Having received the diploma, I worked for three years in the clinic and in the veterinary institute. Get medical experience and work under the guidance of mature doctors is important, because it helps not to reinvent the wheel. At the same time, one must be careful not to fall under the influence of any questionable medical approaches. For example, some veterinarians believe that the more injections the animal does, the better it will be.
Many, the hero of our article notes, in pursuit of good money, immediately start their own business, but without the proper experience, they risk to fail in connection with medical mistakes and distrust from clients.
I created the IP in 1999. Then the time was special, I had practically no initial capital. The equipment of the clinic was made from improvised materials. In 2007, I bought a private house near the road in the Privolzhsky district in the village of Mirny, and there we equipped a veterinary clinic. At first we were limited in means and did not have large supplies of medicines: I bought one small box of vaccines as needed. But gradually the profit began to grow, we were able to buy more expensive drugs, more expensive equipment. For all our history we have changed three rooms, now we are quite comfortable working in the village of Mirny.
How to assess potential demand?
Demand, according to Birev, in this market is always good. For example: 18 years ago in Kazan there were 13 clinics, 4 of them – state, and now there are only 45 clinics in the city! It can be assumed that a similar trend is seen in other large cities of Russia.
If in rural areas people treat animals more simply, then in cities animals are like children. It’s a friend, a family member, and a companion – people are very attached to them. Therefore, they are ready to do everything to cure their dear friend.
In urban conditions, people often house dogs and cats. They are brought to the vet and monkeys, ravens, turtles, parrots, but many of them, especially hamsters and rats, can be rather difficult to help: their life span is small – about three years, they are hard to diagnose.
The veterinarian notes that at present the people’s interest has shifted towards decorative rocks: if in the 1990s it was prestigious to keep a dog or rottweiler in the apartment, now everyone has switched to small dogs, thankfully, many new breeds have appeared, some of which, incidentally , are not expensive – from 60 to 120 thousand rubles!
The first is universal clinics, which are relatively accessible to all segments of the population. This category includes the clinic of the hero of our article. The second is specialized clinics where expensive equipment is present. These are more profiled clinics. Naturally, the cost of services in this clinic is many times higher. I must say that the first niche, unlike the second, never suffers from lack of demand.
Often today, veterinary clinics are opened not by doctors, but by people who have the means. But such clinics work in the calculation of the reputation of a certain doctor. But, the hero of the article points out, in this case the clinic is in a dangerous situation, since the investor requires a monetary return, and the doctor is forced to adhere to the quotations that the investor «lets down» him. But in the conditions of Russian reality, where, unlike abroad, there is no animal insurance, far from everyone can afford an expensive treatment for their pet.
It is very important to build relationships with customers, make friends with them – this will ensure that the person returns to you. And before there is a stable client base, you still have to use dumping to attract people to yourself. Because at present, thanks to the Internet, some people, choosing where to lead for the treatment of their pet, call different clinics, compare prices, methods. It is also good to have friendships with animal welfare organizations and dog breeding clubs that can provide you with patients even when other clinics are experiencing a seasonal decline.
Arkady Birev, founder of the veterinary clinic «VetSovet»
People of different social strata come to us. It can be both modest retirees, and very wealthy people. Because in love of animals all are equal. I remember the case when a man in a jersey fell into the office, he said that the horse was ill. I decided that this is a hard worker from the village, for whom this horse is the only nurse. But when we went outside to go to his village, I saw a jeep. We arrived at his own stables, where the horses are worth fabulous money. Therefore, in appearance, I now do not judge customers – it is deceptive.
Investment size
The area is about 100 square meters. in rent in such a million-strong city as Kazan will cost about 60 thousand rubles a month. Also you need to buy the minimum equipment, appliances, medicines, a refrigerator for vaccines, furniture – tables, chairs, cabinets, make a reception, install a computer for recording. Of course, some technique at first can be brought from home, but not furniture – it should be washable.
