"Accounts receivable in most small animal hospitals should never exceed 2.5 percent of the yearly gross income. For equine and other large animal hospitals, 4 percent to 5 percent of gross revenue is the norm," says Gary Glassman, CPA, a Veterinary Economics Editorial Advisory Board member and partner with Burzenski and Co. PC in East Haven, Conn. Most practices struggle because they lack good procedures to ensure collection, he says.
"Accounts receivable in most small animal hospitals should never exceed 2.5 percent of the yearly gross income. For equine and other large animal hospitals, 4 percent to 5 percent of gross revenue is the norm," says Gary Glassman, CPA, a Veterinary Economics Editorial Advisory Board member and partner with Burzenski and Co. PC in East Haven, Conn. Most practices struggle because they lack good procedures to ensure collection, he says.
"Make sure you print an accounts receivable aging from your veterinary software each month," says Glassman. "Look at the total and the amount over 90 days. If it's greater than 30 percent of total accounts receivable, you lack good internal-control procedures."
To improve accounts receivable, Glassman says, get clients to sign payment agreements up front. "Equine and large animal practitioners should maintain client credit card numbers on file and seek their permission to charge the card when services are performed," he says. "Then, be proactive and follow up when clients don't pay. I find it helps for hospital administrators and owners to be involved in the collection process." These guidelines can help you stay on top of unpaid bills:
Gary I. Glassman