Taking Care of Man’s Best Friend: How to Start a Dog Kennel

Business Overview:

Attention dog loving entrepreneurs: learn how to start a dog kennel and you’ll give pet owners peace of mind while running your own business. Also known as a dog boarding service, a dog kennel is generally a facility that cares for dogs while their owners are out of town. Dog kennel personnel are responsible for feeding the dogs, taking them outside and walking them. If you have experience at a veterinarian’s office or in a dog kennel, opening a kennel of your own will be relatively simple. You will need to find a facility, hire a staff and market your new business. You can purchase a kennel franchise which would come with all the equipment you would need to get started. Unlike a doggie daycare business which is run out of your home, a kennel business needs to have designated areas for the dogs to stay during the day. If you don’t know how to start a dog boarding business, you will need to consider your business model and dog care philosophy when deciding how your boarders will be kept. This could mean various sizes of dog crates or an air-conditioned area inside for your boarders to play. You also need to have a large outdoor area for them to run around and get some exercise. Your staff will also be responsible for cleaning up after the dogs and making sure your facility is tidy and sanitary (both inside and out). You can market your business by leaving fliers at local pet care stores and handing out business cards at dog parks and anywhere else dog owners may frequent. As you research how to open a dog kennel, you’ll find that it’s a good idea to ensure that your facility will be able to grow with your business. If you offer excellent care to your canine customers, you will likely get repeat business and word of mouth referrals. To attract a wider range of clients, you could also offer services such as webcam rooms (so owners can check in on their dogs remotely), dog grooming, pick-up and delivery or dog training. Dog owners love their pets and only want the best care for them when they have to be away. If your business offers the highest quality experience for dogs and their owners, this business idea will be a success.

A Day in the Life of a Dog Kennel Business Owner:

Your day will begin by checking in with your overnight staff to make sure their shift went smoothly and all the dogs are healthy and safe. You will spend your day dealing with your customers and their dogs to make sure check-in and check-out goes smoothly and everyone is satisfied. Since your staff will be handling the majority of the administrative duties, you will use part of your day to market your business. Finally, you will need to check your finances to ensure you have a healthy bottom line.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be dog owners looking for high quality dog care services while they have to be away from home.

What You Need to Start:

• Dog kennel business plan
• Kennel facility
• Business license
• Dog crates (if you choose to have them)
• Dog care supplies (bowls, food, leashes, etc.)
• Cleaning supplies
• Staff
• Computer with finance software and web cam

The Good:

• If you love dogs, this is the perfect way to be around them all day while earning a profit.
• Your staff will handle most of the work so you are free to take time off when you want to.
• It is rewarding to see dogs and their owners happy with their boarding experience.
• You can add extra services to attract more clients (and raise profits).
• You are offering a much-needed service to dog owners who need to be away from their pets for an extended period of time.

The Bad:

• Startup costs are high.
• You need to be prepared for health emergencies and have a veterinarian either on call or have a partnership with a local vet office.

Resources:

• Pet Care Services Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Animal Care and Service Workers
• Wikipedia on Dog Kennels

About The Author

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