1. Visit type
2. Travel and zones
3. People, no-shows and your target
Edit any number and click Calculate. The page starts with an example.
Result
One visit at your usual distance
Fee by travel zone
| Zone | One-way drive (min) | Loaded cost | You bill | Profit | Margin | Visit fee for target | Surcharge needed over zone 1 |
|---|
Profit for a day of visits
| Visits booked | Hours worked | Miles | Revenue | Cost | Profit | Profit per hour |
|---|
The model, and what it leaves out
- Hours = drive time both ways + setup + exam and treatment (+ added minutes per extra pet) + charting.
- Loaded cost = round-trip miles × cost per mile + (your hourly cost + assistant cost × share of visits + forgone clinic-slot value) × hours + supplies per pet.
- No-shows add the cost of a wasted trip (vehicle, drive hours), net of the no-show fee, spread over completed visits.
- Visit fee for target = cost ÷ (1 − target margin) − services billed. Surcharge needed = the extra cost of a zone over zone 1, grossed up for the margin.
- Day = visits booked on a chained route, with one more leg than visits, each leg at your average drive time; no-shows still cost the drive.
- Not modelled: tax and licensing, payment-processing fees, cremation or disposal fees, after-hours premiums, waiting for clients, complications and follow-up calls. Visit types are illustrative starting points, not standards of care or fee schedules.
Common questions
How much should a mobile vet charge for a house call?
It depends on your costs, not a standard number. A house call carries drive time both ways, vehicle cost, setup and charting time, supplies and the clinic appointments you gave up. This calculator adds those up for your numbers and shows the visit fee that reaches your target margin.
Why charge a travel-zone surcharge?
Cost rises with every mile: drive time is paid for twice, and so is the vehicle. A flat visit fee that is right for a neighbour two miles away loses money 30 miles out. The zone table shows the surcharge each distance needs to keep the same margin as zone 1.
How do no-shows affect a house-call fee?
A no-show still costs the drive both ways. The calculator spreads the cost of wasted trips, net of any no-show fee you charge, over your completed visits, so you can see what a late-cancel fee is worth.
How should I price in-home euthanasia visits?
Use the preset as a starting point and replace it with your own times, supplies and fees. These visits run longer and carry more supplies per visit. Decisions about care and fees are for the veterinarian and the client.
Is this veterinary or financial advice?
No. It is arithmetic on the numbers you type. Nothing is stored or sent anywhere.