Cost-per-Treatment Calculator
Work out what a treatment truly costs you to deliver, and a price that protects your margin. All figures ex-VAT unless stated.
1 · Your costs per treatment
2 · Pricing
Your numbers
| Product | £0.00 |
| Consumables | £0.00 |
| Chair time | £0.00 |
| Overheads | £0.00 |
| True cost per treatment | £0.00 |
A guide, not advice. Set your overhead figure by dividing your monthly fixed costs by the number of treatments you realistically deliver. Margin here is calculated as a percentage of your selling price. If you are VAT-registered, the patient pays the inc-VAT price and you keep the ex-VAT amount.
This free cost-per-treatment calculator helps UK aesthetic clinicians work out the true cost of delivering a treatment — product, consumables, chair time and overheads — and set a price that protects a healthy margin. Enter your figures to see your real cost per treatment, a suggested price at your target margin, and your profit and margin at any price you choose.
How to use the cost-per-treatment calculator
Enter your product cost per treatment (there's a helper to work this out from vial price and units used), your consumables per treatment, your chair time and hourly rate, and a share of your fixed overheads. Set your target margin and, optionally, the price you currently charge. The calculator returns a full cost breakdown, your true cost per treatment, a suggested ex-VAT price, the VAT-inclusive price a patient pays, and your resulting profit and margin.
What does “true cost per treatment” actually include?
Many clinics price against product cost alone and quietly lose money on everything around it. A realistic cost per treatment includes:
- Product — the drug or device cost for the amount actually used (not the whole vial, unless you discard the remainder).
- Consumables — needles, syringes, cannulas, gloves, gauze, anaesthetic, aftercare.
- Your time — chair time valued at a sensible hourly rate, including consultation and review.
- Overheads — a fair share of rent, insurance, indemnity, marketing, software, training and admin.
Only once all four are in view can you price deliberately rather than hopefully.
How should I price aesthetic treatments?
A sound approach is cost-plus with a margin target: calculate your true cost, then set a price that delivers the margin you need to run and reinvest in the clinic. Think in terms of margin as a percentage of price, not a simple mark-up on cost, so discounts and offers don't quietly erase your profit. Test scenarios in the “profit at any price” field before you commit to a price list.
Cost price, margin and mark-up — what's the difference?
Mark-up is profit expressed as a percentage of cost; margin is profit expressed as a percentage of the selling price. A 50% mark-up is only a 33% margin. This calculator works in margin, because margin is what tells you how much of each pound the patient pays actually stays in the business.
Should I include VAT?
If you are VAT-registered, the price the patient pays and the amount you keep are different numbers. The VAT toggle lets you see the ex-VAT price you set and the VAT-inclusive price the patient pays, so your margin is calculated on what you actually retain. Whether a given aesthetic treatment is VATable can be complex — take professional advice on your specific circumstances.
Related clinician tools & guides
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the cost per treatment?
Add the product cost for the amount used, your consumables, your chair time valued at your hourly rate, and a fair share of fixed overheads. The calculator does this for you and returns a true cost per treatment you can price against.
What profit margin should an aesthetic clinic aim for?
There's no universal figure — it depends on your costs, market and treatment mix. The point of the tool is to set a target margin and price to it deliberately, rather than discounting into losses. Model a few scenarios to find a margin that funds running costs and reinvestment.
How do I price a treatment if I only use part of a vial?
Use the vial helper: enter the vial price and the total units it contains, then the units you use per treatment, and the calculator apportions the product cost. If you routinely discard the remainder, cost the full vial instead.
What's the difference between margin and mark-up?
Mark-up is profit as a percentage of cost; margin is profit as a percentage of the selling price. They are not the same — a 50% mark-up equals a 33% margin. This tool works in margin so your pricing reflects what you actually keep.
Is the cost-per-treatment calculator free?
Yes. It is a free educational tool for clinicians from Harley Supplies, with no login required.
Does this replace advice from my accountant?
No. It is a planning aid to model pricing and margins. It does not reflect your full tax position — confirm pricing and VAT treatment with a qualified accountant.
References
- HM Revenue & Customs. VAT: health professionals and pharmaceutical products (VAT Notice 701/57). gov.uk.
- General guidance on clinic financial planning; figures and margins are illustrative and should be confirmed with a qualified accountant.
For clinic owners and practitioners. This tool is provided for general educational and planning purposes and is not financial, tax or accounting advice. Take professional advice on your specific circumstances before setting prices.
Dr Emmaline Ashley
Aesthetic Doctor · GMC 7582958 · COO of Harley Supplies
Dr Emmaline Ashley is an aesthetic doctor and COO of Harley Supplies, a clinician-founded supplier. This tool reflects how aesthetic clinics actually build a treatment price from cost, time and overheads.
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