The Mobile Vet Tech Toolkit
A practical guide to starting & running a mobile vet tech business — based on “So, You Want to Be a Mobile Vet Tech?” by Michelle Crew, LVT, and compiled for AACVT.
About the author: Michelle Crew, LVT — 2009 VTNE graduate, founder of the National Association of Independent Veterinary Technicians, cohost of Endless Journey's Podcast, five years as a small business owner, and Fear Free, Human-Animal Bond, and Feline Friendly certified.
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Is This Right for You?
Who benefits from mobile vet techs
- Senior pets
- Special needs pets
- Nervous or fearful pets
What makes mobile work so rewarding
- Directly helping pets in the comfort of their own home
- Serving your community and forming close relationships with pet owners
- Becoming an extension of local veterinary clinics
- Bridging the gap between the veterinary industry and client education
- Keeping your clinical skills active
Self-assessment: do you have what it takes?
- Minimum of five to seven years in general practice
- Strong client education skills
- Self-starter
- Excellent communication
- Healthy boundaries
- Organized
- Must love humans (not just animals!)
“I can't believe it but my little business is one year old now! The success that I have had the last year has surpassed every hope and expectation I could've had. I started a year ago with a day of only seven appointments. I have grown and served over 580 individual clients at this point.”
Getting Started: The Legal & Business Basics
- Review your state's Veterinary Practice Act
- Review your current or previous employment contract
- Form a legal entity
- Set up business banking
- Get professional liability insurance through AACVT
Know your state's Practice Act
Each state is governed by its own individual Practice Act. If you need assistance, reach out to your state vet tech association, your state board of veterinary medicine, or your state association for veterinary medicine.
Watch for non-solicitation agreements
A non-solicitation agreement (sometimes called a non-compete) stops a person from taking a company's clients after they leave. Minor services such as pet sitting, nail trimming, and gland expressions can all be considered solicitation. Consult with an employment attorney if you believe you may be subject to one.
“You are still a Vet Tech, even without the clinic. You are still a Vet Tech, even without the 12 hour shift. You are still a Vet Tech, even without a Vet. Your education belongs to you; it isn't attached to working for anyone else. Your credentials belong to you; no one can take your skills away from you.”
| Entity Type | What It Means for You | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Limited Liability Company (LLC) | Personal assets generally not on the hook for business liabilities. More legal protection and legitimacy. | Most popular choice among mobile vet techs. |
| Sole Proprietorship | Does not protect personal assets from business liabilities — no legal division between personal and business assets. | Simplicity, but higher personal risk. |
| S Corporation | Personal assets generally protected. Different tax status than an LLC. | High growth and tax savings. |
Consult with your tax preparer before deciding on an entity. Create a separate business bank account — mixing personal and business funds can eliminate the protections of your legal entity. An EIN (think of it as a social security number for your business) is free directly from the IRS.
Your Support Network & Resources
SCORE
Free expert business mentoring, workshops, webinars, and educational resources.
U.S. Small Business Administration
Each state has an SBA District Office offering local assistance and business guides.
Toastmasters
Build confidence in speaking and meet like-minded professionals in your area.
Business Network International (BNI)
Build a referral network through collaboration with other local businesses.
Also worth following: the Unattached Vet Tech Group on Facebook, Endless Journeys: The Vet Tech Odyssey Podcast, @The.Mobile.Vet.Tech on TikTok, and the National Association of Independent Veterinary Technicians.
Scheduling: You Control the Schedule
- If you like a new client, pre-book them before you leave.
- Keep a consistent schedule that repeats in four- or eight-week intervals.
- Schedule time off the road to handle administrative duties.
- Stack appointments in two-hour blocks with a thirty-minute overlap.
- Aim to arrive in the middle of the time block (for a 10:00–12:00 window, aim for 11:00).
- Try to place pets on sedation in the morning for more precise timing.
Communication is key — you can never overcommunicate. Clients favor two messages: one when you arrive at the appointment before theirs, and another when you leave it.
Marketing Your New Business
- Post in Facebook community groups
- Use the Nextdoor app
- Drop off trifolds/business cards to local clinics, groomers, boarding facilities, pet stores, and mobile groomers (bring treats for the humans!)
- Create Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok pages for your new clients
- Google Business websites are great, but can wait until funds are more available
Sample local-group post
“In home cat & dog nail trimming and gland expressions. I have room for a few more pets this coming Tuesday & Wednesday during the morning/afternoon. I am a Licensed Veterinary Technician and owner of a mobile vet tech business — we come right to your house! I offer in-home nail trimming, gland expressions, ear cleaning, and light potty patches. I'm Fear Free Certified, CPR Certified, Human-Animal Bond Certified, and Feline Friendly Certified. My small business is licensed & insured.”
Keep posts short and factual — and never send the owner the first message. If they're serious, they will initiate contact.
Onboarding New Clients
Don't leave clients in the dark — the more information you give a new client, the more confidence they will have in your business. Clarify these questions on your onboarding forms:
- What forms of payment does your business accept?
