Veterinary Hospitals Association

What Veterinary Hospitals Association does

Veterinary Hospitals Association (VHA) is a nonprofit cooperative association founded in 1984 by Minnesota veterinarians, headquartered at 370 Bridgepoint Way, South St. Paul, Minnesota. The organization serves independent veterinary practices — ranging from single-practitioner clinics to multi-doctor hospitals — primarily across the Upper Midwest with an expanding national membership tier. Its core offerings are organized around three pillars: (1) a group purchasing program delivered through the VHA Warehouse/Shop (shopvhaonline.org), providing volume-discounted veterinary supplies; (2) ethical cremation services, operated for 35+ years and owned/supervised by member veterinarians with a multi-checkpoint verification process; and (3) a bundled suite of business services spanning financial services, human resources, marketing solutions (with dedicated marketing specialists Laura and Liz), website design, and notary services.

VHA generates revenue through a diversified mix: recurring membership dues (subscription model), transactional product sales through the warehouse/shop, continuing education fees (e.g., the Practice Manager Foundations Course at $1,600 for members, co-developed with Blue Heron Consulting and delivering 20 RACE-approved CE credits), and ancillary transactional fees such as $70 Social Media Content Toolkits. The cooperative also distributes annual rebates back to members rather than returning profits to outside investors. Recent product expansion has included Clay Paw Print keepsakes (2025), the Posh Paws odor-neutralizing candle line (2026), and monthly social media toolkits.

The technology stack is largely undifferentiated and proprietary — no proprietary software, APIs, or AI capabilities are disclosed. The organization runs on standard web infrastructure (WordPress-based website, e-commerce shop, cremation portal at app.angelpaw.com, member account system). Its distribution operates primarily through self-serve online channels with direct membership sales for SMB veterinary practices. An ecosystem of 18+ partners — including US Bank, Antech, Vetsource, Royal Canin, Boehringer Ingelheim, Virbac, AAHA, AVMA, cbiz, and Blue Heron Consulting — underwrites negotiated member discounts and service integrations. VHA has no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no acquisitions, consistent with its member-owned nonprofit cooperative structure.

Name

Veterinary Hospitals Association

Legal name

Veterinary Hospitals Association

Website

https://veterinaryha.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Veterinary Hospitals Association is a nonprofit cooperative founded in 1984 that provides group purchasing, cremation services, business support, and continuing education to independent veterinary practices across the Upper Midwest and nationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Practice Cooperative Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Animal Production (11521), Support Activities for Animal Production (1152)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterinary Distributor Value-Added Services (3PL, Cold Chain, Returns) (HLAMAIAG)

Keywords

• Veterinary group purchasing
• Veterinary cooperative services
• Veterinary practice supplies
• Veterinary continuing education
• Veterinary business services

Headquarters

HQ city

South Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: VHA generates revenue through membership fees from veterinary practices. Members pay to access group purchasing power, business services, CE programs, cremation services, and partner discounts.
2. Product Sales (Warehouse/Shop): VHA operates a warehouse/shop where members purchase veterinary supplies and products at group-discounted pricing.
3. Education Programs: VHA offers continuing education programs like the Practice Manager Foundations course for a fee ($1,600 for members).
4. Marketing Services: VHA sells marketing toolkits (e.g., Social Media Toolkit at $70) to members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

VHA is a nonprofit veterinary cooperative that supplies member veterinary practices with volume-discounted products through its warehouse shop, provides business support services (financial, HR, marketing, websites, notary), offers continuing education programs, runs an ethical pet cremation service, and negotiates exclusive partner discounts from national vendors. Members pay dues to access these benefits, with annual rebates returned to members consistent with the nonprofit cooperative structure.

