Re: Dispensary/ Herb Costs

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

It seems to vary hugely! My accountant advised me years ago that I should

charge 100% markup on the cost of tinctures. Accordingly, I calculate the

average cost once a year, and adjust if need be. At the moment I charge £7 per

100ml across the board, and a £5 fee for repeat prescriptions, but I know people

who charge a lot less, and some who charge a lot more.

Interested to hear what others have to say...

Su Bristow

> Dear All,

>

> For various reasons I haven't maintained my own dispensary for the last 4

years, and have used 3rd party dispensing - originally for the convenience of

not having to take time out of my consulting hours to dispense, which suited me

well, as I could see more patients in limited time.

>

> Now, however, I'm looking at my bottom line and my question is this:

> What profit margin do people make on their tinctures, and how much do you

charge your patients for their herbs?

>

> Many thanks

> Sara Southgate

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

> List Owner: Graham White, MNIMH

[Guest guest]

Hi, I charge £8/100 ml and offer £1 off that price as concession for elderly/unemployed. That represents quite a healthy mark-up, though I couldn’t tell you exactly what in percentages! Deb McDonnell PS I should add that I work from home so I don’t have huge overheads From: ukherbal-list [mailto:ukherbal-list ] On Behalf Of Sujata BristowSent: 28 October 2011 11:06To: ukherbal-list Subject: Re: Dispensary/ Herb Costs Dear ,It seems to vary hugely! My accountant advised me years ago that I should charge 100% markup on the cost of tinctures. Accordingly, I calculate the average cost once a year, and adjust if need be. At the moment I charge £7 per 100ml across the board, and a £5 fee for repeat prescriptions, but I know people who charge a lot less, and some who charge a lot more.Interested to hear what others have to say...Su Bristow> Dear All,> > For various reasons I haven't maintained my own dispensary for the last 4 years, and have used 3rd party dispensing - originally for the convenience of not having to take time out of my consulting hours to dispense, which suited me well, as I could see more patients in limited time.> > Now, however, I'm looking at my bottom line and my question is this: > What profit margin do people make on their tinctures, and how much do you charge your patients for their herbs?> > Many thanks> Sara Southgate> > > > ------------------------------------> > List Owner: Graham White, MNIMH

[Guest guest]

I am obviously cheap! I charge £6 per 100ml with £1 off for concessions

(if specifically asked) and am just about to bring in a £5 charge for

repeats as some weeks I seem to do nothing else!

I also charge for postage if sending out (more or less at cost).

However I make most of my own tinctures so the bottom line price per

100ml is pennies but it is time consuming if you make a lot therefore

the price per 100ml reflects my time rather than a profit margin.

Encouraging patients to return bottles and re-using them (washed and

sterilised of course) is also becoming more of a saving as the cost of

bottles has gone up dramatically since I started 5 years ago.

a

[Guest guest]

I'm the same as a, £6.00 across the board for tinctures (100ml), creams (60g), teas (100g), consultation £30, no fee for repeat prescription, postage at cost. Concessions as I see fit. I work from home and make most of my tinctures. Patients also return bottles, but I have to say I HATE all the washing and sterilising. Most people pay £54 a month, but some are paying around £100, some concessions, as little as £0.

Making the tinctures (growing, harvesting, preparation etc) takes a huge amount of time, energy and space - which does not always go down well with the family. Working within a small group of herbalists who grow, swap and share makes this easier, more cost effective and also ensures shared values in our approach and results in a beautiful quality of medicine (its also great to be part of a group - commiserating over failures [this has been a bonkers year!], celebrating good harvests, shared tincture tasting (oh yes!), developing "new" herbs, learning from and alongside each other etc etc). When I do buy in it's from really trusted small suppliers, people that I love and who share my values. Any additional cost is absorbed and not passed on.

Saying this, if I could no longer work at home or if my outgoings increased, the balance between my time spent working with the herbs/making the medicine and seeing my patients might have to change, or I might have to increase my charges, or a combination of both. In this instance I would have no problem charging a higher set rate to patients who could afford it in order to subsidise those that are financially less secure.

Therri

From: erica hollis

Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2011 2:43 PM

To: ukherbal-list

Subject: Re: Dispensary/ Herb Costs

I am obviously cheap! I charge £6 per 100ml with £1 off for concessions(if specifically asked) and am just about to bring in a £5 charge forrepeats as some weeks I seem to do nothing else!I also charge for postage if sending out (more or less at cost).However I make most of my own tinctures so the bottom line price per100ml is pennies but it is time consuming if you make a lot thereforethe price per 100ml reflects my time rather than a profit margin. Encouraging patients to return bottles and re-using them (washed andsterilised of course) is also becoming more of a saving as the cost ofbottles has gone up dramatically since I started 5 years ago.a

[Guest guest]

Hi , I'm probably amongst the cheapest for tinctures only £4.00 per 100mls with a £2.00 dispensing fee for repeats. I think an update is well overdue, however my traceability and stock management system still shows a decent profit.LorraineLorraine Hodgkinson MNIMH MRCHMHERBS AND HELPERS6, Butts Fold, Cockermouth,Cumbria, CA13 9HY. UK.Tel: +44 (0) 1900 826392Mobile: 07761 489838 (O2)www.herbalmedicineuk.comOn 28 Oct 2011, at 11:05, Sujata Bristow wrote:

Dear ,

It seems to vary hugely! My accountant advised me years ago that I should charge 100% markup on the cost of tinctures. Accordingly, I calculate the average cost once a year, and adjust if need be. At the moment I charge £7 per 100ml across the board, and a £5 fee for repeat prescriptions, but I know people who charge a lot less, and some who charge a lot more.

Interested to hear what others have to say...

Su Bristow

> Dear All,

>

> For various reasons I haven't maintained my own dispensary for the last 4 years, and have used 3rd party dispensing - originally for the convenience of not having to take time out of my consulting hours to dispense, which suited me well, as I could see more patients in limited time.

>

> Now, however, I'm looking at my bottom line and my question is this:

> What profit margin do people make on their tinctures, and how much do you charge your patients for their herbs?

>

> Many thanks

> Sara Southgate

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

> List Owner: Graham White, MNIMH