Best city or province to open a new optometry office?

[optometrist2020]

Hello Everyone,

I'm new to the board. Since I am a fairly young optometrist, I'm really glad I found this discussion forum. I'm learning a lot from everyone's experience.

I am planning on opening an optometry office with dispensary from scratch. I was wondering if anyone had some ideas of where's a good place to set up a new office. I am open to moving almost anywhere in Canada.

Thanks, in advance.

[For-Life]

Hello Everyone,

I'm new to the board. Since I am a fairly young optometrist, I'm really glad I found this discussion forum. I'm learning a lot from everyone's experience.

I am planning on opening an optometry office with dispensary from scratch. I was wondering if anyone had some ideas of where's a good place to set up a new office. I am open to moving almost anywhere in Canada.

Thanks, in advance.

Think about many factors:
- regulations and future regulations
- size of the market
- amount of competition in a market
- quality of life and living
- do you have or plan to have children
- economic trends
- type of store

and many more.

If you are interested in buying a practice I can help you out there too.

[optometrist2020]

I am looking for an area that will do well with a new office opening, so definitely an area that has a need for an optometrist and room for growth. I would like it to be a place that I could also raise a family. I'm not very active in outdoor activities, but I do like nice scenery and good people.

I haven't thought much about buying a business. Is that a better idea than starting one up?

Thanks.

[Dave Nelson]

Outdoor activities? Why didn't you say so. Want to go skiing, hiking, and ocean sailing on the same day? throw in a golf game, climb massive snowy peaks and glaciers more than 10,000 feet high, Scuba dive in some of the most spectacular waters on the planet, go rock climbing, or catch a 10 foot sturgeon (catch and release) out of the Fraser river. Or bar-b-q fresh salmon, crab, oysters or cod you catch yourself in the Vancouver area. Hike the "grouse grind" right in Vancouver, or choose from thousands of hiking trails, rivers, lakes and more mountains than you can visit in a lifetime. Once the 2010 olympics come and go, the "secret" will be out.
Other areas of B.C have some of the finest trout fishing on the planet, deserts with cactus and sage brush where it get to 110 in the summer. Northern areas so vast and unexplored you could hike 500 miles without seeing a road or another person. Want outdoor activities in an urban setting with world class amenities? VANCOUVER. (just ask Snitgirl.:bbg: )

[Fezz]

I may not be the best judge, being from the states and all. I have always been fond of St. Catherines(& Font Hill), Ontario. My second spot would be in Quebec. I think the folks stuck out in the bush country need some real help. I am thinking Abitibi or Landrienne(sp) Quebec.

[Snitgirl]

Outdoor activities? Why didn't you say so. Want to go skiing, hiking, and ocean sailing on the same day? throw in a golf game, climb massive snowy peaks and glaciers more than 10,000 feet high, Scuba dive in some of the most spectacular waters on the planet, go rock climbing, or catch a 10 foot sturgeon (catch and release) out of the Fraser river. Or bar-b-q fresh salmon, crab, oysters or cod you catch yourself in the Vancouver area. Hike the "grouse grind" right in Vancouver, or choose from thousands of hiking trails, rivers, lakes and more mountains than you can visit in a lifetime. Once the 2010 olympics come and go, the "secret" will be out.
Other areas of B.C have some of the finest trout fishing on the planet, deserts with cactus and sage brush where it get to 110 in the summer. Northern areas so vast and unexplored you could hike 500 miles without seeing a road or another person. Want outdoor activities in an urban setting with world class amenities? VANCOUVER. (just ask Snitgirl.:bbg: )

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP! Only thing missing, MEXICAN FOOOOOOOOOOD, lol.

[Jacqui]

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP! Only thing missing, MEXICAN FOOOOOOOOOOD, lol.

They don't have Mexican food?? :eek: That's totally uncivilised. :finger:

My vote would go to Winnepeg, at least they have Taco Bell.

[Dave Nelson]

Are we talking about the same Vancouver? the one they call "Mexico North?" mmmmm, tacos n' beer. (Fezz salivates like Pavlov's dog.):bbg:

[Snitgirl]

That has been truly the only thing I am having a hard time with here in Vancouver, finding "true" mexican food. Being Mexican and coming from "southern" california (very close to the Mexican boarder) I was quite spolied. I did however run into a really nice Canadian who is Mexican and he gave me a place to go. Some place off of Denman called "Los Panchos" Said that it is the best he could find... So, I shall see....If its the place, then all my dreams have come true... lol..

