Put the Paws on Pet Parent Panic

Sam saw his bill yesterday and used some choice words.

This could have been avoided, but you hadn’t adjusted your fees in years.

Your bottom line was falling behind.

You needed to catch up fast, so you did what you thought was best for your practice.

Dramatically increasing your fees once every few years will have pet parents reeling and your staff struggling to keep up.

I’m not suggesting you avoid fee increases and drive your clinic profit into the negative.

But when you increase fees, consider the client's experience.

An unforeseen increase in their bill could throw them into panic questions like:

• Is my vet taking advantage of me?

• Am I getting charged for extra services?

• How can I ask for a payment plan?

• Will my pet insurance cover this?

Transparent, incremental fee increases spread out semi-annually or even quarterly can lessen the burden on your customers and help you increase fees over time without major surprises. 

This means:

• Notifying your staff and clients and explaining the reasoning behind the increase—whether it’s improved facilities, enhanced services, or rising operational costs.

• Adjusting your fees gradually to allow clients to adjust and appreciate the enhanced services you offer.

Download my Guide to Incremental Fee Increases for a formula for raising fees without startling your clients.