Veterinary Practices
Your practice has a pharmacy, a retail store, and a hospital under one roof. We've worked in this industry.
We Actually Know This Industry
Before starting Vast Accounting, I spent over 15 years at Allivet, the third largest pet pharmacy in the country. I started in accounts payable and receivable, then worked my way up to Finance and Compliance Director overseeing a team of six. I know how inventory moves in this industry. I know the compliance requirements. I understand what makes pet healthcare businesses different from general medical practices.
You went to veterinary school because you wanted to help animals. Somewhere along the way, you also became responsible for medication inventory, controlled substance logs, payroll for a mixed staff, and figuring out whether your dental cleanings are actually profitable. That’s a lot to manage between surgeries.
We handle the books. You take care of the patients.
More Than a Medical Practice
A veterinary practice isn’t just a doctor’s office. You’re running a pharmacy, a retail store, sometimes a boarding facility, and a hospital all under one roof. Each of those has different margins, different inventory needs, and different accounting treatment.
Most practice management software tracks clinical data well but doesn’t give you the financial clarity you need. You can see how many appointments you had last month but not whether those appointments covered your overhead. That’s where proper bookkeeping comes in.
Who We Work With
Who We Work With
General veterinary practices, animal hospitals, emergency and specialty clinics, mobile veterinary services, and veterinary dental or surgical specialists across the Merrimack Valley and Greater Boston.
What Makes It Complicated
What Makes It Complicated
Multiple revenue streams with different margins. Medication and vaccine inventory that expires. Controlled substances with DEA compliance. Payment plans and pet insurance reimbursements. Staff ranging from veterinarians to kennel assistants.
Where the Numbers Get Messy
Most veterinary practices track clinical outcomes well but struggle with financial visibility. You know how many spays you did last month. You probably don’t know if that service line is profitable after accounting for staff time, anesthesia, sutures, and the follow-up appointment built into the price.
Then there’s the cash flow timing. A client puts down a deposit for surgery next week. Pet insurance reimburses you 45 days after the claim. Someone else is on a payment plan that stretches out over six months. Matching the money that comes in with the services you’ve actually provided takes more than a quick glance at your bank account.
Inventory and Medications
Inventory and Medications
Vaccines expire. Medications need reorder points. Controlled substances require careful documentation. If you’re expensing everything when purchased instead of tracking actual usage, your monthly numbers don’t reflect reality.
Service Line Profitability
Service Line Profitability
Wellness exams, surgeries, dental cleanings, boarding. Each has different overhead and margin. Without tracking them separately, you can’t tell which services are carrying the practice and which are barely breaking even.
Payment Timing Confusion
Payment Timing Confusion
Deposits collected before procedures. Pet insurance payments arriving weeks later. Payment plans stretching across months. Revenue recognition gets complicated when money and services don’t line up.
Mixed Staffing
Mixed Staffing
Veterinarians, licensed vet techs, veterinary assistants, receptionists, kennel staff. Different credentials, different pay rates, different scheduling patterns. Payroll needs to handle all of it correctly.
Clear Numbers for Better Decisions
When your books are current and properly structured, you can actually manage the business side of your practice. You know which service lines are worth promoting and which need repricing. You see cash flow coming before it becomes a problem. You walk into tax season with everything ready instead of scrambling to find records.
We close your books monthly and give you financial statements that make sense for a veterinary practice. Payroll runs smoothly regardless of how many different roles you have on staff. Your CPA gets clean records at year end. And you get to spend your mental energy on patient care instead of spreadsheets.
Monthly Bookkeeping
Monthly Bookkeeping
Books closed every month with proper revenue recognition and expense allocation. Financial statements organized by service line so you can see what’s actually driving profit.
Payroll and Compliance
Payroll and Compliance
We handle payroll for your entire team, from veterinarians to kennel assistants. Tax filings, direct deposits, and year-end forms all taken care of.
The Merrimack Valley's Trusted Accounting Partner
The Next Step:
A 15-Minute Call
Tell us about your business and what you're dealing with. We'll listen, ask a few questions, and give you a straightforward quote.