Starting a Veterinary Clinic or Animal Hospital Involves Multiple Steps

Most new practice ventures begin with reviewing, negotiating, and signing a Letter of Intent (LOI). Understanding the importance of the Letter of Intent and what it should entail will help facilitate the process of completing your veterinary clinic startup. Here are some helpful tips to get you started.

What is the Letter of Intent?

Veterinarian holding a cat

A Letter of Intent outlines the key business terms to be incorporated into the formal veterinary office lease agreement that you will eventually sign once terms are mutually agreeable. If agreement on these key terms cannot be reached in the LOI, this may be an indication that the transaction may not be the right fit for one or both parties. LOI’s are a great method to quickly and efficiently negotiate key terms with the landlord, set expectations and requirements in advance, and clarify intentions prior to committing to a new location for the clinic.

The following are details typical to a “Cirrus” negotiated/drafted Letter of Intent:

Type of lease – Triple net lease (NNN lease), Modified Gross Lease, etc.
The length of term and “Options to Renew”.
The proposed rental rates.
The time frame allotted to build-out the veterinary office, including any free rent period.
Any tenant improvement allowance (TIA) from the landlord to build-out your clinic.
Outline of tenant vs. landlord responsibilities (ex. In the event of construction/improvements).
Provisions such as Exclusivity to practice animal health in the building/center, and permitted Use in the space.
Clear position on the lease regarding relocation provisions, restricting the landlord from moving your clinic throughout the lease term.
Personal Guarantees and Assignment provisions that dictate your personal exposure and the future sale of your veterinary clinic/hospital.
If you’re interested in eventually purchasing the real estate or expanding the clinic, you may want to include the Right of First Refusal (ROFR) to purchase if the clinic becomes available for sale, or to expand if an adjacent space becomes available.
Time frame for due diligence.
The LOI expiration date or formal agreement signing deadline.
The proposed completion date of the deal.

Language Considerations for LOI’s

It is critical to consider how both parties may interpret the information in an LOI, and to be certain to include additional language as needed. Since LOI’s may be drafted either as legally binding or non-binding agreements, it is critical to ensure that it is clear to both parties which terms are binding, and not subject to further negotiation in the subsequent lease.

This may be true for provisions such as the rental rate. Although the proposed rental rate may not be legally binding until the lease has been signed, most parties would expect the other to honor what was initially negotiated in the LOI.

Negotiating a Letter of Intent for a Veterinary Office Space

All terms within a Letter of Intent are certainly up for negotiation. In fact, when one party presents an LOI, the other party can either suggest edits, or respond with an entirely different LOI of their own. It can be a fluid document with many iterations as a result of the terms being negotiated back and forth.

Disadvantages of a Letter of Intent

Vet with a client and her kitten

LOI’s can provide structure and clarity when setting out to establish a new veterinary hospital; however, it is helpful to note a few disadvantages. LOI’s can be used by landlords to negotiate with other competing potential tenants. Also, agreeing to the terms within an LOI does not guarantee a final lease agreement, as it may not be considered a final and binding contract between both parties. Lastly, the binding vs. non-binding nature of certain terms may be up for debate. To avoid these concerns, it is important that the LOI is written properly to protect your interests both during initial negotiations, and during the preparation of a formal office lease agreement.

The Importance of the Letter of Intent for a Veterinary Clinic

Given the importance of the Letter of Intent in starting or opening a veterinary hospital, we recommend engaging the help of professional veterinary office lease negotiation and commercial real estate experts such as Cirrus Consulting Group to help you secure an LOI that meets your needs. Professional lease negotiators are familiar with all aspects of the process, and can offer valuable advice and guidance about how to best protect your interests, and ensure the future success of your veterinary clinic.