It’s no secret that veterinary practices face mounting pressure from rising costs, corporate consolidation and shifting client expectations. That’s why group purchasing organizations have become powerful allies for independent hospitals seeking to stay competitive. By pooling buying power, the organizations deliver more than meaningful cost savings on pharmaceuticals, equipment and services. They also provide data insight, marketing support and operational tools that go well beyond procurement. For many clinics, the modern GPO has evolved into a strategic partner, helping practices strengthen profit margins, streamline operations and focus more on patient care.
Here are some of the leading GPOs.
The Veterinary Club
Co-founder and managing partner Bryan Benitz grew up on a horse farm north of Toronto, Canada. He earned a business degree at the University of Richmond and, upon graduating, spent nearly two decades in investment banking, working in the United Kingdom.
When he returned to the States, Benitz was looking for something new to do. He met Nat White, then-president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and a leader of the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, owned by Virginia Tech University.
“At the same time, I was trying to figure out what GPOs were all about,” Benitz said. “I was talking to the head of procurement at Virginia Tech, and he suggested we get all the heads of procurement for all 10 of the Virginia state schools in the same room at the same time and show them what GPOs are all about, because none of them were using GPOs.”
During that exercise, Benitz met Dan Blucher (now his business partner), who had nine years of experience in health care distribution and was running sales and marketing for what is now Provista, a GPO serving hospitality and health care businesses.
“Dan brought the GPO expertise, and I brought the contacts from the equine world, and that’s where we started,” Benitz said.
Partnering with AAEP and a now-defunct GPO, The Veterinary Club was born, offering membership benefits in the equine and small animal veterinary markets.
“Our business model is a little unique in that we are taking the negotiated contracts from the human health care world and giving veterinarians access to them,” Benitz said.
Members of The Veterinary Club can access close to 2,000 vendors under the Provista umbrella, from suppliers of vehicles and ultrasound machines to syringe manufacturers.
“It’s everything you see in a huge human hospital, basically, and a lot of the services,” Benitz said. “Price contracts are negotiated for members, so they don’t need to worry about that.”
- Established: 2009
- Headquarters: Brentwood, Tennessee
- Participating members: 6,000
- Membership cost: none
- Active vendor price contracts: 2,100-plus
- Membership qualifications: Small family-run practices to large veterinary teaching hospitals
The Veterinary Cooperative
The Veterinary Cooperative dates to 2012, when four veterinarians were looking to level the purchasing playing field for independent practitioners.
TVC negotiates discounts and rebates on everything from pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to equipment and lab services.
“One thing that’s different about us is we’re a co-op, so everyone calls us a GPO, which is true, but we’re also owned by our members,” said CEO Nick McCart. “They all have an equal share. The biggest differentiator is that if TVC makes a profit, that profit is returned to our shareholders, which is all our members.”
Since it began, TVC has returned $16 million in profits to its members, along with rebates and discounts.
Dr. Helen Green, who owns Mission Valley Pet Clinic in San Diego, was stunned when she received her first check. “I now have proof that the savings are significant and that this really works,” she said.
Like other GPOs, The Veterinary Cooperative offers rebate and discount programs across major manufacturer suppliers and service organizations.
“We partner with huge brands in the industry,” McCart said. “We have a committee and a focus group of hospitals, so our members choose our partners. We have about 50 hospitals that participate every two months to select new partners.”
Member practices must be at least 51% owned by a veterinarian, so no corporate groups are allowed.
Since its launch, TVC has expanded its reach through strategic partnerships. Some of the newest ones include teaming with Wedgewood and Blue Rabbit to provide members with a competitive online pharmacy and home delivery platform, joining forces with Otto to streamline clinic operations through a cloud-based workflow system, and collaborating with GeniusVets to bolster marketing, education and a digital presence.
The Veterinary Cooperative also organizes regional conferences, called VetVision, to educate attendees about the strategies and tools necessary to sustain and accelerate practice growth.
Dr. Amir Shanan, the owner of Compassionate Veterinary Hospice in Chicago, served on The Veterinary Cooperative’s board for five years and watched its membership grow to thousands of practices.
“This meteoric growth happened because The Veterinary Cooperative is truly owned by its members, led by members, and was designed to exist solely to benefit independent veterinarians in their struggle to survive the unfair competition with corporate practices,” he said. “The biggest benefit for me was the sense of a fighting chance.”
