Please feel free to add your own views, tell me when you think I am wrong, support me when you think I am right or suggest other topics which you feel merit debate
Just click on the 'add your comment' link and complete the e.mail box. I look forward to hearing from you
New Webcast - Reception - the communication hub in your practice - Session 1
By John Sheridan
Wednesday, Feb 10, 2010 12:38
A brand new instant access Webcast from Veterinary Business Briefing is now available on-line for you to view as and when you choose.
In this webcast, designed for veterinary practice owners and managers, I review the key role of the reception team in achieving the professional and commercial objectives for your veterinary business. Session 1 is devoted to the reception role as the hub between the practice, its clients and the marketplace in which it operates.
A Gibson Taxation Services has been informed of a current project by the Inland Revenue, targeting many veterinary practices in a particular area. The information has come from Abbey Tax Protection, one of the largest tax consultancies in the UK, which remains constantly aware of HMRC targeting exercises in many industries. They have written to us specifically because of our association with them and because they know us to be heavily involved with locums and practices in the veterinary industry, as well as being qualified specialists in the field of self-employed and limited company freelance status. The text of the letter is as follows:
"In the south west, HMRC are targeting veterinary practices and the enquiries all include common themes relating to the use of locums and staff accommodation. At present this is believed to be a regional 'project' being conducted by HMRC but this could be rolled out nationally if common errors arise or the yield obtained is significant. At the start of a veterinary enquiry, HMRC are issuing a standard questionnaire to help assess the potential risks. Copies of this questionnaire are available on request from Abbey Tax by e.mailing sales@abbeytax.co.uk'
This is clearly a serious development and it is essential that it is tackled with maximum efficiency. Whether or not your practice has received any questionnaire, we recommend the following:
1. Read and digest the copy of the questionnaire, which is free
2.If you have already received a questionnaire, compare it with the one provided by Abbey Tax. If it is the same standard questionnaire, then you are one of the Revenues targets!
3.Do not respond to any such questionnaire that you receive. Instead put it immediately into the hands of your accountant or professional tax consultant
I'm delighted to let you know that the first instant access Webcast from VBB is now available on-line for you to view as and when you choose.
This webcast is a recorded 30 minute Powerpoint presentation adapted from my session at the London Vet Show last year. You can select an outline view, see thumbnail images, fast forward or reverse, select individual slides or pause the presentation as you wish.
The presentation reviews the profitability of UK veterinary practices and recommends an action plan for your practice which includes practice health symptoms, a diagnostic tool and 3 treatment options to boost your bottom line by 50% or more in year 1.
The older I get, the more sure I am that at least 50% of all government expenditure is a total waste - maybe this is why!
Lawrence Livermore Laboratories has discovered the heaviest element yet known to science.
The new element, Governmentium (Gv), has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.
These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.
Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert; however, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact.
A tiny amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second, to take from 4 days to 40 years to complete.
Governmentium has a normal half-life of 2-4 years. It does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places.
When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium, an element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons
I have just posted the Quick Poll for January on the Veterinary Business Briefing home page. This month the question concerns your expectations for staff numbers during 2010. Please take a look and record your own vote
It's New Years Eve and I have been planning the content and scripts for Episodes 12 and 13 of the Veterinary Business Video Show. My sessions will be filmed next week and then I can start the creative editing process.
Watch out for Episode 11 which will go live on Friday next week - Jan 8th
I do hope that you find the Video Shows of interest and help and would be delighted if you could find the time to drop me a note and let me know what's good and what's not so good about the Shows. I would also be grateful for your suggestions for content for future episodes and any practice management questions with which I may be able to assist.
I am also in the process of adapting my recent presentation to the London Vet Show -- 'The 50 Minute Action Plan to Boost the Bottom Line and the Value of your Veterinary Business' and converting it into an online Webcast which you will be able to view from the comfort of your own office or home. I will be sure to let you know as soon as it is available online
May I take the opportunity of wishing you all a wonderful New Years Eve celebration -- take it gently! and I look forward to assisting in any way I can with your practice management challenges during 2010
Its Christmas Eve and I've just finished editing Episode 11 of the Veterinary Business Video show which will be published online on January 8th.
Episode 10 will go live tomorrow - yes I know its Christmas day! I hope that you will have an opportunity to share your Christmas with friends, loved ones and all your family - and, in a day or two when you want to relax and begin to think about your veterinary business again, take a look at Episode 10 which includes two of the speakers at the recent London Vet Show talking about professional fees and charges - you won't want to miss it.
