Business

Not sure if you can swing a new equipment purchase right now? Use these two formulas to determine how long it will take to pay off the machine and calculate your return on investment.

We practitioners have a terrible time admitting we've made a mistake. We need to get over it.

Don't go for the handshake just yet-inquire about these issues first.

Find out the best place to put your veterinary practice marketing dollars.

At CVC Kansas City, Dr. Andy Roark shared with a packed room his top tips to host a fantastic cocktail party ... and of course, the same rules apply for your veterinary hospital's Facebook page.

In an exclusive interview with dvm360, Quiet author Susan Cain lends advice to make client interaction easier on veterinarians.

Pet insurance provider VPI reveals this year's quirkiest names for feline policyholders.

Use this advice on how to talk about the practice's finances with your boss.

Use this sample appointment schedule to plan for emergencies and same-day appointments.

If you're waiting for your raise still, remember that many practice owners are also waiting eagerly to offer you one. Marianne Mallonee, CVPM, encourages you to offer the benefit of the doubt to practice owners who may be playing financial catch-up and consider these reasons for the delay:

Check out this online exclusive data from the 2013 Veterinary Economics Business Issues Survey.

Q: Why are some veterinary practices freezing wages or failing to offer raises?

Do you embrace changes and new services?or flee from them? Take a look at the possible changes in store for your practice.

Violent incidents can happen anywhere, but there are things a practice team can do to be less vulnerable.

Rate yourself with this quiz. Team members, guess your boss's responses, then read "Who's steering your practice?" in July 2013 Firstline for advice on how to work better with your boss.

Use this form to learn the dos and don'ts of offering feedback to veterinary team members.

Use this form to learn the dos and don'ts of offering feedback to veterinary team members.

Use your social media network to raise awareness about common puppy and kitten concerns.

After a hard week, Metzger Animal Hospital employees got a great break.

Use these tips to deliver honest feedback to employees and coworkers.

Learn how to separate the revenue and expense categories on your profit-and-loss statement.

Grab some laughs between veterinary client visits!

Educate pet owners about their cat's diabetes with this helpful form.

This is a 3-week course that addresses the basic elements and components of financial practice management. Topics covered include performing in-house or outsourcing payroll, bookkeeping tasks, the profit-loss statement, cash and accrual methods of accounting, accounts receivable policies and procedures, accounts payable filing system, and how to maximize collection efforts and minimize bad debts. (10 CE credits)

This is a 3-week course designed to assist practice managers and administrators in creating or updating their company's employee compensation and benefits policies. Topics covered include compensation terminology, employee types and creating fair wage/salary policy for each job description, when and how to compensate employees, how to avoid employee debt to the practice, payroll options and procedures, how to implement benefit selection, government guidelines for garnishing employee wages, and what to expect before, during, and after an inspection. (10 CE credits)

This 3-week course is designed to give you the tools you need to take an analytical look at your marketing efforts in order to make modifications where they are needed to differentiate your practice from others. (10 CE credits)

This 3-week course discusses the basic elements and components of the financial aspects of a veterinary hospital. The material addresses hospital revenues, fees that generate revenue, expenses, measuring performance, and monitoring benchmarks. Topics covered include standard veterinary performance measures, basic veterinary industry norms or benchmarks, the differences between active and passive incomes, cost behavior in a small animal clinic setting, common variable and fixed expenses in a small animal practice, and how to establish a good, sound financial policy. (10 CE credits)

Use your social media network to stress the importance of yearly check-ups to veterinary clients.