Jacqui ~ Taco Bell... so American, lol... <--I think Canada is rubbing off on me... lol

Dave, is Fezz salivating over the beer or tacos? Probably the beer. Make sure he washes his hands first before eating with him....

[Jacqui]

Jacqui ~ Taco Bell... so American, lol... <--I think Canada is rubbing off on me... lol

Sorry, but the Bell is better than nothing. Canada isn't rubbing off on me, it never left (I grew up in Northern BC :D :D :D ).

[mlm]

Snitgirl,

I second the Panchos recommendation. I've been there and really enjoyed the food. It's on Denman and Robson.

optometrist2020,

BC is definitely one of the greatest places to live, but I would caution you about Vancouver itself. There seems to be glut of optometrists so it would be difficult to find a place without tons of competition. For example, our clinic is in downtown Vancouver, and there are 6 optometry clinics within a 5 block radius from us. The clinic I used to work at, outside downtown but within Vancouver, has 3 other optometry and 5 ophthalmology clinics within 4 blocks.

Consider the interior (the Okanagan is really beautiful) or Vancouver Island. Friendly people, wonderful scenery; definitely a great place to raise a family.

[Snitgirl]

Oh wait, the 2nd thing I forgot to mention (sorry pregnant brain here) is the postal service. I miss Saturday postal deliveries and the fact that your outgoing mail is picked up at your door. mon thru sat

So just call me a lazy spolied California girl missing the pick up delivery and mexican food...oh well, nothing an airplane flight can't cure

[Cindy K]

Canada isn't rubbing off on me, it never left (I grew up in Northern BC ).

Let me guess-- Smithers or Terrace?

[Fezz]

Dave, is Fezz salivating over the beer or tacos? Probably the beer. Make sure he washes his hands first before eating with him....


Oh, believe me, its the BEER. Nothing like a thorough hand scrubbing and a nice hoppy beer. :D:bbg::D:bbg:

[Fezz]

beer. (Fezz salivates like Pavlov's dog.):bbg:


Tongue hanging out , slobbering, drooling and all!

:D:cheers::D:cheers::D:cheers:

[Jacqui]

Let me guess-- Smithers or Terrace?

Near Dease Lake, way north, where it gets colder than Hades.

[For-Life]

Meh, I bet it does not get to the -50C with windchill

[muucow]

My vote is also Niagara. (Fonthill, St.Catharines, Niagara Falls)

Your 1 hour or less to Toronto's night life
20 minutes from the beauty of Niagara Falls (one of the wonders of the world of course)
10 minutes to beautiful countryside and hiking areas of peace and quiet
Wine country - nuff said
Cross the boarder anytime for shopping or to use the airport in buffalo in which the flights are cheaper than flying from Toronto
It has become one of the golf capitols - and what does lots of golf courses mean? More people with $$$ to spend.
Many people retreat here from Toronto.
Historic Niagara on the lake - complete with little shops and Shaw festival.
Need I go on?????
Full of opportunity and potential!!!! With the right person ......:rolleyes:

Vancouver is over rated - sorry....nice but whatever....
Praries are too flat....
Quebec? Well I am biased because I have inlaws there.....yuck
I could handle out east but I don't think they could handle me....
PS if you buy an existing business make sure you research before you buy.
Why are they selling?
Let me know when you want to chat further......oh great pubs in St.Catharines.....
:cheers:

[Dave Nelson]

Vancouver is nice but over-rated? Oh yes, those "great lakes killer whales" are sure spectacular. Oh and your "mountains?" (snicker) Here in the west, we think that when your ski tips reach the bottom of the mountain, the back ends shouldn't still be at the top. I love it when Easterners see glaciers in August and ask when does all the snow melt? And your Niagra Falls? OK got me there. Those really are spectacular. But I'll top your Niagra on the Lake with our Gastown, Steveston, or Victoria. Don't even get me started on Whistler. ;)

[muucow]

At least with our "Great Lakes" you don't have to worry about being eaten by a killer whale. When you have seen the Alps in Europe, Vancouver does not compare.
It rains there too much....
We do have ski areas north of Toronto and across the boarder. Besides BC is over populated with vision testing Opticians and already an abundance of opticals.
Why would a Dr go there??? Oppurtunity lies here! :cool:

[muucow]

The sun is gorgeous today in Niagara - do you know what that is? Sunshine? That little yellow globe in the sky... you know behind the clouds.
Applause applause.....

[Cindy K]

The sun? Gee I wonder where the "Sunshine Coast" here near Vancouver got its name? and the The Alps? I'm sorry, but we're comparing Eastern Canada with the West. It wouln't be very fair of me to say St. Catherines has nothing like the Great Pyramids of Giza would it now? We do have the "Grand Wall" of the Stawamus Chief, though, which can be climbed head on for the not-so-faint-of-heart, or hiked around the back way, leading to standing on the knife edge of a sheer 2,800 foot drop. Takes your breath away. :D

[optometrist2020]

Can't all Canadian's be friends? Ok, hate to burst your bubbles, but I am avoiding BC and Vancouver. These are my reasons.

1) Vancouver is a beautiful city, but there are so many opticians and optometrists in the urban centre. There isn't much room for a new office. Plus, with the impending sight testing a new office would seriously be affected. Lifestyle would be great there, but I'm not sure about the business side.

2) In Ontario, it is going to take a long time for optometry offices to become more retail vs the current "medical" image. So, when IRIS comes to Ontario, it is going to affect a lot of places because they are offering something new to Ontario. Ontario, is also oversaturated with optometrists, even in the Niagara area. I agree Niagara on the Lake is beautiful; one of the nicest places to live in Ontario and more moderate weather.

As an aside Quebec is the most saturated province of optometrists because of their french-language optometry school, so all 40 students stay within the province each year. Plus, when eye exams were deinsured a lot of the optometrists were scared into keeping their exam fees low, so there are still places you can get a $50 eye exam. That is sad. Anyways, my french is not that great.

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS POST!

[Jacqui]

I still think the prarie is your best bet.

How about the Teritories??

[optometrist2020]

What is life like in the Prairies? I'm only considering bigger cities like Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg. Are there any others?

There are rarely any job postings for optometrists for these cities. Why is this?

[Jacqui]

To me, life is a little slower and friendlier on the prarie. I don't know why there aren't as many ads, maybe no one ever thinks of these places.

I love Winnepeg !!!! I also like Yellowknife.

[optometrist2020]

Jacqui,

What do you like about Winnipeg? Please tell me more? Do you know anyone there who has an optical business?

[mlm]

I was born and raised in Regina. I still believe it's a nice place to raise kids; city life but not so big a city that you deal with a lot of urban problems. But if you're used to the fast pace of big city life, then Regina will be kind of boring. The weather is typical: crazy cold in the winter and insanely hot in the summer. The mosquitoes are annoying, but I think Winnipeg has it worse.

I understand that now the northeast and the southwest of the city are really taking off (lots of new development), so there may be a market for a new office. I suspect that the reason you don't see a lot of job postings is that optometry is pretty stable. You don't have a lot of ODs doing locum work in one office then move to another within a couple of years; something that happens a lot in Vancouver.

[muucow]

There are a few OD's in the Niagara Region that are ready to retire soon. Then there are the Dr's that people just don't like, then there are the rip off artists - no offence... but you know what I mean.
One question. If Opticians and Optometrists would be in business together. What is normally the terms of the business agreement.... For example..what if the optical was owned by the optician. The optometrist could keep their OHIP and eye exam $$ but they would also have a percentage of the business right? What is being done else where?

[For-Life]

Winnipeg is oversaturated.

However, I know there are a lot of Opticians who are willing to make it very easy for an OD to work for them.

[optometrist2020]

There are a few OD's in the Niagara Region that are ready to retire soon. Then there are the Dr's that people just don't like, then there are the rip off artists - no offence... but you know what I mean.
One question. If Opticians and Optometrists would be in business together. What is normally the terms of the business agreement.... For example..what if the optical was owned by the optician. The optometrist could keep their OHIP and eye exam $$ but they would also have a percentage of the business right? What is being done else where?

The usual arrangement is a side-by-side operation where the OD rents space from the optical owned by the optician. The OD keeps the exam fees (ohip and cash eye exams). No, they do get a percentage of the optical business because this would be a conflict of interest. I heard this has been done before, but that's pretty shady. The "rent" sometimes is really paid and sometimes not, but it gets tricky when you do your taxes and you have to worry about if the college investigates. IRIS is going to be coming to Ontario and they give 100% of exam fees to the optometrist, but they do not get anything from the sale of glasses or contacts. Their optometrist is able to work within the store and they do not have to pay rent.

Hope this explains things.

[npdr]

Winnipeg is oversaturated.

However, I know there are a lot of Opticians who are willing to make it very easy for an OD to work for them.

How would you structure a "win-win" arrangement with an OD?

[For-Life]

the general rule is that the store owner sets up the practice, buys the equipment and such. The OD then uses the room and equipment and no charge. The only fee the OD gets are the exam fees, and the OD pays nothing to the practice.