5 Veterinary Payment Models To Future-Proof Your Practice
As pet owners’ expectations evolve and veterinary professionals face increasing pressure to deliver quality and convenience, your hospital’s payment structure may be as important as the care you provide. A forward-thinking veterinary payment model supports patient outcomes in innovative ways while easing the veterinary team’s workload.
Credit, debit, checks, and cash are no longer enough to meet modern pet parent expectations. Here are five veterinary payment models that can address client needs and future-proof your veterinary practice.
1. Pet wellness plans
A relatively well-known veterinary payment model, the wellness plan offers pet owners a membership-style approach to preventive care. The plans cover exams, vaccines, parasite screening, diagnostics, and other annual services, and clients pay for them in monthly installments.
A predictable monthly payment plan can be a game-changer for clients on a tight budget. On the practice side, monthly payments mean recurring revenues, and you can choose a plan provider that integrates with your PIMs for easy management.
Key attributes:
- Reduces financial barriers to pet care
- Encourages long-term patient care adherence
- Increases loyalty and retention
- Provides recurring revenue for your veterinary clinic
2. Telemedicine apps
Telemedicine was a pandemic trend that is now rapidly growing in veterinary medicine. A mobile telemedicine app provides clients with on-demand access to veterinary team members through asynchronous messaging and requests, as well as scheduled virtual meetings and consultations. Clients can pay monthly, annually, or per message to recoup the costs of the time staff spend on the phone or responding to emails.
Key attributes:
- Adds convenience without sacrificing patient care
- Keeps your clinic top-of-mind for non-urgent issues
- Makes veterinary services more accessible
- Complements in-clinic offerings
3. Auto-ship pharmacy subscriptions
A pharmacy auto-ship subscription model addresses the issue of poor client compliance with prescription medications, foods, and preventives while also capturing pharmacy revenue you might be losing in the clinic. Many clients prefer to shop online, and offering an auto-ship option ensures pets receive medications consistently. Many platforms support integrated payment processing, so clients get billed automatically when their pet’s medication ships.
Key attributes:
- Improves medication and prescription diet compliance
- Builds recurring revenue with minimal effort
- Allows you to compete with third-party pharmacies
- Reinforces your role as the primary healthcare provider
4. Concierge or membership plans
Membership-based veterinary payment systems create an inclusive, ongoing relationship with clients that rewards loyalty. In a membership model, clients pay a monthly fee for perks, discounts, and preferential scheduling, which encourages repeat visits. Everyone wins—clients gain peace of mind and excellent care, while the clinic receives ongoing revenue to balance cash flow.
You can customize membership plans with tiers, categories for multi-pet homes, and unique perks, such as free nutrition consultations or boarding days. Market this model as a way to simplify pet care, reduce surprise costs, and give pet owners a “go-to” for every question.
Key attributes
- Deepens trust and client loyalty over time
- Provides predictable, recurring revenue
- Can smooth out seasonal lulls and balance your appointment book
- Encourages clients to seek care early
5. Flexible payment methods
If you’re not ready to jump into telemedicine or large-scale subscription models, you can start modernizing systems by adding more flexible payment solutions. Contactless payments, such as tap-to-pay and Apple Pay, are streamlined and secure.
Mobile payments, online payment portals, and third-party providers like CareCredit give modern pet parents more options to make veterinary care affordable. Clients who see a hefty estimate and panic about paying might defer or decline care if they don’t see an option to spread out costs.
Key attributes:
- Supports different financial situations
- Speeds up checkout and reduces administrative load
- Encourages acceptance of higher-cost treatment plans
- Aligns with healthcare and industry trends
The future of veterinary payment models
Unique and innovative business structures and veterinary payment models can help you attract and keep clients in your veterinary practice. Subscription models, wellness plans, and telemedicine services offer tremendous value to pet parents while helping to future-proof clinics with predictable revenue streams.
The right veterinary payment model for your clinic reflects your mission, values, client preferences, and the services you offer. A flexible approach to billing and payment enables you to meet your clients where they are. Adapting now can build loyalty, boost revenue, and make your clinic more resilient in the years ahead.
Whatever veterinary payment model you choose, ensure that the associated apps and software integrate seamlessly with your veterinary software. If you work in a legacy system, consider upgrading to a modern, cloud-based PIMS to maximize the benefits of your new and improved payment models.
