Improving cash flow and eliminating credit card fees in veterinary practices

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Q&A with a Certified Payments Professional from CDP Payments

From staffing challenges to client payment concerns, maintaining strong cash flow and financial visibility has become more critical than ever.

One of the most overlooked expenses impacting profitability is credit card processing fees, which can quietly cost practices tens of thousands of dollars each year. At the same time, many practices are unaware that there are compliant ways to eliminate these fees entirely.

We spoke with Brendan Ivory, Certified Payments Professional at CDP Payments, an AAHA-certified provider, about how modern payment solutions are helping veterinary practices reduce overhead, improve cash flow, and simplify operations.

Learn more at https://cdppayments.com.

Q: Why is cash flow such a critical issue for veterinary practices today?

A: Cash flow is everything. A practice can be profitable on paper but still feel pressure day to day if revenue is delayed or inconsistent.

Veterinary practices deal with a mix of payment types, unexpected expenses, and client financial limitations. At the same time, they are absorbing rising operational costs, including credit card processing fees.

Those fees alone can significantly impact margins, especially as revenue grows.

Q: How much are practices actually losing to credit card processing fees?

A: Most practices are paying between 3% and 4% on every transaction. For the average veterinary practice, that adds up to $30,000 to $50,000 or more per year. It is one of the largest unnecessary expenses in the business, yet many owners accept it as a fixed cost. For a deeper breakdown, visit https://cashdiscountprogram.com/aaha-offer/.

Q: What is different about CDP Payments?

A: CDP Payments specializes in helping veterinary practices eliminate credit card processing fees entirely through compliant programs such as Dual Pricing and a Surcharge Program. We are also an AAHA-certified provider, which means our solutions align with the standards and expectations of veterinary professionals nationwide. Our focus is not just on lowering rates. It is on removing the expense altogether while improving how payments flow through the practice.

Q: How does zero-cost credit card processing work?

A: Zero-cost processing shifts the cost of accepting credit cards away from the practice and to the cardholder in a fully compliant and transparent way. With Dual Pricing, the practice offers a cash price and a card price. With a Surcharge Program, a small fee applies only to credit card transactions, not debit. This allows the practice to keep 100% of what it collects.

Q: Will this negatively affect the client experience?

A: That is one of the most common questions, but in practice, it is rarely an issue. Consumers already see this model in many industries. When it is communicated clearly, most clients understand and accept it. In fact, many clients choose alternative payment methods, which further reduces overall processing costs. 

Q: How does this impact day-to-day operations?

A: One of the biggest advantages is that nothing operationally changes. CDP Payments integrates directly with all of the leading PMS/Practice Management Software systems that clinics know and use every day. Payments post the same way, staff workflows remain unchanged, and the front desk continues to operate as usual.

At the same time, practices benefit from faster access to funds, including same-day funding options, which improves cash flow immediately.

Q: How does eliminating processing fees improve financial visibility?

A: It simplifies everything. Instead of dealing with fluctuating deductions and unclear fees, what you collect is what you keep. This makes reporting cleaner, reconciliation easier, and forecasting more accurate. Practice owners gain a much clearer and more accurate understanding of their financial position.

Q: What kind of results are practices seeing?

A: The results are immediate. Most practices eliminate thousands of dollars per month in processing fees. That money goes directly back into the business and can be used for staffing, equipment, or growth initiatives. It is one of the fastest ways to improve profitability without increasing prices or patient volume.

Q: What should practice owners be thinking about right now?

A: They should be asking how much they are actually losing every month and whether that expense is necessary.  Businesses nationwide already pass this cost on to customers, and Veterinarians should too!  Pet owners are very loyal to their Veterinarians. Most practices we speak with have never taken a close look at it until they see the numbers. There is a significant opportunity to improve margins and cash flow without disrupting operations or changing the client experience.

Closing Thoughts

As veterinary practices continue to navigate rising costs and increasing financial pressure, reevaluating how payments are processed has become essential.

Credit card processing fees are no longer a fixed cost that must be absorbed.

With the right structure in place, practices can eliminate this expense, improve cash flow, and simplify financial management while maintaining the same day-to-day operations.

For many AAHA members and veterinary practices nationwide, CDP Payments provides a more efficient and sustainable way to manage payments while keeping more of what they earn.

For more information, visit https://cdppayments.com.