1) Raises and timing of raises. If a position with a straight salary is proposed, ask about the criteria and time frame for raises.  If the criteria are production based, you will want to be able to see a report of your production on at least a quarterly basis.

2) Production. The majority of veterinary contracts we have seen contain a base salary with a production bonus. There are a HUGE number of variations on this theme.  Things you want to ask about production contracts:

• Are there any items on which I receive lower production or no production? Do these items change?  Do you notify me of any changes to production percentages?
• How often is the production bonus paid? 
• Do you have negative accrual? 

3) Hours/Holidays. It is important to ask about holidays, after hours, and call in.  You may assume that your practice is closed for most holidays, but practices vary for Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, and the day after Thanksgiving.  It is nice to understand the expectations ahead of time.  In addition, it may seem that there are no after hours in a primary care clinic in a big city.  However, the grey areas are the 4 pm Friday foreign body case or cases hospitalized overnight.  On the specialty side, there is a huge range in the type of compensation for after-hours work that can dramatically affect your income so ASK for details.

4) Non-compete clauses. We know veterinarians who have had to leave their chosen state for 2-3 years to sit out non-compete clauses. We also know veterinarians whose non-compete clauses were either illegal or not enforceable.  The rules around non-compete clauses vary dramatically from state to state which is why you need an attorney.  Ask about a buyout provision for your non-compete. Some organizations will require a signed non-compete for hire but will allow you to pay a certain amount of money that decreases the distance and/or time of the non-compete if you leave.

5) Hospital Sale. What happens to my veterinary contract and contract terms if the hospital is sold?  Hospital sales now happen regularly so you need to understand if your production terms are protected (including which items receive full, partial, or no commission) in a sale.  You also want to know what might change with your non-complete, if your benefits can be changed, and if your contract length is the same.