Owning a veterinary practice can feel like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Between patient care, client communication, staffing, finances, inventory, and the daily fires that pop up, it’s no wonder many owners find themselves stretched thin. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to do it all. That’s where a qualified practice manager comes in. When you learn to trust, empower, and collaborate with them, your practice and your sanity can thrive.

A strong practice manager is a professional, dependable, self-starter who understands the unique challenges of veterinary medicine. They aren’t just there to “fill in the gaps,” they’re there to take the operational weight off your shoulders so you can focus on what you love most: practicing medicine. When you give your manager clear direction about what falls under their responsibilities, and you back them up when they make decisions, they can step confidently into their role. Done right, this partnership creates a balance that benefits your entire team and your clients.

Think about some of the areas that tend to drain your time and energy or that you just don’t like doing. Hiring and training staff, keeping payroll accurate, managing vendor relationships, ensuring your hospital is stocked with the right supplies, and navigating client concerns are just a few examples. A capable manager can take ownership of these. Instead of spending your lunch break fixing a schedule snafu or fielding a vendor call, you could actually enjoy that lunch (or, in reality, catch up on medical records or see another patient).

And here’s something important to remember: you don’t need to hand over everything all at once. Building trust is a process, and it’s perfectly fine to start with a handful of responsibilities and gradually add more as your confidence in your manager grows. This steady transition allows you to see their strengths in action while easing your own comfort level. Over time, you’ll find yourself letting go of more tasks because you’ll see firsthand that they’re being handled well.

A dependable manager doesn’t need to be micromanaged. They’ll notice when inventory costs creep too high, when employee morale dips, or when a policy needs adjusting, and they’ll proactively bring solutions to the table. They’ll meet with vendors to negotiate better terms, step in when a client billing issue arises, and work alongside your technicians to make sure the schedule runs smoothly. In other words, they’ll keep the practice moving forward while you focus on practicing high-quality medicine.

Trust, of course, is the key ingredient. If your team sees you questioning every decision your manager makes or overriding them constantly, they’ll quickly learn that the manager’s role isn’t really supported, and that can erode the very efficiency you’re trying to build. Instead, when you set expectations clearly and then support your manager when they make calls, you empower them to grow into the leader your practice needs. Over time, that trust will free you up in ways you might not have thought possible.

Veterinary practice ownership doesn’t have to feel like a never-ending juggling act. With the right manager in place, you can step away from the whirlwind of operations and focus on patients, clients, and your own professional satisfaction. The balance is absolutely possible; it just takes the right person in the right role, and the willingness to trust them.

If you’re ready to elevate your practice by hiring or developing a qualified practice manager, or if you’d like some guidance on what to look for when interviewing for that role, I’m here to help. Building the right partnership could be one of the smartest investments you ever make in your practice and in yourself.

Written by Meghan Bingham, CVPM