5 Drawbacks to Going It Alone As a Relief Veterinarian
July 9, 2025
July 9, 2025
The major differences between being a W-2 Employee versus an Independent Contractor
Being a relief veterinarian comes with a ton of perks, which include providing benefits for the veterinary and pet communities you serve. However, shift work also has its drawbacks. Although being your own boss and making your own hours sounds incredible, learn the ins and outs of being a relief veterinarian before taking the plunge.
#1: Relief veterinarians often face payment issues
Receiving proper compensation, including timely reimbursement or payment for the correct number of hours worked, for your services can be challenging. In some cases, you may receive no reimbursement. As a solo relief veterinarian, you may need to take the matter to a small claims court, but you have to hire and pay for an attorney upfront, and deal with all the hassle of fighting for your payment. So, you might just be tempted to write off your unpaid services and scratch that veterinary practice off your list.
As a relief veterinarian working through a company, you avoid having to fight to receive your pay. The company goes to bat for you and ensures you are paid the reimbursement on which you have agreed, on the scheduled payment date. You no longer have to struggle with getting paid for the hours, lunches, or mileage that was verbally discussed, but not hammered out in a contract. A relief company ensures each detail is accounted for, so you get every penny you’ve earned.
#2: Relief veterinarians need to figure out their own taxes
Taxes and insurance are two of the most confusing aspects of being a relief veterinarian. If you work for a practice as a W-2 employee, the owner and practice manager handle your taxes and benefits. However, as a relief veterinarian, you are responsible for managing your tax withholdings and determining your insurance coverage. As a business owner—whether of a sole proprietorship, limited liability company (LLC), or subchapter corporation (S-corp)—you shoulder the burden of figuring out your tax payments. You’ll need an excellent accountant to ensure you’re setting aside the amount you need to pay for estimated quarterly taxes, and to determine eligible tax write-offs.
#3: Relief veterinarians need to have a contract in place
As a solo relief veterinarian, you need a contract that outlines all your working relationship details. However, many veterinary corporations have their own contract, which benefits the corporation, rather than locum tenens practitioners.
#4: Relief veterinarians need their own insurance coverage
A relief veterinarian must ensure their insurance thoroughly protects them. If your insurance coverage is inadequate, you can be left on the hook for astronomical bills that cover a huge range of incidents. For example, if a client’s dog bites them while they attempt to help you perform an examination, the pet owner could sue you. However, general liability insurance would provide the protection you need.
#5: Relief veterinarians are on their own
As a relief veterinarian, you’re independent. However, that independence means you have no backup, and no one to call if you run into a problem. As a solo locum tenens veterinarian, especially if you are filling in at a single-doctor practice, you may have no one with whom to discuss differentials and treatment options.
If you work with a relief company, however, you have the freedom and flexibility to be your own boss, with the benefit of backup support. A pool of veterinary professionals is at your disposal to serve as consultants or mentors.
If you have been working as a solo relief veterinarian and are facing the many challenges we have discussed here, consider the benefits of working with a company. To learn more about how working with a company can resolve the issues you face, discuss the possibilities with our Veterinary System Services team.
One of the biggest decisions you’ll need to make as a relief veterinarian is determining whether you want to work with a relief company or strike out on your own. Both options have their pros and cons, but working alone as a locum tenens veterinarian can be tough, especially when you’re first starting out. Learn about the common challenges locum veterinarians experience, and how working through a relief company can mitigate these issues.
Receiving proper compensation, including timely reimbursement or payment for the correct number of hours worked, for your services can be challenging. In some cases, you may receive no reimbursement. As a solo relief veterinarian, you may need to take the matter to a small claims court, but you have to hire and pay for an attorney upfront, and deal with all the hassle of fighting for your payment. So, you might just be tempted to write off your unpaid services and scratch that veterinary practice off your list.
As a relief veterinarian working through a company, you avoid having to fight to receive your pay. The company goes to bat for you and ensures you are paid the reimbursement on which you have agreed, on the scheduled payment date. You no longer have to struggle with getting paid for the hours, lunches, or mileage that was verbally discussed, but not hammered out in a contract. A relief company ensures each detail is accounted for, so you get every penny you’ve earned.
#2: Relief veterinarians need to figure out their own taxes
Taxes and insurance are two of the most confusing aspects of being a relief veterinarian. If you work for a practice as a W-2 employee, the owner and practice manager handle your taxes and benefits. However, as a relief veterinarian, you are responsible for managing your tax withholdings and determining your insurance coverage. As a business owner—whether of a sole proprietorship, limited liability company (LLC), or subchapter corporation (S-corp)—you shoulder the burden of figuring out your tax payments. You’ll need an excellent accountant to ensure you’re setting aside the amount you need to pay for estimated quarterly taxes, and to determine eligible tax write-offs.
However, if you work as a relief veterinarian for a company, you avoid the many challenges of figuring out your own taxes. If you don’t want the hassle of having to figure out your taxes, consider working with a relief company.
As a solo relief veterinarian, you need a contract that outlines all your working relationship details. However, many veterinary corporations have their own contract, which benefits the corporation, rather than locum tenens practitioners.
As a relief veterinarian, you need to ensure your contract covers every possibility related to the services you perform, hours worked, commute reimbursement, payment schedule, and much more. While a solo veterinarian has the freedom to provide their own contract, corporate hospitals may not accept a single locum tenens veterinarian’s demands. By working with a relief company, you have the backing of your corporation, but the freedom to write a contract that benefits you.
A relief veterinarian must ensure their insurance thoroughly protects them. If your insurance coverage is inadequate, you can be left on the hook for astronomical bills that cover a huge range of incidents. For example, if a client’s dog bites them while they attempt to help you perform an examination, the pet owner could sue you. However, general liability insurance would provide the protection you need.
Comprehensive insurance coverage can be pricey. However, monthly premiums are incomparable to the amount medical bills, court fees, or other unlikely, but expensive, situations can cost. A relief company may pay for your insurance coverage, instead of you having to pay the premium each month.
As a relief veterinarian, you’re independent. However, that independence means you have no backup, and no one to call if you run into a problem. As a solo locum tenens veterinarian, especially if you are filling in at a single-doctor practice, you may have no one with whom to discuss differentials and treatment options.
If you work with a relief company, however, you have the freedom and flexibility to be your own boss, with the benefit of backup support. A pool of veterinary professionals is at your disposal to serve as consultants or mentors.
If you have been working as a solo relief veterinarian and are facing the many challenges we have discussed here, consider the benefits of working with a company. To learn more about how working with a company can resolve the issues you face, discuss the possibilities with our Veterinary System Services team.
May 14, 2026
Learn how common relief staffing is for veterinary clinics, offering staff relief, filling in staffing shortages, and allowing relief staffers flexibility.
February 27, 2026
If you want to learn more about the role of a veterinary relief staffing agency during high demand periods, here is a complete guide. Keep reading for more!
December 26, 2025
Read our blog to discover the six signs you might need contract staffing for your veterinary practice. If you need staffing services, call our team today.
