VETport is a cloud-based veterinary practice management software that’s been around since 2002, making it one of the world’s first cloud vet solutions on the market. Today, VETport is trusted by 12,500+ veterinarians in 27 countries. It supports general clinics, specialty practices, equine vets, mobile vets, and even universities.
From appointment scheduling and electronic medical records to inventory management and integrated payment processing, the software offers a comprehensive suite of features to help vets of all sizes streamline operations.
So whether you’re currently using VETport or considering it for your practice, this review will give you our insider take on its payment processing capabilities (something that’s often overlooked when assessing this software).
Our Quick Take on VETport
We have dozens of clients in the veterinary space, and many of them use VETport and have used it for years. So we have plenty of experience navigating how the software works and the different payment processing options.
Here’s what you need to know:
- VETport integrates with multiple payment processors, including Elavon, Fisev, OpenEdge, and Telr.
- With any of these options, your rates are 100% negotiable.
- VETport doesn’t actually process payments themselves, they just support the integration.
- There’s a strong likelihood your practice is overpaying to accept payments within VETport.
- We’ve found cost-saving opportunities on every VETport payment processing statement we’ve audited.
The software is solid in terms of its practice management capabilities.
And it’s nice that VETport gives you several different integrated processors to choose from (many competitors don’t, or they offer a couple options owned by the same parent company).
That said, we still see processors using this integrated setup as an excuse to overcharge veterinarians who don’t realize that they’re paying far too much.
VETport Overview
VETport has been serving the veterinary industry for over two decades. As (supposedly) the first cloud-based vet software on the market, they’ve built up a ton of expertise in helping practices manage operations more efficiently.
It’s definitely an industry favorite, and I always prefer cloud-based solutions over the more complex on-premise deployments. This makes it really convenient for multi-location practices, as you can seamlessly support clients and pull their records regardless of which location they visit.
The software is also highly customizable. Practices can create their own exam forms, medical record templates, and client communication materials.
Another benefit of being cloud-based is that the software can be accessed from anywhere with internet access — phones, laptops, tablets, desktop computers — whatever you prefer or is most convenient for your office.
VETport Pricing
VETport’s pricing is based on the number of locations and veterinarians at your practice. They have a pricing calculator on their website that adjusts the price in real-time as you enter how many locations and vets you have.
But as you adjust both variables, the price changes in a way that doesn’t necessarily follow a simple per-location or per-vet formula.
Here are some examples of their published pricing to give you a better idea of the rates:
- 1 location, 1 vet: $229 per month
- 2 locations, 1 vet: $369 per month
- 3 locations, 1 vet: $509 per month
- 1 location, 9 vets: $1,125 per month
- 4 locations, 10 vets: $1,545 per month
Once you hit 6+ locations or 11+ veterinarians, the pricing automatically switches to “custom” and you’ll need to contact VETport directly for a quote.
All of the core features are included in the subscription price, with no hidden costs for basic functionality. However, VETport does have a marketplace with both free and paid add-ons for things like specific lab integrations or third-party connections.
It’s also worth noting that the subscription fee for VETport’s practice management software is completely separate from your payment processing costs. Your credit card processing fees are determined by whichever processor you’re using (not VETport itself).
VETport’s Integrated Payment Processing Options
If you’re using VETport and want to accept payments through the platform, you have four potential options to choose from. According to VETport’s website, they integrate with Fiserv, OpenEdge, and Telr.
However, we have clients using Elavon with VETport. So while Elavon isn’t currently listed as an official integration partner on VETport’s site, we’ve confirmed that practices are successfully using it.
It’s possible that Elavon’s integration is still available but not advertised. Or it may be offered on a case-by-case basis or just for practices who are grandfathered in.
Either way, each of these processors are very different. Let’s take a closer look at each one below so you can understand what you’re getting into.
Elavon
Elavon is a subsidiary of US Bank and one of the largest processors in the world.
And overall, Elavon is pretty solid. We don’t typically see them apply the same unethical or aggressive billing tactics from other providers on the market (yes, we’re talking to you, Global and Worldpay).
But they do increase their rates more often than we prefer — usually about once per year.
All processors increase rates. It’s just how the industry works. But annual increases are not ideal.
That said, Elavon is pretty receptive to negotiations and we’re able to keep costs down to a reasonable rate when negotiating on behalf of our clients. Even for integrated setups like this through VETport.
Interchange-plus pricing is available and that’s 100% what we recommend. Though if you’re paying over 50 basis points, your markup is too high, and there’s definitely room for negotiations.
Check out our full Elavon review to learn more.
Fiserv
Fiserv is another giant in the processing space. They acquired First Data and Clover back in 2019, which drastically improved their processing capabilities and technology offerings.
One interesting part about Fiserv: if your vet practice has ever been pitched on credit card processing services from your bank, there’s a decent chance your bank is using Fiserv on the backend to process those payments.
The major advantage of using Fiserv is that they offer competitive rates if you know how to negotiate. Their technology is solid, and the integration with VETport should be fairly seamless.
