Assisted by ASBTDC Lead Center at UA Little Rock
Consultant Eileen Devereux Dailey
Young Veterinarian Blends Clinic and At-Home Care Into ‘Dream’ Practice
Veterinarian Marlow Ball owns and operates SoMa Animal Clinic and House Calls in Little Rock. Ball opened the clinic in December 2018 with help from the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center.
A life-long pet lover, she provides what she describes as “fear-free” care for small animals.
Early Inspiration
“I knew I wanted to be a practice owner since I knew I wanted to be a vet: as a teenager walking dogs in a vet clinic kennel. It wasn’t a glamorous job. I remember working kennels as a teenager and seeing the practice owner come to work on the books every Sunday for hours at a time,” she said.
“But I also remember watching him grow a business and a culture that helped so many people. I knew this was something I wanted to be a part of, even at a young age.”
No Place Like Home
Ball graduated from vet school in 2010 and has experience in general veterinary medicine, emergency care, and surgery.
She had plans to purchase an existing veterinary practice but instead decided to explore creating one from scratch. In 2016, she started making house calls, specializing in end-of-life care.
“I believe that I am doing something so special and personal and I find it so satisfying to help make the end a peaceful one. I decided that I had to find a way to continue to grow my house-call practice while incorporating more vet services like cold laser therapy and surgical services,” she said.
Business Expertise
In April 2018, she began working with ASBTDC Business Consultant Eileen Devereux Dailey. Dailey helped Ball put her ideas into a business plan, and assisted her with financial and sales projections, market research, and documentation for a loan.
“Most veterinarians are not businessmen, and student debt is a real crisis for most of us,” she said. “But being able to create a practice that takes care of its staff and takes care of its clients is a dream I’ve had since my teens.”
Ball did not have much business training. Dailey and her colleagues from the center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock provided the business expertise Ball needed.
“I was thrilled to learn about a local resource in my community. They helped me with a demographic study and business plan that really impressed my bank. I plan to continue to use the service as I work to market and grow my dream practice. I feel I have someone on my team and an advocate who is always available to help,” Ball said.
“If you have a passion and a vision and are willing to work hard, then this amazing group of professionals can help guide you and help you set goals for growth moving forward. I am incredibly thankful for the help I have received and I highly recommend this service to everyone.”
‘A Practice That Makes Me Proud’
Ball’s clinic is open each weekday except Wednesday, which is reserved for house call appointments. End-of-life services are by appointment only, weekday or weekend. In addition to Ball, the practice employs three other staff members.
“Business is going well,” said Ball. “I’m just getting started and I’m incredibly thankful for this opportunity to create a practice that makes me proud. I love going into work every day, and it’s been years since I could say that.”
To learn more, visit somaanimalclinic.com.