{"id":10020,"date":"2021-04-01T00:00:03","date_gmt":"2021-04-01T07:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/?p=10020"},"modified":"2022-06-15T17:47:50","modified_gmt":"2022-06-15T17:47:50","slug":"pet-crematory-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/pet-crematory-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Final Farewells"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever considered turning your veterinary clinic into a referral practice? We\u2019re not talking about taking on supercomplicated medical cases but rather providing after-care services. For around $100,000, give or take, you could install an on-site crematory and start a new revenue stream, compassionately assisting not only your grieving clients but also pet owners from other practices.<\/p>\n

In Rochester, New York, the 16-hospital Monroe Veterinary Associates network operates Forever Friends Pet Crematorium, a standalone facility.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving the crematory as a part of the business is important to building client relationships,\u201d said Carolyn Fisher, DVM, the hospital director at Suburban Animal Hospital, part of Monroe Veterinary Associates. \u201cWe can honestly and sincerely tell our clients that we know and trust the people who will be handling their pets\u2019 remains.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdditionally, we can answer any questions about the cremation process or help facilitate special requests because we know the crematory operations well. This allows us to provide the highest level of customer service when it matters most.\u201d<\/p>\n

Crownover Animal Clinic in Tullahoma, Tennessee, runs the off-site Pets Forever Crematory and sells after-care services to other Middle Tennessee veterinary clinics<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important when our clients are in a predicament of losing a pet that they can just call us,\u201d practice manager Tiffany Garner said. \u201cIt makes end of life much easier. It\u2019s not only convenient but also more personal for the pet owner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here or There?<\/h3>\n

Some crematories are on the grounds of a veterinary practice, which can save money. However, purchasing or leasing a separate location and then outfitting it is sometimes the better choice.<\/p>\n

\u201cOpening one on your existing property can be less expensive, but a separate building can be easier to manage,\u201d said Paul Seyler, the manager of global product and marketing at crematory manufacturer Matthews Environmental Solutions. \u201cAs individual or private pet cremations continue to grow, the crematory will need room to grow, especially if it serves more than one practice. A separate facility can make that easier as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Government red tape can slow the installation process.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst, you\u2019ll need to make sure the land is zoned to house a crematory,\u201d said Tom Clayton, the Eastern\/Midwestern sales representative at American Crematory Equipment Co. \u201cMost communities will not allow a crematory near a school, for instance. Once the zone is determined to be appropriate, the next consideration is air quality. Every state and sometimes counties are different.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seyler and Clayton estimated the startup costs of an on-site crematory at $40,000 to $95,000 for the furnace and $28,000 for its delivery and installation. The remaining costs depend on the location, the type of facility and the services to be offered. Variables include:<\/p>\n