Direct Booking vs. Agency Placement: The Real Math

Scenario B: 100% Direct Booking

Wait — direct booking has the lowest net? Yes, because the average direct rate per shift is often lower than what agencies negotiate, especially for less experienced or less connected vets. However...

Scenario C: The Optimal Mix (60% Direct / 40% Agency)

The mix works because:

• Direct bookings at established clinic relationships can command higher or comparable rates (no agency cut)
• Agency shifts fill schedule gaps and provide access to new clinics
• You maintain schedule flexibility and income diversification

The Hidden Costs of Direct Booking

Agency comparison isn't just about the rate. Direct booking requires you to invest time in:

Finding and maintaining clinic relationships: Reaching out to clinics, marketing yourself, following up. Estimate 3-5 hours per week when building your network.

Administrative work: Creating and sending invoices, following up on late payments, managing your schedule across multiple direct contacts. Estimate 2-3 hours per week.

Collections risk: Agencies guarantee payment (or at least handle billing). With direct bookings, you're chasing invoices yourself. Industry standard is Net-14 to Net-30, but some clinics are slow payers.

No buffer for cancellations: Agencies often have cancellation policies that protect you. Direct bookings depend on whatever terms you've negotiated in your service agreement.

Insurance and credentialing: Agencies sometimes handle or simplify credentialing. With direct bookings, you manage everything.

When Agencies Are Worth the Cut

• When you're starting out — agencies provide immediate access to shifts without needing an established reputation
• For filling schedule gaps — agency platforms can fill a random Tuesday faster than cold-calling clinics
• For geographic expansion — trying shifts in a new area? Agencies have existing clinic relationships
• For administrative simplicity — if you'd rather focus on medicine and let someone else handle billing, scheduling, and credentialing
• For benefits — if you're on a W-2 platform, the benefits package has real value ($15,000-$20,000/year equivalent)

When Direct Booking Wins

• With established relationships — clinics where you've worked multiple times and built trust
• For regular recurring shifts — "Every Tuesday at Valley Animal Hospital" type arrangements
• When your reputation precedes you — word-of-mouth referrals from clinic to clinic
• For maximum per-shift income — once you've cut out the middleman, more of each dollar is yours
• For schedule control — direct relationships give you more negotiating power on dates, hours, and terms

Building Your Direct Booking Business

If you want to shift toward more direct bookings:

1. Start with clinics where you've done agency work. After a few successful shifts, approach the practice manager directly. "I've enjoyed working here. If you ever need relief coverage directly, I'd be happy to discuss terms."
2. Create a simple one-page service agreement. Include your rates, cancellation policy, payment terms, and insurance information. Professionalism builds confidence.
3. Join your local VMA and Relief VMA. Networking is how direct relationships start.
4. Ask for referrals. The best clinics hear about you from other clinics.
5. Be reliable. The single most valuable trait for building direct bookings. Show up on time, handle the caseload, leave the clinic better than you found it. Clinics will call you back.

The Bottom Line

There's no single right answer. The optimal strategy for most relief vets is a mix:

• Use agencies for discovery, convenience, and schedule filling
• Build direct relationships for your highest-value, most reliable shifts
• Gradually increase your direct booking percentage as your network grows
• Re-evaluate the mix every 6-12 months based on your income data

The goal isn't to eliminate agencies — it's to make sure you're making informed decisions about when the agency's cut is worth it and when it's not.