Seller FAQs

Selling your veterinary practice with Veterinary Sales & Consulting

Planning Your Sale

When should I start planning to sell my veterinary practice?

Ideally two to three years before you want to step away. That gives you time to raise profits, clean up your financials and choose the right buyer and transition type. Earlier planning almost always means a better price.

Value is based mainly on your practice’s adjusted earnings, not gross revenue. We rebuild your financials, separate what you earn as a veterinarian from the profit the practice makes as a business, and assign value to goodwill such as your location, reputation and client base. Schedule a free consultation to talk through your practice and whether a Practice Valuation makes sense.
Practices sell on a multiple of earnings, so every extra dollar of yearly profit can add as much as $4 to $5 to your selling price, depending on the practice and the buyer. We review your fee schedule and service codes, find missed charges, set an inventory budget and track associate production so the practice earns what it should before it goes to market.

Usually, yes. Buyers and lenders see more risk when most of the revenue comes from the selling doctor. Adding an associate or relief veterinarian, documenting your systems and building strong staff leadership before the sale all help protect your price.

Usually three years of tax returns and profit and loss statements, practice management software reports such as production by doctor and active clients, payroll records, an equipment list, and your lease or real estate details. We’ll give you a checklist specific to your practice.

It depends on your practice and the services you need. We explain all fees clearly during your free 30-minute consultation, before you commit to anything.

Choosing a Buyer and Selling

Should I sell to a corporate group or a private veterinarian?

Corporate buyers often offer a higher headline price, but deals can include earn-outs tied to future performance, a required employment period and changes to your practice culture. Private veterinarians usually keep the practice independent and the team intact, but they rely on bank financing and sometimes a seller note. We help you compare the full value of each offer, not just the price.

Yes, and it is a common path. Associates often need help with financing and a planned transition. If your associate’s plans change, we can find and pre-qualify new buyers so your exit stays on track.

Not unless you want them to. We market your practice without its name or exact location and only share details with buyers who sign a confidentiality agreement.

We reach out to our network of veterinary buyers, notify registered buyers whose criteria match your practice and market the listing confidentially. Buyers are screened, including their ability to get financing, before they see private details.

Yes. You can sell the real estate with the practice, sell it separately or keep it and lease it to the buyer. Keep the rent at market rate and the lease long enough for the buyer’s lender, since an above-market lease lowers what buyers will pay for the practice.

In an asset sale, the buyer purchases the practice’s assets, such as equipment and goodwill, usually without its past liabilities. In a stock sale, the buyer takes over your company itself. Most veterinary practice sales are asset sales. Each has different tax effects, so involve your CPA early.

Many sales take six months to a year or more from listing to closing. After you accept an offer from an individual buyer, the closing stage alone often takes five to eight months because of due diligence and lender approval. Good preparation shortens the timeline.

After the Sale

Will I have to keep working after the sale?

That depends on the buyer and the deal. Private buyers often ask for a transition period to introduce clients. Corporate buyers commonly require an employment agreement for a set period. You can negotiate these terms before you sign.

In most cases, yes. Buyers want to protect the client base they are paying for, so sellers usually agree not to practice within a certain distance for a set time. Restrictions tied to a sale are generally enforceable when reasonable, and the distance and length are negotiable.

Yes. We guide the sale and negotiate on your behalf, and we work alongside your attorney and CPA. Your CPA is especially important for how the price is split between equipment and goodwill, since that split affects your taxes.

Still have questions? Call us at (888) 462-4047.
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