Whether you’re a new veterinarian looking to start your career or an experienced associate seeking a fresh opportunity, one of your earliest and most pivotal decisions is whether to work in a corporate or private veterinary practice. Each setting comes with unique advantages and disadvantages and caters to different professional aspirations and personal preferences. Understanding what each practice type offers can help you make the best decision.

Corporate veterinary practice: Advantages 

As of 2023, 25% of all general practices and 75% of specialty hospitals in the United States were corporate-owned, ensuring that the average veterinarian’s job search would include one or more consolidated practices.1 Advantages to working for a larger entity will naturally vary by company and location but may include:

  • Structured support and resources — Corporate practices often provide robust structured support systems, including standardized protocols, administrative assistance, and access to advanced technology and equipment. This can streamline operations, eliminate guesswork, and enhance efficiency and patient care.
  • Career development opportunities — Many corporate entities offer the benefits of a larger network, which creates built-in opportunities for professional mentorship, structured career tracks, specialization, practice partnerships, leadership positions, and access to ongoing continuing education.
  • Financial stability — Larger corporate practices may offer more competitive salaries, benefits packages, and the potential for bonuses or profit-sharing arrangements. This financial stability can provide peace of mind for early career veterinarians who are juggling large student loans.

Corporate veterinary practice: Disadvantages 

Despite potentially significant financial advantages, only 12% of surveyed veterinarians indicate they would prefer working in a corporate setting.1 Commonly cited cons to working in a corporate role include:

  • Less medical autonomy — Under the umbrella of a larger organization, a veterinarian’s decisions may be centralized, limiting autonomy over medical protocols, treatment plans, and client interactions. This can lead to significant frustration and decreased job satisfaction. 
  • Unhealthy corporate culture — The corporate practice culture can vary widely depending on the organization. Some may prioritize profits over patient care and push associates to generate ever-higher revenue per patient, leading to potential ethical dilemmas or personal values conflicts.
  • Decreased community involvement — Corporate clinics may not be involved in their local communities or emphasize the personalized client relationships that smaller private practices often cultivate. This can result in a more transactional feel and a somewhat sterile culture.

Private veterinary practice: Advantages

Privately owned practices, such as Family Veterinary Care of Oakdale, remain the preferred workplace for 55% of surveyed veterinarians.1 These often locally owned entities are traditionally smaller, but they provide distinct advantages in the David-versus-Goliath battle of private versus corporate practice. These advantages include:  

  • Medical and professional autonomy — Working in private practice allows associate veterinarians greater control over their medical decisions, treatment plans, and client interactions. This autonomy can foster professional satisfaction and fulfillment, as well as innovation and team collaboration.
  • Strong and loyal client relationships — Private practices often excel in building long-term relationships with clients and their pets. This personalized approach and consistent interaction and engagement create a caring, familial environment in the clinic and close partnerships in the surrounding community. 
  • Vibrant, deep-seated culture and values — Private practices tend to have a richer, more personalized, and well-defined practice culture unified around the clinic’s mission and values. This can create a supportive work environment where veterinarians and team members feel equally valued and integral to the practice’s success.

Private veterinary practice: Disadvantages

As with any small business, working in a privately owned practice has distinct downsides, such as:

  • Financial challenges — Independently owned practices may face financial constraints compared with larger corporate entities. This can impact salary levels, benefits packages, and access to expensive medical equipment or technology.
  • Limited resources — Private practices may have fewer resources and administrative support compared with corporate practices. Others may run on “outdated” technology or offer fewer services to limit expenses or save space, which provides fewer in-house learning opportunities and a less diverse caseload.
  • Career advancement — Private practice growth opportunities may be limited or less structured compared with corporate settings, which can reduce job satisfaction. Individuals who seek specialized training or specific career progression may need to pursue external educational opportunities.

While these disadvantages can be concerning—especially in contrast to the big-name appeal of a corporate entity—it’s important to remember that compensation and career opportunities at larger companies are not immune to unexpected shifts and limitations.

Private versus corporate? The choice is yours

Ultimately, the decision between corporate and private veterinary practice is yours to make in a way that aligns with your career goals, values, learning needs, and personal preferences. 

At Family Veterinary Care of Oakdale, we’re privately owned and passionately focused on providing exceptional veterinary care in a supportive and collaborative atmosphere where veterinarians can thrive professionally and personally. We have a leadership team who cares for you, so you can care for your patients and clients. Also, we merge corporate rewarding incentives, comprehensive services, and state-of-the-art capabilities with the warm, familiar, and cohesive feel of a proudly owned private practice.

If you’re passionate about growing your skills as a new veterinarian, building lasting connections with clients, or seeking autonomy in medical decision-making, we invite you to join our team! Click here to view the full job description and apply online!