5 Reasons Veterinary Professionals Don’t Start an Online Business (and How to Overcome Them)
Sep 18, 2025
More and more veterinary professionals are thinking about creating online businesses, whether that’s digital products, memberships, or education for pet owners. The appeal is obvious: more flexibility, extra income, and the chance to help pets and people on a bigger scale.
But even with all those benefits, many never take the leap. Why? Here are the five biggest reasons I hear from veterinary professionals, and what to do about them.
1. “I don’t know where to start.”
The online space can feel overwhelming. Websites, social media, email lists, digital products… it’s a lot. And when you don’t know the first step, it’s tempting to put the whole idea on hold.
The fix: Start small. You don’t need a perfect website or a complicated funnel. The very first step is choosing your niche, deciding who you want to help and what problem you’ll solve. Once you know that, the rest starts to fall into place.
2. “What if I fail (or look silly)?”
As veterinary professionals, we’re trained to get things right. The idea of launching something that doesn’t work, or worse, being judged by colleagues, can feel terrifying.
The fix: Reframe failure. An online business isn’t about getting it perfect from day one, it’s about testing, learning, and adjusting. Every “failure” is just data that points you closer to what works. And remember: most people are cheering for you, not judging you.
3. “I don’t have time.”
Between clinic hours, admin, CPD, family, and maybe even managing your own practice, time is the number one barrier for most vet pros.
The fix: Focus on high-impact, bite-sized actions. You don’t need 20 hours a week to build an online business, you need consistency. Even setting aside 30 minutes a day to work on your project can move you forward. Start with tasks that directly build income (like creating your first digital product), not the ones that just keep you busy.
4. “I’m not business-minded.”
We’re trained to treat animals, not to sell or market. It’s easy to feel like you don’t have the skills to run an online business.
The fix: Remember that business skills can be learned (just like anatomy or rehab protocols). Start simple. You don’t need to be a marketing expert, you just need to understand your audience’s problems and explain how you can help. That’s all business really is: solving problems for people who need solutions.
5. “I need everything to be perfect before I launch.”
Many vet professionals delay launching because they think they need a polished website, 10 products, and a full marketing plan before they can begin.
The fix: Done is better than perfect. Your first product doesn’t have to be huge. In fact, the simpler it is, the quicker you’ll learn what your audience actually wants. Create something small, get it out there, and refine as you go.
The Bottom Line
If you’ve been dreaming about starting an online business, chances are one (or more) of these objections has been holding you back. But here’s the truth: you don’t have to have it all figured out to begin. You just have to take the first step.
The veterinary world needs your voice, your expertise, and your solutions. And building online income streams can give you the flexibility and freedom you’ve been craving.
So, what’s really stopping you?