Beyond Exam Rooms: Additional Veterinary Practice Spaces Perfect for Grooming Conversion
Maximizing Every Square Foot in Your Veterinary Practice
While our previous discussion focused on transforming underutilized exam rooms into profitable grooming studios, many veterinary practices have additional spaces that present even greater conversion opportunities. These often-overlooked areas can be transformed into revenue-generating grooming studios with minimal disruption to clinical operations.
According to industry data, the average veterinary practice utilizes only 65-70% of its total square footage efficiently during normal business hours. This underutilization represents a significant opportunity cost in an industry where real estate typically accounts for 7-10% of overhead expenses.
Top Veterinary Practice Spaces Ideal for Grooming Conversion
1. Treatment Areas With Declining Use
Many practices built before 2010 included large, open treatment areas designed for multiple simultaneous procedures. As veterinary medicine has evolved toward dedicated surgical and dental suites, these generalized treatment areas often see inconsistent utilization.
Conversion Potential:
Existing water lines simplify plumbing requirements
Open layouts allow for multiple studio configurations
Central locations provide excellent visibility to clients
Pre-existing drainage systems reduce renovation costs
Case Example: Northeast Animal Hospital converted an underutilized treatment area into three premium grooming studios, generating $5,400 in monthly rental income while reducing heating and cooling costs for rarely-used space.
2. Former Boarding Facilities
Many veterinary practices that previously offered boarding services have scaled back or eliminated these offerings due to competition from specialized pet hotels and daycare facilities. These former boarding areas typically feature:
Conversion Advantages:
Separate entrances that allow independent operation
Existing drainage and water systems
Sound insulation already in place
Strategic separation from clinical areas
Renovation Requirements:
Removal of kennel panels and dividers
Installation of proper grooming equipment
Lighting upgrades for precision grooming work
Ventilation improvements for dryer operation
3. Pharmacy and Dispensary Areas
As online pharmacies and home delivery services have captured increasing market share of prescription medications, many practices find their once-bustling pharmacy areas now oversized and underutilized.
Conversion Benefits:
Typically located near reception for client convenience
Usually features counter space and storage that can be repurposed
Often includes separate ventilation systems
Generally requires minimal structural modifications
Design Considerations:
Creating appropriate separation between retail and grooming areas
Ensuring proper sound insulation
Maintaining professional appearance visible to waiting clients
Preserving necessary storage for in-clinic medications
4. Staff Areas and Break Rooms
Many established practices have oversized staff areas designed for larger teams than currently employed. With changing staffing models and more efficient scheduling, these spaces often sit empty for significant portions of the day.
Conversion Potential:
Often include necessary water connections
Typically positioned away from client areas, reducing noise concerns
Usually require minimal structural changes
Frequently have separate HVAC controls, reducing energy costs
Implementation Strategy:
Creating alternative staff spaces if necessary
Scheduling renovations during slow periods
Phased conversion to minimize staff disruption
Developing clear boundaries between staff and grooming areas
5. Converted Storage Areas
Many practices accumulate storage areas filled with rarely-used equipment, outdated inventory, or supplies for services no longer offered. These spaces represent prime conversion opportunities after proper organization and decluttering.
Conversion Advantages:
No current operational use to disrupt
Often located in quieter areas of the practice
Typically require minimal demolition work
Present opportunities for complete redesign to suit grooming needs
Preparation Requirements:
Comprehensive inventory assessment
Disposal or donation of unnecessary items
Digital conversion of paper records where applicable
Strategic relocation of essential supplies
Potential Economics of Space Conversion
Potenial financial case for converting underutilized practice spaces into grooming salon suites / studios is compelling:
These projected figures demonstrate that larger spaces often provide better economies of scale for conversion, with treatment areas and former boarding facilities typically offering the fastest return on investment due to their existing infrastructure advantages.
Space Optimization Strategies for Multi-Service Practices
Successful implementation of grooming studios within veterinary practices requires thoughtful consideration of workflow, noise management, and client experience. Consider these optimization strategies:
Strategic Studio Placement
The most successful veterinary-grooming integrations place grooming studios in locations that:
Minimize noise impact on exam rooms and surgical areas
Provide convenient access for grooming clients
Allow visibility to promote services to veterinary clients
Maintain appropriate separation between clinical and grooming areas
Modified Hours to Maximize Space Usage
Many practices implement staggered scheduling between veterinary and grooming services to optimize space utilization:
Grooming services during veterinary off-hours (early mornings/evenings)
Weekend grooming when veterinary services are limited
Alternate-day scheduling for certain clinical services to free up space
Shared Reception vs. Dedicated Entrances
The practice layout will often determine the optimal client flow approach:
Shared reception areas increase cross-marketing opportunities
Dedicated entrances reduce congestion and separate pet traffic
Hybrid models with shared check-in but separate waiting areas
The Snout Studios Approach to Space Assessment and Conversion
Snout Studios has developed a comprehensive evaluation process to identify the optimal spaces within veterinary practices for grooming studio conversion:
Comprehensive Practice Evaluation: On-site assessment of all potential conversion spaces
Utilization Analysis: Data-driven review of current space usage patterns
Infrastructure Assessment: Evaluation of existing plumbing, electrical, and ventilation systems
Custom Design Development: Creation of studio layouts optimized for the specific spaces
Phased Implementation Planning: Scheduling of conversions to minimize practice disruption
This methodical approach ensures that practices maximize their return on investment while maintaining clinical efficiency throughout the conversion process.
Hypothetical Case Study: Mountain View Veterinary Hospital
Mountain View Veterinary Hospital in Colorado provides an excellent example of creative space conversion. The practice converted three underutilized areas into grooming studios:
A rarely-used isolation room (converted into a premium studio)
A former x-ray room after equipment upgrade to digital (converted to standard studio)
An oversized storage area (converted to express grooming space)
The practice now generates $5,200 in monthly rental income from space that previously produced no revenue. Additionally, they've seen a 17% increase in new client acquisition, with grooming clients frequently converting to veterinary clients.
Practice manager Jennifer Larison notes: "The most surprising benefit has been the additional revenue from dental procedures. Our groomers frequently identify dental issues during grooming sessions, leading to a 28% increase in dental prophylaxis procedures."
Looking Forward: Space Utilization in Modern Veterinary Design
For practices considering new construction or major renovations, the multi-service model offers exciting design possibilities. Forward-thinking veterinarians are now incorporating flexible spaces specifically designed for:
Easy conversion between clinical and grooming uses
Modular walls that allow space reconfiguration as needs change
Dual-purpose areas that can serve multiple functions
Independent entrances and utilities for different service lines
These adaptable designs ensure practices can respond quickly to changing market demands and service opportunities without costly renovations.
Conclusion: Beyond Clinical Spaces
The most successful veterinary practices recognize that their real estate represents one of their most valuable assets. By thinking beyond traditional clinical uses and implementing the Snout Studios licensing model, veterinarians can transform underutilized spaces into significant revenue centers with minimal operational impact.
Whether converting former treatment areas, outdated pharmacy spaces, or oversized storage rooms, the opportunity to generate substantial passive income while enhancing client services makes space conversion a compelling strategy for forward-thinking veterinary practice owners.
Stay tuned for announcements about Snout Studios' veterinary practice licensing opportunities coming in 2025. Subscribe to our newsletter for priority access to information about evaluation services, design consultations, and implementation support.