TL;DR
- • Standard consultation fees are now almost identical: £60.89 (corporate) vs £59.91 (independent) across 1,807 priced practices.
- • Bitch spay prices are effectively level too — £349.09 corporate vs £348.18 independent (a £0.91 gap).
- • Corporates charge £11.29 more on average for an annual dog booster (£73.50 vs £62.21).
- • The biggest gap is kennel cough: £88.96 at corporate practices vs £44.60 at independents — roughly double.
- • Our full ownership audit of 5,886 UK practices now splits almost exactly 50/50: 2,944 independent (50.0%) and 2,942 corporate (50.0%), across the six major groups (IVC Evidensia, CVS, Pets at Home, VetPartners, Medivet and Linnaeus).
The corporate consolidation, in one paragraph
The CMA's 2024–2026 market investigation confirmed what most vets already knew: the UK profession has consolidated rapidly. We've now individually classified 5,886 UK practices against Companies House filings, group websites and RCVS records — and that split comes out at 2,944 independent (50.0%) to 2,942 corporate (50.0%). Six groups dominate the corporate side: IVC Evidensia (982 sites), CVS (491), Pets at Home — including Vets4Pets and Vets Now — (453), VetPartners (433), Medivet (354) and Linnaeus, owned by Mars (213). Many corporate-owned sites still trade under their original local name, which is why ownership disclosure is one of the CMA's binding 2026 remedies.
Live price comparison: corporate vs independent
The figures below are calculated from published prices we scrape directly from each practice's own website, last refreshed in July 2026. Practices that don't publish a price for a given service are excluded from that row's average.
| Service | Corporate avg | Independent avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard consultation | £60.89 | £59.91 | +£0.98 corp |
| Annual dog booster | £73.50 | £62.21 | +£11.29 corp |
| Bitch spay (medium dog) | £349.09 | £348.18 | +£0.91 corp |
| Kennel cough vaccine | £88.96 | £44.60 | +£44.36 corp |
| Microchip | £26.73 | £25.92 | +£0.81 corp |
Two things stand out. First, the often-repeated claim that "corporates are always pricier" no longer holds for headline services — consultations, spays and microchips are within a pound of each other. Second, the gap has moved to the add-on services owners buy every year: annual boosters run £11 higher at corporates, and kennel cough vaccines are roughly double. That's where the margin sits now.
Where corporates and independents genuinely differ
Care plans
Corporate groups have led the push into monthly subscription plans (Healthy Pet Club, Complete Care, Best for Pet). They lock you in for 12 months and are often poor value if you don't use everything included — a point the CMA called out specifically in its final report. Independents are more likely to bill à la carte. See our care plan cost-benefit breakdown.
Prescription fees
From the 2026 CMA reforms, written prescription fees are capped at around £21. Several corporates were charging £25–£35 before the cap; many independents already charged £15–£20. Either way, the cap closes a route corporates used to discourage owners from buying medication online — read our prescription fee cap explainer.
Out-of-hours cover
Most corporate sites refer to a sister hospital (Vets Now is owned by IVC Evidensia, for example). Independents are more likely to operate their own rota or pool with neighbouring practices. Neither is automatically cheaper.
Clinical autonomy and revenue targets
The CMA found that some corporate groups operated revenue targets that could nudge clinicians toward more expensive treatment pathways. The 2026 remedies require ownership disclosure on every premises so owners can make an informed choice.
Quality of care: what the evidence actually shows
There is no published study showing systematically better clinical outcomes from one ownership model. RCVS Practice Standards Scheme accreditation is open to both, and both train the same RCVS-registered nurses and vets. Customer-satisfaction surveys (the CMA reviewed multiple) show high satisfaction across the board, with the biggest variation being practice-by-practice rather than corporate-versus-independent.
How to decide which is right for you
- Compare published prices for what you'll actually use. Consultation, annual booster, neutering, and (if relevant) a care plan — those four cover most owners' annual spend.
- Check ownership disclosure. Under the 2026 CMA remedies, every practice must display this — usually in the footer of their website.
- Read recent reviews. Look for comments about communication, cost estimates, and continuity of clinician — these matter more than headline price.
- Ask about referrals. If a corporate-owned practice refers internally, prices may be higher than going independent to a specialist hospital.
FAQs
Are independent vets always cheaper?
Not always, but on average yes — just by less than most people assume. Consultations are within a pound of each other, spays are effectively level, and independents are notably cheaper on annual boosters (£62 vs £74) and kennel cough (£45 vs £89).
Are independents disappearing?
The market is now split almost exactly 50/50 across the 5,886 practices we've classified. Most acquisitions over the past five years have moved sites from independent to corporate, and the CMA reforms make it easier for owners to see who they're actually paying.
Will the CMA reforms reduce corporate prices?
The reforms are about transparency, not price caps (except for prescription fees). Expect compression at the top end as published prices invite comparison, but no overnight drop.
How do I know who owns my vet?
From 2026, every practice must disclose ownership on its website and in-clinic. You can also use our practice search — corporate group ownership is shown on each listing where confirmed.
About the data: Figures are calculated from the published prices we collect directly from each UK vet practice's own website, cross-referenced against the RCVS register and Companies House. Sample sizes by service: consultation n=1,807; dog booster n=1,637; bitch spay n=1,441; kennel cough n=829; microchip n=1,236. Ownership audit covers 5,886 practices as of July 2026. This article is general information, not advice for a specific case.