the families those pets are at the heart of, as well.
After all, there is no greater privilege than making a positive difference in someone else’s life, and that is why I Iove doing what we do at Nightingale Vets so much.
Q: What motivated you to start your own practice?
A: The biggest motivation for setting up my own practice was the realisation of the opportunity itself.
If I went back a few years, I was ambling along at work, and I would never have had the inclination to consider setting up my own practice. A few things happened, which then allowed me the space to consider things differently, and with some self-belief, a smidge of luck and a lot of hard work, MSEV came to life.
I am a bit of an all rounder, and there are so many varied elements to setting up a veterinary practice that being able to turn your hand to anything is very helpful. Clinical work comes first, but being a good clinician is not enough on its own.
It has been – and still is – extremely hard work, but I have really enjoyed being my own boss and having financial independence, and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone else with the same skills.
Q: What is the biggest challenge or setback you have faced along the way and how have you tackled it?
A: Thankfully, there have been no disasters or major setbacks. The biggest challenge is trying to keep everything moving forward in an optimal way, balancing the needs of all the different aspects of the business. For example, do we save up to buy a piece of equipment or do we need it more urgently and finance it? What are the cash flow and turnover implications of this decision?
The finite resources of a new practice make these decisions very important and there are serious implications to getting this wrong.
We have expanded quickly and acquired a large volume of equipment, but in a sustainable way, using a mixture of approaches to make sure we have a healthy business going forward.
Having said that, we still have the usual day to day challenges, like vets blowing out multiple tyres on their cars at once and the phones going down for a whole day.
Q: What do you consider to be your top success, and what have you learned from this?
A: In the 10 months MSEV has been trading, we have built a well-equipped and experienced equine practice with a large client base, and we are taking on another vet this summer. If you asked me a year ago where we would be after 10 months, it would be miles behind where we are. I am very proud of that.
One thing I have learned to do is to make sure I give myself a little space to get my head up to look forward and think about the bigger picture. The demands of the day-to-day clinical work often prevent this, but it is critical to keep everything moving in the direction you want.
Another area we are very proud of is a much smaller and niche part of our practice. We also provide veterinary services for zoo animals and as part of this we look after nearly all the female polar bears in the UK. We are very proud to be part of the conservation and management of this species, and are actively involved in collecting data from various clinical areas for future publication to aid decision making in conservation in the future.
Q: What is your vision of the future for independent veterinary practices?
A: My belief is that the future for independent veterinary practice is as good as it has ever been since 1999, when the law was changed regarding practice ownership.
I am not alone in this belief, as I have several vet friends who have also recognised the potential opportunities and have set up a practice. They are all doing very well, with a healthy demand for their services.
We are all finding that there is a good level of public sentiment in favour of independent practice at the moment.
I have never worked for a corporate practice, so I do not know much about how they operate, but I think it is good to have choice within the industry, both from a professional perspective and an animal-owner perspective.
As a practice, we engage with corporate-owned referral practices when required and it seems to work well.
Ultimately, I think both models will persist, but perhaps the proportions of each will change again over time.
Independent practice owners and members of the Vetsure network, including Emily Nightingale, have collaborated in a new interactive ebook, How to Thrive as an Independent Vet Practice – A Vet’s Guide to Success. The guide is aimed at established practices, new start ups and those who may be thinking about setting up a practice. It includes practical information, videos and first-hand advice from independent practice leaders who have already walked the path. Click here to download it.
