Avimark is a popular veterinary practice management software owned by Covetrus that’s used by 11,000+ veterinary clinics worldwide. While Avimark is best known for its appointment scheduling features, it also works well for electronic medical records, inventory management, and a full suite of tools to support practices of all sizes.
One overlooked aspect of Avimark is its integrated payment processing solution.
Many vets we work with don’t quite understand how this works, which often leads to them overpaying (by a lot).
Our Insider Take on Avimark
We have dozens of clients using Avimark for day-to-day operations. And overall, they’re generally happy with the software itself.
Like many practice management systems, Avimark offers integrated payment processing to streamline transactions. But this convenience often comes at a premium cost.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Avimark integrates with multiple processors, including Global Payments, Worldpay, and Stripe.
- Covetrus Payments doesn’t actually process transactions in-house (it still relies on a third-party integration).
- Your processing rates are 100% negotiable, regardless of which option you’re using.
- The software itself is well-established and user-friendly, with over 50+ integrations available.
- Avimark is a complete system with unlimited seats at no extra charge.
Overall, Avimark is solid. In terms of vet practice management software, you can put it up against any competitor, and it will either beat or match nearly any function when compared side-by-side.
But the integrated payment processing options are limited. This gives providers leverage to charge higher rates, which they absolutely do.
Avimark Overview and Key Features
Avimark has been around for over 30 years. It was originally developed by McAllister Brothers before being acquired by Henry Schein Animal Health, and eventually merged with Covetrus in 2019.
The software has come a long way since its early days and adapted with the times, which is why the product has been able to thrive for so long in a crowded space.
Avimark is known for its ease of use and scalability, making it a viable option for both small single-location vets and large, multi-location practices.
Key Features
This vet practice management software can do a lot. Between what’s available out of the box and what you can set up via integration, it can essentially handle all of your practice needs.
- Appointment scheduling and boarding calendars
- Electronic medical records (EMR)
- Patient reminders and follow-up management
- Estimates and invoicing
- Integrated payment processing
- Inventory monitoring and management
- Financial reporting
One standout feature of Avimark is its integration capabilities. The software connects with over 50 third-party vendors and service providers, including a few different payment processing options.
While Avimark can be deployed on-premises and has historically been a Windows-based product, Covetrus (Avimark’s parent company) also offers Pulse, which is their cloud-based operating system that includes Avimark’s core functionality with additional cloud-based features.
Avimark Integrated Payment Processing Options
If you want to accept payments within Avimark, you’ll be directed to Covetrus Payments. This is the software’s in-house payment processing solution that works with Avimark’s vet practice management software. But under the Covetrus Payments umbrella, there are actually multiple processors that can actually handle your transactions on the backend.
So you’ll need to use a payment processor that integrates with Avimark via Covetrus Payments, and your options are:
- Global Payments
- Worldpay
- Stripe
Each processor is unique. And while the core capabilities remain largely the same for each, your fees will vary depending on who you choose.
Here’s an overview of each one so you know what to expect.
Global Payments Integrated
Global Payments is one of the world’s largest payment processors. Unfortunately, they’re also one of the most unethical providers in existence.
We catch Global applying aggressive billing tactics more than every other processor on the market. From padded assessments to charging outrageous fees (over $16,000 per month in bogus charges on one account), overcharging businesses is all standard practice for Global.
And that’s all for basic payment processing services. When it comes to integrated processing, they charge even more.
Global likely has to pay Covetrus a commission for the referral, so they’ll factor this into your rate to ensure they’re still getting a hefty profit.
Your payments will be secure, and the integration with Avimark works seamlessly. You’ll also have access to card-on-file capabilities, which is essentially for recurring payment plans.
But Global’s costs are tough to justify. So if you haven’t set up integrated payments within Avimark yet, then I strongly recommend using another provider.
If you’re already using Global to accept payments within Avimark, you need to audit your statements ASAP because I can basically guarantee that you’re being overcharged. Our team here at MCC can handle this on your behalf and even negotiate a better rate directly with Global, so you can save money without having to switch anything.
Check out our Global Payments review for more information.
Worldpay
Worldpay is another integrated payment processing option available through Coverus Payments for Avimark users.
They’re another large provider that’s not known for the most business-friendly billing tactics. But they aren’t quite as bad as Global Payments (at least not yet).
However, Global Payments acquired Worldpay. The merger is expected to close in 2026, so while the branding might be different on your statement, you’ll soon be dealing with the same parent company and many of the same deceptive practices.
We’ve seen this exact same scenario play out over the years with other processors that Global has acquired.
You can still get all of the same core benefits from Worldpay in terms of integrated processing:
- Full integration with Avimark
- Card on file for recurring payments
- Multiple payment acceptance methods (in-person, online, mobile, etc.)
