McMakin Veterinary Consulting Group, LLC

06/01/2026

I'm excited to share that I'll be speaking at NAVC HiVE East on August 1–2!

I'll be presenting two sessions focused on helping veterinary practices thrive:

📊 The Financial Pulse of a Healthy Veterinary Practice
Explore the key financial indicators that drive long-term practice success and sustainability.

⚙️ Fixing the Busy – Practical Operations Strategies for a More Efficient Veterinary Practice
Learn actionable strategies to improve workflows, reduce inefficiencies, and create a more productive, less stressful practice environment.

Whether you're a practice owner, manager, or veterinary leader, I look forward to sharing practical tools you can put to work right away.

If you'll be attending NAVC HiVE East, I'd love to connect!

05/05/2026

A recent article from Today’s Veterinary Business highlights an encouraging shift in our profession: the revival of independently owned veterinary practices.

After years of rapid consolidation and corporate growth, the industry is evolving. While corporate groups have brought capital, technology, and scale, they’ve also revealed gaps in areas like personalized care, culture, and community connection. At the same time, rising interest rates and changing economic conditions are slowing acquisition activity—creating new space for independent practices to thrive again.

The article emphasizes that independent ownership still offers what many veterinarians value most:
• Autonomy in medical decision-making
• Strong client relationships and community roots
• The ability to build long-term value and a meaningful career

And perhaps most importantly—the current environment presents a real opportunity for a resurgence of independent practice ownership when paired with the right strategy and support.

At MVCG, we believe independent practices aren’t just viable—they’re essential to the future of veterinary medicine.

That’s why we partner with practice owners to strengthen operations, improve profitability, and create sustainable growth—so they can maintain their independence without sacrificing performance.

If you’re navigating today’s changing landscape, you don’t have to do it alone. MVCG is here to support you every step of the way.

05/02/2026

Burnout isn’t just about long hours—it’s about the environment people are asked to work in every day.

In veterinary medicine, we often see incredible teams pushed to their limits not because they lack passion, but because leadership, communication, and structure aren’t setting them up to succeed.

When every day feels like a battlefield—unclear expectations, constant fire-fighting, reactive decision-making—it’s only a matter of time before even the most dedicated team members disengage.

At McMakin Veterinary Consulting Group (MVCG), we believe strong leadership isn’t just about driving results—it’s about creating clarity, consistency, and a culture where teams can do their best work without burning out.

Better systems. Better communication. Better leadership.

Because when you fix the environment, you don’t just reduce burnout—you unlock performance.

05/01/2026

💡 Did you know?

McMakin Veterinary Consulting Group (MVCG) offers ongoing, hands-on consulting support designed to strengthen both the financial and operational health of your practice—not just one-time advice.

Through our structured hours per week consulting partnership, we work alongside veterinary leaders to:

✔️ Track and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) like revenue per DVM, ATC, COGS, and labor
✔️ Identify underperforming areas and implement targeted improvement plans
✔️ Optimize inventory management to reduce waste and improve margins
✔️ Analyze and grow profit centers across services
✔️ Enhance workflows, accountability, and overall operational efficiency
✔️ Provide consistent leadership support and strategic guidance

This isn’t surface-level consulting—it’s data-driven, consistent engagement focused on real, measurable results.

If you’ve ever felt like your practice could perform better but weren’t sure where to start, this is exactly where MVCG steps in.

📈 Let’s build smarter systems, stronger performance, and sustainable growth—together.

04/30/2026

Inventory management isn’t just about products on a shelf—it’s about people, accountability, and recognizing the value of doing it right.

A recent document we reviewed put a spotlight on something the veterinary industry doesn’t talk about enough: inventory manager compensation.

It reinforced what Nicole Clausen, CSSGB, CCFP, CVBL has been advocating for years—if we expect inventory to be managed strategically, we have to treat the role like a true business function, not an “extra duty.”

The reality highlighted in the document:
➡️ Inventory is often one of the largest expenses in a practice
➡️ Yet the person managing it is frequently underpaid or lacks defined compensation structure
➡️ High expectations are placed on the role without aligning pay to performance and impact

But here’s the disconnect…

A strong inventory manager can:
✔️ Reduce COGS by meaningful margins
✔️ Prevent loss from shrinkage, expirations, and missed charges
✔️ Improve cash flow and free up working capital

That kind of impact directly affects the bottom line—so compensation should reflect it.

