Tax & accounting for vets and veterinary practices.
From a single ambulatory equine vet to a multi-site small-animal group — Cranleys is the specialist co-pilot for UK veterinary businesses. We handle practice accounts, VAT, partnerships, equipment, corporate sales and succession.
- Small + Large
- Every practice type
- VAT-first
- Specialist knowledge
- UK-wide
- Vets & principals
Every kind of veterinary professional
Independent practices, equine and farm vets, locums and principals preparing to sell — tax advice that fits UK veterinary practice.
Independent Vet Practices
Owner-vets running small-animal, referral and mixed practices — one site or several.
Equine & Farm Practices
Ambulatory, equine and large-animal vets with their own cost, mileage and VAT patterns.
Locum & Sole-Trader Vets
Locum, sessional and portfolio vets who need simple, tax-efficient structures.
Vets Preparing to Sell
Principals with a 3–5 year horizon to sell to a corporate group, MSO or the next generation.
Everything a veterinary business needs under one roof
Practice accounts, VAT, partnerships, equipment, extraction and sale planning — from advisors who understand veterinary economics.
Independent Vet Practice Accounts
Full statutory and management accounts for independent small-animal, mixed and referral practices — with meaningful monthly reporting, not just year-end numbers.
- Statutory & management accounts
- Corporation tax & personal tax
- KPI dashboards for principals
- Xero & practice-management integration
Veterinary VAT
Veterinary services are standard-rated, so VAT returns are a core part of practice accounting. We handle registration, returns and the trickier mixed-supply areas.
- Monthly / quarterly VAT returns
- Mixed supply (food, plans, medicines)
- Health plan VAT treatment
- VAT on practice sales & fit-outs
Partnerships & Group Structures
Partnership agreements, LLPs and limited companies for multi-vet and multi-site groups — plus incoming / outgoing partner tax planning.
- Partnership & LLP set-up
- Partner buy-in & retirement
- Multi-site group structures
- Profit-share modelling
Equine, Farm & Mixed Practices
Practices with large-animal, equine, farm or ambulatory work have their own cost, mileage and VAT patterns — we build those into the accounts and tax planning.
- Ambulatory vehicle & mileage
- Farm & equine client analysis
- Cross-border and TB testing income
- Rural practice benchmarking
Locum & Sole-Trader Vets
Locum, sessional and portfolio vets — self-assessment, expenses, IR35 review and whether to trade personally or through a limited company.
- Locum self-assessment
- IR35 & engagement reviews
- Mileage & equipment claims
- Sole trader vs limited company
Pension & Extraction Planning
Salary / dividend planning, personal pension contributions and long-term wealth extraction from a growing practice.
- Director remuneration reviews
- Pension contribution planning
- Family employment planning
- Investment company structures
Equipment, Fit-Out & Capital Allowances
Imaging, dental, surgical and lab equipment plus practice fit-outs — we maximise capital allowances and structure finance efficiently.
- Capital allowances on equipment
- Practice fit-out reviews
- Finance vs cash purchase analysis
- R&D relief on veterinary innovation
Corporate Sale & Succession
With corporate consolidators actively buying veterinary practices, deal structure drives your tax bill. We prepare accounts, model reliefs and plan the sale early.
- Sale-ready accounts
- Business Asset Disposal Relief
- Earn-out & deferred consideration
- Family & staff succession
Ongoing Compliance
Year-end accounts, corporation tax, VAT, payroll, RCVS-friendly reporting and Companies House filings — with proactive year-round advice, not just deadlines.
- Statutory accounts
- Corporation & personal tax
- Payroll & auto-enrolment
- Companies House & registered office
A clear path — from first call to ongoing care
Veterinary clients don't just get a tax return. They get a structure, a plan and a partner who understands the practice economics.
- 01
Discovery Call
A confidential call to understand your practice, income mix, structure and biggest concerns.
- 02
Practice Map
We pull together practice income, VAT, staff costs and entity data so you can see the real numbers.
- 03
Tax Plan
A written recommendation covering structure, VAT, extraction and next steps — in plain English.
- 04
Implementation
We handle filings, set up entities, register for VAT and coordinate with your practice manager.
- 05
Ongoing Care
Quarterly reviews, year-end planning and proactive alerts as tax law, corporate M&A and RCVS ownership rules change.
Accountants who understand veterinary practice, not just tax.
Cranleys works with independent vet practices, equine and farm vets, locums and principals preparing to sell across the UK. We understand veterinary VAT, corporate consolidator M&A, RCVS-friendly reporting and the pressure of clinical life — so you get advice that's practical, timely and tailored.
- Specialism in veterinary tax and practice structures
- Proactive planning around corporate M&A and VAT rules
- Experience with small-animal, equine, farm and referral practices
- Direct access to a senior advisor
- Sale-ready accounts and long-horizon exit planning
"Cranleys sorted our VAT, restructured the partnership and got the practice sale-ready — all without disturbing the day-to-day."
The questions vets actually ask
Are veterinary services VAT-exempt like human healthcare?+
No. Unlike most human healthcare, veterinary services are standard-rated for VAT, so almost all established practices are VAT-registered. We manage returns, review mixed supplies such as pet food, medicines and health plans, and plan for VAT on practice sales and equipment purchases.
Should my vet practice be a partnership or a limited company?+
It depends on profit level, drawings, pension plans and long-term ownership goals. Many established practices benefit from a limited company for tax and succession, but partnerships and LLPs still suit certain groups. We model both routes on your actual numbers before recommending a structure.
How is a locum vet taxed?+
Locum vets are usually self-employed and file via self-assessment on their gross fees less allowable expenses (mileage, kit, RCVS and BVA fees, indemnity, home office). For higher earners a limited company can help — we review contracts, IR35 and pension plans before recommending.
How is VAT treated on veterinary health plans?+
Health-plan income is a mixed supply of services and, in some cases, products — VAT treatment depends on exactly what's included and how it's sold. We review your plans, apportion where needed and make sure the VAT return reflects the actual mix.
I'm being approached by corporate consolidators — should I sell?+
Corporate buyers are actively acquiring UK vet practices, and headline valuations can look strong — but deal structure (cash vs equity, earn-out, retention) drives your after-tax outcome. We help you plan 3–5 years out, get accounts sale-ready and negotiate the tax treatment properly.
Do you work with equine, farm and mixed practices as well as small animal?+
Yes. Equine, farm and mixed practices have their own vehicle, mileage, TB-testing and cross-border patterns. We build those into the accounts, VAT returns and tax planning rather than treating every practice as small-animal only.
Ready to get your veterinary tax sorted?
Book a confidential discovery call. We'll map your practice, VAT, structure and long-term plans — and show you where tax can be saved.
Book a call