The VMG/AAHA Chart of Accounts
The Gold-Standard Financial Framework for the Modern Veterinary Practice
Get StartedWhat is the VMG/AAHA Chart of Accounts?
Endorsed by several key veterinary organizations and industry partners, including the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA), and VetPartners, the VMG/AAHA Chart of Accounts is the standard for classifying and aggregating revenue, expense, and balance sheet accounts in small-animal veterinary practice. The AVMA Economics Advisory Research Council initiated and coordinated this effort using previously created materials from VMG and AAHA.
The VMG/AAHA Chart of Accounts includes definitions for accounts such as:
- Vaccine Revenue
- Exam Revenue
- Hospitalization & Treatment Revenue
- Fluid Therapy Revenue
- Diagnostic Services Revenue
- Rehabilitation Revenue
- Laser Therapy Revenue
- Mortuary Revenue
- Behavioral Services Revenue
- Alternative and Complementary Medicine Revenue
- Specialist Revenue
- Medical Waste Revenue
- Pharmacy Revenue
VMG/AAHA Chart of Accounts 2026 Update Overview
VMG/AAHA Chart of Accounts QuickBooks Online Setup
VMG/AAHA Chart of Accounts QuickBooks Desktop Setup
What’s new for 2026?
The VMG/AAHA Chart of Accounts has been newly revised for 2026 to better reflect the operational complexity of modern veterinary businesses. The updated version introduces revised categories and definitions designed to align more closely with current practice models. By improving consistency in financial reporting, the framework is intended to help practice owners and managers better evaluate performance, identify inefficiencies, and make more informed strategic decisions.- NEW! Chart of Accounts Changes 2026 (PDF)
- NEW! 2026 DATALINK Entry Revenue and Expense Field Definitions (PDF)
- NEW! 2026 Summary of Revisions – COA Refresh (PDF)
- NEW! 2026 VMG Grouped VMG/AAHA Chart of Accounts (XLSX)
- NEW! Sample Updated COA (ZIP/QBM – Files are Intuit® QuickBooks® files)
- NEW! Updated Sample Companion Practice Balance Sheet (PDF)
- NEW! Updated Sample Companion Practice Profit and Loss (PDF)
- NEW! Updated Sample Companion Practice GL List (PDF)
- NEW! VMG/AAHA COA and Field Definitions (PDF)
- NEW! VMG/AAHA Chart of Accounts Book (PDF)
- NEW! 2026 VMG/AAHA Chart of Accounts (XLSX)
Documentation & Sample Files
- Introduction to VMG/AAHA Companion Animal Chart of Accounts Field Definitions (PDF)
- VMG/AAHA Companion Animal Chart of Accounts Field Definitions (PDF)
- VMG/AAHA Companion Animal Chart of Accounts (XLSX)
- Sample Companion Practice Partnership (ZIP/QBB – Files are Intuit® QuickBooks® files)
- Sample Companion Practice Partnership COA (ZIP/IIF – Files are Intuit® QuickBooks® files)
- Sample Companion Practice Proprietorship (ZIP/QBB – Files are Intuit® QuickBooks® files)
- Sample Companion Practice Proprietorship COA (ZIP/IIF- Files are Intuit® QuickBooks® files)
- Sample Companion Practice S Corporation (ZIP/QBB- Files are Intuit® QuickBooks® files)
- Sample Companion Practice S Corporation COA (ZIP/IIF – Files are Intuit® QuickBooks® files)
- Sample Companion Practice LLC (ZIP/QBB – Files are Intuit® QuickBooks® files)
- Sample Companion Practice LLC COA (ZIP/IIF – Files are Intuit® QuickBooks® files)
- Balance Sheet Example (PDF)
- Collapsed Profit and Loss Example (PDF)
- Expanded Profit and Loss Example (PDF)
Published Apr 24, 2019 • Updated January 29, 2026
(Files are Intuit® QuickBooks® files)
Copyright © 2026 Veterinary Management Groups and the American Animal Hospital Association. All rights reserved.
Would you like to incorporate The VMG/AAHA COA into your practice? Contact MWI or Covetrus:
Covetrus
glcodes@covetrus.com