What the Numbers Are Telling Us: Key Canine Rehab Trends Heading Into 2026
Welcome to The K9PT Academy podcast, the only podcast in veterinary rehabilitation & physical therapy that focuses on helping business owners and entrepreneurs build and scale a profitable and successful canine rehabilitation business!
Every January, we host an annual planning meeting with our team where we review the previous year, assess what’s working (and what isn’t), and set intentional strategies for the year ahead. And just like I share with our Incubator Mastermind, the very first step in planning is always starting with the numbers.
In this episode, I walk you through some key trends I noticed as we closed out our 2025 numbers, how they connect to the three core KPIs every canine rehabpreneur should be tracking, and what these patterns might be telling us as we head into 2026. While every clinic is different, these insights are showing up consistently across conversations I’ve had with business owners inside and outside our programs—and they matter if you want to grow sustainably.
I also reference our Annual Planning Playbook, which breaks down exactly how I structure our annual planning process. You can download your free copy here: https://www.k9ptacademy.com/planning
Listen to the full episode as we discuss:
📊 Start With the Numbers
Before setting goals, you need clarity. Tracking number of leads, lead conversion, and eval conversion gives you a clear snapshot of marketing effectiveness, sales systems, and overall buy-in.
🔍 More Leads, Less Conversion
Many clinics are seeing higher inquiry volume, but lower lead conversion, driven by increased competition, tighter household budgets, and rising veterinary costs.
💰 Hesitation Doesn’t Mean Lack of Care
Pet owners still care deeply—but they are more selective. This makes education, nurturing, and positioning more critical than ever, especially at a premium price point.
🧠 Premium Pricing Requires Better Systems
Higher fees demand stronger marketing, clearer messaging, and a refined sales process. You can’t charge premium prices with a commodity experience.
🤝 Loyalty Is Increasing Once Clients Buy In
While conversion may be harder upfront, eval conversion and long-term retention are improving—proof that when clients understand your value, they commit more deeply.
📈 Undercharging Is Not the Solution
Lowering prices may reduce friction short-term, but it leads to burnout and unsustainable volume. Long-term success comes from quality, clarity, and confidence.
🧭 Use Trends as Data, Not Fear
These shifts aren’t a reason to panic—they’re an invitation to adapt, refine, and lead. The clinics that win in 2026 will be the ones paying attention and responding intentionally.
If you don’t know your numbers yet, make 2026 the year you start. And if you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure how to interpret what you’re seeing, reach out. You can always email me directly or fill out our Business Sherpa inquiry form—I’m happy to help you make sense of it all and build a plan that actually works.
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The 3rd and new edition of Canine Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation" is now available and you can order your copy using this link!
Are you ready to join the Business Sherpa and work directly with me to help you grow and scale a profitable and sustainable canine rehab business? Then just follow this link to fill our our Business Sherpa Inquiry form and we will be in touch: https://www.thek9pt.com/business-sherpa/
Are you interested in learning more about our K9Rehab Marketing platform? That is the only CRM and marketing software available in the market for canine rehab therapists, and it has been an integral component for our business and for dozens of our clients! Just follow the link for more info: https://k9rehabmarketing.com/
Join our Canine Rehabpreneur Community: www.facebook.com/groups/k9rehabpreneur/
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Download our 'marketing done easy' worksheet and training: https://www.k9ptacademy.com/marketing-done-easy
Download our FREE guide on how to turn on your Google machine and stop relying on vet referrals → https://www.k9ptacademy.com/google-machine
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