- Preparing the pets: dogs separated? Cats isolated?
- Will you or the pet owner be restraining?
- Grooming table, van, or directly in the owner's home?
- How will you communicate on the day of the appointment?
- What is your cancellation policy?
- Do you have disclaimers and waivers ready?
Restraint & Behavior
Reading a pet's body language is crucial. It's highly recommended that a mobile vet tech has several years of clinic experience plus extra CE in behavior — Fear Free, Feline Friendly, and Human-Animal Bond certifications are all worth having. Use the household to your advantage: couches, corners, and chairs are all tools.
“When I do nail trims on animals, I try to evaluate what works best for each one of them. What helps them feel the safest? I once had a dog who preferred that we offer food and work very quickly — that was his ideal method. Another dog does best with full family support and praise while I use quiet clippers first then Dremel the nails down.”
Restraint technique videos: @The.Mobile.Vet.Tech on TikTok
Supply Checklists
Nail trimming supplies
- Standard clippers
- Scissor-style clippers — best for cats and curled nails
- Guillotine-style clippers — precise and low noise
- Quiet cordless grinder
- Standard cordless grinder (consider a Diamagroove bit)
- Hydrogen peroxide-soaked cotton rounds
- A good headlamp
- Styptic/quick-stop powder — leave a small bagged amount with the owner if you hit the quick
Gland expression supplies
- Products made specifically for anal glands
- Dog-walk bags for cleanup and disposal
- Headlamp for dimly lit homes
- Nitrile gloves
- Bath mat with a rubber bottom + potty pad on top
- Scotch tape to secure the mat/pad corners
- An organizer bag to keep supplies tidy and professional
“Being a pet sitter is so much more than feeding pets and taking them outside. It's early mornings, late nights, medication schedules, senior care, behavior quirks, emergency decisions, and treating every home and every animal like they're our own. As a Registered Veterinary Technician behind the Planted RVT, I'm proud to bridge the gap between veterinary medicine and in home care.”
Setting Your Prices & Getting Paid
Pricing varies by geography — assess your local community's needs. For reference, here's what the 2026 Unattached Vet Tech national survey found for the most commonly charged ranges. These are directional benchmarks, not fixed rates.
| Service | Most Common Price Range |
|---|---|
| Medication Administration | $21–$25 |
| Drop-In Pet Sitting (30 minutes) | $26–$35 |
| Ear Cleaning | $16–$20 |
| Gland Expressions | $26–$30 |
| Nail Trims | $21–$25 |
| Sanitary Patches | $21–$25 |
| SQ Fluid Administration | $20–$30 |
Payment methods accepted by unattached vet techs (2026 survey)
Business apps used most: Square (23), Mile IQ (11), Wix (9), QuickBooks (7), Wave (6), Time to Pet (5), Google (5).
“When I started Peticures to Geaux, I didn't have a fancy setup, a huge client list, or a perfect business plan. I had a TJ Maxx bag, one set of nail clippers, and a small Ziploc baggie of cornstarch for bleeding. You do not have to start perfectly to become successful. You just need the courage to take the first step and the determination to keep taking the next one. Mine started with a TJ Maxx bag and a dream.”
Appendix
Mobile Vet Tech Launch Checklist
A consolidated action list pulled from every section above — work through it in order.
Self-Assessment
- I have five to seven+ years of general practice experience
- I have strong client education skills
- I'm a self-starter
- I communicate clearly and confidently
- I can hold healthy boundaries with clients
- I'm organized
- I genuinely enjoy working with people, not just animals
Certifications Worth Having
- Fear Free certification
- Feline Friendly certification
- Human-Animal Bond certification
- Any additional CE in animal behavior
Set Up My Schedule
- Decide on a repeating schedule (four- or eight-week rotation)
- Block out time off the road for admin work
- Plan two-hour appointment blocks with a thirty-minute overlap
- Set my target arrival time to the middle of each block
- Decide how I'll communicate with clients on appointment day
Set My Prices & Payment Methods
- Research what other mobile techs charge in my area
- Compare my planned prices against the 2026 national benchmarks
- Decide which payment methods I'll accept
- Choose a scheduling/invoicing app (Square, QuickBooks, Time to Pet, Wave)
Marketing
- Create a Facebook business page
- Create an Instagram page
- Create a TikTok page
- Design a trifold or business card
- Identify local clinics, groomers, boarding facilities, and pet stores to drop off materials
- Draft a short, factual post for local Facebook community groups
- Post on Nextdoor
- Never send the first DM to a potential client — let them come to you
Final Pre-Launch Check
- All certifications and insurance are active
- Business entity, EIN, and bank account are set up
- First round of marketing materials are out
- Onboarding form is ready to send to new clients
- Supply kit is packed and organized
- Schedule and communication plan are set
- I've priced my services and know my accepted payment methods
More toolkits are on the way.
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