Fox Run Veterinary Hospital

SVA Helps Fox Run Veterinary Hospital Gain Financial Clarity and Confidence During Rapid Growth

Dr. Jessa Kocher opened Fox Run Veterinary Hospital in 2020, initially operating out of Trails Animal Urgent Care before moving into the practice’s own building in January 2022.

In less than five years, Fox Run grew into a six-doctor practice with approximately 30 staff members. With that growth came a much more complicated financial picture and a greater need for timely, reliable information to guide business decisions.

For Dr. Kocher, the turning point came as the scale of the practice’s expenses became increasingly clear.

“The first time I wrote a check for my monthly MWI bill of $30,000, I had a moment where I thought, ‘Okay, this is a lot. Where is my money going?’” she said.

The Challenge: Making Decisions Without Timely Financial Information

Before working with SVA, Fox Run’s bookkeeping routinely ran months behind. At times the practice could be anywhere from two to five months behind, and occasionally even further.

That delay made it difficult to understand the practice’s current financial position and confidently make decisions about its future.

“You want to know where your money is going so that you can make smart business decisions,” Dr. Kocher said. “Am I able to afford bringing on another doctor? We want to add this piece of equipment, but can we?”

Without current information, those decisions often came down to instinct rather than data.

“It always felt like a mystery, and I was just following my gut,” she said.

As Fox Run continued to grow, Dr. Kocher knew the practice needed an accounting firm that could provide more than historical financial statements. She wanted timely reporting, proactive guidance, and advisors who understood the veterinary industry.

The Solution: Current Financial Data and Veterinary-Specific Guidance

When Dr. Coker first met with the SVA team, the approach immediately felt different.

SVA introduced Fox Run to an online financial portal that could provide quick snapshots of the practice’s financial health. The team also outlined an ongoing advisory relationship that included quarterly meetings focused on tax strategy, financial performance, and growth.

“They were talking about us having an online web portal where we could see very quick, instant snapshots of our financial health as a company,” Dr. Kocher said. “They were talking about quarterly sit-down meetings where we would go over tax strategy and growth strategy. It really sounded appealing to me.”

Just as important was SVA’s familiarity with veterinary practices and the financial metrics that matter within the industry. “We definitely needed a different accounting firm—one that understands the industry,” she said.

The Results: Greater Visibility and Better Business Decisions

For Dr. Kocher, having current financial information available through the portal has been a game changer.

Instead of waiting months to understand how the practice is performing, Fox Run can monitor important financial measures as they change and respond quickly if something begins moving in the wrong direction.

One metric Dr. Kocher has found particularly valuable is the practice’s daily operating cost: how much revenue Fox Run needs to generate each day simply to cover its expenses.

“It tells us the daily cash flow required to keep our doors open,” she said. “How much do we need to make every single day just to pay our bills?”

The reporting also allows Fox Run to monitor how payroll, inventory, its mortgage, and other expenses compare with veterinary industry benchmarks.

“If we are veering off course in any of those metrics, we’re not finding out six months later that we’re in a bad spot,” Dr. Coker said. “We’re finding out right away. I think that has been huge.”

SVA’s proactive approach adds another layer of confidence. If the team notices an unusual number as financial information is being entered, Dr. Kocher said they raise the question rather than simply waiting for her to discover it.

That responsiveness carries through when she reaches out directly. “I don’t think it’s ever been longer than 24 to 48 hours that I hear back,” she said. “Sometimes I send the email, go into an exam room, and when I come back out, I already have a response.”

More Time to Focus on the Practice

Beyond improved reporting and financial insight, one of the most meaningful results for Dr. Kocher is the time she has gained back.

Rather than trying to decipher outdated numbers or manage financial questions herself, she has a team she can rely on for current information and strategic guidance throughout the year.

“For me, the biggest thing has been time,” she said. “It’s given me back time so that I can focus on the things that I love to do.”

For a rapidly growing veterinary practice, that combination of timely financial information, proactive support, and industry knowledge has helped turn accounting from a source of uncertainty into a tool for making better decisions.

“They are super responsive, very proactive as far as helping with your strategy throughout the year, and they understand the vet industry,” Dr. Coker said. “That’s something that can’t be said for a lot of accounting firms.”