At McMakin Veterinary Consulting Group (MVCG), we believe this is a leadership opportunity. When practices:
• Clearly define the inventory role
• Provide the right systems and training
• Align compensation with responsibility and results

…they don’t just improve inventory—they strengthen the entire business.

Appreciation to Nicole for continuing to push this conversation forward and for advocating for the people behind the process.

04/29/2026

“I became a veterinarian to help animals…not to stress over profit & loss statements.”

If that hit a little too close to home, you’re not alone.

Most veterinary professionals didn’t sign up to manage spreadsheets, reconcile accounts, track inventory, and chase down financial clarity after a long day of appointments. Yet somehow, the numbers always end up on your plate.

And when the books aren’t clear, it’s hard to:
• Know where your practice truly stands
• Make confident decisions
• Plan for growth without stress

That’s where the right support makes all the difference.

At McMakin Veterinary Consulting Group (MVCG), we take the bookkeeping burden off your shoulders—so you can focus on what you do best: caring for patients and leading your team.

Because a healthy practice isn’t just about medicine… it’s about having financial clarity behind it.

📩 If you’re tired of managing the numbers, let’s talk.

04/26/2026

Many veterinary practices are asking the same question right now: Why are patient visits declining?

A recent Today's Veterinary Business article highlights a key reality—this isn’t just a scheduling issue, it’s a shift in both client behavior and practice operations.

Post-pandemic, practices expanded appointment times, reduced hours, and operated in “survival mode.” At the same time, rising cost of living has made pet owners more price-sensitive, leading many to delay or skip care altogether.

The result? Many clinics are now caught between lower patient demand and higher labor costs.

The article emphasizes that the solution isn’t cutting staff—it’s identifying whether the issue is:

Capacity (supply problem): Long wait times signal inefficiencies in scheduling, staffing utilization, or workflow.

Demand (client problem): Open appointment slots point to gaps in client experience, communication, or accessibility.

Key strategies include:

Leveraging technicians more effectively

Optimizing scheduling and appointment length

Utilizing technology (including online booking and AI tools)

Enhancing the client experience to drive retention and growth

Bottom line: Practices that adapt—operationally and strategically—will be best positioned to stabilize patient counts and improve profitability.

At MVCG, this is exactly where we help—bringing clarity to your operations, identifying bottlenecks, and building systems that drive both efficiency and growth.

As pet owners focus more on saving money and the value of services, many practices are noticing fewer veterinary patient visits.

04/25/2026

Today, we celebrate World Veterinary Day—a day dedicated to recognizing the compassion, skill, and unwavering commitment of veterinary professionals everywhere.

At McMakin Veterinary Consulting Group, we are honored to work alongside practices that show up every day to care for animals and the people who love them. Behind every healthy patient is a team balancing medicine, operations, leadership, and heart—and that’s no small task.

Veterinary medicine continues to evolve, and so do the demands placed on practices. Our mission is to support veterinary teams by bringing clarity and structure to the business side of operations, allowing doctors and staff to stay focused on what they do best: delivering exceptional care.

To every veterinarian, technician, receptionist, and team member—thank you for the impact you make in your communities.

04/24/2026

Running a veterinary practice today requires more than great medicine—it demands strong, intentional business management.

At McMakin Veterinary Consulting Group (MVCG), we partner with veterinary practices to bring clarity, structure, and strategy to the business side of operations so your team can focus on what matters most: patient care.

Our business management consulting services are designed to meet practices where they are and create meaningful, measurable improvement. We support:

• KPI tracking and performance visibility
• Workflow and operational efficiency
• Inventory management and cost control
• Profit center analysis and growth strategies
• Team structure, roles, and accountability
• Identifying and improving underperforming areas

Whether your practice feels “busy but behind” or you’re ready to scale to the next level, we help turn data into decisions—and decisions into results.

If you're ready for a more efficient, profitable, and sustainable practice, let’s start the conversation.

04/22/2026

📊 Is your veterinary practice’s financial picture clear—or just “good enough”?

At McMakin Veterinary Consulting Group, we specialize in bookkeeping services designed specifically for veterinary practices. That means no generic, one-size-fits-all approach—just accurate, organized financials that actually help you make better decisions.

Here’s what you can expect when you partner with us:
✔️ Clean, reliable monthly financials
✔️ Industry-specific chart of accounts (including VMG/AAHA standards)
✔️ Streamlined processes that save you time
✔️ Clear insights into profitability and performance
✔️ A trusted partner who understands veterinary medicine

Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by your books or just want more clarity and confidence in your numbers, we’re here to help you move forward with purpose.

📩 Let’s connect and talk about how we can support your practice.