Practice ownership is still possible, but the path is changing

A new Uncharted Veterinary Community podcast takes on a question many associates are asking more openly: is practice ownership still realistic, or is it smarter to buy, start, or simply stay put? In the episode, Dr. Andy Roark and hospital-growth leader Roy Jane frame ownership as a live career decision rather than a nostalgic ideal, at a time when independent practice remains common but the economics around it are getting harder to navigate. AVMA’s 2025 economic report shows most practices in its 2024 Practice Owners Survey were still independently owned, while new-graduate debt rose again in 2024, with average DVM debt reaching $168,979 across all graduates and $202,647 among those carrying debt. (ebusiness.avma.org)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the conversation lands in the middle of two real pressures: rising debt, and a changing ownership landscape that does not always feel voluntary from the associate side. In another Uncharted episode, Dr. Gene Bauer described learning his longtime practice had been sold only after the deal was done, a scenario that captures how ownership transitions can abruptly reshape career paths for clinicians who are not the ones at the negotiating table. AVMA has previously reported that the share of veterinarians identifying as owners fell from 47% in 2008 to 42% in 2018, and newer industry discussion suggests consolidation has cooled somewhat as borrowing costs rose, reopening interest in independent ownership for some clinicians. At the same time, practice ownership still tends to offer higher earnings than associate roles, but it also demands business fluency, access to financing, and tolerance for operational risk. That makes the buy-versus-start-versus-stay decision less about ideology and more about timing, mentorship, capital readiness, and how much control a veterinarian wants over what happens when ownership changes. (avma.org; ebusiness.avma.org)

What to watch: Expect more attention on ownership pathways that lower barriers for associates, including fellowships, shared-equity models, lender-backed education, and owner-focused training events such as Uncharted’s Practice Owner Summit, which reflects the growing market for practical business education aimed at turning interested clinicians into first-time buyers or better-prepared future partners. (avma.org; unchartedvet.com)