- Established: 2012
- Headquarters: Evanston, Illinois
- Participating members: 3,900
- Membership cost: $1 lifetime fee
- Active vendor price contracts: 70
- Membership qualifications: Independently owned practices
VerticalVet
The inspiration for VerticalVet came to John Wagoner on an airplane as he read an article on vertical integration. “Our goal was to create an experience akin to a boutique hotel — personal, attentive and genuinely connected with our members,” he said.
That was in 2018, and over the past seven years, VerticalVet has worked to differentiate itself from other GPOs by being a community resource hub dedicated to supporting veterinary practices through customized tools, peer connections and industry insights.
“We leverage group purchasing power alongside expert advice, tailored marketing strategies, peer-sharing opportunities and ongoing educational resources,” Wagoner said. “Our mission extends beyond just offering discounts; we aim to help practices improve efficiency, ensure compliance and boost profitability.”
York Veterinary Services in York, South Carolina, is a member.
“The benefits of working with VerticalVet as our GPO have been tremendous,” said practice manager Amanda Owens. “Not only did we save money, but we also gained access to better manufacturer rebates that benefited both our clinic and our clients. Beyond cost savings, the additional services — such as Virtual Practice Manager and the wide range of resources to support pricing strategies, clinic culture and overall growth — have been invaluable in helping us strengthen and improve our practice.”
Additional benefits encompass a wide range of value-added resources, including programs such as Custom Marketing Solutions, PeerShare forums for practice owners and managers, and virtual practice management support.
“Beyond these initiatives, VerticalVet also cultivates strategic partnerships with leading vendors, designed not only to reduce costs but also to enhance practice efficiency,” Wagoner said. “These efforts drive sustainable growth and foster positive workplace cultures within veterinary clinics.”
- Established: 2018
- Headquarters: Cornelius, North Carolina
- Participating members: 2,200
- Membership cost: Up to $895, escrowed out of rebates
- Active vendor price contracts: 45
- Membership qualifications: Independently owned practices
Independent Animal Hospital Association
IAHA started with a simple mission: to give privately owned veterinary practices the same purchasing advantages as corporate groups.
Brent Dunbar, who co-owns Chino Hills Animal Hospital and Pet Resort in California and founded IAHA, said the GPO pools the collective buying power of its member hospitals to negotiate discounted pricing, rebates and special terms from suppliers, distributors and service providers.
“To date, we have about 650 hospitals in over 30 states,” Dunbar said. “We have 30 vendor partners and are working to level the playing field to bring competitiveness back in the private practice landscape.”
By joining, independent clinics gain access to cost savings on essentials such as pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, equipment and preventive care products — items that typically account for a large share of hospital expenses.
The financial impact can be significant. IAHA helps practices cut costs they couldn’t touch on their own and provides transparency on vendor agreements and rebates so that clinics see exactly where the savings originated.
“First and foremost, this is about savings, whether in the form of reduced costs up front or rebates on the back end,” Dunbar said. “Other benefits include education, networking and events. Our goal is to create partnerships with industry-leading companies that can bring value to our members, providing a level of benefit they couldn’t necessarily achieve on their own.
“We continue to strengthen the independent and private sector. United, our members thrive.”
- Established: 2023
- Headquarters: Chino, California
- Participating members: 650
- Cost: Free
- Active vendor price contracts: 30
- Membership qualifications: Independent practices not backed by corporations
PSIvet
PSIvet (Professional Services for Independent Veterinarians) was founded to provide more than just bulk purchasing power. The GPO also supplies consultants, educational resources and operational support to help practices optimize their efficiency and profitability.
PSIvet has grown to serve thousands of member practices nationwide, helping clinics achieve savings through rebates and discounts on everything from pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to equipment, lab services and technology solutions.
Members benefit from partnerships with over 40 vetted vendors. PSIvet evaluates new vendors and programs regularly, incorporating member feedback and performance data to ensure its offerings provide measurable value.
The GPO also hosts educational events and workshops to provide veterinary teams with the skills, insights and tools needed to sustain and accelerate practice growth.
- Established: 2003
- Headquarters: Clearwater, Florida
- Participating members: 4,500
- Cost: $75 monthly
- Active vendor price contracts: 43
- Membership qualifications: Independently owned practices