Veterinary Services Revenue Benchmarks
The average veterinary services business in the United States generates $1.4M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 27,237 veterinary services businesses in the U.S., employing 420,232 workers with an average profit margin of 22.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $55K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Veterinary Business Actually Do?
Businesses providing medical care to companion animals (dogs, cats, exotics) or livestock. Services span wellness care, vaccinations, dental, surgery, and emergency care. Increasingly consolidated by corporate roll-ups (VCA, Banfield, Mars Petcare).
Who buys: Pet owners for routine and reactive care; farm operators for livestock.
Average Revenue
$1.4M
per year
Profit Margin
22.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$93K
per year
Total Businesses
27,237
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$317K
small business avg
Labor Cost
50.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$55K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
8.2
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Veterinary Services Charge?
Veterinary care is priced per visit and per procedure.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Wellness exam | $50–100 |
Vaccinations (per shot) | $25–50 |
Spay/neuter | $300–800 |
Dental cleaning | $300–900 |
Emergency visit | $150–500+ visit fee |
Surgery (soft tissue) | $1,500–5,000 |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete veterinary business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a veterinary services business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the veterinary services industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Client-related expenses | $4 | $60K | Software licenses, subscriptions, printing, filing fees, travel billed to clients. |
Wages & benefits | $50 | $720K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $81K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $60K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $14 | $201K | Professional liability insurance, continuing education, tech, admin support. |
Net profit | $22 | $317K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
13.21%
openings/year
Closure Rate
10.38%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+2.16%
annual
Businesses Closed
5,672
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Veterinary Business?
Startup Cost
$10K – $75K
Break-Even
2 months
5-Year Survival Rate
60.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a veterinary services business do?
- Businesses providing medical care to companion animals (dogs, cats, exotics) or livestock. Services span wellness care, vaccinations, dental, surgery, and emergency care. Increasingly consolidated by corporate roll-ups (VCA, Banfield, Mars Petcare). Pet owners for routine and reactive care; farm operators for livestock.
- How much do veterinary services charge?
- Veterinary care is priced per visit and per procedure. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average veterinary services make per year?
- The average veterinary services business generates $1.4M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $317K per year at a 22.0% profit margin.
- How many veterinary services businesses are there in the US?
- There are 27,237 veterinary services businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 420,232 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a veterinary services business?
- Startup costs for a veterinary services business typically range from $10K to $75K, with a 5-year survival rate of 60.0%.
- What is the average salary in the veterinary services industry?
- The average employee in the veterinary services industry earns $55K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The veterinary services industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 2.2% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (13.2% entry vs 10.4% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 58% of veterinary services businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 5,672 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the veterinary services industry earns $54,535/year. This is near the national average of ~$65K. With 34,867 establishments employing 460,717 people, the typical business has about 13 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The veterinary services industry has grown 23% since 2000 (from 47,380 to 58,460 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Veterinary Services revenue with other industries: