Many veterinarians are drawn to internal medicine and preventative care, rather than surgical specializations. But while working in an animal hospital, it’s hard to make that distinction. For Dr. Emily Harmon, PetWellClinic® opened a new door in her career development, creating a space for her to thrive as both an entrepreneur and a practicing veterinarian.
Emily Harmon, DVM, is the owner and operator of PetWellClinic® Emory Road in Knoxville, Tennessee. In just three years, Dr. Harmon’s clinic grew to nearly $600,000 in annual gross revenue. From her positive experience as a franchisee, she encourages other veterinarians seeking work-life balance and an impact in their community to consider franchise opportunities with PetWellClinic®.
Finding a Fit with PetWellClinic®
Before opening her own PetWellClinic® franchise, Dr. Emily Harmon imagined her veterinary career would involve working in an animal hospital. She had hesitations, however, about the high emotional demands of surgery and euthanasia and the challenge of finding a work-life balance with the unpredictable schedule of on-call hours. After briefly considering a research career in poultry medicine, Dr. Harmon discovered an opportunity with PetWellClinic®.
“I was first attracted to PetWellClinic® because it really fit the way that I wanted to practice medicine,” Dr. Harmon recalled. After reviewing the financial and logistical details with the PetWellClinic® franchise team, Dr. Harmon and her husband submitted a proposal for an independent PetWellClinic® location in North Knoxville.
The first year was busy with site construction, training at the PetWellClinic® headquarters, hiring, and marketing. While it may seem like a big switch to go from merely practicing veterinary medicine to also managing a business, Dr. Harmon found the transition surprisingly smooth.
“The PetWellClinic® model is structured in such a way that it makes things a lot easier,” Dr. Harmon said. “You get to focus on practicing medicine, connecting with clients, and knowing that the infrastructure and business model are already built out and proven to work. That takes a lot off your plate.”
Impacting the Community
As it turned out, a walk-in vet clinic was exactly what the community needed. Many area pet owners were frustrated with long wait times and inconvenient scheduling at existing animal hospitals, even for something as routine as a rabies vaccine. PetWellClinic® gives pet owners like Emily King and her dog, Maggie, a welcome alternative.
“So many times we hear clients say that they weren’t able to get in with their regular vet, and so they were glad they could come into PetWellClinic® at the last minute when they needed us,” Dr. Harmon explained.
Some of the most common requests from early walk-in clients included vaccines, medications, and check-ups for sudden illnesses. Increasingly, pet owners took interest in wellness packages for convenient preventative care. Much of the clinic’s early growth came from word-of-mouth referrals and repeat customers.
“I know for sure that we have made an impact on pet owners,” Dr. Harmon said. Just three years into ownership, her franchise was seeing more than $50,000 in gross monthly sales.
Practicing Work-Life Balance
For Dr. Harmon, owning a PetWellClinic® franchise has given her more time to pursue her passions outside of animal care.
“Owning a PetWellClinic® gives me more freedom and more flexibility to choose my own schedule and operate the clinic the way I prefer,” she explained. This includes not only taking personal time off but also building deeper connections with her employees and clients than she felt able to do in her previous roles. “Building those relationships has been a really great benefit as well,” she added.
Of course, owning a business has plenty of challenging days, too. When Dr. Harmon has needed additional resources, she’s been grateful for the close support of the PetWellClinic® franchiser team. In addition to a resource library with training manuals and marketing collateral, the operations team provides regular check-in calls and technical support for the clinic’s proprietary software.
“As a veterinarian, you get to handle the medicine, the thing you’re good at and comfortable with, and you have that franchise team to support you as you venture into being a business owner,” she said.
Advice for Veterinarians Considering Franchise Ownership
When asked if she had any advice for veterinary professionals thinking about a similar career move, Dr. Harmon kept it simple: “If you’re thinking about it, you should go for it.”
PetWellClinic® has grown significantly since Dr. Harmon opened her clinic in 2020, and the brand is seeking franchisees to expand to new communities nationwide. Dr. Harmon specifically highlighted the advantages of working with an experienced franchiser team.
“They’re fantastic and very supportive,” she said. “As veterinarians, we’ve been trained in school how to practice veterinary medicine, but maybe not so much on being a business owner.” Having an established business model helps close that gap.
The first step is an introductory call with a Franchise Support Specialist. If you have questions or want to know more about owning and operating a franchise. Get in touch with our team for a friendly, no-obligation overview of your interest and ideal ownership timeline.
Apply for your PetWellClinic® franchise today!
PetWellClinic® offers a new business model and work-life balance for veterinarians passionate about preventative and wellness care. We have locations and services built with convenience in mind, always with no appointment necessary. Apply today to start your franchise ownership journey.