Buying a Veterinary Practice or Pet Care Business

As much as we'd like to accept every opportunity that is presented to us, we focus on the ones that we are confident we can successfully sell, obtain financing and close the transaction successfully.

The main reasons we must decline a listing are:

1. Seller has unrealistic expectations of the value of the business and/or real estate
2. Business does not generate enough cash flow to support seller’s value expectation
3. Landlords (for various reasons)
4. Low revenues, small facility, low occupancy / capacity
5. Business is not in compliance with zoning or licensing (or there are considerable limitations)
6. Business is very owner dependent and lacks staffing (i.e. the owner IS the business)
7. Property has a lot of deferred maintenance or considerable structural issues

We take pride in our exceptional success rate of 96% (we sell 96% of listings we market).  As a reference point, the sales rate of businesses on the market is a meager 20% to 30% (Source: Exit Planning Institute).

‍We contribute our noteworthy success rate to the fact that we are experts in the pet care industry. We know how to price & position a listing properly, we use our proprietary, proven strategy in the sales process and have longstanding relationships with both corporate and private buyers of pet care businesses.

Click here for a list of states in which we can accept a listing.

Most pet care businesses or veterinary hospitals are NOT sold to a buyer in your immediate area or even the state.  Our record shows that most pet care facilities are sold to an out-of-state buyer or a corporate buying group. This is especially true for pet boarding kennels that have real estate (and a residence) included.

Any specialty business will not sell by simply listing it on the regional MLS; that system is meant to sell residential real estate.

Due to our specialty and expertise, serious buyers seek us out for quality opportunities.

Unfortunately, a buyer’s inability to secure financing is one of the top reasons a pet care business not represented by an experienced broker (FSBO or generic agent), doesn't sell. It is imperative the seller understands how these 'special use' properties are financed and that the business is positioned accordingly on the market.

During the initial listing analysis process, we dissect the transaction from all angles to determine how the sale can be financed and educate the seller of how lending terms affect a sale to ensure a successful close.

Marriage between a solid business and a solid buyer will secure financing. We have strong relationships with lending partners and excel in obtaining financing; as a matter of fact, an overwhelming majority of our sales are financed with a bank loan allowing our client, the seller, to get all cash at closing.

Please visit Financing page for more information.

Confidentiality is of utmost importance to us.  We believe that it's in the seller's best interest to keep a pending sale confidential until closing; this prevents staff and clients from getting concerned.  Through non-specific, blind, advertising, buyer pre-screening and requiring every prospect to sign a Non Disclosure Agreement, we are able to sell your business while maintaining complete confidentiality.

A realistic timeframe for selling a pet business from date of listing to closing depends if it's being sold to a private or corporate buyer. The M&A sales to corporate buyers go fast, in under 3 months. Private buyer sales process depends on the market, currently, we're seeing timelines between 3 to 6 months from listing to closing.

A properly presented business with a defendable pricing structure will sell quickly in any economic environment.

No, we charge the same fees as other business brokers and M&A firms; fees vary depending on the type and size of the transaction.  In the listing analysis phase you are provided a fully transparent 'net sheet' that shows all expenses involved in closing the sale, including our commission.