this pm - radio5 covering why vets are the most profitable small business

[Mark]

I would have thought lawyers made more profit myself - the article was in The Times as well, I must see if we still have yesterdays.

Same here - I remember when the directors of the company I worked for got themselves in tax trouble, they were paying £600 an hour and that was 10 years ago 

Edit - meant to say for a barrister.

[Desley (booktigger)]

Puddy - the biggest difference is that online stores dont have the overheads which is why they can be cheaper, and that doens't just apply to vet products. Also, as Dawn says, if we had to pay for our own medical care, we wouldnt have this conversation - I dont think i could go and have a hysterectomy for £43, but if I could, I would be there tomorrow.

[Dawn F]

if we didn't have the nhs I'm sure we wouldn't think they were so bad, I had my wisdom teeth out privately and everything down to the cotton wool was added to the bill!

[puddypaws]

I know that they have a lot of overheads, etc, and that the majority of them are excellent their prices are unbelievable.  I have just bought 2 packets of diet supplement tablets for our dog and, including postage, they still cost less than half the price of one packet from my vet.  As he is likely to have to take these from now on, it is one heck of a saving.  I can't understand why there is such a huge difference for exactly the same product.

[MBll]

Im sure i read the veterinary profession has the highest sucide rate,

I have heard this aswell....not sure why they have the highest rate here ?

[blackcat]

obviously the lawyers can afford good accountants ...

[Christine (Blip)]

Here is the link to The Times online:

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/support_services/article4144160.ece

It doesn't include the league table, which was printed yesterday (based on average return on capital employed):

Vets
Plasterers
Greengrocers
Butchers
Joiners
Financial Advisors
Chemists
Roofers
Specialist Food Retailers
Insulation Firms
Flooring Firms
Plumbers
Lawyers
Builders
Hairdressers
Electricians
Estate Agents
Supermarkets
Decorators
Cleaners

[Christine (Blip)]

Yes, I am staggered by the amount of knowledge that a vet has to have about so many very different species.  Our vets being where they are, they see mostly cats, dogs and rabbits (in that order) but the other day a guy was there with a terrapin.  And as Desley says, a vet has to offer much more than just primary care and triage.

I would have thought lawyers made more profit myself - the article was in The Times as well, I must see if we still have yesterdays.

[Desley (booktigger)]

I agree MM - they have a harder job than GP's, as they have to know a lot more and also different animals - since when did you go to the doc for a dental or sterilisation/hysterectomy? I get given a card and told to make an appointment for an x-ray, then wait 10 days for the results, my vets tell me the same day. I also wouldnt like the pts part of the job, I felt sorry for my vet 3 years ago, as she had to pts my neighbours dog and my cat in the same day, and that was just 2 of her appointments, I hope she didn't have any more of those that day.

[Millys Mum]

Im sure i read the veterinary profession has the highest sucide rate, i think they earn their profit, especially those who still cover their own night shift.
I dont mind anyway as the insurance pays most of mine 

[swampmaxmum]

my vet told me what he earns. It's about 1/3rd or less of what the GPs earn, he's a sole practitioner, working 6 days a week. My lads get way better care and attention than I do, that's for sure!

[ccmacey]

We have to remember vets are offering us a service not selling us something, so profit well earned in my eyes. 

[Angiew]

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