Product overview

Veterinary Hospitals Association (VHA) operates as a nonprofit cooperative offering a multi-product portfolio centered around member benefits for veterinary practices. The core offerings include the VHA Warehouse (group purchasing platform for veterinary supplies), Cremation Services (ethical animal cremation), and Business Services (Financial Services, Human Resources, Marketing Solutions, Social Media Marketing, Website Services, and Notary Services). Educational products include the Practice Manager Foundations Course (24-week CE program) and Social Media Content Toolkits. The cooperative model enables members to access competitive product pricing through group purchasing power while receiving business support services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VHA Warehouse/Shop Online shop offering veterinary supplies and products at group purchasing power discounts, available exclusively to VHA member clinics.
• Cremation Services Dignified animal cremation service owned and supervised by member veterinarians, with a multiple checkpoint verification system to ensure owner wishes are met. Operated for over 35 years.
• Business Services Suite of practice management services for veterinary clinics covering bookkeeping/financial services, HR, marketing, social media, website design, and notary services.
• Marketing Solutions Marketing services including human-designed websites, human-written blog content, and social media support provided by VHA marketing specialists.
• Social Media Marketing Social media marketing services and ready-to-use content toolkits for veterinary clinic online presence and pet-owner engagement.
• Website Services Veterinary-specific website design and development services tailored for member clinic websites.
• Practice Manager Foundations Course 24-week continuing education program co-developed with Blue Heron Consulting covering leadership, finances, and operations for veterinary practice managers. Earns 20 RACE-approved CE credits.
• Group Purchasing Program Cooperative purchasing program leveraging volume buying power from manufacturers and suppliers to offer members competitive pricing on veterinary supplies even in small quantities.
• Social Media Content Toolkits Ready-to-post social media content bundles (e.g., July toolkit, $70) featuring curated content with customizable captions and visuals themed around pet-centric topics.
• Clay Paw Prints Handcrafted clay paw print keepsakes created by the VHA cremation team as memorial items for pet owners.
• Posh Paws Candles Professional-grade odor-neutralizing candle collection with sophisticated fragrances designed to eliminate pet odors at the molecular level.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• US BankminorOthersUS Bank is listed as a partner of VHA, likely providing financial services or payment processing solutions for member veterinary practices.
• Royal CaninminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRoyal Canin provides pet food products and is a partner offering exclusive member discounts through VHA.
• Boehringer IngelheimminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim is a partner providing veterinary products with member-only pricing.
• VirbacminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVirbac is a veterinary pharmaceutical company listed as a VHA partner for member discounts.
• PawsTimeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPawsTime is featured as a partner spotlight, likely providing cremation or memorial services to VHA members.
• Blue Heron ConsultingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVHA has partnered with Blue Heron Consulting to offer members exclusive access to the Practice Manager Foundations Course with a $200 discount. This is a co-developed educational program.
• Butler Veterinary InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerButler Veterinary Insurance offers insurance products specifically for veterinary practices and is a VHA partner.
• Teef for LifeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTeef for Life is listed as a partner, providing pet dental/health products to VHA members.
• AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association)minorOthersAAHA is a professional association for companion animal hospitals and is listed as a VHA partner.
• AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association)minorOthersAVMA is the national professional association for veterinarians and is listed as a VHA partner.
• AAFCOminorOthersAAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) sets standards for pet food and animal feed and is listed as a VHA partner.
• cbizminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partnercbiz provides business services including accounting, tax, and advisory services and is a VHA partner for member benefits.
• Merrigan, Brandt, Ostenso & Cambre, P.A.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMerrigan, Brandt, Ostenso & Cambre is a law firm listed as a VHA partner providing legal services to members.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Antech Diagnostics: Veterinary diagnostics laboratory and imaging company listed as a VHA partner. Comparable as a vendor partner offering specialized services (diagnostics) to independent veterinary practices through the cooperative channel.
• PetDesk: Veterinary practice management and client engagement software platform, listed as a VHA partner. Comparable as a technology partner serving independent vet practices, though VHA does not directly compete in software.

Broad incumbents

• Chewy: Large online pet supplies and pharmacy retailer offering home delivery and competitive pricing on supplies that veterinary clinics might otherwise purchase through VHA. Represents a structural alternative to VHA's group purchasing model for pet products.
• Covetrus: Global animal-health distribution and technology company formed from the merger of MWI Animal Health and Henry Schein Animal Health. Competes with VHA's group purchasing and supply distribution to veterinary practices, but at much greater scale and broader portfolio including practice management software.

Others

• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): National professional association for veterinarians, listed as a VHA partner. Comparable nonprofit, member-driven model serving the same veterinary professional base with education and advocacy rather than commerce.
• American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA): Professional association that accredits companion animal hospitals and offers practice resources to independent clinics. Comparable nonprofit membership model targeting the same veterinary practice audience as VHA.

Direct peers

• Blue Heron Consulting: Veterinary practice management consulting firm that co-developed VHA's Practice Manager Foundations course. Comparable as a consulting and education provider serving independent veterinary practice owners and managers.
• Vetsource: Home-delivery pharmacy and procurement platform serving veterinary practices, and a current VHA partner. Closely comparable as a supply procurement and pharmacy partner to independent vet clinics.
• MWI Animal Health: Veterinary distributor (now part of Covetrus) historically serving as the primary national distribution alternative for independent veterinary practices. Directly comparable distribution model to VHA's group purchasing program.
• Patterson Veterinary Supply: One of the two largest veterinary distributors in the US alongside Covetrus, supplying equipment, supplies, and pharmaceuticals to veterinary practices. Directly comparable to VHA's group purchasing and warehouse distribution offerings to independent clinics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxXhzZb3KM_ld9SfQ3XHLTQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/veterinaryhospitalsassociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/veterinary-hospitals-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/vetshospassoc
• Pinterestpin.it/67fw1wM
• Xx.com/vetshospassoc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Veterinary Hospitals Association