I had my job meeting this morning. I knew that he was being too agreeable. He brought an offer to the table that I was totally not expecting. He’s a terrible businessman. He hates everything to do with it. His wife is a year away from retirement. His last kid is a junior in college. Do I want to lease his practice and hire him part-time?
I don’t know. The space the practice is in is way too small and there is no parking. I’m not in a position to buy a new building right now. I don’t know that the practice is profitable enough to support it. But I’ve wanted to be in charge for a while. This is a way to get control of a practice without having to buy it outright. If it doesn’t work out I surrender the lease and walk away.
I recommended that he contact a nationally known veterinary business management company that happens to be located nearby. I explained that they were the people who write columns in a well known veterinary business journal that is sent free to all clinics. He said that he never reads that one. I refrained from saying that I wasn’t surprised. This company does evaluations of vet clinics and tells you how to work smarter. He said he would contact them. This is a man who I once had to wait several months to get a printout off his computer. I was shocked when he called me two hours after our meeting and said that he had a meeting set up for 3/24. He must be motivated this time.
It is a lot to think about and I don’t know quite what to think. After the meeting I had some time before I had to go to work so I went to a local bike path to walk and think. I passed a church sign that said, “Don’t be afraid of the mountain. Start climbing.” Is that my literal sign from God?
Hi,
I’m also one of those veterinary business mgmt types who write articles in well known veterinary business magazines… saw your blog completely by accident.
I would strongly encourage you to engage your own advisory team before you get involved in any negotiation of this sort.
Good luck!