If you yourself are a practicing veterinarian, then you need to hire two more doctors. One can not work alone – you need someone to replace you in case of illness, vacation, unforeseen everyday circumstances. Therefore, the cost of salary, too, you need to make a business plan – it’s about 30-40 thousand rubles a month per person.
As for advertising, then, says Arkady Birev, a pointer on the road – this is the best advertisement for the vet clinic. Because people go to the veterinarian when there is a need, that is, in the case of an animal disease. At other times, advertising on radio or television is skipped past the ears and eyes. When the pet feels bad, then go where it is closer, or call friends who also have animals.
Of course, at the beginning of the activity it is necessary to post some information about yourself in the media, if funds permit. But it is better to spend a small amount on this and give preference to Internet advertising, the creation of a site or a group in social networks. That is, advertising at the beginning of the activity can be effective if it works on the terrain around the clinic, on the district. You can place advertisements on information stands in the entrances and elevators. Also, they are good at attracting communication customers with clubs of dog breeders or cat lovers.
When I opened the clinic, we worked together with my wife. Gradually, the clients became larger, and we were able to take two more doctors. Then we did not get back on track, the doctors at that time had no reputation and clients, so we had to work only to pay them a salary. But these doctors allowed the clinic to work constantly. I decided to advertise, but the effect from it was almost zero. Therefore, I believe that the best advertising is a well-executed work, as a result of which the animal recovered in the shortest possible time.
I remember they phoned me and asked me to come and examine the dog. I promised to inspect it tomorrow, but the clients did not wait and went to another clinic, because in a month they had to fly to Italy. In this clinic, the dog was treated for three weeks without result. As a result, they came to me again, I examined the dog and found a needle in her mouth, which was the reason for her illness. Three days later the dog was healthy. Such small victories create a reputation. They are heard by people who have animals.
Personal experience
One grandmother took the cat to a private clinic, a cat stuck in her throat. In the clinic, she was called a high price for the operation. She cried all the way home on the bus, and one of the passengers advised her to turn to me. I operated on a cat, and my grandmother paid off for the operation gradually, by installments.
Where can I find funds for opening a clinic?
One friend tried to save money and open a clinic, but he never accumulated, and never opened the clinic. Therefore, I advise you to jump into the water and learn to swim in this way. «You can take a bank loan, but it’s better if you get acquainted with money without interest. Taking a person in a share is not a good idea, because if at the beginning 10% of the proceeds you can give with ease, then as profits grow, interest will also increase.
As for running costs, they will average 200-300 thousand rubles a month. They include a salary for staff – for doctors this is 30-40 thousand rubles, administrators – 20 thousand, cleaners – 10 thousand. You can enter the interest rate, but, according to the hero of our article, this can worsen the quality of work, since people will be targeted at the number of procedures and clients. Communal payments in the winter are about 7 thousand rubles, in the summer – 3-4 thousand rubles. Also here is rent, purchase of medicines. By the way, it is not necessary to buy medicines in large volumes, they are always available at wholesale bases nowadays. It is also reasonable from the point of view that they may have a shelf life. It is necessary to take into account tax payments – on average they are 60 thousand rubles per quarter. And, of course, you need to invest in development,
Step-by-step instruction
The search for suppliers and counterparties will not take much time – their choice is wide, and if you have a TIN and OGRN, that is, you are registered as an IP or LLC, then they are ready to compete with each other for the right of cooperation with you.
Personal experience
We order different medications in different companies. Some bring it yourself, it’s convenient if you do not have time. In some firms I make purchases for a large amount, and I am deferred for a while.
What kind of staff do you need to work? For the normal functioning of the clinic, at least three specialists are needed so that they can substitute for each other. As you grow, you can come to the clinic at the same time conducted the reception of the surgeon and therapist, as well as the attendant staff. If you are confident in your abilities as an expert, you can invite students to practice and train them «for yourself.»