If you’re using Clover hardware for your veterinary practice (lots of vets like this hardware for their offices), you can set up the integration via Clover Connect, which is offered through Fiserv. This is definitely a convenient option if you’re already invested in the Clover ecosystem.
The downside of Fiserv is their extra fees and inconsistent pricing. We’ve seen them offer outstanding rates to some accounts while adding bogus fees to others. It really depends on the sales rep who initially set up your account.
It’s also common for Fiserv to impose strict liquidated damages clauses in contracts, making it nearly impossible for you to cancel without paying an absurd penalty. So if you’re signing a new contract with Fiserv, try to get this removed to give yourself flexibility.
For more insights on rates and fees to watch out for, read our Fiserv review.
OpenEdge
OpenEdge is owned by Global Payments, and unfortunately, it’s one of the most expensive processors we deal with on a regular basis.
They’re notorious for adding bogus fees, padding assessments, and using other unethical billing practices to squeeze extra money out of merchants. As mentioned earlier, all processors increase rates. But when any subsidiary of Global does it, the rates can sometimes double or triple without warning.
One of the biggest problems with OpenEdge that we see is that they invent new fees with fancy names that sound official, but they’re pure markup for the processor. Examples include:
- Risk Assessment Fee
- Settlement Funding Fee
- Reputation Analytics Management Fee
- Auto Enrollment Fee
- PCI Non-Compliance Fee (even when practices are PCI compliant)
These junk fees can add hundreds or even thousands to your monthly costs. And they’re all negotiable.
Here’s the thing. OpenEdge does offer interchange-plus pricing and they’re fully capable of providing reasonable rates if you push back hard enough. But you need to be extremely vigilant when reviewing your statements because they will try to nickel and dime you every chance they get.
If you haven’t already set up integrated payments in VETport yet, I’d recommend avoiding OpenEdge altogether. Fiserv and Elavon are both better options.
But if you’re already using them, don’t switch processors just yet. There’s actually more room for savings by negotiating with OpenEdge rather than going through the hassle of switching, especially with an integrated setup.
Read our OpenEdge review for a complete breakdown of their fees, statements, and our experiences working with them.
Telr
Telr is a Dubai-based gateway provider that primarily services the Middle East, with a strong presence in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Jordan.
They’re PCI DSS Level 1 certified and were actually the first payment gateway to receive the National Electronic Security Authority (NESA) certification in the UAE.
Telr also supports transactions in 120+ currencies and 30+ languages.
So if your vet practice operates in this region, Telr is likely going to be your best bet. They offer a range of different payment acceptance methods, including Visa, Mastercard, Amex, UnionPay, Apple Pay, and various regional payment methods like Mada, Sadad, and STC Pay.
But there’s no reason to consider them if your practice is based in North America.
How to Get Lower Payment Processing Rates With VETport
Even if your payment acceptance solution is already set up and integrated in VETport, you can still get lower rates without having to change your practice management software or switch providers.
Here’s the process:
Step 1 – Figure out who is actually processing your payments. It’s either going to be Elavon, Fiserv, or OpenEdge. This answer ultimately dictates who you’re going to negotiate with and how you’re going to approach the negotiation process.
Step 2 – Audit your statements. Calculate your effective rate to get a better sense of your total processing costs. Look for miscellaneous fees, rate increases, and anything that doesn’t quite look right as you’re comparing fees each month. Our guide on how to read your monthly processing statements is extremely useful for this step.
Step 3 – Negotiate. Pick up the phone and contact your processor directly (not VETport). Let them know you want a rate reduction and won’t take no for an answer. You have more leverage than you realize, especially if your practice processes a decent volume.
Here are some specific things to push for while you’re negotiating:
- If you’re on a flat-rate plan, demand that you get moved to an interchange-plus pricing structure.
- Anything above a 50 basis point (0.50%) markup is too high for integrated processing.
- Aim to get your account down to 25-40 basis points (high-volume should get you lower rates).
- Review your last few statements to identify extra monthly fees. Most of these can be removed or significantly reduced.
- Push back against any recent rate increases. Don’t just accept them as inevitable.
Don’t contact VETport about your processing rates. They have no control over what’s being charged by third-party providers. Going straight to the source is the only way to get results.
If you need help with this process, our team here at MCC can do it all on your behalf.
We’ll audit your statements for free, identify any cost-saving opportunities, and then negotiate directly with your processor. And once we’ve lowered your rates, we’ll continue monitoring your statements every month to check for hidden charges and rate increases.
Final Thoughts
VETport is a solid vet practice management solution with a long track record of reliability industry-wide.
The software is particularly well-suited for practices that need mobility and flexibility. Whether you’re serving clients on the go or working across multiple locations, VETport is a great way to keep everything organized due to its cloud-based setup.
They also offer more integrated processing options compared to other vet software (which is a good thing). But the reality is that most veterinarians we work with are still overpaying.
So whether you’re using Elavon, Fiserv, or OpenEdge, there’s almost certainly room to negotiate better rates.