Making Sure the Price is Right

When we first started talking about clinic pricing for spays and neuters, our priority was to “keep it simple, stupid! (K.I.S.S.)” And we naively thought, how hard can it be?

We began by looking at other low-cost clinics in the region – there are a few, but none are non-profit, and not all have the best reputations. We talked to vets and shelter directors. We questioned rescue groups about arrangements they already had with vets. And we sought guidance from Humane Alliance and Pets Alive, a Humane Alliance clinic in Bloomington, IN.

Everybody had different answers.

Then we formulated different assumptions – this many cat spays, this many dog spays, and the same for neuters – based on what we found were the experiences elsewhere.

Then we ran some budget numbers.

Then we changed our formulas and ran the numbers again. And again. And again…

We added projections for rabies and other vaccines that would be done in certain circumstances, like when we would have requests from partners for this extra service or when we were pretty sure the animal would never be seen by another vet in its lifetime. We added charges for feral boarding.

We looked at surcharges – so much for obese dogs, pregnant animals, large dogs – and decided not to go that route because it would not mean much to the bottom line, and it clearly ran counter to our “K.I.S.S.” priority. 

We were getting more and more frustrated because we still weren’t getting the numbers we needed to make this clinic viable.

So we went back to the drawing board with the architect, and we trimmed the plans and factored in a phased construction build-out that would reduce immediate expenditures, and delay some non-essential construction until year three, when the clinic cash flow projections moved into the black.

When we ran the numbers after that, they worked!  $30 for cats – spay or neuter; $55 for dogs – spay or neuter. No surcharges. No hidden costs (such as charging extra for post-op pain meds as some “low-cost” operators in the area were found to do!). AND, we’d be offering volume discounts for our partners – for them, every 10th dog they bring us is free, every 10th cat is free.

Now THAT’s simple.

The reaction to our pricing has been overwhelmingly positive. People recognize the value – not only simple pricing, but convenience and accessibility. But most importantly, they seem to realize that this pricing will allow us to stay in business so that by working together, we can further the mission of controlling pet overpopulation through effective spay/neuter, not euthanasia.

Comments

[Frances Yates]

This is a cat-tastic plan! For YEARS I have searched for a simple way to do local t-n-r and even more frequent to help the many, many well-meaning folks who feed strays. I advise "if you feed 'em, fix 'em" but many are elderly or low-income and can't afford the $100 or more for the local vets. Yours is a service I can readily promote and could even offer to do a pick-up/drop-off service for anyone within 30 or so miles of my geographic area to get cat/s to UCAN. I can also envision fundraisers that target efforts specific to provide s/n vouchers for your service. Thanks and purrs!

[Carol Sanger]

Thanks, Frances!
We're excited about what we can accomplish by working together toward this common goal. We definitely will want to work with you, so let's stay in touch.
Carol Sanger
UCAN President