- Integrated reporting within your practice management system
Pricing structure and fees are similar to what you’d see with Global Payments. Worldpay will factor in their commission to Covetrus, add their own markup, and include a handful of bogus fees for extra margin.
If you’re currently using Worldpay through Covetrus, you should try to re-negotiate the best long-term deal before the Global acquisition becomes official.
Our team knows Worldpay’s rock-bottom rate and can help you lock that in before it’s too late.
You can read our Worldpay review for more insights on getting the best rate.
Stripe
Stripe has become an increasingly popular option in the veterinary space. They have excellent technology, and they’re a totally different animal compared to Global Payments or Worldpay.
With Stripe, you’re getting a modern solution that’s built a reputation on transparency and developer-friendly tools.
Just make sure you avoid Stripe’s advertised flat-rate pricing. Despite its simplicity, flat-rate processing is never a good deal.
Get yourself on an interchange-plus deal. Your rate here will largely depend on your processing volume.
Smaller vets using Avimark can likely secure a 40-50 basis point markup with Stripe. It’s a big high, but not terrible for integrated processing.
Higher-volume practices can likely get down toward 25 basis points over interchange. And if you’re processing over $1 million monthly, you can aim for closer to 15 basis points during your negotiations.
The tradeoff with Stripe is that it’s not quite as seamless as what you’re getting with Covetrus Payments via Global or Worldpay. It’s a bit more technical and may require some additional development resources to set up.
That said, if you’re using Covetrus Pulse (basically the cloud-based version of Avimark), the Stripe integration is a requirement, so the decision of what to use is made for you (which isn’t a bad thing).
Stripe is the best of these three options. But if you’re already set up with Worldpay or Global, you’re better off negotiating better terms with them directly instead of switching to Stripe.
Check out our full Stripe review for an in-depth breakdown and insider pricing details.
Payment Processing Fees to Look Out For
If you’re using Covetrus Payments and have Global or Worldpay as your integrated processor on the backend, keep an eye out for the following fees on your statements:
- Settlement Funding Fee
- Risk Assessment Fee
- Global VPN Fee
- Network and Compliance Fee
- Auto Enrollment Fee
- Analytics Reputation Management Fee
- OpenEdge Check Fee
- Infrastructure Upgrade Fee
- Transaction Network Access Fee
These are just a handful of examples of fees that these processors essentially invented out of thin air. So if you spot any of those charges on your account, it’s a sign that you’re being overcharged and it’s something you’ll want to address ASAP.
The vast majority of these can either be removed or cut significantly.
Furthermore, you’ll also want to keep an eye out for rate increases over time. When you first sign up, you might be getting a “good deal.” But these providers tend to raise rates at minimum every 18 months, and sometimes even more frequently.
If you’re not sure whether a charge on your statement is legit or junk, just contact our team here at MCC and we’ll clarify for you.
What’s a Good Rate for Veterinary Credit Card Processing?
For integrated payment processing via Avimark, 50 basis points over the interchange rate (0.50% markup) is pretty standard.
Integrated processing is always going to be a bit more expensive than a standalone solution.
That said, your effective rate shouldn’t exceed 2.5% to 2.8%. This factors in all of your processing costs, and it’s a good way to truly understand how much you’re paying (beyond your per-transaction costs).
Here’s a reasonable benchmark:
- Interchange-Plus Markup: 30-50 basis points (0.30% to 0.50%) paid directly to your processor.
- Per-Transaction Fee: $0.10 to $20 per transaction or authorization is standard (and lower is obviously better).
- Monthly Fees: Should be minimal, ideally under $50 total for legitimate services.
If your effective rate is constantly over 3%, there’s definitely room to negotiate lower fees.
Make sure you’re on an interchange-plus structure rather than a flat-rate or tiered plan. Interchange-plus is the most complex but it’s the only transparent pricing model that ensures you’re paying a consistent markup over the actual wholesale rates set by the card networks.
Final Thoughts on Avimark Payment Processing
Payment processing may not be the first thing that comes to your mind when you’re getting set up with Avimark or another Covetrus product.
But it’s one area that veterinary practices should definitely take a closer look at.
You need to understand who is actually processing your transactions on the backend. Avimark and Covetrus aren’t payment processors. They rely on third-party providers like Global Payments, Worldpay, and Stripe to actually process everything.
And unfortunately, a couple of these providers aren’t known for being honest and transparent. Global and Worldpay are almost certainly overcharging you. But we also find savings opportunities on Stripe accounts.
The key here is actively managing your processing costs. Don’t just accept the rates you were initially quoted, and don’t allow your processor to consistently raise your rates over time.
When you’re ready to negotiate, contact them directly. Reaching out to Avimark or Covetrus support is useless because they aren’t setting your rates.
With a little bit of effort (or help from our team at MCC), you can keep everything in place with your vet practice management and save thousands of dollars every month by negotiating better terms.