Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Brown.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In 2012, I made a decision that completely changed the trajectory of my life. I left the security of my previous practice and stepped into entrepreneurship with no guarantees. I didn’t have investors or a big launch plan. I had a medical license, a truck, determination — and children depending on me.
I built Brown Veterinary Services from my home while raising my kids and running a fully mobile veterinary practice. My truck became my office. My schedule revolved around farm calls, house calls, emergencies, school drop-offs, and late nights finishing records after bedtime. It wasn’t glamorous — but it was purposeful.
From the beginning, I approached it not just as a veterinarian, but as a business owner. I focused on building relationships, creating trust, and providing access to care in areas that were underserved. Word-of-mouth became my marketing strategy. Client loyalty became my growth engine.
Year after year, the practice expanded. My clientele grew beyond what one person on the road could reasonably handle. By 2023, demand had outpaced capacity — which is both a blessing and a clear signal as an entrepreneur that it’s time to scale.
Opening our brick-and-mortar hospital in Monroe, Georgia was the next strategic move. It allowed me to build infrastructure, hire and mentor a team, invest in better equipment, and expand our services. Transitioning from solo mobile vet to practice owner and team leader required an entirely new skill set — leadership, operations, HR, financial planning — but that challenge is something I thrive on.
Today, our practice sees a wide variety of animals. Of course, we care for dogs and cats, but we also see exotics, small ruminants, and work closely with local sanctuaries and rescue organizations. And yes — I see tigers, lions, and bears. People tend to think that’s the coolest part of being a veterinarian, and I won’t lie — it’s pretty incredible. But what excites me most is building something sustainable that serves both everyday pet owners and unique species in our community.
The variety keeps medicine exciting, but the business side keeps me inspired. I love creating systems, growing a team, and building a practice that can outlast me. What started as a one-woman mobile operation has grown into a thriving, community-rooted veterinary hospital — and I’m proud that I built it while raising three kids and refusing to choose between motherhood and ambition.
Entrepreneurship isn’t always polished. It’s long days, risk, reinvention, and constant learning. But it’s also freedom, impact, and the ability to create something that reflects your values. That’s what this journey has been for me
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Building a business while raising children was one of the hardest seasons of my life. When I started my mobile practice in 2012, I wasn’t just stepping into entrepreneurship — I was stepping into uncertainty as a mother with small children.
Mobile practice meant long days on the road, unpredictable emergencies, and clients who needed me at all hours. At the same time, my children needed homework help, rides to activities, and a present parent. There were many nights I finished records after bedtime and many mornings that started before sunrise.
In the middle of building the business, I also went through a divorce. That season stretched me in ways I never expected. Navigating personal change while maintaining professional stability required resilience I didn’t know I had. Eventually, I remarried, and that new chapter brought stability and partnership that has supported the continued growth of both my family and the practice.
There were moments of guilt — wondering if I was giving enough at home, or enough at work. There were financial risks, slow seasons, equipment breakdowns, and the pressure of knowing that if I didn’t work, the business didn’t move forward.
But I was never doing it completely alone.
It truly took a village to raise my children. Friends, family, mentors, clients, and community members stepped in at different times. I am deeply grateful for the people who helped with school pickups, offered encouragement, covered for me when I needed help, and believed in what I was building even when it was still small.
Entrepreneurship often looks exciting from the outside — especially when people hear that I work with lions and tigers and bears. And yes, those moments are incredible. But the real story is early mornings, hard conversations, paperwork at kitchen tables, balancing motherhood with medicine, and learning how to lead while still learning yourself.
The struggles shaped the practice just as much as the successes did. They taught me empathy, boundaries, grit, and gratitude. And I think those lessons make me a better veterinarian, business owner, and mother today
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Brown Veterinary Services is a mixed-animal practice based in Monroe, Georgia, serving Walton County and surrounding communities. We care for dogs and cats, exotics, small ruminants, and work closely with local sanctuaries — yes, that includes treating tigers, lions, and bears. People tend to think the big cats are the most exciting part of what we do — and they’re certainly unforgettable — but what truly defines our practice is versatility, accessibility, and community commitment.
I built the practice from the ground up as a mobile operation in 2012. That foundation shaped everything about our culture. We understand rural medicine. We understand farm calls. We understand clients who don’t always fit into a traditional 9–5 model. In 2023, we opened our brick-and-mortar hospital because the demand had simply outgrown what one person on the road could handle.
In April 2025, we expanded again and added Weekend Urgent Care services. That was a direct response to what our community needed. If there’s a gap, I build a bridge. Pet owners shouldn’t have to drive hours or feel stranded when something happens on a Saturday.
While opening and expanding the clinic, I was also building two additional businesses. The Pet Wash & Grooming Spa was created to elevate grooming standards locally — calm handling, skin-focused care, and professional grooming in an environment that feels safe for pets and owners alike. At the same time, I launched The Clean Hamper, a modern laundromat and wash-dry-fold service designed to make life easier for busy families.
On the surface, veterinary medicine, grooming, and laundry may seem unrelated. But at their core, they’re the same philosophy: identify a need, build systems, create strong branding, and serve the community well.
What sets us apart is that we are locally owned, hands-on, and adaptable. We’re known for saying yes to cases others might refer out — whether that’s a backyard goat, a reptile, a senior dog needing complex dental work, or a sanctuary lion. I love the variety. But I also love building something sustainable — teams, infrastructure, and businesses that can grow beyond just me.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that everything we’ve created reflects resilience and real life. These businesses were built while raising three children, navigating personal change, and learning leadership in real time. They are not perfect — but they are intentional.
I didn’t inherit a business. I built one.
What I want readers to know is this:
You don’t have to choose between being a mother and being ambitious.
You don’t have to stay in the lane you started in.
And you don’t have to wait for permission to build something bigger.
We care for everyday pets. We care for apex predators. And we’re building something designed to last.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that growth requires discomfort — and you can survive more than you think you can.
When I left my previous practice in 2012, I didn’t have a safety net. I had children, a mobile truck, and a vision. Over the years, I’ve navigated long hours, financial risk, divorce, remarriage, scaling a business, hiring teams, and stepping into leadership roles I had to learn in real time. None of it was comfortable.
But every level of growth demanded a new version of me.
I had to learn that I couldn’t do everything alone. I had to learn to delegate. I had to learn that burnout isn’t a badge of honor. I had to learn that saying “no” strategically is just as important as saying “yes.”
I also learned that perfection is not the goal — progress is. Businesses are built in phases. Teams evolve. Systems break and get rebuilt stronger. The key is staying adaptable and staying grounded in your values.
And maybe most importantly, I learned that you don’t have to choose between motherhood and ambition. You don’t have to shrink to make other people comfortable. You don’t have to wait until everything feels safe to take the next step.
Confidence isn’t the absence of fear — it’s moving forward anyway.
Every struggle shaped the leader I am now. Every risk built resilience. And every season — even the hard ones — prepared me for the next level.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.brownveterinary.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erin.lifeisgood.brown
Image Credits
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