How to Build Your Relief Vet Rate Card

Step 2: Working Days

Be realistic. You won't work 260 days (52 weeks × 5 days). Factor in:

• Vacation: 15-20 days
• Sick days: 5-10 days
• CE/professional development: 5-10 days
• Non-billable admin: 10-15 days
• Cancellations/scheduling gaps: 10-20 days

Realistic working days: 190-220 per year

Step 3: Your Floor

Minimum day rate = (Target personal income + Annual business expenses) ÷ Working days

Example: You want $120,000 personal income and have $75,000 in business expenses:

• ($120,000 + $75,000) ÷ 200 working days = $975/day minimum

If that works out to less than 8 hours: $975 ÷ 8 = $122/hour

That's your floor. Don't go below it.

Building Your Rate Card

A professional rate card has tiers, not a single number. Here's a template:

By Shift Type

By Distance

By Notice Period

Holiday Rates

Standard practice: 1.5x your base rate for major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, July 4th). Some vets charge 2x — especially if the holiday falls on a weekend and you'd otherwise have it off.

Negotiation Strategies

With Agencies

Agencies set their own rates with clinics and offer you a portion. You have some leverage:

• Ask what the clinic is paying. Some agencies are transparent; others aren't.
• Negotiate based on your reliability record. If you have a track record of showing up on time, handling high caseloads, and getting positive clinic feedback, that has value.
• Compare across platforms. If one agency offers $130/hr for a shift and another offers $110/hr for a similar one, use that information.
• Don't race to the bottom. Agencies need reliable vets. A vet who charges $10/hr more but never cancels and handles emergencies calmly is worth more than a cheap one who's unreliable.

With Direct Bookings

Direct bookings typically pay more because there's no agency markup. When negotiating directly with a clinic:

• Research the going rate in your area for the shift type
• Present your rate card professionally — it signals that you're a business, not someone just picking up extra shifts
• Include your value proposition: What specialties can you handle? Are you comfortable with surgery? Exotics? Dentistry? Each skill justifies your rate.
• Offer a multi-shift discount if the clinic books you for recurring work (e.g., every Tuesday). Guaranteed volume justifies a 5-10% discount.

When to Raise Your Rates

Signs it's time:

• You're booked solid with little schedule flexibility
• You haven't raised rates in 12+ months
• Your expenses have increased (insurance, licensing, mileage rate)
• You've gained new skills or certifications
• Other vets in your market are charging more

How to raise rates:

1. Give 30-60 days notice to regular clinics
2. Frame it positively: "As of [date], my rates will be updated to reflect current market conditions and my expanded capabilities."
3. Apply new rates to new bookings first; honor existing commitments at the old rate
4. Expect some pushback — that's normal. Clinics that value you will accept it.

How much to raise: 5-10% annually is standard. If you haven't raised rates in years and you're significantly below market, a larger one-time adjustment is justified.

Common Pricing Mistakes

Pricing based on what you "feel comfortable" asking for. Your comfort level is not a business metric. Price based on your costs, the market, and the value you deliver.

Not accounting for non-billable time. A $900 day rate sounds good until you realize you spent 3 hours driving unpaid. Calculate your effective hourly rate including drive time.

Discounting too readily. If a clinic says your rate is too high, don't immediately drop it. Ask what their budget is. Sometimes the gap is smaller than you think. Sometimes they're just testing you.

Having no rate card at all. Making up prices on the spot leads to inconsistency and undercharging. Write it down, print it out, and refer to it every time.

The Bottom Line

Your rate card is a business document that should be reviewed and updated regularly. It should reflect your costs, your market, your skills, and your standards.

Charge what you're worth. The clinics that value quality relief work will pay for it. The ones that won't are the ones you don't want to work for anyway.