As a veterinary professional, you provide a wide range of essential services that go beyond clinical care. From health certificates for travel to EIA tests, VFDs, and rabies vaccination certificates, you are the gatekeeper of animal health and regulatory compliance. But are you charging what your services are worth?
This has been a difficult question to answer—until now. To solve this common challenge, GlobalVetLink conducted an extensive pricing survey with responses from over 650 veterinary professionals. For the first time, we can provide you with a clear, data-driven benchmark of what your peers are charging for critical compliance documents. The survey revealed a significant variation in fees for these critical documents, which highlights a crucial opportunity for many clinics to re-evaluate their fee structures to better reflect the value of their expertise and time.
The Current Pricing Landscape
Our survey data paints a clear picture: there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach to pricing compliance services. Here’s a snapshot of what your colleagues are charging for various common documents:
Note: Companion animal clinics consistently reported higher average fees for health certificates than other clinic types. Low and high values shown are the average of all responses, regardless of clinic type.
While some clinics charge robust fees, a surprising number undervalue their services. For example, our survey showed that 10% of clinics charge under $20 for a domestic health certificate—a price that hardly covers the administrative and professional time required. The same trend holds true for other documents, where the time and liability involved are often not reflected in the final client fee.
Why the Discrepancy?
So, what’s behind this wide range of prices? Our research points to a few key factors:
- Fear of Client Pushback: Many veterinarians worry that clients will object to higher fees for what they perceive as "just a piece of paper."
- Pricing in a Vacuum: Without reliable industry data, setting fees for specialized documents like VFDs or international health certificates has been a major challenge. Our benchmark report solves this problem by providing the first clear look at the "going rate," empowering you to price with data-driven confidence.
- Time-Consuming Processes: The time and effort required to research regulations, complete paperwork, and manage submissions can be substantial. As one veterinarian noted in the survey, "Some clients just don't want to do the research...so we end up doing it for them." This added responsibility often goes uncompensated.
How to Price Your Services with Confidence
It's time to shift the conversation from "What can I get away with charging?" to "What is the true value of my service?" Here are a few steps to help you price all your compliance documents appropriately:
Calculate Your Costs: Start by understanding the true cost of providing each service. Factor in:
- Veterinarian's time: Include the examination, research of regulations (crucial for VFDs and international travel), and professional sign-off.
- Staff time: Don't forget the administrative work, sample handling for EIA tests, and client communication.
- Direct costs: This includes any specific forms, submission fees, and general overhead.
Benchmark Your Fees with Real Data: You are no longer pricing in a vacuum. Use the data in the table above to see where your practice fits. Are you charging near the average for your clinic type? If you charge $50 for an IHC, knowing the market average is $380 gives you the evidence you need to justify a significant price increase.
Communicate Your Value: Educate your clients about the complexity and importance of these documents. When they understand the work that goes into ensuring their animal's health, safety, and compliance, they are more likely to appreciate the value of your service. Frame it not as a document, but as a professional service that protects them and their animals.
Embrace Technology: Digital platforms like GlobalVetLink can significantly reduce the time and effort required to create and manage compliance documents. Our research shows that veterinarians report up to 75% time savings when switching from paper to digital workflows. By streamlining the process for everything from CVIs to EIAs, you can free up valuable staff time and focus on what you do best: providing excellent patient care.
The Bottom Line
Your expertise in animal health is invaluable. By pricing all your compliance services appropriately, you ensure the financial health of your practice and reinforce the value of your professional skills.
We're here to help you every step of the way. With our comprehensive resources and streamlined platform, you can confidently price and provide these essential services to your clients.
Want to dive deeper into this topic? Be sure to check out the other posts in this series: Pricing Health Certificates for Profitability and How to Talk to Clients About Certificate Fees.
