The world of pet ownership has seen a boom, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. This has led to a surge in demand for doggy daycare services. Why, you ask? Well, pets are now considered part of the family, and with more people living in cities and having hectic work schedules, pet care services are in high demand. Plus, as people’s disposable income has grown, so has their willingness to spend on pet care services.
Doggy daycare is a great solution for busy pet owners. It’s not just about keeping the dogs occupied while their owners are away, but also about their health and socialization. However, running a doggy daycare isn’t a walk in the park. It comes with its own set of challenges like overhead costs, regulations, potential liability issues, and the need for skilled staff. So, if you’re thinking about opening a doggy daycare, you need a solid plan.
As a doggy daycare owner, you’ll be wearing many hats. You’ll be in charge of business management, customer service, staff management, animal care, health and safety compliance, supply management, facility maintenance, emergency preparedness, and record keeping.
Before you open your doggy daycare, you need to find a property with the right zoning. You also need to find a location that’s convenient for dog owners. Once you’ve got the location and zoning approval, you need to research the market and competition, develop a solid business plan, and understand the legal requirements and regulations for a dog daycare business.
Setting up your doggy daycare facility requires careful planning. You need to choose the right location, design the perfect space for dogs of different sizes and temperaments, ensure the safety and well-being of the dogs, and have a plan for keeping your daycare clean. You also need to consider installing play equipment and exercise equipment for the dogs, and ensure the comfort of the dogs in all weather conditions.
Marketing and promoting your dog daycare business is crucial. You need to choose a great name, build a strong online presence, network with local dog owners and professionals, and create attractive service packages. You can also consider offering additional services like grooming or training, or transportation to grooming or veterinarian appointments for an additional fee.
Managing and growing your dog daycare business involves hiring and training staff, implementing efficient operational procedures, and continuously improving and expanding your facilities. You can also streamline your business operations with dog daycare software like PawLoyalty, ProPet, 123Pet Software, Gingr, DogBizPro, and PetExec.
Starting a doggy daycare can be costly, with initial costs ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. Pricing your services involves researching your market, evaluating your costs, deciding on a pricing structure, setting prices for special services, offering discounts, and regularly reviewing and adjusting your prices.
You also need to consider insurance for your dog daycare business. This includes general liability insurance, professional liability insurance, animal bailee’s coverage, workers compensation insurance, property insurance, business interruption insurance, and commercial auto insurance.
Attracting pet parents to your doggy daycare business involves networking with veterinarians, groomers, dog trainers, and others in the dog industry, and maintaining an upbeat webpage and social media presence. While you don’t need any specific certifications or training to run a doggy daycare, you should supervise staff members and provide ongoing training and meetings.
Marketing your doggy daycare business to the local community can involve holding special events, hosting seminars by professionals, and even starting a side gig that gets you out into the community to meet other dog owners.
Before you start, research the zoning regulations in your area and make sure you could get permitted to operate such a business in that location. Your dog daycare business should be easy to locate, enter, and exit for busy pet owners.
