Is the idea of business ownership appealing but the risk isn’t?
You may enjoy your current work in practice.
You may value the flexibility of locum work.
You may be open to new opportunities, but not at the expense of stability, income, or peace of mind.
At Dignipets, we recognise that there is no single “right” way to become a business owner. That’s why we’ve built a model that offers several entry routes, allowing you to choose the level of commitment, pace, and involvement that works for you.
Below, we outline the main ways people choose to buy and build a Dignipets business, particularly suited to those who prefer a measured, lower‑risk approach.
1. Ownership without walking away from your current work
A common misconception about business ownership is that it requires an immediate career change.
With Dignipets, that isn’t the case, you can:
- Continue working in practice alongside your Dignipets business
- Remain active as a locum to retain income while your business is established
Ownership can run alongside your current role, rather than replacing it. This approach allows you to:
- Maintain financial security
- Avoid abrupt lifestyle changes
- Grow the business at a sustainable pace
For risk‑averse professionals, this continuity is often the most important factor.
2. Starting as a Dignipets Locum, then buying later
This pathway allows you to:
- Generate income immediately
Which can be used to pay your territory fee through salary sacrifice
- Experience Dignipets operations first hand
Working as a locum gives you real exposure to how the business operates day to day, not just how it looks on paper. You can see how demand flows, how services are delivered, and how the systems and support work in practice.
- Understand whether the model genuinely suits you
Rather than making assumptions, you can assess how the work feels, how it fits alongside your existing commitments, and whether ownership is something you want to move toward, now or later.
- Build confidence through experience, not pressure
Many risk averse professionals prefer decisions that are informed by lived experience. This route allows beliefs and confidence to develop naturally, without expectation or urgency.
What this means in practice is that, rather than paying your territory fee from personal, post‑tax income, some partners choose to structure payments so they are made before personal tax and National Insurance are applied.
By doing this:
- The cost of the territory can be funded from gross earnings rather than net pay
- This can reduce the amount of National Insurance (and potentially tax) you personally pay
- Your locum income is working harder for you, rather than sitting outside the business structure
Alongside this, starting as a locum allows you to:
- Gain first‑hand experience of how Dignipets operates
- Build confidence in the demand and day‑to‑day model
- Progress toward ownership only when the timing feels right
This lower‑risk, more tax‑efficient route into ownership, means you can maintain income security and flexibility.
(Any salary sacrifice or tax‑related arrangements are individual and should always be confirmed with appropriate professional advice.)
3. Buying with a“Buddy”
For some professionals, the idea of business ownership feels more comfortable when responsibility is shared.
Dignipets can accommodate joint ownership arrangements, allowing two individuals to purchase and run a territory together should they choose to do so.
This option is particularly relevant for those who:
- Prefer not to take on sole responsibility from day one
- Are considering ownership alongside a trusted colleague, friend, or professional peer
- Value shared decision‑making and built‑in operational cover
- Wish to continue working as a locum or remaining in practice
- Have other part-time work or personal commitments they want to maintain alongside the business
While each arrangement is structured on a case‑by‑case basis, a buddy model can help:
- Spread financial exposure
- Share operational involvement
- Reduce the sense of “going it alone”
Importantly, this is an option available within the model, not a requirement, and one that can be explored during the due‑diligence period.
4. Part‑Funding and Part‑Financing a Territory
Not everyone wants to fund a business entirely from personal savings, and that’s often a sensible decision.
Dignipets partners may choose to:
- Part‑fund a territory themselves
- Use finance for the remainder via an independent finance broker
This blended approach allows you to:
- Retain capital reserves
- Reduce personal exposure
- Structure ownership in a way that feels controlled and deliberate
Finance is simply a tool, how and whether it’s used is entirely your choice.
5. Buying Immediately With Finance
For those ready to move forward but unwilling to tie up large amounts of personal capital, immediate purchase with finance is also an option.
This route is typically chosen by:
- Experienced professionals
- Those keen to secure a territory early
All finance is arranged through an independent broker and assessed on an individual basis.
A Model Designed Around Real Working Lives
What unites all of these options is choice.
There is:
- No requirement to quit your job
- No single “correct” entry route
- No expectation that everyone follows the same path
Some partners move quickly. Others take a gradual, cautious approach. Both are equally valid.
The Dignipets model is designed to adapt to your circumstances, not force you into a decision before you’re ready.
Considering Your Next Step
Whether you are:
- Simply exploring possibilities
- Looking for an additional income stream
- Or thinking longer‑term about ownership
Understanding the different ways in is the first step.
Where partners choose to stay in practice or continue locum work, we can also support conversations around how this might practically work. This may include:
- Talking through different shift or rota options
- Helping you think through how ownership could fit around existing commitments
- Supporting you as you approach your current workplace to explore flexible arrangements
Business ownership is one of the most rewarding paths a vet can take. With Dignipets behind you, it doesn’t have to feel like a risk, it can feel like the most natural next step in
your career.
Contact us to start a conversation.
Business ownership is one of the most rewarding paths a vet can take. With Dignipets behind you, it can feel like the most natural next step in your career.
Jason Williams
JV Development Manager
[email protected]
01785 335 340