AGESVET and Veterinary Business Briefing to work together
By John Sheridan
Thursday, Dec 10, 2009 09:45
The following report will shortly be released to the veterinary press in Spain and the UK
Jose Luis Blazquez, President of AGESVET and John Sheridan, principal of Veterinary Business Briefing and the Veterinary Business Video Show are pleased to announce that the two organisations have agreed terms to work together to achieve their common objectives to promote and enhance the business of veterinary practice and to provide a range of business tools and services to assist their members.
Specifically AGESVET will enrol a number of the Associations members as full members of the Veterinary Business Briefing community and has granted John Sheridan preferential rights over possible translation and adaptation of the business tools under development by AGESVET, for the English speaking market.
John Sheridan, on behalf of Veterinary Business Briefing will attend AGESVET meetings in an advisory role and has granted AGESVET preferential rights for the translation and adaption of Veterinary Business Briefing business tools and other resources for the Hispanic markets (Spain and Latin America)
Further details of the two organisations and of this agreement are available from Pere Mercader, AGESVET board member and from John Sheridan
I had a great opportunity this week to talk to the 4th year students at the Nottingham Vet School about some aspects of practice management.
Karen Braithwaite, Director of Academic Support and Administration at the school and Liz Mossop, lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine have been jointly responsibe for developing a comprehensive series of lectures, presentations, workshops and other sessions as part of the Business and Entrepreneur programme for 4th year students
I was delighted to be asked to contribute to this exciting programme and thoroughly enjoyed meeting 70 or more veterinary undergradutes during my visit yesterday. They hope to commence their careers as veterinarians during 2011 and I grab this opportunity of wishing all of them, every possible success in their ongoing studies and in their careers in this great profession of ours.
Quick Poll for Veterinary Business Briefing subscribers
By John Sheridan
Wednesday, Nov 25, 2009 09:37
I have just posted the Quick Poll for December on the Veterinary Business Briefing home page. This month the question is 'During 2010, what do you expect for your practice turnover?:' Please take a look and record your own vote
Here are the results of the October and November Quick Poll
Today I was delighted to welcome a new affiliate member of the Veterinary Business Briefing community.
He is a veterinary practice manager who is convinced of the value of a content-packed practice website which attracts more than 2000 'hits' per month from existing clients and from many hundreds of other pet animal owners in his practice catchment area.
The practice website also attracts 'hits' from other practice owners and from vets, practice managers and others with an interest in the business of veterinary practice. Here is where the Veterinary Business Briefing affiliate programme kicks in.
The practice website includes a live link to www.veterinarybusinessbriefing.com and my new affiliate member will receive a 20% commission every time a new member subscribes or renews their subscription to Veterinary Business Briefing.
If you have found the resources available in the Veterinary Business Briefing website of value and are happy to recommend the site to visitors to your own webpage and if you would like to learn more about our affiliate programme, here is the link for full details:
I trust readers will forgive my temporary switch from veterinary business matters to UK national political issues. I have been a lifelong member of the Conservative Party and was party leader on West Sussex County Council many years ago.
My voting intentions next year however, are far from certain because I am sure that the future of this still great country of ours, lies outside the EU - see what Daniel Hannan has to say:
I thoroughly enjoyed my two days at the London Veterinary Show at Olympia this last weekend.
There were I think, more than 2,000 delegates and I would guess that two or three hundred or more of them attended every one of the commercial sessions, expertly chaired by David Ritchie.
It seems to me that there is a growing interest in presentations on a wide range of business topics and, at least on this occasion, subjects covering such 'tough' matters as growing the top line, professional fees, controlling the costs, marketing and practice profits.
I would guess that at least two thirds of the audience during the commercial sessions were practice owners with one third comprising practice managers and others. It would be interesting to compare this ratio with the proportion of owners and employees at the VPMA Congress, SPVS Conference and 'The Management Symposium'.
Maybe there are many more employee managers than practice owners at VPMA meetings because the emphasis of the Associations activities appears to address the needs of 'the managers' rather than covering every aspect of 'management'.
If the majority of VPMA members are employees in practice, then it could be argued that such a policy is the correct one. So maybe the London Vet Show has accurately spotted and addressed a gap in the practice management market
I understand that plans for 2010 London Veterinary Show are already well in hand - and I wish every possible success to all concerned
