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There’s an undeniable connection between humans and their pets—an emotional bond built on love, companionship, and mutual care. Pets enrich our lives in countless ways, from providing comfort after a long day to filling our homes with joy. Because of this deep connection, it’s only natural for pet owners to do everything they can to keep their furry friends healthy. Veterinarians play a pivotal role in that care, acting as both healers and trusted advisors. But running a successful veterinary practice requires more than just medical expertise; it also involves efficiently managing the business side, including how payments are processed. At Durango Merchant Services, we make it easier for veterinarians to focus on their practice by offering flexible, reliable solutions for credit card processing and other payment methods.
What Makes a Veterinarian High Risk for Merchant Accounts?
Veterinary clinics may not seem like high-risk businesses on the surface, but from a banking perspective, there are several factors that contribute to their designation as “high risk.” The first issue relates to the high cost of some veterinary services. Emergency surgeries, ongoing treatment plans, or specialized care can lead to higher-than-average transaction amounts, increasing the potential for chargebacks. A client who disputes the cost of services or experiences financial strain may reverse a transaction, which can trigger chargeback fees and penalties for the clinic.
Furthermore, many veterinary clinics offer recurring billing for services like wellness plans, medication refills, or pet insurance. While convenient for the client, these recurring payments add complexity to payment processing, increasing the chances of disputes if the client forgets the charges or finds a different service provider. This variability in services, combined with the higher transaction amounts, often makes veterinary clinics a challenging business for traditional banks to underwrite.
How Does a Veterinarian Get a Merchant Account?
To secure a veterinarian merchant account, clinics must first go through an application and underwriting process with a payment processor. This process typically involves submitting financial records, business information, and documentation about the type of services offered at the clinic. Processors use this data to assess the risk associated with offering a merchant account to the business.
While some clinics may face difficulties in gaining approval due to being labeled high risk, companies like Durango Merchant Services offer solutions specifically designed for businesses in this category. Durango helps veterinary clinics navigate the application process by offering guidance and support, ensuring that veterinarians get the payment processing solutions they need. Our experience with high-risk industries allows us to provide tailored merchant accounts that align with the specific needs of veterinary clinics, from handling large-ticket transactions to managing recurring billing for long-term treatments.
Can Veterinarians Use Stripe, PayPal, and Square?
Many small businesses use payment aggregators like Stripe, PayPal, and Square due to their simplicity and ease of setup. These services work well for businesses that process smaller volumes of transactions or only need basic payment functionality. However, veterinarians who handle a large number of transactions or offer recurring billing may find these services limiting.
One of the risks associated with using aggregators is the potential for account freezes or sudden terminations, especially if the business is classified as high risk. Since veterinary clinics often fall into this category, it’s not uncommon for them to encounter issues with these services when unexpected chargebacks or disputes arise. Moreover, aggregators may lack the dedicated customer support or advanced functionality that a busy clinic needs. For veterinarians, it’s important to choose a payment processor that understands the unique challenges of their business and can provide solutions tailored to their needs.
What’s Included in a Veterinarian Merchant Account?
A veterinarian merchant account from Durango Merchant Services offers a comprehensive range of tools and services that go beyond basic credit card processing. Here’s a breakdown of what’s typically included:
Credit and Debit Card Processing
Whether your clients want to pay with credit or debit cards, a veterinarian merchant account provides the ability to accept all major card brands, both in-person and online. This flexibility is essential for clinics that want to offer convenience to their clients and expand payment options.ACH and Echeck Processing
Veterinary clinics often handle high-value transactions, and many clients prefer to pay directly from their bank accounts, especially for large bills. ACH (Automated Clearing House) and eCheck processing allow clinics to accept payments directly from a customer’s checking account. This method provides an alternative to card payments and can be particularly useful for recurring billing or installment payments.Point of Sale (POS) Systems
For clinics looking to streamline their operations, a fully integrated POS system can make a world of difference. These systems allow veterinarians to track sales, manage inventory, schedule appointments, and process payments—all from one central platform. With Durango, veterinary clinics can access POS systems that are designed for their unique needs, helping to improve workflow and provide a better client experience. An efficient POS system also helps manage client records and billing history, making it easier to handle recurring payments or post-treatment follow-ups.Recurring Billing and Invoicing
Many clinics offer recurring services like wellness plans or long-term treatments. With a veterinarian merchant account, you can set up automatic billing for these services, ensuring that payments are collected on time without requiring clients to manually enter their payment information each month. This not only simplifies operations but also helps improve cash flow by minimizing late payments.Secure Payment Gateways
In an increasingly digital world, online payments are becoming more common—even for veterinary services. A secure payment gateway enables clinics to accept payments directly through their websites, providing convenience to clients who prefer to settle their bills online. With a payment gateway from Durango, veterinarians can offer a seamless and secure checkout process that protects sensitive financial information.
Why Choose Durango for Credit Card Processing for Veterinarians?
Durango Merchant Services understands the complexities of running a veterinary practice and the unique payment challenges that come with it. We specialize in high-risk industries and offer solutions that are tailored to the needs of veterinarians. By choosing Durango, veterinary clinics gain access to reliable, secure credit card processing solutions, as well as a host of additional services like ACH and eCheck payments, recurring billing options, and state-of-the-art POS systems.
Our dedicated team works closely with clinics to provide personalized support, helping them manage payment processing with confidence. Whether you’re a small clinic or a larger practice with multiple locations, Durango has the tools and experience to keep your payment systems running smoothly, so you can focus on what truly matters—caring for the health and well-being of your patients.
With Durango Merchant Services, veterinarians can take the guesswork out of payment processing, offering clients more ways to pay while ensuring that the clinic operates efficiently.
High-Risk Expertise: With years of experience in high-risk payment processing, we understand the specific requirements for credit card processing for veterinarians. We work with our clients to ensure that they meet the necessary compliance and regulatory standards, including PCI-DSS and HIPAA, which are crucial for maintaining a secure payment environment.
Customized Solutions: We provide tailored payment processing solutions designed to handle the complexities of the veterinarian industry.
Fraud Prevention Tools: We offer advanced fraud prevention tools to help reduce chargebacks and protect your business from fraudulent transactions. This is especially important for vetterinarians selling high-value or controlled substances, where the risk of fraud is heightened.
Reliable Payment Processing: With Durango, veterinarians can count on secure, reliable credit card processing services. We work with trusted acquiring banks that are comfortable working with high-risk industries like veterinarians, reducing the likelihood of unexpected account freezes or service disruptions.
Ongoing Support: Durango provides ongoing support to ensure their payment processing systems continue to operate smoothly. Our team is available to assist with any issues related to compliance, chargebacks, or account management, so you can focus on providing excellent care to your customers.