Our team is established. There is no flow. Young guys came to us as students, and it so happened that after the graduation from the university they stayed with us, we prepared them for them. If the doctor comes with his approach, which is not close to us, it will be more difficult, it needs to be retrained. It happens that they call us, say they graduated from the university, have a diploma, but they are completely green, without experience it is dangerous to take them directly to the staff, because a person should have established approaches to animals, since our profession is very traumatic. Animals are afraid, they throw themselves, sometimes they have to cover them with a sweatshirt and do a soothing injection.
Higher education institutions, as a rule, put emphasis on training specialists for the treatment of productive animals – cows, pigs, horses, etc. The department of small domestic animals is far from every veterinary institute. Agriculture needs veterinarians, but young people are not eager to connect their life with the village, especially since now 80% of students of specialized universities are girls who plan to stay in the city and work in warm clinics for a good salary.
Organizing your work, you need to understand that the clinic should work daily. Most visitors come on Saturday and Sunday, when they are free from official duties and can devote time to their animal and stay with him at home after the operation. Also, the influx of visitors is in the evenings on weekdays – then be prepared to stay until 10-11 pm, because you do not expel a person sitting in line with a sick animal in his arms when the time comes to close!
A place
It is important to understand where it is best to open a clinic. It is wise not to open up where there is already a large accumulation of clinics. It is also wrong to go to remote areas if you do not have a ready-made client base, through which people will come to you, wherever you work. Therefore, the advice is this: if you want to win new customers, it’s best to find a free place, and people living next to you will come to you.
Veterinary clinic is usually chosen, guided by the following two points. The first is the recommendation of acquaintances. The second is the proximity to the house. I opened in the Volga region. There were private houses around, so they brought me dogs, cats, and domestic cattle. Therefore, one must be ready to help productive animals.
When you open a clinic, you have to go through the approval procedures with the regulatory authorities. However, the requirements are now much milder than, for example, when our hero opened his clinic, so most clinics are created on the ground floors in residential buildings, which was not allowed before. The room should have washable floors and walls, so that it can be disinfected, there must be a sewage system, water supply, a certain quality of illumination. It also requires a separate entrance to the clinic and parking.
Documentation
Licensing of the activities of the veterinary clinic is not required today, only a certificate of state registration of the legal entity is needed. After registration of the IP it is necessary to obtain approval from the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station – Rospotrebnadzor and Rosselkhoznadzor, it is necessary to conclude contracts for waste disposal, disinfection and so on.
We do not put sticks in the wheels. The main thing is that there should be no censure from the population. The activity of the vet clinic is under the control of the state veterinary service, before which one must periodically report on individual procedures (vaccinations, rabies and infectious diseases). Be prepared to be invited to participate in activities, for example, vaccinate animals free of charge during an epidemic threat.
Check-list of opening
- Analysis of the market and competitors (range of services, prices, personnel, etc.),
- Choice of assortment of services,
- Search for a room,
- Evaluation of the rental location, the choice of the best option,
- Conclusion of the lease agreement,
- Registration of IP or LLC, registration with the tax inspection, obtaining permits from regulatory authorities,
- Search for employees, interviews, selection of candidates,
- Scheduling shifts,
- Making a loan (if necessary),
- The order of equipment, medicines, tools, furniture and interior items,
- Repair work (if necessary),
- Development and coordination of the signboard, its installation,
- A small advertising company in the area – signs, leaflets, Internet advertising,
- Opening.
Is it profitable to open
The factor of seasonality affects the work of veterinary clinics. As jokingly calls these seasons Arkady Birov – «Season of screaming cats» (in March), «Season flying cat» (as from the open in the spring and curious pets fall out of windows in summer). As a rule, the most active time comes in April-May and August-September. But for the rest of the time there is a demand – vaccinations, prevention, injuries, wounds, bites, fractures, infections do not depend on the time of the year.
The first year the clinic works with difficulty, the second year is more cheerful, the third year is already comfortable. That is, we can say that in three years the path is protoptan. And if you do not make wrong steps like a sharp jump in prices, even during the economic crisis you will be able to work stably and confidently.
